Can you learn from authors you don't like? 🧐(updated)

We often hear about learning from people we admire, but what about ones we don't like? Can we learn from someone if we're not a fan? Is there a lesson in bad books, boring TV shows, and disappointing movies?

When I was younger, one of the authors I used to read was a well-known best-seller. I now see that her style tended to be what I now refer to as 'formula writing', which essentially means that her books tended to follow the same pattern. The protagonist was often a beautiful, perfect woman who had money, usually a super attractive spouse, perfect children, and, well, you get the idea. Needless to say, it was difficult to feel sorry for that character when something difficult came around the corner.

I grew tired of reading these predictable books but I was left with one powerful lesson: make your characters relatable. Show their insecurities, their weaknesses, air their dirty laundry, and embarrassing moments. Make the reader see that they are far from perfect and demonstrate their struggles. One of the reasons why I didn't continue reading the specific author mentioned ☝🏻is because I didn't care about her characters because they were unrelatable and somewhat vacant.

In essence, this author taught me what not to do as a writer. Since that time, I've read other books that were predictable, couldn't hold my interest, had terrible dialogue or characters reacting in such a way that didn't make sense for their situations and I made a mental note not to do these things. I saw it as a lesson.

Don't get me wrong. I've made mistakes too and I'm sure there's an author somewhere who's read one of my books and perhaps saw things that they wouldn't do in their own writing. And that's fine. I'm always trying to learn more, to do better and I believe that's an important part of my evolution as a writer. That's how I learn and create my own, unique style. Being open to learning is an important part of being an artist.

Although it's important (and terrific!) to have role models that we admire and want to learn from, don't forget to also pay attention to those who actually inspire the opposite feelings. Sometimes we gather some of the most valuable lessons from the most unexpected source.

Do your books have social commentary? 🧐 (Updated)

The world is a hot mess now, so if there ever were a time for social commentary in the arts, this would be it!

I've always been a fan of social commentary in books, movies, television, and music. In fact, for me, it's a significant part of the writing process. I love the idea of planting a few seeds for readers to ponder. I don't do this to influence anyone's opinion but to give them some food for thought. We often get locked in our beliefs and stubbornly refuse to see the other side, but can we make a fair assessment if we don't? 

When it comes to the arts, books, movies, and television are sometimes a more tangible way to process information. News stories and documentaries are often slanted, possibly more with the concern of capturing ratings. However, fiction shows the emotional side of some dicey subjects. The human being behind societal problems has a face. As they say, before you judge, walk a mile in someone else's shoes. Books, movies, and television allow you to do so.

With that in mind, there are various topics and questions that writers will bring to light for the reader's consideration. For example, in my book The Devil May Lie, Paige Noël-Hernandez worries about her appearance after having a baby. She mentions a recent magazine article that suggests women 'of a certain age' have to work twice as hard to slip back into those favorite pair of jeans after giving birth. Her husband Jorge is quick to ask if this specific article comes before a page of ads for weight loss products. Of course, we know that advertisers target their audience and, in some cases, instigate insecurities to make potential customers for their products. Welcome to the world of consumerism!

As a writer, I want to encourage critical thinking. Ideally, I would love to believe that my books are read with an open mind and heart, that sometimes their ideas are challenged, or perhaps readers are relating to specific events in the book. I hope that the characters stay with them long after finishing the book and maybe even inspired them. I want to believe that my books shake things up a bit, whether it be the reader's imagination or how they see themselves and the world. 

The Devil May Lie - Let's talk about a pivotal moment in the book 😱 (Updated)

Until about the halfway point of  The Devil May Lie, the format was similar to previous books in the series. Not to suggest that the story was predictable, but fans understood how my characters reacted to any given situation. For that reason, I decided to throw a monkey wrench in the halfway point of the book, intrigued to see how things would fall into place.

I wrote about a tragedy in an indigenous community, then demonstrated a combination of racism and government neglect. This was reflective of what I believe is often happening in indigenous communities in my country. The event in the book was difficult to write about and didn't get easier with each set of edits but, I felt it was necessary to make a point. In the story, it's this straw that broke the camel's back and causes outrage throughout the country that quickly spills over to the demographic of Canadians who also feel neglected by the government; those living in poverty, immigrants, and essentially anyone who seems to have slipped off the radar. In turn, this pushes the government to do something drastic; they approach a charismatic Canadian named Jorge Hernandez to join their team.

I don't need to point out the irony of a dangerous criminal with blood on his hands asked to join a political party. But you have to remember, nothing is officially 'known' by the public, and therefore, they see a strong candidate who isn't afraid to say what he thinks on the platform. They see an immigrant, someone who calls out his government and has risen from rags to riches, making him both relatable and inspiring at the same time. I feel it also demonstrates how low many political parties are willing to sink to find a winning candidate. Perhaps it is not such a stretch to say that they would nominate the devil himself if they thought it would result in them winning.