The Evolution of Jorge Hernandez ☠️(Updated)

When readers were introduced to Jorge Hernandez at the end of Always be a Wolf, it seemed highly unlikely that the former cartel king was about to change. As the writer, I had no idea what was around the corner so imagine my surprise when I saw my ruthless criminal begin to show a more vulnerable, human side.

The reality is that whether we're talking about real life or the characters in a book, television, or movie, you have to consider that circumstances impact how we grow. Who's in our lives? What do they need? What is the situation with our health? Finances? There are so many things that can change who you are, but it comes down to what matters to you and your overall morals.

In this book, we learn that Jorge Hernandez is the sole parent to his daughter, Maria. This appears to be a recent change that is already starting to shift his priorities. Add in a fast-moving romance with assassin Paige Noël, and suddenly the criminal playboy has a full-time family. Although somewhat sexist early on, Jorge is forced to view women differently as the story moves forward. Later in the series, he switches gears to talk about how powerful women are and how he admires their unique traits. 

Another thing to keep in mind is that Jorge is a man who's all but escaped the cartel. He still has his connections but, for the most part, is more or less out. This is extremely rare. Most people involved in the cartel lifestyle either go to prison or end up dead. Having survived and come out on the other side, he begins to recognize that he has a chance to change his life. This is powerful.

Of course, like most of us, illness or recognizing the fragility of life tends to creep in with age. Jorge has had some health scares along the way that made him realize that it might not be a vengeful enemy that takes him out but his own body. This along with losing people close to him, causes Jorge to take a step back and reconsider how he wants to spend the second half of his life since the first half was full of brutality and danger.

Characters would be unrealistic if we didn't see them evolve through time because it's not natural. However, I will say I do appreciate the journey and, even more so, the surprises.

Writing blocks and roadblocks 🚧(Updated)

Writer's blocks are a lot like roadblocks in that you find yourself suddenly stuck in the middle of nowhere, and you can't get out. The problem is in both cases, the more you focus on the fact that you're 'stuck', the more frustrated you get, which in turn makes the whole ordeal even more frustrating. And if you're a writer, that's when you stare at a blank page and contemplate banging your head against the wall until an idea pops out.

Of course, you should never bang your head against the wall. You got precious stuff going on in there, and you might damage it. There are other, more productive ways to get past the block if you want to make any progress.

The first is to calm the fuck down. The more angry and anxious you are (this applies to most problems) the worse everything will seem. As humans, we tend to get wrapped up in our minds, and suddenly we're falling down the rabbit hole of craziness. You can't do that. The more you think about how you're not accomplishing anything, the more you'll not accomplish anything.

The second thing you need to do is get back to your center. What is your center? It's the place where you feel balanced. Some people get there by exercising while others meditate. Some people might do it by staring out the window at nature (if you happen to have any nature out your window) while others might do it by playing a video game or reading a book. The key is to distract your mind from the craziness. Maybe you're overtired and need to take a nap. Everyone is different. 

I need to have headphones on when I write. I listen to music that tends to be calming (nothing with lyrics) and try not to think about anything else going on that day. It's better if I don't have time restraints too, so I'm not looking at the clock trying to rush like a maniac. The key is to be relaxed and really to listen to your inner voice. The creative world is very mysterious, which is why artists tend to be so infatuated with the entire process. We don't know where those words, characters, or creations come from; they just arrive. Your job is to open the door so that they can get in.