Why I sometimes kick things up halfway through my books 🥾(Updated)

As a writer, the last thing you want is for your readers to be bored, so it's important to kick things up before the story has a chance to fall flat.

Every writer is different, but for me, I like to have a lot of balls in the air throughout the entirety of my books. Having said that, there's something about that halfway point that screams at me to throw another curb ball into the game to see what happens. I feel that it's usually the perfect time to add an extra element to completely stress out the protagonist, therefore creating excitement for the reader. 

Of course, this also means more of a challenge for the writer. But you're up for that. Right?

For example, in my book The Devil May Lie, I threw in a political scandal at the halfway point, causing a shift in energy for the story. This created a heavy, dark feel in the book. However, it was necessary to shift gears and move the story along. It was interesting to see what direction it took the characters and how everything unraveled.

It's important to keep readers on their toes. But of course, as a writer, it's not a bad idea to keep on your toes too. 

Humor in writing 🤣(Updated)

Comedy may not be your genre, but it's still important to add a little humor to your writing. It gives characters dimension, it breaks up tension (especially in dramas), but most of all, it gives your readers an extra layer of entertainment.

Just like real people, characters have many sides to their personalities. Even the most complex personalities still have a funny side, even if it's not as prevalent. For example, in my Hernandez series, my protagonist Jorge can be described as intimidating, powerful, intense, and dangerous.  Then out of nowhere, he'll make a sarcastic remark or comment that will make readers laugh. It may not be the top quality he's known for, but it's still thrown in from time to time to add a little extra flavor. 

In general, humor is needed from time to time, especially if the particular story is very emotional or heavy. I know it may seem inappropriate in those situations, but again, just like in real life, we sometimes need a break when wading through difficult emotions. For example, if you're watching a movie where a character is dying, it can become very intense for the viewer to watch for a long time. However, if a child were to make an innocent (yet funny) remark or observation, it might break things up a bit for the viewer.

Comedy in writing shouldn't feel forced or overthought. Often if you follow the character's natural inclinations and personality, the humor comes out naturally and shows us their lighter side.

Why I love writing about villains ❤️ (Updated)

Often referred to as the 'bad guys' on television, movies, and books, but the truth is that something is appealing about villains that intrigues both viewers and readers. As a writer, I have a few ideas on why this might be. 

1. There are no limits. Villains don't color inside the lines. They don't care about anyone's feelings and often have no conscience at all. They're impulsive, limitless and, free. They have no fear of going anywhere or doing anything. They don't play by anyone else's rules. And really, isn't that why we like them?

2. They show us the dark side of humanity. We like to think that there are good guys and bad guys in life and television, but the truth is that anyone is capable of traveling to the dark side. Think about the last time you watched the news after someone committed a violent crime. When a reporter approaches their friends, family, or coworkers, what do they usually say? "He was such a nice guy. I can't believe he would do something like this." 

Exactly. We all have a dark side lurking in a dark corner. Only we can decide if it will come out.

3. They are powerful. Sinister characters are often powerful too. This power is the result of their natural, aggressive nature and, sometimes, cut-throat ways. Think of the head of a crime family or a politician with no scruples. Even if it's a small-time criminal, chances are that person has power over someone or something, and in fact, that's how we first discover that they're a villain in the first place.

Some people might like to believe that the good guy always wins, but in today's world, that's often more of a fairy tale than a reality. 

Secondary characters and how they support the protagonist 😲(Updated)

Secondary or supporting characters should never be taken for granted. Without this intriguing group of friends, enemies, and acquaintances, we certainly wouldn't have as much fun with our protagonist. 

One of the most obvious reasons why we need secondary characters is to make the storyline more interesting. Can you imagine your favorite book or movie with ONLY the protagonist throughout the entire story? It would have to be one hell of a character, and all the weight would fall on their shoulders to keep things interesting. Supporting characters also add some extra dimension and overall flavor to the story with their own unique stories and problems. The protagonists often get caught up in the middle of their dramas. In my Hernandez series, Jorge often finds himself trying to help his friends and family through their dilemmas. Of course, these characters also work with and against the main character to contribute to his story.

Not to mention that secondary characters have a way of showing you who our protagonist really is; the good and the bad. In fact, it's usually other characters that best bring out everything from rage to love in our main character, and it's always interesting to see how the protagonist reacts to these emotions. Of course, some characters contain themselves much better than others but aren't the erratic, crazy people more likely to capture our attention? 

Sometimes we find ourselves falling for the secondary characters as much or more than our protagonist. That's fine too. Just because someone is the main character doesn't mean they also have to be our favorite.