Will writers even bother to write if competing with a large number of AI generated stories? That is a question that only time will answer. There have been incidents where many AI generated books have made it to best seller lists. Scammers also may use AI to generate reworded versions of actual books. They can think of anything to make a quick buck out of the sweat of real authors by using AI to alter their work. Although Amazon has made a few efforts to alleviate the problem, it continues, and as of now AI generated content must be disclosed when submitted, something that helps but does not solve much.
Artificial Intelligence is becoming better and soon it will be just a matter of time when we could hardly be able to tell the difference between written works by real authors and a piece of junk from Robotina. People who care more about making a quick buck than about the craft are able to generate a story, from cover to content, and illustrations in a matter of minutes, especially children’s books. AI saturated market is the worst nightmare for true writers who love their craft and who bleed through the pages of a novel until it is finished.
How will readers find your work when they have to navigate a system which is so saturated by fakes? Will they even care or will they voraciously consume AI generated content as long as it is good enough to fill an entertaining need or any other specific need? If we have people dating AI generated people, what prevents readers to make a switch to AI generated books? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain, authors are now competing with a new form of “art,” one that has eliminated the middleman aka real author and goes straight to making a product for profit in no time at all. Will authors become discouraged? Will real writing even matter anymore? Will AI mimic our blood and sweat in the pages? Will writers write? Only time will tell.
Faster and faster, we are being replaced by our own creation, maybe to the point of becoming obsolete by our own hand. The creator ceases to exist, absorbed by its own creation. Maybe time is all we have left, or do we? Will AI alter our perception of time, eventually? Will we be able to tell?
Must every criminal or drug lord last name be Diaz on TV shows? I am truly tired of it. Writers please, if you are creating a Hispanic/Latino character, there are more last names other than that one, I assure you. Show a little more creativity, please? Examples of these shows are Law and Order, The Closer, Major Crimes …
Why is this so bad? We learn in many ways, but one of these is by repetition and association. When we hear something over and over, we make a mental association, negative or positive, whether we realize it or not. Stereotypes have existed for as long as we have, I guess. Society has accepted many of these and therefore, help perpetuate these stereotypes. As writers, we owe to ourselves to put out our best work and not perpetuate many of these stereotypes. Sometimes, that will mean going against the grain or mainstream, but most of the time, it is taking the care and time to educate ourselves as much as we can on a topic, subject, culture … We can only do our best, and laziness falls short of it.
Yes, my last name is Diaz, and I assure you that I am not a criminal, I don’t use or deal drugs, and I won’t harm you in any way. So fellow writers, let our creativity shine, and let us break the chains that held our pen captive for so long.
As a writer, I like to explore all kinds of topics for future works. Greed is a common theme found in many novels. Family greed reaches another level and depth. I once heard someone say that money reveals what is already in your heart and amplifies who you already are. I think that is true. I have seen families “change” once there is an inheritance pending. People will do many unexpected things for money; however, this behavior is not created by money, only revealed. Whether backstabbing, stealing, lies, and even murder, it all originates from a greedy heart. The generous and kind person will continue to be such and able to bless others in new ways.
Family dynamics are complex by nature. There are no perfect families, but family greed revealed by money will change the most “perfect” of families, and once someone’s true character has been revealed it is hard to see them in another light. As writers, when approaching the topic of family greed, we might consider all the layers and choose to unravel many via different characters or focus on just one being amplified by one character. Family greed is a very deep and interesting topic with great possibility.
Certainly, no greed here. He first took her to eat at the birdfeeder, and later, he flew her to the birdbath for a little drink. Wining and dining his love.
As a writer, I find that my current novel is always present in my mind, no matter what I am doing; it lingers. The other day, as usual, I woke up at five in the morning, and as I was ready to prepare breakfast for me and my husband, the ending to my novel in progress just presented itself in my thoughts, just as if my mind was playing a movie. I knew that I had to grab pen and paper quickly and write. I wrote the entire abbreviated scene. My husband observed me and finally asked. I told him that I had the ending to my novel, but now I had to figure out how to get there from where I was.
This is wonderful because if I had any doubt about where this story was headed, I don’t have it anymore. After all, if there is an ending, there is a story behind it; I just have to uncover it. I have to admit that it feels as a mysterious quest, as if I am embarking on a journey of the mind and soul. Every story is (feels) different, but in every story, there is mind and soul. As writers, sometimes we feel the pressure to deliver “the ending” to our carefully crafted story. In a way, it takes a bit of that pressure off; it releases the pen.
I am thankful for those few minutes of clarity, and in a way, this moment has cemented my commitment to the story and strengthen the bond between us.
Should I give my chapters a title? I’ve asked myself that question, and while there is no right or wrong answer, I prefer numbering the chapters. However, in a few of my novels, I opted to give chapters a title. I think there are pros and cons to that approach, and it depends on what I am writing. Titles can be grounding to me, as the writer; it gives me a parameter to adhere to as I write. For a reader, it might enhance anticipation, or arouse curiosity and the need to continue reading, however, it might also set expectation. The reader might expect something different.
Is the title a giveaway of the entire chapter? Not necessarily, a hint maybe, but I don’t think chapter titles should be written like a blog/article title, hence letting the reader know what the content is about. I think of it more like an invitation to continue reading, a mystery that unravels in the next few pages. In Moonlit Valley, I used chapter titles such as: Exile (for chapter 1), Boundaries, A New Truth … These titles don’t say much, however, they set the stage for what’s coming in the next few pages. In Ramblings of the Spirit (book 1 of The Dinorah Chronicles) I used a combination of chapter number followed by title. For example, Chapter 4 Dark Waters. I used the same format for the entire trilogy. However, when I wrote The Five-dollar Miracle, I numbered the chapters, only. For my current novel, The Girl Who Could Not Love, I prefer to use chapter numbers, although I could have used titles instead. For that particular novel, both formats seemed to fit well.
For me, the flow of the story dictates what I will do, but I find that the traditional numbered chapters work well always.
In part, a purpose for this blog is to write about my journey as a writer, as well as to share what has worked for me, and my approach to writing a novel. There are so many books and information online on this topic, which will always be of some benefit; however, I find that much of that information is very technical and sometimes, even discouraging to someone who is just starting the journey, hence why I try to simplify when I am writing about a subject. In this case, dialogue, specifically, when it needs to be long.
When I am writing a novel, I strive to have a balance between dialogue, description, and narration. My novels tend to be rich in dialogue, sometimes long (if needed). If not careful, the reader might be lost in the conversation. Although sometimes a long conversation is required between two or more characters, I try my best to include other elements, whether having a character make a gesture, change positions, observe something, or anything that might give the reader a small break from the dialogue. I have a tendency to write in long sentences, as you might have noticed if you have been following this blog, and that is reason enough for me to be aware when I am writing dialogue, or even description in my novels (there you go, that was a long sentence.)
When dialogue is long, such as in the case of a character recounting a story, or a past event, I interject with something in the third person. As an example, Joe is recounting an event. He has been talking for a while, so in order to break it up a bit, as the writer, I can interject with having Emily react to what Joe is saying. Emily’s eyes grew wider with anticipation… or depending on the scene, Emily grabbed Victor’s hand tightly while Joey …. or a character might break the dialog with a question. These are all actions but should never feel forced on the characters. Those small breaks in dialogue give a break to the reader, but also make the other characters present in the conversation while they are silent. When I write dialogue, I want to make it as natural as when I am in conversation with another person or group of people. Characters have different personalities and when they are active in dialogue, their personalities are reflected through their words. It goes a step beyond she said/he said. A reader should never be confused about who said what. Just as chapters are a continuous clean break, so should interjections in dialogue. One follows the next naturally, without leaving the reader behind.
For most of my life, writing and publishing seemed a dream hard to reach. Mostly because the image of most famous writers that was presented by the media to my generation was a bit intimidating and hard to reach. It was one of seclusion, selectivity, money, unwanted-wanted fame, and reserved for the few great ones. This was a different time, one without internet, social media, and writer-friendly technology. Traditional publishing ruled the roost, and the few brave independent authors who dared cross to another dimension were viewed as vane, and even rebels who could not abide and bow down to a perfectly run system that would vomit you if you were deemed not good enough, or below its standards. Many dreamers like me would not dare enter the nightmare, and the ones who became rebels of the system knew they have to pay the price, and a very expensive one it was, literally and figurative, reputation included, and with it, down the dream of being even considered for a traditional publishing contract. Independent publishing was viewed as a mortal sin. Thank God these days are different, although not without its problems. When I realized that my dream of writing could be resuscitated under a new set of rules, I didn’t think twice. It was a new dawn. However, I had many questions. Many of these questions are the same ones that aspiring writers have today, although it is much easier to find the answers now. This post is about some of those questions and how I answered them, as well as questions I’ve encountered.
I want to write, but how do I start?
The short answer to that is just do it, write, but there is so much more to that. When I thought about that question, it wasn’t as easy to answer as I thought it would be. There was so much to consider, and so much more knowledge I needed to gather. I spent nearly two years learning (while writing and transitioning) as much as I could about this new system and independent publishing, but as well about traditional publishing at the time. Many myths were alive, other were just that. I found that the most important issue was my Why. Why did I want to write? Was it just because it was a life dream resurrected or was there more to it? I knew I had to answer that question before taking the plunge. I did. My why is not relevant here, every writer will have a why. So, to answer the question, start with your why. Why do you want to write? How do you see yourself as a writer? Is it for money or a call, or something else? When did your desire/passion for writing start? What triggered it? Have you written anything in the past? Why not? Were you intimidated by misinformation? How do you view writing? As a business? As a hobby? As a career? As a calling? How do you view other writers? Would you consider becoming an independent writer (indie writer) or does traditional publishing align more with your vision? Would you consider becoming a hybrid author?
How do I publish my book?
There is much to learn about this subject, and the good news is that today there is much information on this subject online and in books written by many independent authors, as well as hybrid authors. A hybrid author is one who has published via the traditional model, but also independently. The way to answer this question is for you to educate yourself as much about the publishing industry as you can. Learn about both models, but also, about the different methods to publish your work independently, because there are many, and the cost vary widely between these, from very minimal expense to thousands of dollars. Most important, and once you study this information, is to apply what you learned when you answered question number 1 to answering these other questions about publishing. What attracts you more about each model? Which model mirrors more your work ethic? Would you consider becoming a hybrid author? Would you consider working with an agent? What is your ultimate publishing goal?
Do I have to be an avid reader to be a writer?
Most writers are. It is part of your education. You will learn different styles, voices … Develop your writing style and voice. Never try to imitate another writer. It is a disservice to you, and you would be disrespecting your craft. There is nothing wrong with admiring a best-selling author and learning from that author’s style and work; however, develop your own. Understand that it takes time to learn and grow. Most likely, the author that you admire most has been at it for decades.
Do I have to belong to book clubs or writer’s groups?
Short answer, no, and in other words, you do you (or to each its own). You know what you like and dislike, you know your personality well, and you know what ultimately educates you and fuels you. If these groups work for you and excite you, then go for it. If not, there is no sin in that. These can be a great educational tool, but it depends on your personality, preferences, and goals as a writer.
What is the process of writing and publishing a book?
First, read and learn as much as you can about the topic. Aside from the educational part of this question, it is different for every writer. Inspiration comes in many ways. Most serious writers are disciplined enough to have a schedule or method. Many writers use an outline before writing a book, other writers do not. I don’t outline, but a small outline sometimes develops on the side as I am writing. Many times, as a way of remembering important points, or as new ideas pop. There is no right or wrong way here. It also depends on what publishing model you decide better fits your working style and ethic. There are many ways of publishing a book; learn those venues and their differences. Cost ranges from minimal expense to thousands of dollars. The more you contract out the more money you spend. You can use a publishing house for independent writers, which takes care of formatting, editing, etc. or you can hire each phase yourself, from formatting, to edition, from cover to cover, all the way to publishing your book, hardcopy or electronically (eBook). Amazon is a great way to start, if in doubt, and in my opinion, one of the least expensive ways to publish a book, and still put out a decent product. They offer editing and other services as well. There is also a good amount of information on their site, as a way to educate aspiring writers, which translate in more revenue for the company, eventually. Follow the method that you prefer and one that lets you present a well-crafted quality book for your readers, one that you are proud to offer.
Who promotes my book?
You do. Whether you publish traditionally or independently, you will have to do some work to promote your book, and the venue you use is up to you, whether that is social media, blogging, related products (physical products) and promotional materials, giveaways, activities … However, when you have a team behind you, such as in traditional publishing, there are advantages to that, as well as an established name behind your book and proven methods to spread the good news. As an indie writer and publisher, you can do the job yourself or hire people to do it for you, depending on how deep your pockets are. There is also the issue of personal preferences, for example, you might not enjoy social media as much, but prefer blogging, or other methods. I have to say, although I don’t follow this, that being robustly involved in social media, having a YouTube channel, a podcast … does help in spreading the good news about your work faster and widely. It is something that I recognize as a great advantage but not necessarily follow. It all depends on what your ultimate goal is. There are three very good sources to further your education that I like, that is, if you don’t know where to start. One is Stephen King’s book On Writing, Joanna Penn’s book The Indie Author Guide, and a copy of The Writer’s Market (for traditional publishing). Joanna Penn is an independent best-selling author. Her YouTube channel and blog are a great place to start. There are more suggestions under the tab On Writing -FAQ on this blog.
Do I need to be involved in social media? How much is too much?
The short answer is yes. You should have some kind of internet presence. Times have changed, and it is part of a very fast environment and culture development. However, you should not have to feel obligated to join every social media site. If you enjoy that, by all means, the more exposure the better, but not at the expense of your writing time. I think balance is key. I only have this blog as my online platform; other authors prefer a much robust involvement in social media venues. There is an advantage to online exposure and interaction. Again, it depends on your ultimate goal. If selling as many books as you can is your goal, then you will need a well-crafted and thought-out online presence.
Will I make tons of money?
Making tons of money is the wrong reason to enter the writing world. Most writers, good or bad, do not make a high income. A better approach would be to treat “making money” as a byproduct of your love for writing; however, passion/love alone doesn’t pay the bills. At one point, you will reconsider and go back to your Why, and make a decision. You will consider your ultimate goal and adjust your plan if necessary. Many independent authors are doing very well.
What about branding and trademark?
Developing a brand is to your advantage, whether you become a traditionally publish author or an indie author. People tend to associate a name with branding. Study the books of best-selling authors, and notice common characteristics such as color, typography, mood… It is cohesive and recognizable. This is something you will develop with time, because in the beginning you are learning about yourself as an author. However, when traditionally published you will be coached and steered towards an image/brand. The experts take care of that, in a way. When you publish traditionally, you are under contract with a particular publishing house, for the duration of your contract, and both sides have legal obligations to fulfill; you are also represented by an agent. As an independent author, it is up to you to develop a brand (or not), and your work falls under copyright laws and protected by it. I advise to educate yourself on this topic.
How fast should I write a book and publish it?
Writing a book is not an easy endeavor. It takes much crafting, editing, reviewing, research, and other considerations, aside from the publishing part, which has its own challenges. You should not be in a rush but take as necessary to present a well-crafted book always, one you are proud of as an indie writer. Under traditional publishing, you are under contract and must meet the deadlines expected.
Do I have to stick to a particular genre?
There is no right or wrong answer here. I recognize the advantage of sticking to a particular genre, one you have some kind of degree of passion, but I don’t see it as a rule. The experts will tell you different. From the point of view of developing a brand and polishing your style there is definitely a strong reason to try to write in one genre. Know that the boundaries of writing go as far as the mind of the writer, and in my opinion, imagination and creativity and boundless. I don’t follow the stick to a genre rule. The answer becomes clearer as you grow in your craft.
What is the most important thing to do when trying to become a writer?
Write, but aside from developing a writing process/schedule, I think that it is educating yourself as much as you can in anything related to writing and publishing. You cannot craft a plan to follow a path without information, and knowing where you are headed. There are many books available now as well as websites, podcasts, videos, that you can utilize. Visit bestselling authors websites. Many of them offer tips for aspiring authors. Even the visual education you gain by studying their well-crafted websites is worth it.
I hope this has been helpful and that you continue to educate yourself in the craft, but most of all that you embrace your passion for writing and run with it.
Finding my way back to my book in progress, The Girl Who Could Not Love, hasn’t been easy. I stopped. I tried. I stopped once more. I had to put it aside for some time despite wanting to continue writing it. Something was not right. It lay dormant, and eventually, I knew I had to come back to it. It has been on my mind all this time, morning, night, and in between; however, distant, but calling me. It is the book that begs to be written to a hesitant writer that has finally surrender to it. Whether to answer the call or not, is not important anymore; it is why. Why is this story haunting me? Why the fight between pen and heart? Why do I want to write this story? Why won’t the story quit? Why won’t I quit?
While reading Never Too Late (or was it Shine On? I read them back-to-back) by Claire Cook, I thought about something she mentioned. It is to ask yourself in the reinvention journey, but in her case while writing a book, what stands in the way of my protagonist? I asked that question about my novel, and my protagonist. The answer, me. I was standing in the way. So, I had to ask myself the question, and I got my deep-rooted answer. I am working on it.
In the meantime, I have been reading up a storm, some of which are these. I am currently reading It’s Rising Time by Kim Kiyosaki. I am enjoying this book very much. I like the writing style of Kim Kiyosaki; it is straight and to the point. So far, I think that this is a book that every woman should read. Next on the agenda is Life Glows On by Claire Cook. Her non-fiction books are straight from the heart and fueled by her experience, as a woman who reinvented herself.
Photo by M.A.D.
Photo by M.A.D.
The garden always calls this time of the year. About two years ago, I planted two tiny rose bushes. One of them, the red rose bush, has grown considerably when compared to the other, a pink rose bush. I planted these at the same time, and they have grown under similar conditions. Both were labeled miniature rose bushes. Just as people, they continue to grow at a different pace. Just like writer’s stories, they bloom and develop at different stages.
To the left, near the duck, the pink rose bush, and on the right, the red rose bush. Photo by M.A.D.
Red rose bush. Miniature? Not so much, but spectacular. Photo by M.A.D.
Miniature or not, both rose bushes have their own enchantment.
Has self-publishing on Amazon lost its allure? I have asked myself the question, and I honestly think that it has become a non-monitored farm where the cows run amok, and the farmer is too busy to do it all. The amount of crap (content without any creative effort just for the sake of making a quick buck) that has been published over time is nothing compared to the amount of low content books that plague the site. Low content books are defined as “books” that have minimal content/text, are repetitive or contain templates, blank pages, or a simple design/drawing. Examples are coloring books, notebooks, journals … Although there are many of these items that have been created with much care, creativity, and offer value to the customer, and that is a legitimate endeavor, there is another type of low content that does not follow the guidelines, and the creator has not made an effort to make the product legitimate. It does not have any valuable or substantial content for the customer. This type of low content takes up a lot of real estate on Amazon, and it is being published at a fast rate, thus “clogging up” Amazon. The problem is the product that does not offer anything to the user and is created without any creative care or thought-out intent. These self-publishers only focus on quantity vs quality and are there to sell as many low-content books to make fast money.
Legitimate authors are paying the price having to navigate the dirty waters that are flooding prime real estate. Although Amazon is making efforts and intensifying the review process, as well as removing non-compliant books, the flood gates have been open for a while. This will be a long and continuous effort, and hopefully, will alleviate part of the problem. I say part of the problem because there are many other issues in the future, if not now, such as AI generated “books” or content from legitimate authors that might have been manipulated and rebranded, and of course, there has always been content on public domain that can be published by anyone. As you can imagine this takes up prime real estate on Amazon.
So, has independent publishing on Amazon lost its allure for legitimate authors? Well, the answer to that might depend on the answer to other questions: Has publishing on Amazon lost prestige? Is Amazon too crap-saturated? Has Amazon hurt legitimate authors by allowing this type of content? Will the traditional publishing industry say, “I told you so?” The questions are many. Self-publishing continues to evolve, hand in hand with technology, and no one knows what the future holds, even for the big giant. I guess that for now, I’ll take it one book at a time.
The other day, I was minding my daily grind and an idea for a new novel came to mind, a good one, I thought. The idea presented itself as the beginning and ending of the story, nothing in between. I was busy, so I decided to write it down later on. Later on never came, and the whole idea went out of my mind; I simply cannot remember it. When it is gone, it is gone for good. This is something that I find happens more often as I age. Before, in my younger years, I would put the thought or idea on pause, and come back to it later. Not so anymore. That is why now it has to be written when it presents itself, otherwise it is lost forever, and forever is a long time.
As we age, our memory is a bit less reliable than it was in our younger years. We are not as quick and sharp as we used to be, and that happens to every person, to some more than others. After researching this topic for my own benefit, I decided to write this post. No matter how old we are, it is good to exercise the mind just as we exercise the body. It is common knowledge that exercising the body improves the mind function, and so does eating a healthy diet; so is leaving habits like smoking, alcohol, drugs, sugar …. Beyond that, what can a person do to improve brain function? Getting enough sleep and rest is another item in the commonsense bucket. Aside from those mentioned above, experts recommend social contact, mental activities that exercise the brain such as word puzzles, painting, drawing, manual dexterity activities, reading, jigsaw puzzles, learning something new … Eating nuts and seeds seems to be beneficial, and so is my favorite treat, dark chocolate. There are other foods that appear to boost your brain, and vitamins such as B6, B9, B12, are also beneficial. Some supplements are specific to brain health, and there is difference of opinion about that. Meditation and keeping a diary seem to help as well. All of the above things I do already, although I have to work on the “sweet tooth” a bit more.
All this information most of us know it by heart; it has been repeated over and over. I find that most times, I forget things when I am on automatic pilot and not being mindful of what I am doing. When I pay attention and focus on what is at hand, I feel more alert and conscious, even organized and with less brain fog. I guess use it or lose it is appropriate in this case. Long gone are the days.
Inkspeare 