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Rafael

Goodreads Author

Born

New York City, The United States

Website

http://readersofrafael.com/

Genre

Suspense, Science Fiction, Thriller

Influences

Octavia Butler

Member Since

August 2014

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/rafaelnyc

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Born and raised in New York City, a spectacular river of people from every part of the world and country flows through my hometown. It inspired me to spend large segments of my life traveling across the globe to experience their native habitats.

The insights my characters bring to the human condition reflect my many adventures and encounters along those journeys.

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Popular Answered Questions

How do you deal with writer’s block?

Rafael It depends on how one defines writer's block. It can either mean you don't know what to write next, or you don't know what to write at all. Let me add…moreIt depends on how one defines writer's block. It can either mean you don't know what to write next, or you don't know what to write at all. Let me address the second one first.

If you want to write a novel and no idea for a central premise or an overall concept is forthcoming, the short answer is, that's a problem. The shopworn cliché, write what you know, is just that, a cliché. And if what you know is not very interesting or known by a million others, you're in danger of writing a dull novel. Besides, only non-fiction types should write what they know. If you're a fiction writer, why would you shackle your imagination like that??

But if you really, really want to write, my suggestion is live life. It's not essential that you satisfy your urge to write, right now. Explore life. Make new friends. Especially ones who don't live next door or look, talk, and act like you. If they do, you're in a staid, predictable, rut. Not learning, not growing. Travel somewhere and not to the local beach or park. For starters, make it 500 miles away. Better still 1,000. Get out of your routine existence and see how others live. Once you're exposed to how different people view the world and its problems, you'll be amazed what it does to the creative process.

And while you're traveling, LOOK around you. What's new? What's strange? What's unimagined? Then investigate it. What is actually going on is you're reducing curiosity to a practical exercise. A curious mind is constantly inspired with new and novel ideas. And these will find their way into your stories.

And finally, read, read, read. Make novels the exception. Explore the world through newspapers, editorials, essays, blogs, non-fiction, magazines. Every one of the writers in these venues presents a different way of thinking and viewing the world. And you never know when a topic they're expounding on will inspire a concept for your novel.

As for not knowing what to write next, this one is easy. Writing is not simply making words appear on a computer screen. If you're at the end of a sentence, or even a paragraph, and don't know what to write next, STOP !! Get up and fix the bed, sweep the floor, wash the dishes, inflate your tires, change the oil. Do anything that doesn't require a lot of thought or any activity you've reduced to mindless habit. The walk/drive/bus/train to work. The elevator going up. That infernally boring meeting. And all the while, ask yourself, "What happens next?" Not the next paragraph or the next chapter but what happens immediately following the last written sentence. If an answer doesn't come, keep working. Before you finish the task, an answer will come. When it does, don't stop working though. Mentally edit the sentence. Rework it. Revise it. Improve it. Often a better sentence will arise. But if not, keep working. One will.

And if it takes a day, or two, or three, remember this: you are writing!!! As I said, writing is not just you in font of a computer screen. Whatever the life routine you're engaged in, keep the question in the back of your mind. What happens next? All the time you're analyzing, considering, discarding, editing, revising, you are writing. When the answer does come, stop what you're doing, return to the computer, and add it in. Very often you'll find whole paragraphs and pages will flow.

If you ask the question consistently two benefits will result: one later, one now. Ultimately by asking, 'What happens next?', you will arrive at The End, and your novel will be a tightly integrated, sequentially coherent whole.

The immediate benefit, however, your chores will be done!!(less)

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What’s the best thing about being a writer?

Rafael Writing frees you from so many things in life where you are dependent on what someone else might do or not do.

You can't delegate it and if you put it …moreWriting frees you from so many things in life where you are dependent on what someone else might do or not do.

You can't delegate it and if you put it off, it mocks and shames you. No one else will write it for you, no one else will edit and revise it. No one but you can work through that plot twist to make it credible. The characters won't write or define themselves. And if you give them short shrift, they'll be shallow and weak, unoriginal and uninspiring. No one can challenge that mountain for you. Or deny it. But if you place one foot before the other, refuse to break before the obstacles, the climb will reward you with a majestic, breathtaking view.(less)

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Rafael’s books

Average rating: 3.96 · 83 ratings · 27 reviews · 42 distinct works • Similar authors

	Christopher Columbus The Hero: Defending Columbus From Modern Day Revisionism 4.35 avg rating — 46 ratings — published 2018 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	They Cried Wolf 3.65 avg rating — 17 ratings — published 2013 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Huntsman 3.90 avg rating — 10 ratings — published 2014 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The United States of Africa liked it 3.00 avg rating — 6 ratings — published 2013	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	รักนี้ไม่ต้องมีเสียง really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 1 rating	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Cristóbal Colón El Héroe: Defendiendo a Colón del Revisionismo Moderno 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	La lumière d'Itsu by Rafael (Goodreads Author), Birger 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Apologia Del Altar Y Del Trono, Ó Historia De Las Reformas Hechas En España En Tiempo De Las Llamadas Cortes ..., 2... 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Apologia Del Altar Y Del Trono, Ó, Historia De Las Reformas Hechas En España En Tiempo De Las Llamadas Cortes, E Impugnacion De Algunas Doctrinas ... La Religion Y El Estado 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	you're perfect You're Beautiful Etc Notebook: Notebook for Painting & Drawing with Bright Colors, Writing Notebook, Students and Teachers, Diary Journal for Writing, (120 Pages 6" x9") 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Rafael's Blog

Stalking An Agent

While I've begun to incorporate Seraphim's critiques and suggestions and also the uncovered typos and grammar problems, I'm also scouting agencies that might be interested in giving an unknown a chance.

I hope my fellow Indie writers trying to find a publisher who can take over the marketing efforts, will find it useful to read my thinking as I plow through the scores on my list. I'll only cherry p Read more of this blog post »

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