Questions for RENE DE PAZ
Mainly fiction.
We already know that nowadays, every aspiring influencer, podcaster, or entrepreneur with a personal brand has an intern (“let me check with my team…”) and so on, but generally, it’s just me. For better or worse, it’s better this way. I work with contractors and partners on various projects: editorial team, my agent, distributor, and team at my companies, they help me when I need it. I have support from a lot of people. But most things related to my personal brand, to be exact; 80% of the time, I’m the one doing everything around here. Is that good or bad? Maybe a little bit of both. I often use automation services and on rare occasions I have someone take care of answering emails for me, because guess what? I answer emails too!
I live and work in Miami, Florida. Although in the future I may find myself divided between the United States and Spain.
I often organize events and book signings with the editorial team. Q&A sessions like these on email platforms and social media. I also often promote book clubs and visit some within the city where I live. I am willing to give interviews and podcasts to share ideas. Social media. My website and blog. And finally, charitable initiatives and similar events.
Yes! I definitely plan to write films and scripts for some of my novels in the future, and to be a producer of them, but it still takes time to get to that point, but the time will certainly come one day. I am preparing to reach that goal one day. I will keep you posted.
Hmmm… let me think… I recommend watching:
· Rocky (I love it)
· Pretty Woman
· The Godfather
· A Dog´s Journey
· Three Steps Above Heaven
· The Pursuit of Happiness
Hmmm… I have many in mind, perhaps these were the first ones that came to mind.
I’m not really keen on the idea. I prefer to write on my blog even though it’s out of fashion. When I write it’s much more rewarding, I do it in bed before going to sleep or early in the morning. Having to record a video requires time that I don’t have and work that I’m not passionate about.
I used to swim more regularly. Now I do too, but less than before. I have always been bad at sports, except swimming. Another sport I play more often these days is golf. I tend to keep myself physically and mentally fit, but I should play other sports like tennis. I also like to watch football, but I don’t play it very often.
To the point. I don’t have an MFA or anything like that, though I took creative writing classes and attended book/writing clubs that helped me. I didn’t generally go to college for literature and I don’t have a master’s degree. I also don’t have mentors in this area or anything. I learned to write by writing, and I still have a lot more to learn.
I think writing is rewriting. And revision is key, and I mostly cut a lot of my first drafts. But you end up with a lot of mini-drafts along the way, so it’s hard to give you an answer, as it also tends to vary.
Leonardo Da Vinci by Walter Isaacson.
Good luck with your career! I can’t because that leads to some legal problems, the choice of an agent or editor depends on your writing style.
No. If I did it for one person, I would feel like I would have to do it for many other people. Also, there is another reason and it is illegal.
I’m very curious about generative medicine, blockchain, clean energy technologies, and many other boring, but intriguing and exciting things.
I don’t know what your dreams are. Maybe you want to be a drug dealer and your mother doesn’t support you, in that case, I’m with your mother. Now, no matter what, I feel that the people who love you will always want to see you happy and fulfilled. There are things that you have to experience for yourself if you want them. Do you think I got support from my family? No, and most people don’t. When you decide to follow your dreams, you will lose a lot of people along the way. And that’s part of life. Be brave and live YOUR LIFE, not the one that is imposed on you. You will regret not trying more than trying and failing.
I still struggle to pursue good habits and I am succeeding, but it is a process that I have been following for years. But I can say that reading and writing are the habits that are most embedded in my life. Also work, study and research. And other healthy ones like doing sports and sleeping well.
I am almost always busy, but not because I only dedicate my time to work, but also because I dedicate it to my family and myself. My family is my best creation and their well-being is my highest priority. I am not a man who is late for dinner with his family. And I always make time for activities that enrich me like reading, studying and traveling. But, I must confess, it was not always like this. I used to work a lot, and I still do, but now I prioritize my own well-being. I almost always have a full schedule, but I always plan to enjoy time with my friends and loved ones, in addition to just work responsibilities. Some of my loved ones may say that I never call on the phone, but they will never tell you that when I am with them I do not treat them as my highest priority.
I think that, in summary, there are two key questions: what subject do you want to write about and how to do it. In the second question, it is true that there are rules and it is valuable to know them. But sometimes it is also good not to apply them literally, and even to know how to ignore them if one is inspired. Because telling stories will never stop being an art, and it seems to me that the great masters, whether in literature, film or in other fields, are not those who have followed the rules, but those who have invented them. The truly important thing is what we are going to tell. It is not that I believe that it is possible to conceive anything truly new, but today there are many stories that have a lot to do with each other and, without a doubt, you have to have the desire to tell at least one story in particular.
I think that before I learned to write, I was already pretending to do it. Then I became a reader and I got hooked. I fell in love not only with stories, but with the effect they have on people’s emotions. When you have a life, your own story, you have more vulnerabilities to feel emotionally attracted to others, whether fictional or not. You can identify with the protagonist, hate the villain, cry at the drama and laugh at the comedy, all of that even knowing that it is not real. As a writer, it attracts me, and that is why literature is not only an art, it is part of the human essence.
It’s not easy. I don’t think anyone who is self-employed can manage their daily life and a side hustle without paying a high price. In my case, I had to get organized, but deep down I knew I was no Elon Musk, so my trick can be summed up in two words “Order and Leverage” and yet, it was difficult. It still is difficult. The worst thing is that sometimes we need to disconnect, and I agree, but it depends a lot on what kind of disconnection you take; you will be more productive later. If disconnecting was being on social media five to four hours a day, it was a problem. In my case it wasn’t so bad, but for a while I felt deeply weak towards short-term pleasures and dopamine highs. So, knowing this, I had to work even harder, making it twice as difficult. My advice is to leverage a team and spend time getting organized often.
I don’t know if I’m the best person to give advice on this, but you should know that personal branding is more about reputation than followers and likes. Nowadays, having a personal brand is summed up by uploading short videos to Instagram and speaking in front of cameras. Yes, personal branding communicates, and it should do so, but it should also work on creating something that sets you apart. Having a personal brand is not the same as being an influencer.
I never know where the story I’ve started will take me. And an example of this is my first novel, “Climbing Mountains.” If I knew where I was going, writing wouldn’t be exciting and I’d find it boring. I’ve met many writers, many, who apply the technique of developing the story in very precise plot outlines. For them it’s like building, for me it’s creating. Surely my concept of writing is outdated; but that’s how I approach stories. And believe me, I’m a person who plans almost everything, but regarding the art of storytelling I think we should just let ourselves go. For me; it’s the words that lead to ideas, and not the other way around. It’s true that sometimes not having a plan makes you lengthen the story, but I’ve also seen from my experience that when we write, our subconscious directs us more naturally. Just as life often directs us. Sometimes I’m the most surprised by my own plot and that makes it magical. And regarding the characters, the same thing happens. They create themselves, and then they drive the story for me. Simply put, I have no technique for planning plots or creating characters.
Founding and running Mederi KOI from scratch taught me many things. One of them is that, like writing a novel, it launched me on a journey that I don’t know how it will end. It’s a bit adventurous and that’s what captivates me. We can say many things that may resemble each other, but they are definitely two different things. And it’s all a matter of balance. Being a writer is more closely tied to my passion for writing and expressing myself. Founding and running my company is more involved with a mission to provide, help and create solutions for others. Both together, fulfill the perfect combination of my life purpose.
First of all, if you are a leader, it is because of the people who allow themselves to be led. The power of a leader does not reside in him, but in the people who follow him. Knowing this, being a leader is not about having power over others. Rather, it is about the responsibility of leading everyone to fulfill a shared vision.
Nowadays it is easy to write whatever you want, so my advice would be to consider your reasons for wanting to write. Is it something you truly want? Why? Many people jump into this difficult industry thinking that they will be famous and praised by everyone, but nothing could be further from the truth. We should not write for an external reason to get fame or money. If that is our reason, we will get an unpleasant surprise. We should write because we are truly passionate about telling stories and sometimes, creating them.
If you apply my advice of not following the rules (not to say not knowing them), in any field in which you are working, you will be criticized. It is also important to say that criticism is the greatest source of learning you will have. Criticism is good! But you will always have it. When I was writing my first novel, before publishing it, I sought feedback and asked my girlfriend at the time that when she read my work she only wanted to hear criticism. And that made me improve. Most of the criticism, for the most part, is right, although not all criticism is absolute. But it also goes without saying that many criticisms are uninformed and in bad faith. You would be surprised to know that most of the criticism I have received has been from people who have not read my books, who do not know my work in general and who do not know who I am. But, do not let criticism affect you, ultimately, it is your work, you decide how to elaborate it and what to elaborate. The best way to not be affected is to know that you will always be criticized. Consider that even the most famous works of art in the world are criticized and rejected.
I went through several writer’s blocks and one way to overcome them was to surround myself with people with the same tastes as me. That’s why when I was writing my first novel I attended a book club where I found inspiration. I used to visit the library often and do things alone like going to the cinema, art galleries, museums. It also helped me a lot to listen to classical music, which I considered boring when I was a teenager, but it’s fantastic how that kind of music helped me to be in the company of my creative muse when writing.
Well, AI is nothing new, it is a technology that will always be advancing and can change everything. And in the world of writing, if it is possible that it can change, it should not be ignored, nor underestimated. But, if you will let me give you my cautious opinion, AI will be able to create content, but it will never be able to do something that is undeniable in humans and in literature; I am talking about emotions. The art of writing is connected to the practice of transmitting deep emotions and personal experiences
However, every self-respecting author has had what is known as “author’s block.” In ancient times, blocks were solved by taking a walk in nature, observing the world around them. Others, like me, through music and art. Curiously, some historical authors sought more unusual solutions. Some are known to take pills that were believed to boost the mind. And while the idea of overcoming author’s block remains a universal theme, it is also true that AI with its ability to generate ideas can help authors. Although that does not mean that it should be used compulsively in the short term, such as writing an entire story.
I admire many personalities such as Ada Lovelace, Leonardo Da Vinci, Benjamin Franklin, among others. My admiration goes to those who, with their ingenuity and effort, try to contribute something positive to society and the world. I am even an admirer of people who are not known by many, and who contribute wonderful things to humanity, whether in a philanthropic or intellectual way.
I am always working on new projects, but in a balanced and patient way. Of course I have a lot of work at Mederi KOI, where my team and I have more projects than money for execution, but we do not know how to give up and we will fight to carry them out one by one. And I am also getting involved in new market opportunities, but for the moment they will remain reserved. As a novelist, new novels are coming, I am always writing, although not so fast, speed sometimes ruins everything. Although I cannot give too many details of what is coming, I will keep the community very informed of my work and I invite you to sign up for the newsletter so that you are among the first to find out.
Yes. I am passionate about supporting causes and organizations that align with my values. I created the Mederi KOI Philanthropy program within the project, which is a bridge between donations from some non-profit organizations involved mainly in health issues, such as free healthcare, research and prevention in underprivileged countries and regions. But the real heroes are the non-profit organizations and the people who donate. I am enthusiastic about doing more, much more for the community and being able to help more those in need with Mederi KOI Philanthropy. Another of my projects is EcoD’PAZ, an extension of the D’PAZ brand and we use it to donate 2% of our income as well as donations from clients to plant trees. I also use this platform for social work.
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