vlogs Archives -

An Inspirational Botanical Garden | An Author’s Vlog #27

ars.mink — Thu, 08 Feb 2024 13:11:50 +0000

Last December, I had an impromptu visit to UPR Botanical Garden in Rio Piedras. To my surprise, I not only stepped on a place resembling one of the kingdoms of Ascensión Divina, but there was also a route that inspired my work in progress. In this An Author’s Vlog #27, I take you on a stroll through this beautiful and inspirational botanical garden.

To be able to step into a place that resembles what you have written and the one you imagine for your work in progress is inspirational. As you know, I have been writing the new story at Old San Juan for part of the first act, and half of the second takes place there. It feels like I’m walking through the places my characters have walked, sat down with their friends, and faced their fears. I breathe deeply and look around for a few minutes, enjoying the scenery. Then, I take my pen, notebook, or computer, and write as you have seen on An Author’s Vlog videos. I can tell you I’ve enjoyed this process immensely and as I finish this first draft of which I’m behind my deadline, I fell more in love with it.

I hope you enjoy this video. Don’t forget to comment, like, share, and subscribe to the channel so you don’t miss the following ones. Have a beautiful and inspirational day.

P.S.: Have you visited this garden?

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A Book Fair with friends and colleagues | An Author’s Vlog 26

ars.mink — Thu, 07 Dec 2023 07:00:00 +0000

Over the past weekend, I attended the third installment of a Book Fair known as Barranquitas Entre Páginas. This event is a celebration centered around books authored by Puerto Ricans. Similar to previous editions, I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I engaged in conversations with readers who had already delved into “Ascensión Divina” and met new ones who took home the first book, “Obsesión.” It was a remarkable experience to celebrate our books alongside colleagues.

I lodged at an Airbnb with my accountability crew, minus one member who couldn’t make it, and the experience was nothing short of magical. I have a deep affection for this fair; it holds significant importance in our culture. Yes, by the end of it, I was exhausted, but I found joy in its outcome because I had the opportunity to engage in one-on-one conversations with my readers, and that, to me, is the pinnacle of the experience.

On episode 26, I give you a snippet of it for I forgot to record more of it. Hope you enjoy and do not forget to like, leave a comment, share it, and subscribe to the channel. Until the next video of An Author’s Vlog.

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An Author’s Vlog #25 A Writing Retreat

ars.mink — Thu, 09 Nov 2023 07:30:00 +0000

For almost two years, I had been contemplating doing a writing retreat, but I lacked the courage to take the plunge. However, in June, I finally summoned the courage to pursue this long-held dream. Deep down, I knew that if I yearned for a few days of solitude to indulge in my writing, surely other writers would feel the same way. With newfound determination, I reached out to a few of my dearest writer friends, extending an invitation to join me on what we called a literary escape. To my delight, they enthusiastically accepted my proposal.

On today’s episode of An Author’s Vlog, I invite you to join me on a captivating writing journey. Our destination The picturesque Casa Lago. Nestled amidst the stunning mountains of Utuado, this idyllic house near the tranquil shores of Lago Caonillas, served as our sanctuary for a blissful few days, allowing us to fully immerse ourselves in the art of writing. It was the perfect setting for this writing retreat.

Hope you enjoy Vlog #25, A Writing Retreat, and please share, like, and subscribe to my YouTube Channel.

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An Author’s Vlog 24: An Update on My Writing Process

ars.mink — Thu, 28 Sep 2023 07:30:00 +0000

In today’s video, I give you an update and a sneak peek of my writing process for the dystopia/sci-fi story I’m working on. I have enjoyed it immensely, as it has sparked new ideas, helped me better understand my protagonist and the antagonist, developed the plots profoundly, and allowed me to vividly imagine both familiar and new scenes. It has been a lot of fun! I have written to a friend a few times to share with her the fantastic moments I have had; I call these moments “Eureka” moments. I can say that this has been a beautiful journey that has left me excited about this story. I worked from home in the mornings until lunchtime, and, of course, in Old San Juan at a cafe and in my car, which has become my second office. I suppose I should start calling Old San Juan my third office, lol.

In An Author’s Vlog 24, you will be able to watch me put scenes on Post-it notes and arrange them on a whiteboard. I prefer updating the whiteboard with the new scenes because I find it more visually appealing than looking at them on the computer. I created a table on a sheet to organize the scenes in order, along with the main plot of the trilogy and the plots for the first installment. Additionally, I included the conflicts that each scene will have in order to create the necessary dramatic effects and move the plot forward. At this point, I have approximately 121 scenes. Although I have started writing new chapters, I feel the need to go back to the beginning and incorporate the new details that arose while crafting the scenes.

September is almost over, and I thought I would have at least 60% of the writing done. However, as you can see on my homepage called “Saludos,” where I have the percentage of the story posted, I am at 39% with a bit over forty-two thousand words. My goal is to write one hundred and ten thousand words. This week, I have to work on it. I will keep you posted through the vlog and come by here to my website to check the percentage so you can know where I am at.

By the way, before sharing the link to see the video on my writing process, this week I shared on Instagram a reel that has a “scene” of the story. Can’t say much, and the words are in Spanish, but the words are a clue in the story for something that will change the protagonist’s journey.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Alexandra Román | Creo mundos fantásticos (@alexandraroman)

Here is the link for An Author’s Vlog 24, enjoy and read you in the comments: https://youtu.be/T7lMJWX4ezo

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Thankful and a surprise | An Author’s Vlog 23

ars.mink — Thu, 07 Sep 2023 07:30:00 +0000

There are many things to be thankful and here is one, plus a surprise. Enjoy!

https://youtu.be/LHfU3dJNHDE

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An Author’s Vlog #18: Disconnected from writing

ars.mink — Thu, 10 Aug 2023 07:30:00 +0000

Sometimes you get disconnected from writing after a writing slump. I share in this new vlog what happened and how I discovered the reason for my writing slump. Have you gone through one?

Enjoy and don’t forget to like, subscribe and leave a comment.

Here is the link to the vlog.

https://youtu.be/kjdGNTj1In4

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An Author’s Vlog Ep 16 Where to find ideas

ars.mink — Thu, 13 Jul 2023 18:59:34 +0000

Do you know where to find ideas I’ve been asked this question many times and here I relate my answer. Enjoy today’s episode!

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An Author’s Vlog Ep 14: Writing in a heat wave

ars.mink — Thu, 22 Jun 2023 07:00:00 +0000

Writing during a heat wave is not easy, but an unscheduled change in my writing routine for this summer might help.

Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/7ewk4Kvyh6M

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An Author’s Vlog Ep 13 A pink brunch and some ideas

ars.mink — Thu, 15 Jun 2023 07:30:00 +0000

We needed to leave the house for a bit, so we ended up visiting a pink coffee shop. While I waited and conversed with my kids, I wrote a few ideas in my notebook before they disappeared from my mind. Enjoy today’s vlog.

https://youtu.be/y7Mgx6LiraM

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An Author’s Vlog Ep 12 Broadcasting from my car

ars.mink — Thu, 08 Jun 2023 07:30:00 +0000

When on the road, write in the car. Nothing fancy, but gets the job done which is taking time to write your story. Enjoy today’s vlog recorded in the comforts of my car while I’m in “mami” mode on.

Watch the video here:

https://youtu.be/gKhi5MuPTZE

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An Author’s Vlog: Ep 11 Art inspired by the written word

ars.mink — Thu, 01 Jun 2023 07:30:00 +0000

Every year the Central High of Visual Arts, a public school in Puerto Rico that specializes in art, has its annual exhibit. It is an inspiring and beautiful event where the students showcase their artwork, and the school is transformed into a museum. This year’s Expo was inspired by William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. I’ll take you to it in today’s “An Author’s Vlog”, hope you enjoy it! And if you have not yet subscribed to my YouTube channel, don’t forget to do it when you’re there.

https://youtu.be/eyXfQwNfiTA

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An Author’s Vlog 4: Writing at a historical castle

ars.mink — Thu, 13 Apr 2023 07:30:00 +0000

I have always wanted to sit at a castle and write. Well, this place I have visited before is full of history and it is where my protagonist does community service. Come join me while I explore its tunnels, the patios, and the rooms in search of a spot to sit down and write for a while. Enjoy and subscribe to my Youtube channel, and, of course, like and share. Un abrazo.

https://youtu.be/ez9HKqeSPo8

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An Author’s Vlog #2: Where the antagonist & protagonist meet

ars.mink — Thu, 30 Mar 2023 07:30:00 +0000

In this writing session, in Old San Juan, I take you to the gardens of a historic house called Casa Blanca. This house was built in 1521 by Juan Ponce de Leon to be his residence but never got to live in it, it has a section with three fountains, and benches where you can sit and relax either to write or read, or just meditate.

Here the antagonist and protagonist have a meeting and she is given a task that will move her closer to… Sorry, cannot give you spoilers. But what I can say is that this story is set in a futuristic timeline, in the Caribbean Antilles and it is a sci-fi/dystopia.

Watch the video on my YouTube channel and subscribe and like. Read you in the comments. Un abrazo and enjoy.

https://youtu.be/vhmrJCJEF3c

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