About Tony Ortiz:
Tony Ortiz is a first generation Dominican American that was Born in Brooklyn and raised in Queens, New York. He is the host of the Spun Today Podcast which has a very cult-like following. He is a graduate of Baruch College in NYC, and has an unquenchable thirst for Writing.
What inspires you to write?
Anything and everything. Like many other creatives that I’ve spoken with, I have received sparks of inspiration from many different and unrelated things. Whether it’s a conversation on a Podcast, a book i’m reading, a quote or song lyric I’ve heard, etc. Flashes of inspiration fused with the motivation to actually sit down and write can come from anywhere and at anytime. That’s why I always keep a notebook and my favorite pen(s) handy.
Tell us about your writing process.
Call me old fashioned but there’s nothing like a pen and piece of paper for me. It gives me such a visceral connection to my work. It’s not practical in our digital world of course, but I always begin every first draft the same way. Pen and blank sheet of paper, tap into my mental flow state and let the muse, in her infinite wisdom, pour through me. Then when the time is write I type everything out (usually in Microsoft word but lately in Scrivener), and use that time to do my first self edit.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
I write both fiction and non-fiction. In fiction writing I’ve found it imperative to the story to let the characters do all the talking. I just listen and dictate. They really take off on their own. Most of the time to place and in directions I never thought they’d go in.
What advice would you give other writers?
Write what you know. Write your heart, what you feel. You’ll care more that way, and it’ll show in your writing. I really believe that we can transmit feelings through the page that way.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
There’s a part of me that would love for a traditional publisher to pick up my book or any future books, and when that time comes I’ll be all ears to see if it would pan out to be a mutually beneficial venture…but I like the freedom that comes with self-publishing. The control. The 360 degree oversight. Plus, what better way to learn about the industry and to have something tangible to compare the big publishing deals to when they come-a-knockin?
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
My ideal publishing future will have self-publishing rise to the ranks of the big six publishing houses in terms of opportunity, clout and credibility. the big six (or some combination of them) should remain as pillars of our community, but make way … an equal way… for the self publishing house.
What genres do you write?: Self-Help, Thriller, Suspense
What formats are your books in?: Both eBook and Print
Website(s)
Tony Ortiz Home Page Link
Link To Tony Ortiz Page On Amazon
Your Social Media Links
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
All information in this post is presented “as is” supplied by the author. We don’t edit, to allow you, the reader, to hear the author in their own voice.
