A Q&A with Executive Director and CEO of LATiSM: Kety Esquivel

Kety Esquivel has over fifteen years of experience in the non‐profit, private and political sectors. Kety graduated from Cornell University where she served on the Board of Trustees. While at Cornell, she organized students to defend issues as varied as financial aid and need-blind admissions to the environment. Her work has taken her to China and Ethiopia with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, she has worked as the New Media Manager for the National Council of Lar Raza (NCLR), and she is a published author and founder of CrossLeft.org. Her commentary has been featured and quoted in stories for the Wall St. Journal Online, HITN, PBS, XM radio, Democracy Now, CNN, Televisa and Univision.  She blogs at her personal blog and at Huffington Post.  She is the Executive Director and CEO of Latinos in Social Media (LATISM).


It's an honor for me to have had the opportunity to interview Kety.  She is a source of great inspiration and is one of the most supportive people I have come across in social media.  (Follow her on twitter).  

This interview has been underway for a while, and I truly feel fortunate that Kety was able to squeeze a little bit of time for this interview between attending the People's World Conference for Climate Change and the Rights of Mother Earth in Cochabamba, Bolivia, organizing the first ever Latinos in Technology and Media MeetUp at SXSW, and getting married, oye! 

Enjoy! 
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You have so many incredible projects going on--how do you keep yourself on track, organized and coherent so that your energy is well-directed and productive? 

Thank you Nilki!  I try to contribute my grain of sand.  I was raised by a phenomenal mother who did it all.  By trade she was a school teacher.  When she came to this country she worked her way up from the mail room to the purchasing department in a Fortune 100 company; and then when she came home each night she took care of her two daughters and her very traditional though ideologically progressive Latino man.  Folks always wondered where she got all the energy to do everything she did.  I guess I'm lucky in that I've taken after her in that way.  What keeps me on track, organized and coherent so that my energy is well-directed and productive is keeping my eye on the prize and not sweating the small stuff.  Whenever I find myself going off track, I just remember why I do the work I do and then it all seems to fall into place, almost magically.   I recently came across the following quote by Thomas Jefferson and it rings pretty true to me, "I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have."  I work hard and try and work smart. 

How do you organize your daily activities and thoughts into writing?

 

I email myself any and all ideas.  I find that burst of creativity and inspiration come at me/to me in the most random of times so I am thrilled that I have a blackberry/computer on me constantly. 

I find that having the discipline to sit down and write is both the biggest challenge and the biggest gift.  Once I am sitting at the computer and doing it, the words flow.  It's like being in the zone.  Also, for me writing is an iterative process.  An idea will come and I will flesh it out bit by bit.  It takes time and dedication.  Having a deadline often helps me too.  Without deadlines things continue to shift to the bottom of the pile/long list of to-dos and for better or worse, I have a lot of those. 

My father is a poet, very prolific, composing three or so poems per sleepless night.  Perhaps that's where I get the writer gene from.  I love it and honestly wish I had more time to write in different genres.  I have several ideas of books which are works in progress and I've been meaning to get back to poetry for a while now.  The challenge as with all else is simply finding the time.  

What are the key ingredients for creating high-quality journalistic content?

 

I'd say there are three key ingredients in this recipe: 

#1- staying abreast of what is happening;  

#2- not being afraid to bring your voice to the table; 

#3- being passionate about conveying your message, whatever that is.   

It takes courage to put yourself out there, especially in this day and age when the feedback comes back to you the way that it does, completely unfiltered and public.  In many ways we are living in the wild west where many times anything goes.  Though I am at heart and always will be a citizen blogger, my time working for a communications shop in a DC organization probably helped to round me out a bit too.  I say a bit because now that I am no longer with them I have in many ways reverted back to my natural style. 

I think in journalism, as in almost every other profession, networking and finding a mentor is so crucial for success.  How did you get started in creating your network? How do you recommend new writers build their networks if they don't have the Graduate school platform or funds for conferences?

I was raised to believe that it is important to help your neighbor.  I certainly have been the recipient of good will and several opportunities from peers and mentors who have helped to guide me on the road to success and it has been my hope to do the same for others.  

I think it's very important to see the worth in others work and share with them resources, knowledge and opportunities that you might have and which they might not. There were folks who came before me who shared those resources, knowledge and opportunities with me and it is my hope to be able to do the same for others every chance that I can.    

If there is one piece of advice that I would give to young writers it would be to not be afraid and to ask for what you want or need and be persistent about it.  The worse that can happen is that you get a no and then you are no worse off than when you began.   Conferences are very important; I'm not talking about merely going to them but actually speaking at them and setting yourself up as an expert and presenting.

At Latinos in Social Media we know that there are many Latinos and Latinas who have the chops to be experts on panels, speakers, etc it's just a question of them getting the chance to do so. These are the opportunities that we are aiming to create. The statistics prove that we are the content producers. It is time for us to stop being humble about it and to step into that tremendous gift that we've been given and share it courageously with others. 

What did you have to overcome, in terms of the craft, or art, of writing to be where you are as a writer today?  Is there anything you are still working on, that you are consciously trying to improve? 

I think I will always be a work in progress and the same is true for my writing.  I would like to be able to write faster, less drafts and be more prolific.  If I could live as my father does and never sleep, that would be helpful too, though my partner, Rich, might protest at the thought of that. Rich has been very helpful and supportive and in truth without him, I probably could not have done everything that I have as a writer. 

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Thanks again to Kety, and if you'd like to hear her one big piece of advice to writers, sign up to receive our newsletter which includes advice to writers, news about up-coming book tours, audio interviews and more! Sign up now!

First Ever Virtual Latino Book Tour stops by with author Estevan Vega!

Today I'm interviewing Estevan Vega, twenty-year-old author from Connecticut.

A huge thank you to Estevan for coming to Musings and sharing!

So Estevan, as I am a writer at the beginning of my career and my blog is geared towards writers at this same stage, I'd like to ask you some questions regarding your experiences beginning your career.

Ok, shoot.

The Sacred Sin is your second book.  How did the process of writing a second novel compare to writing your first?

Well, it felt like an easier feat to accomplish at first. I mean, I had spent close to three years or so writing Servant of the Realm. I started that thing when I was, like, in sixth grade. It went through a ton of edits, one of which consisted of me trashing fifty or so pages of it and completely starting over...that wasn't all that fun. But The Sacred Sin was a little different, because it was the first time I had something to work off of and compare. While I was in the process of getting Servant of the Realm published, I had begun working on book 2. Not a sequel, by the way. I started it in February and finished it that August. Or, so I thought. It also went through a gazillion edits, and three years later, it actually decided to be born...officially. So, very different, but very similar situations. All that had changed is my confidence and ability level. I definitely knew, without a doubt, that this was it...my passion.

Have you taken any courses in writing?  If so, do you believe there is anything you gain from a course that is absolutely essential to beginning authors?

I have taken some courses. I am going to be a junior in college, and my majors have been creative writing and English, so, I've definitely taken a bunch of classes. I've learned some things I've tried to employ and some things I don't really like, but it all helps, you know? It all aids in stimulating a writer's mind, whether you like what you're doing or not, it works to make you better. I remember my first writing class, I got a C. I was upset, to say the least, especially because I had turned in every assignment. Then my professor informed me of my tardiness and absences. Ahh....college. You can't even escape lame rules there.

I've also gone to a writer's conference called The NYC Pitch and Shop Conference, where I pitched my forthcoming novel Arson to editors who don't like to reply to e-mails. I got one request from an editor at Penguin for the manuscript, but she never contacted me back. Although, in her defense, I sent it in three months after the request.

So, onto the advice. Don't be late or oversleep for class. Send in materials when you're supposed to. And as for writing...don't suck. Whatever that means. Oh, and read and watch tons of movies.

Can you describe the experience with an editor?

Not really, because for my first two books, the editor was pretty much me. Both publishers assigned someone to copy-edit, but there were still mistakes. Plus, I can only read a manuscript so many times, before I don't even notice my own mess-ups, which is why there were still a few typos in The Sacred Sin and Servant of the Realm. Sorry, world. When Arson comes out, I'll let you know.

Do you belong to any writers groups or critique groups?  What have you found is the most valuable, in terms of feedback for your writing?

Can a writing group consist of two very needy dogs who shed constantly? They seem to be my biggest supporters, and most annoying critics. I don't know too many writer friends. My neighbor is a writer, and we've worked together a few times, but we don't talk often, probably because there's such an age gap. Other than that, I send my stuff out to other authors and get their feedback. But my aunt, miss Jean Gudaitis (had to give her a shout out) and my father have been the best supporters and encourages of my writing. They read the stuff, usually before anyone else, and let me know what they think...that's how I know if my stuff's good or if I need to run it through a blender again.

Do you write everyday?

Does any writer? Oh, man, I wish I did. It's hard to write everyday, because I do college and hang out with friends and try to have a normal life, whatever that means. Bascially, I'm just trying to find legitimate excuses for procrastination and slothfulness, but you're probably not buying it. I guess, the simple answer is...I just don't write everyday. But my mind never shuts off. I get new story concepts all the time...so that's cool.

How often do you read?

Again, something I should do more. Recently read The Road, which I liked. I read it because the movie was supposed to come out last year, and then the studio decided to push it back eleven months. But yeah, I gotta read more. Although, it just goes to show that even people who don't hum through nine million books a week can still attempt to contribute to the collection...whether they're good or not...

Do you tend to read books in your genre, or do you mix?

I like to read anything that sounds good. I mean, generally, I stay away from trashy dime-store novels with a buff cowboy on the cover. And generally don't care for mysteries, but I like watching them...which is probably why I decided to write The Sacred Sin, and why it has more of a movie feel than a novel. But I try to keep an open mind when reading. I give the author a chance to wow! me, which is all I can really ask of any other reader.

What authors do you believe have the most influence in your writing?

I haven't read a ton of his stuff, but I've seen a bunch of his movies. Stephen King. I've cited him as an influence a lot, because I really admire the guy. He has accomplished so much in his life, kicking down boundaries and redefining what an author is capable of. Plus, he's able to shift genres, which is something I think is really cool. Another author I really admire is Ted Dekker. He's a good writer, but (hopefully without sounding cocky) there are even a few instance in his books, where I'm like, "Oh, I could've phrased that better." That lets me know that one day, I might be where he is...assuming people like my stuff. Verdict's still out.

Can you describe the submission process you went through to find your publisher?

Long and arduous. Painful. Pride-squashing. Superfluous. Pleasant? But worth it.

Can you offer readers any advice, or tidbits learned throughout the process of submissions?

Write whenever you can, even if you're a slacker like me. Don't give a kangaroo (that's right, I said kangaroo) what people think when you tell them you're a writer, because there will be skeptics and nonbelievers. Just write, believe in yourself, so that one day others can believe in your words. Pray. Gnash your teeth, tighten up your gut and prepare for rejection...and eventual success. You can do it. What are you waiting for? Get writing! Oh, and take inspiration from anything and anyone around you. There are more plots and concepts than you probably can think of, and they're right in front of you.

What are you working on right now?

So glad you asked. I am very excited to announce my next novel Arson. It's a much more personal story than I've written before. Arson is a kid with an unusual ability, something he was born with but hates about himself. As he tries to identify what and who he is, a very strange yet very mysterious girl moves into the abandoned house next door, a girl who'd rather wear a mask than show the world, and this new boy, what her face really looks like. I'll be working on it this summer with my publisher, and it will hopefully be out later this year. Keep your eyes peeled!

Please check out my website: www.estevanvega.com, and say hi!

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Again, thanks to Estevan Vega for stopping by and another big thank you to BronzeWord Latino Author for hosting the first ever Virtual Latino Book Tour!  I'm really happy to be part of this! 

Tomorrow Estevan Vega will be at Rafael Marquez' site.  Check it out and learn more about Estevan!