Our child is 2 now! Happy Cat Birthday, Ramses! xxx #Aby #Cat #Catlove

This week we’re exploring “Author versus Writer--What's the Difference?” Join the discussion! Spread the word. open.substack.com/pub/orlandoo...

This week we’re exploring “The Author's Role in the Publishing Ecosystem”. Join the discussion!

This week we’re exploring “What No One Teaches You in MFA Programs or Writing Workshops”. Join the discussion! orlandoortegamedina.substack.com/p/week-2-wha...

Attention authors! Join me on a free 63-week journey to becoming visible before you're published!

Book promotion is what most writers think of when their book is ready to launch. Author promotion is about building an audience that’s interested in your perspective, not just your latest release. Insight from Orlando Ortega-Medina.

Sometimes I forget I live on an island.

Pensive Ramses... #cat #abbysinian

Our #cat Ramses coping with the #London heatwave...

Give yourself 1 point for each thing you've NEVER done.

What are you lookin' at? #mycat

Don’t miss this amazing Pride Month interview featuring Orlando Ortega-Medina and his incredible novel, Emerald Road, on the LA Public Library Blog! loom.ly/Cf7PUB0 #PrideMonthBookSky #LGBTQBookSky #BookSky

For those of you that love a good boy+dog story! 🙂

Congratulations to Bywater Books on this well-deserved honour! Onward and upward!

Friends! Check out this new, insightful review of my recently released novel 'Emerald Road.’ url:https://www.ebar.com/story/154701/Arts%20%26%20Culture/Orlando%20Ortega-Medina%E2%80%99s%20%E2%80%98Emerald%20Road%3A%20A%20Tale%20of%20Love%2C%20War%2C%20and%20Betrayal%E2%80%99

Happy Publication Day, Mark B. Perry! Wishing you every success with the release of your scintillating novel And Introducing Dexter Gaines! @AmblePress

“The freedoms you take for granted ...can be gone...when that happens...you’re no longer the person who closes the door in the face of immigrants...you’re appealing to the basic human decency of a stranger.” —Walter Rhein Read the whole story here: loom.ly/qIkSakA #BookSky #LGBTQSky #BookRecSky

BlueSkyers! Check out and share this insightful review of my novel Emeral Road titled "We Need More Novels that Emphasize the Basic Humanity of Immigrants"!https://walterrhein.substack.com/p/we-need-more-novels-that-emphasize-30e

Imagining EMERALD ROAD on screen is thrilling because of its rich characters and vivid settings. Here’s my dream cast:   • Isaac Perez – Julio Torres   • Gerónimo – Tenoch Huerta   • Suchi – Indya Moore   • Diego – Anthony Ramos   • Don Federico – Joaquim de Almeida   • Cashtōka – María Telón

“Emerald Road showcases Ortega-Medina's distinctive narrative-driven storytelling style. It is a novel that is raised to an impressive level of literary excellence by the imaginative talents of its author.” —Midwest Book Review Get your copy today: loom.ly/yoYtCp0

Be generous with that repost button! Especially for stories, essays, and art in general! Flood this site with creativity!

DAILY TIPS FOR NEW WRITERS Day 25: Build relationships in the literary community. Support other authors by attending their events, engaging with their work, and celebrating their successes—connections create opportunities.

DAILY TIPS FOR NEW WRITERS Day 24: Engage fully with life. Immerse yourself in new experiences, connect with people, and stay curious—the richest stories come from truly living.

Check out this new interview in Nuevas Paginas about my last novel The Fitful Sleep of Immigrants! lupitareads.substack.com/p/nuevaspagi...

DAILY TIPS FOR NEW WRITERS Day 23: Write one kind note each day to someone you admire in publishing. These small acts of generosity will open doors in ways you never imagined.

DAILY TIPS FOR NEW WRITERS Day 22: When editing, kill your darlings. If a sentence, scene, or character doesn’t serve the story, no matter how much you love it, cut it.

DAILY TIPS FOR NEW WRITERS Day 21: Tell the story only you can tell. Your voice, experiences, and perspective make your writing unique.

DAILY TIPS FOR NEW WRITERS Day 20: Eliminate clichés. Fresh, original language makes your writing more compelling and memorable.

DAILY TIPS FOR NEW WRITERS Day 19: Never send anything to agents or publishers unless it’s flawless—no typos, no grammar slips, no formatting errors. You get one chance per manuscript—make it count.

DAILY TIPS FOR NEW WRITERS Day 18: When editing, eliminate redundancies and cut unnecessary words. Clarity and precision make your writing stronger.

DAILY TIPS FOR NEW WRITERS Day 17: Every scene should serve a purpose—move the plot forward, reveal character, or deepen conflict.

DAILY TIPS FOR NEW WRITERS Day 16: Strong verbs bring your writing to life. Choose action words that add energy and precision to your sentences.

DAILY TIPS FOR NEW WRITERS Day 15: Don’t fear the blank page. Start writing, even if it’s messy—momentum is more important than perfection.

DAILY TIPS FOR NEW WRITERS Day 14: Dialogue should serve a purpose—reveal character, advance the plot, or build tension.

DAILY TIPS FOR NEW WRITERS Day 13: Embrace rewriting. The magic of storytelling often happens in revision, not the first draft.

DAILY TIPS FOR NEW WRITERS Day 12: Write the story only you can tell. Your unique perspective and voice are your greatest strengths.

DAILY TIPS FOR NEW WRITERS Day 11: Conflict drives stories. Give your characters challenges that test their goals and values.

DAILY TIPS FOR NEW WRITERS Day 10: Avoid info-dumping. Reveal backstory naturally through dialogue, actions, and context.

DAILY TIPS FOR NEW WRITERS Day 9: Set a daily writing goal. Whether it’s 100 words or 1,000, consistency will help you finish your project.

Writer Orlando Ortega-Medina talks about queer immigrant resilience in this brilliant piece on @LGBTQReads. Read it here: loom.ly/BjZ_OiI #BookSky #AuthorSky #LGBTQSky #ImmingratonSky

✨ It's Publication Day! ✨ My novel EMERALD ROAD is out today! Set in 1980s El Salvador, it follows Isaac as he flees civil war with his loyal dog, Ahbhu, on a perilous journey to the US. A story of resilience, love, and hope. 📚 NOW AVAILABLE AT YOUR BOOKSELLER OF CHOICE!

DAILY TIPS FOR NEW WRITERS Day 8: Write with all five senses. Engaging sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch brings your scenes to life.

DAILY TIPS FOR NEW WRITERS Day 7: Give your characters flaws. Imperfections make them relatable and memorable.

DAILY TIPS FOR NEW WRITERS Day 6: Start your story as close to the action as possible. Hook readers early and keep them engaged.

DAILY TIPS FOR NEW WRITERS Day 5: Read widely and often. The more you read, the more tools you gain to shape your own writing.

DAILY TIPS FOR NEW WRITERS Day 4: Write first, edit later. Let your creativity flow without judgment—perfection comes in revision.

I always get a kick out of seeing one of mine on a library shelf. There I am, cuddled up right next to George Orwell!

DAILY TIPS FOR NEW WRITERS Day 3: Show, don’t tell. Let readers experience your story through actions, dialogue, and sensory details.

DAILY TIPS FOR NEW WRITERS Day 2: Don’t wait for inspiration to strike—start writing, and inspiration will find you in the process.

DAILY TIPS FOR NEW WRITERS: Day 1: Write every day, even if it’s just a single sentence. Consistency builds momentum, and momentum creates stories.