By Melisa Rodriguez
Graphic By Maya Uribe
In a recent interview, Robert Uribe, self-published author of two books, opened up about his experiences, motivations and advice for aspiring writers. His journey, rooted in a love for storytelling and independence highlights the evolving opportunities for writers in today’s publishing landscape.
Uribe’s published works include “A Name for a Girl” and “7 Days in Spain”, the first book in a trilogy. He is currently working on the second installment of this trilogy, with plans to complete it in the next year to a year and a half. When asked about his inspiration for writing, Uribe explained, “Since I was in high school, you know, I’ve always liked the idea of writing… And music has always been a major inspiration for writing.”
He went on to reveal how his travel to Spain with his daughter sparked the idea for “7 Days in Spain.” “When I took a trip to Spain with my daughter, it was like, oh, that’s a good story. Stand-alone story. And then I go, wait. I can work it into the overall trilogy.” This unexpected moment reshaped his journey, marking the beginning of his trilogy.
Reflecting on his creative process, Uribe shared that his favorite work to date is “7 Days in Spain”, calling it his “first real book,” in contrast to “A Name for a Girl”, which began as a personal journal to someday give to his daughter Maya. Uribe explained, “A Name for a Girl’ was more of a diary. A journal that I wrote for Maya. It was never meant to be published. It was just something that I wrote down, and I gave it to her.” It was not until a chance encounter with another writer on a school trip that Uribe was inspired to edit and publish his first work. During a school trip to Washington, he met another father who was a writer and had self-published his work. This encounter reignited Uribe’s passion for writing, inspiring him to revisit the journal.
Uribe’s approach to publishing is rooted in his desire to bypass traditional publishing routes rather than sending his books to a publisher. “I didn’t wanna wait. I didn’t want somebody telling me, oh, we should do it like this or you should do it like that.” Instead, he chose to self-publish through Amazon, emphasizing the autonomy that comes with it. He added, “Being a writer is getting the story out of your head, you know, and putting it down in a way where someone else can read it and gain something from it.”
Despite his self-publishing success, Uribe acknowledged the challenges that come with the writing and publishing process. When discussing setbacks, he shared, “I’ve written some short stories and have submitted them to journals. And I’ve gotten a handful of rejections. I’m gonna continue to write, work on my writing, and then I’ll send some more.” He noted that rejection is an inevitable part of a writer’s journey, pointing out that even the best authors have faced multiple rejections before finding success.
Uribe’s editorial journey also reflects his commitment to quality. After editing his work several times himself, he sought feedback from family members and professional editors. He explained, “I had my sister do a beta read and my wife. And once I had the 4th draft done, I sent it to a professional editor.” His experience with a company called Red Sea, which connects writers with affordable editors, helped bring his work to a higher standard.
When asked about the connection between journalism and fiction writing, Uribe drew a clear line between the two. “There’s a line between being an author and being a journalist. And I don’t think they mix…as an author, if it’s fiction you’re writing, you’re making everything up. But a journalist, you’ve got to get the story right, and it’s gotta be factually true and verified.” However, he pointed to Ernest Hemingway as an example of a writer who successfully bridged both worlds, saying, “I think journalism can help you as an author, but as an author, you can’t really translate into journalism while keeping the same facts.”
For those aspiring to follow in his footsteps, Uribe’s advice is clear: embrace the opportunities self-publishing offers. “Be prepared for a lot of rejection…or just keep the story in your hands and self-publish.” He encouraged young writers to take advantage of social media to share their work. “I think, because of all this media…where everyone can be a writer, a musician on their own, and publish it and have it be distributed to millions of people at the click of a button, go that route.” Uribe believes that the stigma around self-publishing has diminished over time, as more people take control of their creative output.
In conclusion, Robert Uribe’s journey as a self-published author is a testament to persistence, passion, and the evolving nature of the publishing industry. His advice to aspiring authors? Focus on the joy of sharing your story, regardless of how you publish it. “The important thing is you got it out of your head and into another person’s hands.”
For those who dream of becoming writers, Uribe’s words are a reminder that the journey is about much more than just validation—it is about connecting with others through the stories we tell.
