Ana Rubio-Serrano

Posted On January 30, 2020

• What lead you to write?

My family. First, my grandmother, Anne always read books for kids to my brother and me. And she didn’t just read them, but played the roles of every single character: In a sweet voice, she spoke like the grandmother of Little Red Riding Hood. And then, she changed her voice with incredible ease when she played the Wolf.

Everyone in my family was fond of a good story. I remember we loved watching movies together and then reinventing some part of the story. It was so exciting! I was the first one who made up a new story. I won the challenge, yes, always!

Later, I studied journalism at school as a subject in the course. I wrote a reportage on the Shah of Iran’s downfall. I did research and interviewed some people who ran away from the Khomeini regime.

These two facts in my childhood and teen years led me to write seriously.

• What is your preferred genre to write?

I couldn’t tell you. I began as a non-fiction author. Now I am writing scripts and short stories for companies (corporate stories) on Social Media, and training (languages, motivational, and inspirational).

I enjoy it a lot. I have to put myself into the audience’s shoes, think as they do and develop an engaging story to take them to action. Not easy, but highly gratifying.

• What is your favorite genre to read?

Um, thrillers. I do admire those authors who can write amazing characters, plots with twists and turns in a so natural, and surprising way.

• What are your favorite activities or hobbies outside of work/writing?

I am fond of Technology: Artificial Intelligence, Virtual & Augmented Reality.

I joined groups on those subjects, and it’s a real fascinating world.

Recently, I took a course on Virtual & Augmented Reality. Both show new techniques to reach a goal in a fun and pedagogical way.

Virtual Reality simulates physical presence in the real or an imagined world. Let’s think about it: imagine that you are scared of public speaking. Virtual Reality will help you to overcome this fear by carrying you to a virtual stage in a safe environment so that you can get confidence in yourself.

Concerning the Augmented Reality, that is a computer-generated image on a user’s view of the real world, is incredibly useful for learning. There are a lot of apps to help students to learn on a subject as the human body for example.

There are so many areas in which we can advance thanks to the new technology. It gives us opportunities to improve our lives. Let’s think of medicine, psychology, education, marketing, among others.

• What is one major struggle you have with writing?

How to get started. Then I sit down at my computer desk, check out my previous notes and say to myself: “Go for it.” I start with the part that most inspires me at that moment. Once I do that I spin the story and sometimes it takes me where I wouldn’t have thought.

So, the story takes shape and comes to life beyond the original idea.

• What has been one of your strongest inspirations for a story?

People around me, books, and movies. Sometimes you don’t know how it happens and someone around you or some character in a movie or a book, says something that you can only respond: “Got it!” I have a lot of these moments. For that, you only need to be willing to listen to.

I remember a sentence from the Blacklist TV show: “The truth doesn’t matter. It’s about appearances.” It may be an obvious statement, nowadays, isn’t it? And at this moment it inspired my speech in a presentation.

• What is the best advice you’ve ever received?

There are two best pieces of advice:

• Treat everyone the way you want to be treated.

Looking at the other as an equal without prejudice makes you and the other more human and more creative.

• Be yourself, never a copy of someone. Learn from the people around you.

Many times, we have to change our mind. We can learn from everybody whatever their education, culture, or social status. People are not a threat but a gift. A gift from which we can learn and grow as individuals and professionals.

• What is your favorite show/movie?

Well, now I am a fan of “The Blacklist” TV show. The actors are great in their roles, but I’d love to meet Jon Bokenkamp (the creator) and his team of scriptwriters. Wow, they have an original way to tell a story! Nothing is what it seems.

Moreover, Raymond Reddington, the main character, is a storytelling master, and although he is a criminal, you can learn from him about strategies, teamwork, and trust.

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