Author: Alex Diaz-Granados
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Somewhere, Not Anywhere: Why Specificity Gives Fiction Its Soul
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in Alex Diaz-Granados, Amazon, Amazon Brazil, Amazon Canada, Amazon Germany, Amazon Italy, Amazon Japan, Amazon Mexico, Amazon Poland, Amazon Spain (Amazon.es), Amazon Sweden, Amazon UK, Arbetter’s, Books, Creative Writing, Kindle, Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Life in Florida, Life in Miami (1972-2016), Life in South Florida, Personal History, Reunion Duology, Reunion: A Story, Reunion: Coda, South Miami High School in fiction, South Miami Senior High School, The Jim Garraty Chronicles, The Jim Garraty Chronicles (Series), Things I Miss, Writing a First Novel, Writing and Editing, Writing as a CraftThere’s a peculiar trope that shows up in fiction across genres and skill levels: the generic setting, the “It Could Be Anywhere” school, town, neighborhood, or city. You’ve seen it. A thriller introduces a group of high‑school students, but the school has no name, no mascot, no colors, no hallways with personality. The town has…
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Which Trope in Fiction Annoys Me the Most? The Meet Cute
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in Alex Diaz-Granados, Amazon, Amazon Brazil, Amazon Canada, Amazon Germany, Amazon Italy, Amazon Japan, Amazon Mexico, Amazon Poland, Amazon Spain (Amazon.es), Amazon Sweden, Amazon UK, Books, Creative Writing, Literary Fiction, Literary Genres, Meet-Cute, Meet-Smart, Reunion Duology, Reunion: A Story, Reunion: Coda, The Jim Garraty Chronicles, The Jim Garraty Chronicles (Series), Tropes in Fiction, Writing a First Novel, Writing and Editing, Writing as a CraftWhich Trope in Fiction Annoys Me the Most? The Meet‑Cute — And Why My Work Favors the Meet‑Smart Every writer has a trope that makes them wince. For some, it’s the chosen one. For others, it’s the villain who monologues. For me, the most grating trope — the one that feels flimsy, overused, and emotionally…
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Musings and Thoughts for Sunday, September 6, 2026
Sunday, September 6, 2026 – Orlando, Florida Hi, everyone — and happy Sunday from the steamy side of Central Florida. It’s early afternoon here on this first Sunday in September, and Orlando is doing what Orlando does best: pretending the calendar is merely a suggestion. The sky is bright, the sun is enthusiastic, and the…
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Thoughts and Musings for a Potentially Stormy Saturday
Saturday, September 5, 2026 – Orlando, Florida Hi, everyone — greetings from the sauna-with-palm-trees portion of Central Florida. It’s a hot, muggy early-autumn day here in my corner of Orange County. It’s almost noon, and the temperature has already climbed to 88°F (31°C) under partly sunny skies. Add 75% humidity and a 4 MPH (6…
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On Writing and Storytelling: An Excerpt from ‘Reunion: Coda’
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in Alex Diaz-Granados, Amazon, Amazon Brazil, Amazon Canada, Amazon Germany, Amazon Italy, Amazon Japan, Amazon Mexico, Amazon Poland, Amazon Spain (Amazon.es), Amazon Sweden, Amazon UK, Autumn 2026, Autumn in Florida, Creative Writing, Florida Weather, Kindle, Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Life in Central Florida, Life in Florida, Life in South Florida, Reunion: Coda, South Miami Senior High School, The Jim Garraty Chronicles, The Jim Garraty Chronicles (Series)Friday, September 4, 2026 – Orlando, Florida It’s midafternoon on the first Friday of autumn 2026, but here in Central Florida, it still feels like high summer. As I write, it’s 93°F (34°C) under mostly cloudy skies, though the sun was blazing earlier. With humidity at a sticky 62% and a south wind at 8…
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Musings and Thoughts for Thursday, September 3, 2026
Thursday, September 3, 2026 – Orlando, Florida Hi, everyone. It’s a gray and somewhat damp early autumn afternoon here in Central Florida. As I write this, it’s 82°F (28°C) under cloudy conditions, although high humidity and a gentle 5 MPH (9 Km/H) breeze from the east make it feel like 92°F (33°C). Today’s forecast calls…
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A Quick Update
Hi, all. Yesterday afternoon I tripped and fell in the parking lot at the nearby Aldi’s supermarket. I got a bit banged up, mostly on my forehead and left hand. It wasn’t – obviously – life-threatening, but it was serious enough that I had to go to the nearest emergency room (Advent Health) to be…
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Musings and Thoughts for Tuesday, September 1, 2026
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in Alex Diaz-Granados, Amazon, Amazon Brazil, Amazon Canada, Amazon Germany, Amazon Italy, Amazon Japan, Amazon Mexico, Amazon Poland, Amazon Spain (Amazon.es), Amazon Sweden, Amazon UK, Audible, Autumn 2026, Autumn in Florida, Creative Writing, Florida Weather, Kindle, Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Life in Central Florida, Life in Florida, Reunion: Coda, The Jim Garraty Chronicles, The Jim Garraty Chronicles (Series)Tuesday, September 1, 2026 – Orlando, Florida Hi there, Dear Reader. Here we are on the first day of a new month and a new meteorological season. Fall has arrived, even though – unlike New England at this time of year – it feels like a typical late summer day in Central Florida. As I…
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Musings and Thoughts for Monday, August 31, 2026
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in Alex Diaz-Granados, Amazon, Books, Comings and Goings: The Art of Being Seen, Creative Writing, Depression, Florida Weather, Life in Florida, Personal Thoughts, Reunion Duology, Reunion: A Story, Reunion: Coda, Summer 2026, Summer in Florida, The Jim Garraty Chronicles, The Summer of Two Movies, Writer’s BlockMonday, August 31, 2026 – Orlando, Florida Hi, folks. Well, here we are on the last day of August, which is also the last day of meteorological summer. As I write this, it’s afternoon in my corner of Central Florida, and befitting the season, it’s cloudy, humid, and potentially stormy. I am not crazy about…
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Musings and Thoughts for Sunday, August 30, 2026
Sunday, August 30, 2026 – Orlando, Florida Hi, there. It’s another late summer scorcher in my corner of Central Florida. As I write this, it’s almost midday, and even though the temperature is “only” 86°F (30°C), high humidity and a barely perceptible easterly breeze are combining to make it feel like 99°F (37°C). We may…
