Category: Writing a First Novel
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Quality Matters in Independent Publishing: Fixing ‘Reunion: Coda’…and Other Matters
Afternoon, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, Miami, Florida Hi, there. It’s another scorching late spring day in South Florida on this last “Hump Day” of May 2025. Outside, it’s 89°F (32°C) under mostly sunny skies. With humidity at 63% and a gentle 9 MPH (15 Km/H) breeze from the southeast, it feels like 98°F (37°C). We’ve…
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Rainy Day Musings: Finding Solace in Modest Literary Victories
Midday/Early Afternoon, Saturday, May 3, 2025, Miami, Florida “You have to celebrate the small wins as well.” ― Robin S. Baker Hi, everyone. It’s a gray, sometimes rainy day here in the Greater Miami area on this first Saturday in May 2025. Currently, the temperature is 81°F (27°C) under rainy conditions. With humidity at 66%…
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Victory and Vexation: A Writer’s Journey through Self-Publishing (A ‘Reunion Coda’ Cautionary Tale)
Late Morning/Midday, Wednesday, April 30, 2025, Miami, Florida “Read, read, read. Read everything — trash, classics, good and bad, and see how they do it. Just like a carpenter who works as an apprentice and studies the master. Read! You’ll absorb it.Then write. If it’s good, you’ll find out. If it’s not, throw it out…
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Another Lesson I Learned While Writing ‘Reunion: Coda’
Comedy and Pathos Can Coexist Harmoniously in the Same Narrative Storytelling, at its core, is our way of exploring both the outer and inner world, trying to make sense of it all. Stories grounded in lived experience strive to capture fleeting moments and evoke emotions that resonate with readers. In more realistic narratives, it’s not…
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Writer’s Shop Talk: Five Things I Learned While Writing ‘Reunion: Coda’
1. Don’t Set Unrealistic Goals for Your First Novel While there’s certainly a place for ambition and artistic risks, I learned (through trial and error) that setting overly ambitious goals for your first novel can lead to frustration and burnout. Instead of diving into a sprawling historical epic or a complex science fiction adventure, start…
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My Writing Journey: New Projects and Reunion: Coda
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in Adria K. Woomer-Hernandez, Alex Diaz-Granados, Amazon, Boy of Harvard (Men of Harlech parody), Creative Writing, Juan Carlos Hernandez, Kindle, Kindle Create (Publishing App), Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Life in Florida, Life in Miami….Again, Movies, Reunion Duology, Reunion: A Story, Reunion: Coda, Song Parody, Uncategorized, Writing a First NovelMid-Morning, Tuesday, April 22, 2025, Miami, Florida Hi, everyone. It’s a warm spring morning in my corner of South Florida as I prepare for another working day as a writer. The temperature is 76°F (24°C) under partly sunny conditions. It should be a pleasant, albeit slightly humid, day in our subtropical haven; today’s high is…
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Hey, I’m a Novelist Now!
Afternoon, Monday, April 21, 2025, Miami, Florida Well, folks, I’m thrilled to share that I’m officially a novelist now! Actually, I’ve been one for a while, but it feels incredible to say it out loud. It’s been a little over two weeks since I completed and published Reunion: Coda, the continuation of a novella (Reunion:…
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Monday Morning Musings from Miami
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in Adria K. Woomer-Hernandez, Alex Diaz-Granados, Amazon, Books, Boy of Harvard (Men of Harlech parody), Creative Writing, Juan Carlos Hernandez, Kindle, Kindle Create (Publishing App), Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Life in Florida, Life in Miami….Again, Life in South Florida, Reunion Duology, Reunion: Coda, Song Parody, Writing a First Novel, Writing as a CraftMorning, Monday, April 21, 2025, Miami, Florida Hi, everyone! As I start this, it’s 6:55 AM Eastern Daylight Time, and the sky is gently transitioning from a soft gray to the warm hues of sunrise. The temperature is a pleasant 75°F (24°C) under partly sunny skies, accompanied by a refreshing easterly breeze of 10 MPH…
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Easter Sunday Musings: Sunshine, Stories, and Subheadings
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in Adria K. Woomer-Hernandez, Alex Diaz-Granados, Amazon, Books, Creative Writing, Juan Carlos Hernandez, Kindle, Kindle Create (Publishing App), Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Life in Florida, Life in New Hampshire (December 2023 – October 2024), Reunion Duology, Reunion: Coda, Writing a First Novel, Writing as a CraftAfternoon, Sunday, April 20, 2025, Miami, Florida It’s a warm and breezy Easter Sunday here in sunny South Florida, where the weather feels like a sneak preview of summer. At 82°F (28°C) under mostly sunny skies, with a gentle east-southeast breeze at 13 MPH (21 Km/H) and 47% humidity, the “feels-like” temperature is a balmy…
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Musings on ‘Reunion: Coda’: Despite Some Imperfections, I’m Proud of My First Novel
Late Morning, Saturday, April 19, 2025, Miami, Florida Write what you love, and love what you write. You are your first audience, and if you don’t love it, why should anyone else? – Caroline Linden At 6:11 PM Eastern on Friday, April 18, 2025, I received the email from Amazon that I’d been eagerly awaiting…
A Certain Point of View, Too 