Tag: Fiction
-

Writer’s Shop Talk: Venturing into Fiction: My Journey from Journalism to Novel Writing
—
by
in Alex Diaz-Granados, Amazon, Blogging, Kindle, Kindle Create (Publishing App), Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Life in Florida, Life in Miami (1972-2016), Life in Miami….Again, Life in New Hampshire (December 2023 – October 2024), Miami-Dade Community College, Personal Thoughts, Reunion Duology, Reunion: A Story, Reunion: CodaNavigating the Quirky Seas: From Journalism to Zany Fiction Adventures Even though I’ve been writing for many years—having studied journalism in high school and majored in it at Miami-Dade Community College (now Miami-Dade College)—and have penned thousands of articles, reviews, and blog posts, my ventures into fiction have been few. The first two pieces—a short…
-

Writer’s Shop Talk: A Day of Mixed Emotions and Creative Triumphs
Late Morning, Tuesday, January 21, 2025, Miami, Florida Yesterday was a day of mixed feelings. On one hand, Donald Trump was inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States, starting his second term with controversial actions like abandoning Afghan refugees, pardoning the January 6 insurrectionists, and renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf…
-

Writer’s Shop Talk: A Writer’s Weekend: From Cloudy Days to Vivid Scenes in Miami
—
by
in Alex Diaz-Granados, Amazon, Blogging, Creative Writing, Florida Weather, Going Full Circle: Back to South Florida I Go, Kindle, Kindle Create (Publishing App), Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Life in Florida, Life in Miami….Again, Personal Thoughts, Reunion Duology, Reunion: A Story, Reunion: Coda, Writing as a CraftLate Morning, Saturday, January 18, 2025, Miami, Florida It’s another cloudy winter day in South Florida. As I write this, the temperature is a balmy 77°F (25°C) under mostly cloudy skies. Unlike yesterday’s deluge, which turned the neighborhood into a temporary water park, today promises warmth and mostly sunshine—a delightful start to the weekend in…
-

A Writer’s Afternoon in Miami: Battling Laundry and Literary Demons
Mid- to Late Afternoon, Friday, January 17, 2025, Miami, Florida It’s a cool, gray afternoon here in South Florida. As I sit in my dimly lit room on this final weekend of President Joe Biden’s Administration, the temperature is a mild 70°F (21°C) under cloudy skies. It’s not exactly postcard weather, but hey, it’s warmer…
-

Writing Wisdom from a Jedi: Mastering Your Novel with a Clear Mind and Steady Hand
Early Afternoon, Wednesday, January 15, 2025, Miami, Florida Random Thoughts About Writing
-

Writer’s Shop Talk: Sunday’s Unexpected Creative Marathon: Crafting ‘Reunion: Coda’ and the Journey of a Fretful Novelist
Mid-Morning, Monday, January 13, 2025, Miami, Florida From Rest Day to Writer’s Grind: Perfecting ‘Reunion: Coda’ – Insights, Reviews, and Copyrighting Although yesterday was supposed to be a rest day, I found myself knee-deep in Reunion: Coda. Rather than diving into new writing or revisions, I wisely saved those for the workweek—afternoon shift, here I…
-

‘Reunion: Coda’ First Look at Professor Garraty’s Final Exam Day
The clock on the wall shows it’s a little past 2 PM. The weather outside is typical for a late March day in Manhattan—chilly, with a brisk wind that makes you wish you had a scarf wrapped around your neck. Most of my students are bundled up in layers, their winter coats dripping with the…
-

Writer’s Shop Talk: How I Rescued Chapter 23 of My Novel
Late Morning, Friday, January 10, 2025, Miami, Florida “To write is human, to edit is divine.”― Stephen King, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft For those following my novel-writing journey with Reunion: Coda, yesterday was more productive than Wednesday, although I did lose some productivity. As I mentioned in my previous post, I made…
-

The Perils of Overconfidence: A Writer’s Journey to Finish ‘Reunion: Coda’
Midday/Early Afternoon, Thursday, January 9, 2025, Miami, Florida The first chapter sells the book. The last chapter sells the next book. – Mickey Spillane Although I’m not writing the last chapter or the final 50 pages of Reunion: Coda, I’m definitely on the “home stretch” or the book’s climax. After nearly two years of working…
-
Writer’s Shop Talk: Crafting Humor Through Character Reactions and Timing
What is the funniest moment in your story? Does it involve the hero and heroine, or side characters? Humor is pretty personal, so what makes one person laugh might not work for someone else. Reunion: Coda has a bunch of funny moments, but here’s one example you might like. The elevator is unusually empty as…