Tag: Reunion: Coda
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On Writing and Storytelling: Why “Somewhere” was the Only Song Jim and Marty Could Sing
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in Alex Diaz-Granados, Books, Creative Writing, Films by Steven Spielberg, Melodies and Memories: Music, Songs, and Singers, Music, Reunion Duology, Reunion: A Story, Reunion: Coda, West Side Story (1961), West Side Story (2021), West Side Story – Original Broadway Cast (1957), West Side Story: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (2021)Why “Somewhere” was the Only Song Jim and Marty Could Sing Every writer knows the moment when a story makes a choice for you. You think you’re the one selecting the detail — the street name, the shade of blue, the song on the radio — but in truth, the story has already decided. Your…
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On Writing and Storytelling: The Jock vs. Nerd Rivalry I Refuse to Write — And How Reunion: Coda Subverts It
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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, Creative Writing, Jock vs. Nerd Trope, Kindle, Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Literary Fiction, Literary Genres, Reunion Duology, Reunion: A Story, Reunion: Coda, South Miami High School in fiction, South Miami Senior High School, The Jim Garraty Chronicles, Tropes in Fiction, Writing a First Novel, Writing and Editing, Writing as a CraftThe Jock vs. Nerd Rivalry I Refuse to Write — And How Reunion: Coda Subverts It Some high‑school tropes never die. They show up in movies, TV shows, YA novels, and even adult fiction: the artsy, awkward kid pining for the girl; the confident quarterback who already has her; the rivalry that becomes the story’s…
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On Writing and Storytelling: The Weight of Small Corrections
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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, Kindle, Kindle Create (Publishing App), Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Reunion: Coda, Royalties, The Jim Garraty Chronicles, The Jim Garraty Chronicles (Series), Writing and Editing, Writing as a CraftThursday, September 10, 2026 – Orlando, Florida Hi, there. I’m off to a late start with my blogging today. Partly because I’m physically and mentally exhausted from stress and anxiety, but mostly because I had to make a minor but necessary correction to The Jim Garraty Chronicles in the section devoted to Reunion: Coda. It…
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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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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 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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On Writing and Storytelling: All Quiet on the Writing Front…Unfortunately
Friday, August 28, 2026 — Orlando, Florida Hi, everyone. It’s early afternoon on a hot late-summer day in Central Florida. Right now, it’s 91°F (33°C) and sunny, but with 61% humidity and a southwest breeze at 7 MPH (11 Km/H), it feels more like 101°F (38°C). I wish I could say everything is going smoothly,…
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A Certain Point of View, Too 