Tag: writing-tips
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On Writing and Storytelling: Advice for Aspiring Writers
Advice for Aspiring Writers So, you want to write—or maybe you already do, scribbling stories in the margins of your day, chasing sentences that shimmer just out of reach. The path isn’t paved in gold, nor is it mapped by a single, shining formula. It’s a winding, idiosyncratic journey, full of turns, detours, and the…
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On Writing and Storytelling: Writer’s Block…and How I Deal With It…(Or Try To, Anyway)
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in Alex Diaz-Granados, Amazon, Books, Comings and Goings (Short Story), Comings and Goings: The Art of Being Seen, Creative Writing, How to Write a Romance: Or, How to Write Witty Dialogue, Smoldering Love Scenes & Happily-Ever-Afters (2019), Kindle, Kindle Create (Publishing App), Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Life in New Hampshire (December 2023 – October 2024), Reunion Duology, Reunion: A Story, Reunion: Coda, Writer's Block, Writing a First Novel, Writing as a CraftHow do you deal with writer’s block? Honestly, it depends on my mood—and the day! If it’s a workday (I try to keep my muse gainfully employed Monday through Friday and let them enjoy some well-earned laziness on the weekends), my approach to writer’s block is a bit of an art form itself. Let’s rewind…
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Dear Reader, Let Me Tell You a Story…About Where ‘Comings and Goings’ Came From
Where Did You Get the Idea for Your Most Recent Book? It’s funny how inspiration works sometimes. With my novel Reunion: Coda—which I finished and published less than three months ago—the journey from spark to story was anything but fast. (Amazon pegs it at 529 pages, by the way.) The seed was planted back in…
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Reunion and Beyond: A Writer’s Challenges
Late Morning, Thursday, May 29, 2025, Miami, Florida “The scariest moment is always just before you start.” ― Stephen King, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft As a storyteller, I’ve faced all kinds of challenges—some big, some small. A lot of it comes down to the nuts and bolts of writing, like finding the…
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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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Writer’s Shop Talk: The Morning After…on Finishing ‘Reunion: Coda’
Late Morning, Thursday, April 3, 2025, Miami, Florida “Writing isn’t about making money, getting famous, getting dates, getting laid, or making friends. In the end, it’s about enriching the lives of those who will read your work, and enriching your own life, as well. It’s about getting up, getting well, and getting over. Getting happy,…
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Writer’s Shop Talk: Outlining a Scene Without Pushing Past 6 PM
Midday/Early Afternoon, Tuesday, March 18, 2025, Miami, Florida It’s a cool, mild spring day in Miami, Florida. The sun is shining, the skies are clear, and the temperature is a pleasant 73°F (23°C), though it feels more like 80°F (27°C). Today promises sunny skies and a high of 78°F (26°C). Yesterday was, of course, a…
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My Novelist’s Odyssey: Getting Closer to the Finish Line
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in Amazon, Books, Creative Writing, Kindle, Kindle Create (Publishing App), Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Life in Florida, Life in Miami….Again, Life in New Hampshire (December 2023 – October 2024), Life in the Tampa Bay area, Life in the United States, Reunion Duology, Reunion: A Story, Reunion: Coda, Writing a First Novel, Writing as a CraftLate Morning, Tuesday, March 4, 2025, Miami, Florida Hi, everyone. It’s a warm yet overcast early spring day here in the heart of Miami-Dade County. The temperature is a pleasant 77°F (25°C) under mostly cloudy skies, with just enough humidity at 65% to remind you that you’re in South Florida. The breeze, blowing from the…
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Writer’s Shop Talk: Navigating Creative Waters and Harnessing the Muse
Midday, Thursday, February 27, 2025, Miami, Florida “The scariest moment is always just before you start. After that, things can only get better.” ― Stephen King, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft It is a warm, humid day in my corner of South Florida. The mercury reads 79°F (26°C) under mostly sunny skies, but…
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Writer’s Shop Talk: What’s in My Novelist’s Toolkit?
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in Alex Diaz-Granados, Amazon, Book Reviews, Books, Copilot AI, Creative Writing, Kindle, Kindle Create (Publishing App), Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft, OpenAI (Bing Chatbot), Reunion Duology, Reunion: A Story, Reunion: Coda, Writing a First Novel, Writing as a CraftOne of the coolest things about being a writer in 2025 is the amazing array of technological tools available to help create, analyze, revise, and improve literary projects. Some, like Microsoft Word, are time-tested classics that I’ve used since the late 1990s. However, I do think the app could use some tweaks by folks who…
A Certain Point of View, Too 