On Writing and Storytelling: Getting a New Tale Off to a Good Start

© 2026 Alex Diaz-Granados 

 Yesterday I kicked off a brand‑new project: And the Horse You Rode in On. It’s early days, but the energy feels right. This one has always insisted on being a novella — not a sprawling novel, not a short story stretched thin — just a novella that knows exactly what it wants to be.

The setting drops us into the mid‑1970s, a time that’s warm, textured, and perfect for what the story needs. And without spoiling anything, the heart of this tale is about how Jim and Mark become fast friends. Not the later chapters of their lives, not the adult complications — just the spark that starts it all.

The writing is flowing smoothly, scene after scene arriving with that welcome sense of momentum. After a stretch of feeling blocked, it’s a relief to be moving again.

If you haven’t yet explored Jim’s world, this is a great moment to dive into the four existing stories — especially The Jim Garraty Chronicles. That omnibus gathers the emotional backbone of Jim’s early life, alongside Reunion, Reunion: Coda, and Comings and Goings. They form the foundation that makes this new novella feel like a return to familiar ground.

I’m glad the writing block is lifted.