Inspired to write: Alexander Almaguer

Photo by UTHealth Houston

Long before his short story “Cypress Junction” earned LitMag’s Virginia Woolf Award for Short Fiction, Alexander Almaguer was drawn to the written word.

Growing up in McAllen, Texas, he found inspiration in both his surroundings and his imagination, writing stories as early as grade school. His childhood love of reading and storytelling has since grown into a thoughtful and reflective practice for Almaguer, a university editorial assistant at UTHealth Houston.

Rooted in story

His award-winning short story “Cypress Junction” draws heavily on his upbringing and family influences.

“The figure of Pa is somewhat based on my own dad, but also my grandfather: a very competent, hardworking, handy, talented person, a patriarchal figure,” he said.

Almaguer credits his wide-ranging intellectual interests as key influences on his writing.  

“I’ve always been captivated by writers of all kinds,” he said, noting that literature helped him cultivate a vivid imagination. Among his favorite authors are many Hispanic writers, like Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Carlos Fuentes, as well as classic voices such as Joseph Conrad.

A practice of reflection

In addition to fiction, Almaguer developed a longstanding journaling habit that has become the foundation for his nonfiction work.

“I’ve been journaling since I was a junior in high school,” he said, estimating that he has written more than 500 pages over the years.

Recently, his essays have explored modern challenges, particularly the complexities of technology.

“One that I have been working on is about how technology is paradoxical,” he explained. “Everything’s getting better, but it’s also sort of getting worse. Our personal devices are more advanced than ever, but they’re also weirdly frustrating to use.”

Religion and philosophy also shape the way Almaguer approaches his writing. He describes them as lenses through which he understands the world.

“I find religion beautiful,” said Almaguer. “I’ve explored Buddhism, Hinduism, and Christianity, and that kind of mystical grace has informed my view of the world.”

Inspiration beyond the page

When he’s away from the page, Almaguer finds inspiration outdoors. He enjoys running through some of Houston's best-known green spaces, including Buffalo Bayou and Memorial Park.

“I’ve run so much in those places that they feel like a second home,” he said.

He also enjoys exploring the city’s cultural offerings, from festivals and farmer’s markets to concerts and plays.

“Houston is such a big, beautiful city with so many things to do,” he said.

Looking ahead

As he continues writing and submitting new work, Almaguer remains committed to sharing stories rooted in personal experience while exploring larger questions about the world around him.

Though “Cypress Junction” is only available in print, his blend of storytelling, philosophical reflection, and curiosity about the modern life continues to shape his work and establish him as an emerging voice in contemporary fiction.

An excerpt of “Cypress Junction”

Though I hardly think Pa was the sort of man who calculated the impressions he made on others or regarded himself with any kind of eminence, he often struck a noble, even kingly figure in the way he carried himself, in the way he spoke. Seated on the patio, with arms relaxed on either armrest and sitting straight against the chair’s back in a picture of symmetry, his presence crystallized the afternoons into pastoral scenes… And beneath the simple surface of this image there was something melancholy, some strange loneliness that in adolescence I could not understand, that intimidated me… Of course, I was too young to know how obvious it was that he was often thinking of our mother.

To read “Cypress Junction” in its entirety, contact Alexander Almaguer.