R. Brady Frost's Blog, page 10

Writing Style – Your Inner Voice

A Startling Question of Style

I was a little shocked recently when I encountered an honest question after asking someone I know to read my latest short story. “Do you write like that because that’s the way you write, or because that’s how you think writers should write?”

It was a sincere enough question, but I was taken a bit off guard by it. I responded, rather instinctively, “I suppose the only way you’ll find out is to keep reading my stories. Time will tell.” I hoped my shock wasn’t conv...

10 Creative Writing Prompts #4

Hello! Welcome to my this edition of my Creative Writing Prompts segment. I’ve decided to start providing these weekly writing prompts as a way to challenge my own creativity, and possibly provide some kind of benefit to others in the writing community. Feel free to use these prompts in your writing groups, creative writing classes, etc. While not required, I would appreciate if you attribute any prompts you share.

1. The teacher.

You are doing some shopping when one of your first teachers...

Poem: The Blue Almond

Source: Wikipedia.org

This is a fun little poem I wrote a few years ago. The Blue Almond is basically a satire of the whole Princess and Suitor story where a princess demands some rare object in return for her affections. When the knight sets out, he begins to question whether the princess is even worth the trouble. The rhyming structure is a bit stretched, but this poem was pretty much just for fun and was written in about ten minutes. Not a fine piece of literary art by any means, but worth...

Self Publishing on Amazon.com through KDP

If you’re considering publishing your book as a digital e book any time in the future, take a look at Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing. This postis filled with information to help get you on your way to having your very own book in the hands of countless readers!

Ready to Self Publish Your Book?

If you answered “Yes!” to that question, I’ve got good news for you! The process is simple and your book could be uploaded to the Amazon marketplace and available for download in less than a day! This...

10 Creative Writing Prompts #3

1. Who are these people?

You’re going about your business when you suddenly realize the throng of people around you are moving in synchronicity with you. It’s like having a choreographed entourage ready to perform a musical number. What do you do?

2. Locard’s theory.

According to Locard’s theory, every thief leaves something behind. You enter your home to find your possessions ransacked. What did the thief leave at the scene? What were they looking for?

3. Message in a bottle.

You’re walkin...

Do You Avoid Common Phrases in your Writing?

As writers, we sometimes struggle to add the correct amount of description to our stories. There’s the story barren of description which leaves the reader wanting to find something, anything to latch onto in the world you’ve failed to build. Then there is the other extreme, the story with so much purple description the reader is afraid of each new turn, lest you spend the next five pages describing every insignificance in the setting before the scene can move forward. Usually our writing fall...

Chlorophyllium 9 Fun

Just having a bit of quick fun with my phone, the draft artwork for Chlorophyllium 9: A Short Story (which is currently available on Amazon.com here, and Google Earth. Because, you know, life has to be fun. And it’s April Fool’s day!

Ingress is featuring Pacman icons.

Amazon is sporting a retro-style interface.

Konrath is starting up a Self Published Authors Guild.

Good times!

What are some of your favorite April Fools jokes? Don’t tell me, you’re pregnant?

Related posts: Chlorophyllium 9 –...

10 Creative Writing Prompts #2

1. A stranger on the train.

You’re sitting on a train, lost in your thoughts, when a stranger sits next to you. There is something odd about this person, something arcane. Who are they? Describe them. Why did they choose to sit next to you? Do they want something or are they there to leave something behind?

2. The trade.

You are approached by a small child with eyes filled with untold wisdom and age. They want to make a trade, something you have for something you’ve always wanted. What is it...

Hugh Howey – Thank You!

I’ve been doing a bit of soul searching lately, trying to figure out what it is I want from my writing. Somewhere along the road I realized that I was doing it wrong, which is really hard to admit to yourself. I felt a bit lost.

I have loved writing for so long, the power of stories to convey ideas, to have a silent conversation with readers untold. How strange is it, then, that I stopped writing? I allowed the stresses of life, my job, and countless other things I couldn’t control, prevent m...

10 Creative Writing Prompts #1

1. The secret power.

You awaken one morning to find you have somehow acquired a secret power. What is it? Do you have any idea why this might have happened? Write a story where this happens and weave the answers into the tale.

2. Invisible.

You’re sure it’s a dream. It has to be! But no matter how hard you try to wake up, it’s no use. You are invisible, which is a little more complicated when you can’t turn it off. What do you do with your new-found invisibility? What will you do if you can’...