R. Brady Frost's Blog, page 12

Asking for Writing Feedback

Feedback can be an incredible tool for writers, allowing them a valuable glimpse into the world of their creation from foreign eyes. The other side of feedback can be a dark and scary realm in which many a writer has found fear and betrayal.

In truth, there are two important aspects to finding value in feedback. The first is the quality of the review. Poor feedback may lack the quality of response or leave us questioning whether the content was even read. The second part of valuable feedback i...

Happenings

Ahoy there! Welcome to a simple personal update blog post. It’s nothing special, just the everyday comings and goings of my new life in Texas. There’s no way I can cover everything, but I doubt you’d want that level of detail. I’ll try to keep it somewhat entertaining.

Life in the country has had its ups and downs. There’s a lot to get used to. Moving to an area where you have a propane tank rather than on-demand natural gas has thrown us for a few loops already. We didn’t realize how quickly...

Creative Writing Exercises for Children

Creative writing for students and children is actually quite similar in principle to creative writing for adults. When we are young, our imaginations run free. We are largely unchained by the sense of responsibility and logic which will come as we grow. Therefore, it’s important to encourage child development in creative ways while the easiest opportunity exists.

There are several exercises you can incorporate into creative writing assignments to encourage creative growth. First, it helps to s...

Reddit Secret Santa 2014

I first encountered some buzz about the reddit Secret Santa gift swaplast year and I really liked the concept of the redditgifts exchange. My family has participated in the Disney Cruise Fish Extender (FE) exchanges in the past for those who are familiar. It’s always a fun process when you have your expectations in the right place. With that in mind, I decided to sign up for the Secret Santa 2014 swap.

There’s a lot I don’t know when it comes to this exchange. Please try not to be too harsh on...

How to Explain Computer Terms and Jargon

When talking to people who grew up without the benefit of having computers as a part of everyday life, it’s important to recognize they might not be familiar with common computer terms and jargon. Rattling off your latest computing experience or offering your support with a computer-related problem may come out sounding like you’re speaking in tongues or with a foreign language.

To ensure you’re communicating on the same level, slow down and take time to consider whether what you’re saying wou...

Send Angels – Life Reflections on an Unexpected Road

I got there by accident. I was deep in thought and missed the exit on my way to a friend’s house. I figuredI could backtrack through the unfamiliar country roads, but my route took me toa small cemeteryinstead. My fig tree was looking sad and droopy but the weather was warm, so I decided to get out and let the potted tree get some sunlight and a bit of water from a puddle in a rut of thedirt road.

The atmospherewas peaceful and static in a way only cemeteries can evoke. The quiet wasn’t lonel...

Coffeeshop Confessional #4 – The Storm was Upon Us

This post is long overdue, so let me quickly give thanks for the patience of my fellow bloggers: Laura and Jen Coyote! Please check out their Confessionals.

Laura’s:That Grrl: The Coffee Shop Confessional

Jen’s:Coffeeshop Confessional

This last confessional found me, once again, at Barnes and Noble. I stared at the board and contemplated the silliness of Starbuck’s words for size selection. I wasn’t in the mood for anything Venti, and while a Grande was nothing close to grand, I decided that wha...

The Way I Used to Write

From the beginning, since my vaguest memories of childhood, I’ve lived in a world of dreams. My imagination would run wild to turn my life as I have lived into my own adventure. My heart has always been bound to the principles of right and wrong. I would dream that I was everyone’s hero. I’ve felt special because I’ve wanted to be special. I have always fervently wished, longed to be someone important; to rise above my circumstances.

For me, the imagination was easy. Fantasies would races thro...

Moving to the country, going to eat a lot of peaches!

The lyrics to one of my favorite songs in high school comprise the title of this post. The band, The Presidents of the United States, sang “Peaches” – a fun song that I believe extols the perfect combination of innocence and ignorance common with many folks looking to move from the bustling city to the simpler life of the country. This is one of those onion songs with many layers. It’s still fun to listen to even when you aren’t over-analyzing it!

While I may not look like it on the surface, I...

Coffeeshop Confessional #3 – Certain Truths

This was, by far, not my best Confessional. I had a hard time breaking away from my inner thoughts to really notice anything, or anyone, of interest around me. It would have been easy to abandon the project altogether and to leave it forever undone as a failed attempt history would never remember. It would have been easy, almost painfully so. I struggled on.

There are things, I have reminded myself as of late, that must remain unspoken in this blog. This, of course, echoes sentiments that have...