L.G. Estrella's Blog, page 14

Old Wolves (Flash Fiction Fridays #44)

For a long moment, the old man and the old wolf were still and silent as they took each other’s measure. The old man’s eyes were keen. He saw the tremor in the old wolf’s limbs and the cloudiness of the old wolf’s eyes. When the old wolf bared his teeth, the old man saw that they were cracked and broken.

“Why are you here?” the old man murmured.

The old wolf gave no reply, but the old man knew the answer all the same.

“You’re here because you want one last fight before age, injuries, and sicknes...

About Writing Advice

There is a lot of writing advice out there. I should know. I’ve offered up a decent amount of it myself over the years. If you’re new to writing, it can be very easy to get lost in all of the advice. After all, writing can be very difficult. It’s only natural for people to seek out as much advice as possible. However, more advice isn’t always better.

Why?

Advice paralysis.

People can become so obsessed with listening to writing advice that they never do any actual writing. I get it. I really do....

Lesson on Magic

Taken from the second draft.

Katie was watching the horned whales swimming nearby when Spot ambled over.

What are you doing? Spot nudged her with his head.

“I’m watching the horned whales.” Katie pointed. “They usually swim in pods of up to thirty whales. I’ve been told that the calves swim at the centre where its safest. The bulls tend to be on the edges of the pod, so they can fight if necessary.”

Spot peered over the edge of the railing. They look tasty.

“Of course, that’s what yo...

Professor Spot (Flash Fiction Fridays #43)

Spot yawned and then looked up into the sky. The newest batch of students had arrived. The dragon straightened, and then flared his wings majestically.

For your first lesson, you only have to do one thing. He bared his teeth in a grin. Survive. And then he launched himself upward.

Arthur was a griffin knight. Well, he was going to become a griffin knight. In order to graduate, he’d been told that he would have to pass a class on aerial combat. That didn’t sound too bad. He might only be sevente...

Raid (Flash Fiction Fridays #42)

“We could sneak in,” Amanda drawled. “But I have a feeling that you’d prefer a more direct approach.”

Avraniel grinned toothily. “Damn straight. We go in through the front door. They’ll come running straight to us. That way we can crush them all at once. It’ll be easier than chasing them around.”

“I suppose there is that.” The vampire’s lips twitched. “Very well then. Would you be so kind as to open the door?”

Who said anything about opening it?” Avraniel cracked her knuckles and strode out into...

Do I Play Video Games?

I’ve been asked quite a few times in the past if I play video games. The answer to that is a bit complicated.

You see, I used to play a lot of video games when I was younger. I played many different genres. I played everything from racing games to fighting games and real-time strategy games. The only genre I didn’t try was MMOs. I’ve actually ‘lost’ a few friends to MMO addiction, so I decided to steer well clear of that. I even became quite good at certain games to the point that I could easily...

Laziness (Flash Fiction Fridays #41)

Timmy raised one eyebrow at his apprentice. “Really?”

Katie looked up at him. “What?”

“You have legs, Katie. You should use them.”

The girl huffed and rolled over. “But I don’t want to. I’m still sleepy.”

“That’s why I told you to go to sleep earlier yesterday. I’m assuming you stayed up reading that new tome you bought instead.”

Katie didn’t dignify that with an answer. Instead, she tugged her blanket around herself and settled her head onto her pillow. “Wake me up when the others get here.”

An...

The Paperwork Is Defeated

That mountain of paperwork I mentioned has been defeated. The 30 or so kilograms of paper has been securely shredded and destroyed.

 

Monster Under The Bed (Flash Fiction Fridays #40)

Tabitha leaned over to whisper in Spot’s ear. “Can you help me? I think there’s a monster under my bed.”

Spot gave a low rumble. A monster?

Tabitha nodded. “It comes in the middle of the night sometimes.”

The dragon’s rumble turned into a growl that came from deep in his chest. A monster? There was a monster threatening his friend? Well, he’d be happy to teach that monster a lesson. He wrapped one wing around the little girl. Don’t worry. I can stay in your room tonight. If the monster comes, I’...

Counterfeit (Flash Fiction Fridays #39)

Simon crawled out of the portal and rolled onto his back.

“Get up, meat bag.”

“Nope. Not moving yet.” He dragged in a deep breath and closed his eyes. “That is the worst delivery I have ever been on.” He shuddered. “So many zombies.”

Advisor gave the mental equivalent of a shrug. “You organics are so susceptible to necromancy. It’s pathetic.”

Simon opened one eye. “You were made by an organic.”

“Cosmic guinea pigs hardly qualify as organics. They possess powers capable of altering the very fabri...