Fiction and Creative Non-Fiction Work by Chris Preston
Thus I rediscovered what writers have always known (and have told us again and again): books always speak of other books, and every story tells a story that has already been told.- Umberto Eco You are correct, Mister Eco. Writing an original work of fiction is difficult. Fiction itself, whether literary or genre, requires many... Continue Reading →
Readers, my post-apocalyptic short story, Osprey, went live at MetaStellar on September 1st! Osprey takes place in Anchorage, Alaska, hundreds of years after advanced technology was abolished. Sinister forces conspire against the general population to raise the new gods from their slumber... MetaStellar Speculative Fiction This publication is my first ever reprint, which is fitting... Continue Reading →
A picture is worth a thousand words. Everyone has heard of that old saying, and for good reason. Describing a scene is hard work in creative writing! This is the first post on a new mini-series about descriptions for writers. To kick it all off, let's really get our heads around the idea of interiority... Continue Reading →
Readers, it's such a joy to tell you that my short story, Green Ghost of Honeypot, is included in the July 2021 issue of Schlock! Green Ghost of Honeypot is about a mother marooned on a distant planet, fighting to survive so she can be reunited with her children. There's many danger that await Mara...... Continue Reading →
Zombies in Las Vegas?!? An undead tiger?? A bank heist attempting to outpace a nuclear missile strike? A depth of field so shallow, it makes you reconsider your vision prescription? Who would make such a thing? Zack Snyder, that's who. Spoiler-Free Synopsis A military convoy transports a creature from Area 51 and is derailed when... Continue Reading →
Readers, I'm so excited to announce that my short story, It Was Always Temporary, is included in the March 2021 issue of Mystery Weekly! It Was Always Temporary is about a hitman who takes on an assignment to make up for recent missteps. Is his loyalty in the right place? Personally, I love mystery and... Continue Reading →
I'm a little late to the party this year but... Happy New Year, readers! In a year that is feeling much like a lazy sequel to the one before, I woke up today to see my flash fiction, Garbage Day, has gone live on 365 Tomorrows. What a nice surprise! Garbage Day is a small... Continue Reading →
The concept of "voice" in literature is the use of vocabulary, structure, tone, syntax, and pace by the narrator for a particular story. These aspects work in concert with one another to create a distinct voice. When readers refer to the style of writing in a book, they're referring to the voice used. Writing gothic... Continue Reading →
Writing from viewpoints that differ from your own can be difficult. It's why Mark Twain said, "write what you know." Characters will not move organically through a story if they aren't grounded in reality, and the only reality you know is your own. That doesn't mean there's just 12 versions of yourself interacting with one... Continue Reading →
Have you ever come across a short story that just begs for further discussion? How about a whole series of them? I've written before about story types and endings before in previous posts. Some wrap themselves up nicely, resolving the central conflict and conveying any intended themes. They can still be impactful but tend to... Continue Reading →
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