Fiction and Creative Non-Fiction Work by Chris Preston
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 →
At some point, this story just started writing itself!Every writer ever In 1967, literary critic Roland Barthes wrote an essay in his native French language on the concept of separating text from that whoever it was that penned it. He dubbed it Death of The Author, looking to create a more objective study of written... Continue Reading →
- American Gods by Neil Gaiman So, you've been writing your next short story or novel, plugging away on word after word. Your main character has been through the ringer, and just learned a valuable lesson that fixed their main flaw. It doesn't feel right to stop yet so you provide them a denouement, seeing... Continue Reading →
"Come now," said Yousef. "Everyone fights an American war."American War, Omar El Akkad I purchased this novel, American War, recently while waiting to fly out from Toronto to Calgary after finding myself with a couple of hours. The wait happens sometimes, being someone who's afraid to get caught up in some unexpected security line. This... Continue Reading →
Here we are, the final of Orson Scott Card's 4 story types that I have yet to cover. I feel like this has been a long time in the making. Too long. In just a few months, much has gone on in my life which drew me away from the keyboard and, eventually, pushed me... Continue Reading →
