\"Writing.Com
*Magnify*
SPONSORED LINKS
Printed from https://writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/10326-Into-the-woods.html
Horror/Scary: August 19, 2020 Issue [#10326]




 This week: Into the woods
  Edited by: Arakun the twisted raccoon Author IconMail Icon
                             More Newsletters By This Editor  Open in new Window.

Table of Contents

1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions

About This Newsletter

Quote for the week: "Some people ask why people would go into a dark room to be scared. I say they are already scared, and they need to have that fear manipulated and massaged. I think of horror movies as the disturbed dreams of a society."
~Wes Craven


Word from our sponsor

ASIN: B085272J6B
Product Type: Kindle Store
Amazon's Price: $ 9.99


Letter from the editor

Have you ever noticed that many fairy tales, legends, and horror stories take place in dark, spooky forests?

In stories that arose in areas naturally covered by woodland, the forest is a forbidding place of magic and danger. Legends of horrible things that happened to people who left the relative safety of a human settlement may have served to warn children against venturing into the woods on their own.

In contrast to the orderly structure of cities and towns, the forest was a wild, rambling place where it was easy to get lost. Roads and trails built by humans in open country are usually as straight and easy to see as possible, but pathways through a forest can be winding and difficult to see for anyone who doesn't know the area. In a woodland, distant landmarks may be difficult to see or absent completely.

Forests can be dark even during the daytime and contain shadowy places where dangerous things might hide. The forest was home to actual dangerous creatures such as wolves and also the legendary dwelling place of monsters such as trolls and dragons. Even the more beautiful legendary forest dwellers, such as elves, fairies, and unicorns were dangerous and best avoided.

Evil witches and other dangerous humans also are part of forest legends. Hansel and Gretel encountered a strange old woman who attempted to cook and eat them. Forest dwelling people throughout the world had similar legends. The Basket Woman in legends of Native American tribes from the Northwest coast of North America was a fearsome creature who was said to carry off children in a large basket in order to eat them.

Lumberjacks and other forest workers developed their own legends. Many of these stories are part of entertaining tall tales that may have been based on actual occurrences and exaggerated and embellished over time. The hidebehind was a creature said to dwell in North American forests. It was never seen because it always hid behind a tree (hence the name) and was blamed for disappearances and deaths of lumberjacks and others unfortunate enough to meet up with it.

Modern city dwelling humans may fear forests and other wild areas even more than medieval peasants did. Movies and stories such as "The Happening" and "Friday the Thirteenth" take advantage of this fear.

If you write a horror story with the familiar trope of people lost in a dark forest try and present it in an unusual way to make it your own.

Something to try: Write a horror story set in a forest.



Editor's Picks

STATIC
Enriqueta MartĂ­ i RipollĂ©s Open in new Window. (18+)
The Witch Doctor of Barcelona
#2092358 by WakeUpAndLive~doingNaNo'24 Author IconMail Icon


 
STATIC
Longevity  Open in new Window. (13+)
Youth is wasted on the young... (Quill award winner)
#1953051 by Bilal Latif Author IconMail Icon


STATIC
The Lightkeepers Open in new Window. (18+)
A grave discovery will be made about a particularly ominous lighthouse in Sickle Bay.
#2204352 by Dalimer Corwyn Author IconMail Icon


 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#2211632 by Not Available.


STATIC
The Proposition  Open in new Window. (13+)
Elaina is offered 1,000,000 dollars to attend five parties. What's the Catch?
#1808130 by Jeannie Author IconMail Icon

 
Submit an item for consideration in this newsletter!
https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form

Word from Writing.Com

Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
         https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form

Don't forget to support our sponsor!

ASIN: 1542722411
Amazon's Price: $ 12.99


Ask & Answer

Question for next time: What subjects would you like to see in future horror newsletters?

*Bullet* *Bullet* *Bullet* Don't Be Shy! Write Into This Newsletter! *Bullet* *Bullet* *Bullet*

This form allows you to submit an item on Writing.Com and feedback, comments or questions to the Writing.Com Newsletter Editors. In some cases, due to the volume of submissions we receive, please understand that all feedback and submissions may not be responded to or listed in a newsletter. Thank you, in advance, for any feedback you can provide!
Writing.Com Item ID To Highlight (Optional):

Send a comment or question to the editor!
Limited to 2,500 characters.
Word from our sponsor
ASIN: B07YJZZGW4
Product Type:
Amazon's Price: Price N/A
Not currently available.

Removal Instructions

To stop receiving this newsletter, click here for your newsletter subscription list. Simply uncheck the box next to any newsletter(s) you wish to cancel and then click to "Submit Changes". You can edit your subscriptions at any time.


Printed from https://writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/10326-Into-the-woods.html