 Horror/Scary: September 01, 2010 Issue [#3942] |
  Horror/Scary
This week: When Less is More ~ Horrific Edited by: Kate - Writing & Reading  
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"All that I see or seem is but a dream within a dream."
Edgar Allan Poe
"Good things come in small packages -
why not savor a little bit of horror ~ in prose or verse."
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Greetings, thank you for allowing me this brief intrusion into your virtual home. 'Brief is the operative word today. Recently, I attended an online seminar and submitted a bit of flash for instructor comment and peer review. The instructor commented favorably on the plot, pacing, characterization, and visceral psychological ending. Peer review was equally favorable and encouraging. The instructor ended her critique, however, with the statement, "...but you've committed flash fiction." Yes, her words . She then offered suggestions on how I could expand the idea to novel length, or link a series of similar 'shorts' as chapters into a novel.
But I ask you, what's wrong with flash fiction, especially in writing horror? The vivid imagery and visceral nature of horror (whether overt or subliminal) induces tight, sensual writing. Yes, world building and vivid scenic development can create otherworlds for a multitude of characters to inhabit and invite the reader to stay for a day, or week; but horror tales especially can be just as vivid and complete when 'bite' size.
Flash fiction can be drafted in a creative breath, then refined, reworded, sometimes all in a day. A short story anywhere from 30 words to about 3000 is considered 'flash fiction.' And even tighter, a complete story of 10-300 words has been dubbed 'micro-fiction.' But these are not merely a scene, or expository. Flash fiction and micro-fiction have all the elements of a novel: beginning, middle and end. They arise in any genre - mystery, adventure, horror, comedy, ... - that incites the Muse Creative to write, with mainly a single point of view, a story to delight, incite, or inspire readers. Being that they are short in length, and each word has to be selected with care, I think they're fun to read aloud; to embrace the actual spoken tone of the writer, savor the sound and taste of the words, the images thus evoked to convey the story.
A Ficlet or short-short story is also a form of 'drabble' that can run up to 1,000 words. These are often used in fan fiction, where brief, tight writing , vivid scenes, propel action-adventure and sometimes romance.
Want even more for less, try a 'drabble,' a complete story of exactly 100 words. Going even shorter and tighter, one can write a dribble, or a complete story in 50 words, or a "droubble" (double drabble) of 200 words.
All of these 'drabbles' and their derivatives have one thing in common - they are complete stories, plotted and driven from beginning to end by the writer's insightful choice of words.
And let's not forget poetry, "Quoth the raven, ..." Would any of you Dare to say Poe does not relate a complete, mesmerizing, story in verse that chills when read aloud!
So, why not give it a try ~ and 'drabble' in vivid imagery to create a tale of terror though brief in length, replete in breadth, and a visceral 'delight' to read aloud. And do read a few of the drabbles and dribbles and flashes and verse that chills and thrills, offered for your reading pleasure by some of the writers in our Community.
Proof that flash and verse is welcome in horror writing, consider the following invitation to submit a poem or flash fiction up to 1000 words for possible paid publication in Poe's Little Thing. The reading period is open until September 20th; check out the guidelines -
http://www.wix.com/weegee1969/NSPBOOKS.
I hope you agree, if you didn't already know it, that in horror writing especially, sometimes less can be more. 
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I'd like to share just a 'small' selection of short fiction and verse that each relate a complete story in brief, yet visceral detail, to evoke a satisfied shiver. Do let the writers know how they've succeeded with a comment or review ~ Read them all, they get 'shorter' as you go along
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#1701746 by Not Available. |
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#1675695 by Not Available. |
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Flash Fiction. A man takes up a job as a live in aide for an elderly woman.
#1700024 by LCVarnum  |
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#998129 by Not Available. |
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Now, how about 'committing' a flash of horror in prose or verse yourself?
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#1263522 by Not Available. |
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