Horror/Scary: October 13, 2010 Issue [#4020]
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Horror/Scary


 This week: Things That go Bump in the Night
  Edited by: Ben Langhinrichs 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

Greetings! I am a guest editor for the Horror/Scary Newsletter, and honored to be able to share some horrible thoughts in October, a particularly scary month.
~ Ben Langhinrichs Author Icon


Word from our sponsor

ASIN: B07RKLNKH7
Amazon's Price: $ 0.99


Letter from the editor



Things that go Bump in the Night

Two essential components of horror are fear and helplessness. While we may be afraid of many things, few fears are as primal as those which take place after dark, often in the place which should provide safety, our home.

Haunted houses are very popular around Halloween, usually filled with shock and surprise, mixed up with a healthy mix of ew, gross. But the carnival version of the haunted house has little to do with true fear. Grotesque faces and fake blood are easy to squeal about, but the fear is superficial.

Not so for things that go bump in the night. After the snack is finished, the book put down or the TV switched off, there comes a time when you must lie down in the dark, alone with your thoughts. But are you alone? Tiny noises which were lost in the hullabaloo of the day are amplified in the still of the night. Is that scratching noise a mouse in the walls or something else? What caused that floorboard to creak? Is someone there? Is something there?

Your breath quickens, and you can feel your heart race. Did you lock the back door? Wait, was that the stair that always squeaks? If so, who is out there?

Scream! Panic! Flee! Something is out there, you know it. The rational part of your mind closes down, and alarm bells clang in your mind. Your hands are sweaty. Wait, did the doorknob just turn?

Here the second element of horror comes in. Helplessness. You cannot move, scarcely dare to breath, and have no way to face the horrors that go bump in the night. There is no mother or father to call, nobody but you facing unknown dangers.

For Halloween, how about you write a story or poem about a haunted house, but it must be your house, and you must be the main character?

Also, this seems a perfect time of year to read and share scary stories, poems and more. Starr* Rathburn Author Icon has kindly pointed out the "Invalid Item" Open in new Window. plug page, a shameless plug page for the dark and scary. Why not stop by and share some of your scary work, and enjoy the scary work of others?



Editor's Picks



Here are some picks from the Dark Offerings plug page. Read and enjoy (and share your own there).

~Evil Fairies Open in new Window. [18+]
They hunger and snarl sounds of mangled appetites. Written for Reflectingeye's Contest.
by Spooky, Cute & staiNed Author Icon


 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor


 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor


 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor


Ghouls Open in new Window. [18+]
Don't let death stop you living.
by Bilal Latif Author Icon


 Lesson of the Dead Open in new Window. [13+]
A town ravenged by disease ridden creatures becomes the tomb of the locals
by Nira Author Icon


 The Pain of Reality Open in new Window. [13+]
A stranded young man finds a demented man willing to help him-- or so he says...
by Inkscribe Author Icon


 Maureen Open in new Window. [13+]
...a mass of confused and anguished voices answered: “Not Maureen!”
by BryanLee Author Icon


 School full of Zombies! Open in new Window. [13+]
The odd events in a public high school cause a few unfortunates to struggle for dear life.
by Pleesancert Naimere Author Icon


 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor


 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor



 
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: B07B63CTKX
Amazon's Price: $ 6.99


Ask & Answer


Feedback from my last newsletter, "The Unsparkly Undead - Zombies" Open in new Window.:



LJPC - the tortoise Author Icon Hi Ben! That was a great newsletter on zombies. For some reason, zombies are considered the poor cousin in the classic monster world. I liked that you had insightful things to say about the reason they appeal to certain readers. The views of the other author you met at Horror Realm were very interesting. But honestly, zombies are just fun! *Laugh* - Laura

         You have a point. Just plain fun!



James Cowgill Author Icon offers us "Lunacy: Chapter 1" Open in new Window. and says: I have just posted the first three chapters of my novel and wish for some feedback or suggestions. The title is Lunacy and I feel anyone who enjoys scary stories will love this.



Starr* Rathburn Author Icon offers us "Invalid Item" Open in new Window. (mentioned above) and says: Greetings! My friend Maryann Author IconMail Icon recently reviewed this page, and she said: "...it's a perfect time of year to plug this plug page...People seem to find their haunted muse around Halloween time." That gave me the idea to offer this to you. Thanks for your consideration.

Starr* R



leeflan Author Icon Hi Ben! I attended Horror Realm too! Wasn't it so much fun?

         Absolutely! I had a blast.



Spooky, Cute & staiNed Author Icon Zombies give the best hugs, *Smirk*

         They sure do. They never you down.



BIG BAD WOLF is Howling Author Icon offers us "Monster Cowboys Part One" Open in new Window. and says: Zombies are scary. But when you throw in Frontier Justice and Werewolf Rage, then things get really interesting.

         The more monsters, the merrier.


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Word from our sponsor
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