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Horror/Scary: May 27, 2015 Issue [#7012]

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Horror/Scary


 This week: Chiaroscuro
  Edited by: Arakun the twisted raccoon Author IconMail Icon
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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: Keep your face always toward the sunshine - and shadows will fall behind you.

~Walt Whitman


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Letter from the editor

Chiaroscuro is an artist's term for a strong contrast between light and darkness in a painting or drawing. Light and darkness are much more dramatic in the presence of their opposites. A painting or photograph of total darkness is boring, while a picture with no shadow is washed out and pale.

Writing, especially horror writing, also needs contrasts between light and dark. Even traditional horror stories with dark, gloomy settings need some light. For example, a dark rainy night is much more creepy when an occasional flash of lightning illuminates the sky. Maybe you could set your story in a place that is beautiful and bright during the day, but frightening at night. Examples might include a desert, a forest, or your own home *Shock*.

Characters also come to life when you introduce some contrast between light and darkness. Try creating a character with startling combinations of physical characteristics, such as platinum blonde hair and dark skin, or pale skin with dark brown eyes.

Stark contrasts between characters' personalities are interesting too, but try to avoid making the villain pure evil and the hero pure good. The contrasts and conflicts within each of these characters will make them seem more real. For example, the villain may be a serial killer who only kills rapists and pedophiles. The hero may be a police officer who hates to admit that he admires the serial killer for getting rid of those evil characters.

Some people look at the world and see only darkness, while others see only light. It might be fun to tell the same story from the perspectives of both of these people. For one, it could be a horror story, and for the other, a great adventure.

Something to try: Write a horror story that deals with extreme contrasts, between people, places, or events.



Editor's Picks

The Fun House Open in new Window. (13+)
"Come on in ... if you dare."
#1881045 by Tom Buck Author IconMail Icon


 
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A Frightening Walk Open in new Window. (13+)
The scary walk down the old secluded farm road still haunts me to this day.
#854080 by Kings Author IconMail Icon


There Could Be Tigers Open in new Window. (13+)
We may need to conquerour fears, but we should never completely ignore them.
#939525 by dmack Author IconMail Icon


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In The Shadow Of The Mountain Open in new Window. (13+)
Tale of betrayal, vengeance, and snow.
#2029038 by James Heyward Author IconMail Icon


Annie May Open in new Window. (13+)
Tell them I was real brave and real strong and real kind just like they taught me to be.
#2022448 by Rakkit Author IconMail Icon

 
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