 Fantasy: October 12, 2016 Issue [#7910] |
  Fantasy
This week: Fantasy & Horror: A Fitting October Pair Edited by: Dawn Embers  
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Fantasy Newsletter by Dawn
October is a good month for both fantasy and horror. |
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One genre I don't understand is horror. I've tried in the past and even have a couple flash fiction pieces that include a serial killer who dresses up like a clown, but I am not a horror writer by any means. Nor do I watch horror. So, why bring it up? Well, I have a coworker who works at Universal Studios and is part of the Fright Nights they have going on this month in celebration of the upcoming holiday, Halloween.
And while I don't understand the dynamics of horror and how to write to those expectations, what I can see how ones can write horror within speculative fiction. Fantasy and science fiction both have elements that can create amazing horrors within the world building, characters and in general the use of the imagination to create the stories. Horror, after all, is under the umbrella known as speculative fiction when it comes to creating genre labels.
October is a good month to try horror because of Halloween. It's not just a month of pumpkin spice flavored well, everything. There are many elements that can work both with fantasy and horror.
1. Monsters/Creatures
These can be found in all of speculative fiction. In particular, horror but we do actually have many monsters and different types of creatures in fantasy and even sci-fi. If you want to know some specific creatures/monsters, there are some newsletters out already on the topic. For a few recent examples, check out the fantasy newsletters by Prosperous Snow celebrating  on mythical monsters. And don't forget to subscribe to the Horror/Scary newsletter as well. Characters can be of many types, human or otherwise, and even some of the so called monsters could be the main pov character, depending on the story.
2. Setting
There are plenty of locations that help create the sense of being within a fantasy or horror story. Both can help make a story feel within the genre based on how the setting is displayed. How you incorporate the elements of location and description will help greatly in making the story come across as horror or fantasy. It's all part of creating the right atmosphere that goes so well with these genres in particular.
3. Conflict
Another cross between with the genres is the types of conflicts that arise can work for either. This can involve epic problems that threaten the entire world or be found on a more micro, personal scale for the characters involved. It's important to have a conflict that fits the story and helps to a degree with the genre. While horror does focus on the element of creating a specific reaction, often fear, it's quite the task to create the story and world in order to give such visceral reactions through words (as we're talking stories and not the cinema).
In random summary as this one is a bit of a mix-up ramble, the basics are that whether it's October or not, fantasy and horror can make for a good combination. And if you've done one but not the other, trying something different works as a good way to stretch your skills as a writer. Sure, I don't understand horror that much but every now and then I give it a try. So, how about you? Going to add some horror to your fantasy world? Or are you a horror writer who will add fantasy to those horrific tales?
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| | | Lefu (13+)
A curse is on a town where a boy is sacrificed to evil souls every other Halloween night.
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Have you used horror in your fantasy story? Or fantasy in your horror story?
Last month, I wrote about finding balance in life when dealing with writing and having other things to do. Thanks to elfindragon who sent in a comment for that one.
Comment by Elfin Dragon-finally published 
I think balance comes with knowing where to take the reader. There needs to be action, drama, some lulls and yes, even a little romance. Everything creates a sense of balance in the story as you take the reader for a ride.
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