  Horror/Scary
This week: Edited by: schipperke
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| Let's see. I am dressed in all black, I have dark circles under my eyes, the candles are lit and Nine Inch Nails is playing on the radio. I guess I am ready to be a Horror Writer! |
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Do you really want to be a horror writer? Do you have what it takes to succeed as a writer of the dark side? Do horror writers have different characteristics than other writers, like shifty eyes, or a penchant for hanging around graveyards?
I have to disappoint you. What it takes it be a great horror writer is HARD WORK. Yep, just like every other profession, writing horror is basically a job, taking discipline and study.
Study? You need to read in order to be a publishable author of horror. Read old classic horror stories such as tales from Poe and HP Lovecraft. Read newer authors, like King, or Koontz. Haunt your library for the Oxford collections of ghost stories and horror short stories. Study them, read them first for pleasure, then as a researcher. What makes a great horror story great? Is it the settings? The characters? The pacing of the story?
Next is the work. Sit your self down and put some glue on your chair. Set a timer for an hour and don’t you get up until the hour is up. Write something. It doesn’t have to be a masterpiece for the first draft, just fill the white space with your ideas. If your mind is racing and you write beyond the hour, great!. But do write, everyday. Like a job. Imagine that the worst boss you have ever had is hiding in your closet, ready to jump out at you if you leave your seat before the hour is up.
Polish your work with the second or third draft. Have a friend (here on Writing.Com or at home) read your story during the day. If it can scare them in the sunlight, it will be sure to raise some arm hairs at night.
Next, research what kinds of avenues are available for the horror genre. Look at the Writer’s Market, or see which publisher produced the horror books you are reading. Get an agent, or send out an inquiry to a publisher. If you don’t send out your work, no one will see it but your mother. And unless she is a publisher, your work will not be noticed.
Being a writer is fun. Writing is hard work. Grab some Elmer’s glue and get started.
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essence of thought   :Hello Schipperke,
It is a nice horror letter. It is a good thing looking at the issues that constitute fear for people and there will never be a one common answer. I think that one must not fear of the unknown, but only feel some curiousity to what the future holds for one. Add to that I think that one's fears are from the afterlife not from Death itself. The real fear is the death of the people we love.
Thank you for your feedback. Fear comes from different places for everyone, I agree.
billwilcox:Schip!
What a tantalizing little article on what scares you. When I write a scary story, I always use what frightens me, because all our fears are basically universal, and what scares me--will more than likely scare you.
I can think of one thing that may scare you, but not me...I have no fear of going bald  That is a MALE thang!
zwisis:Schip, I think you are psychic!
I've had the thrill of a spider running up my arm into my T shirt... I was 10 years old at the time, and I've never forgotten it. I can still feel those nasty little legs scabbling at my skin . I reckon I can trace my fear of spiders to that incident.
And as for driving up a steep slope of ice? Well I've done that, and it actually turned into a terrifying episode. I actually dreamed about it last night! I've written about it, and will send you the link!
Thanks, Forever. Bridges are featured in my dreams, too. It is interesting how you can trace some of your fears to childhood incidents..
We love to hear from our readers. Please send any comments, questions, or suggestions for topics to any of the editors. |
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Horror/Scary: February 15, 2006 Issue [#882]
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