 Horror/Scary: September 17, 2008 Issue [#2619] |
  Horror/Scary
This week: Edited by: darkin
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Reading a horror story, one that keeps you on the edge of your seat until the last page, is what every horror fan dreams of. Being scared, to the point that sleep is almost impossible, makes the read all the more worthwhile. Does that make us crazy? You bet!!!
My name is Darkin, and I'm your host this week for the Horror Newsletter. |
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Oh, Ewwww!!!!
How much blood and guts should be in a horror story? The answer to that question varies from writer to writer, and reader to reader. For me, it completely depends on the type of horror story being written.
Some of the scariest horror tales I've seen and read had a minute amount of blood and guts. The writer's use of description, along with letting me use my imagination to fill in the blanks, can go farther than describing every single icky thing.
I expect to see more gross descriptions in a zombie tale, since the very nature of the creature is pretty darn icky, than I would in a horror story about a closet monster and a little child.
When deciding on how much gore to show in your story you need to really look at your tale's plot. Ask yourself these five questions to get a better idea of how much blood and guts your story needs.
What happens during the story? There is a big difference between scary things and gross things. Are the things happening in your story the former, or latter?
Who does it happen to? While I'm a firm believer that any character, regardless of gender, race, or age, is fair game in a horror story, some writers don't feel the same way. So take into account your main characters before upping the level of ick in your tale.
Where is it happening? Sometimes, having a gory scene in a completely innocent location makes for an even scarier tale. Not all horror stories have to take place in that creepy house down the street!
Why is it happening? The reason for the story taking place can bring a lot of insight into the amount of blood and guts it needs.
And finally, how does gore factor into the tale itself? When writing your story, think about just what adding gore to it is going to accomplish. Are you just wanting to gross out your readers? Or are you trying to scare them? Like I said earlier, the scariest tales I've read are the ones that leave most of the ick to MY imagination.
Answering these five questions honestly will help you as a writer figure out just how much your story needs to be truly frightening.
Thank you for taking the time to read. Happy Writing!
darkin
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Here are some items I found while traveling the highways and byways of Writing.Com!
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Thank you for allowing me to enter your world. If you have any comments, or questions, feel free to drop me a line. I'd love to hear from you!
darkin
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Submitted By: zwisis
Submitted Comment:
Demon Squirrel - a while ago you wrote about the film "Black Sheep"... well, I finally got to watch it and it is very funny indeed. Vampire sheep created by genetic engineering is perhaps a bit vivid, but not unbelievable for any horror fantasy writer. The humour appealed to me, but it might not be everyone's cup of tea - it's filmed in New Zealand so it's not strictly regular humour. I enjoyed the puns!
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Thank you for the review. I'll have to find a copy to watch now. 
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