 Horror/Scary: February 09, 2011 Issue [#4224] |
  Horror/Scary
This week: Diagnosis: Horror Edited by: W.D.Wilcox  
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DIAGNOSIS: HORROR
He toppled backwards like a felled tree, staring and paralyzed, as if he had finally discovered the true meaning of horror, and his spirit was torn by the fangs of its eyes.
I thought I'd take this time to explain why it isn't necessary to show explicit gore in a horror story all the time. Although it has its place in a good tale of terror, there are other techniques you can use that lead your reader toward the gruesome details without ever having to describe them.
In order to do this, we have to analyze, or diagnose, some bits of true fear. A good reference to remember is that usually what frightens you will also frighten your reader.
Now good writing comes from using strong verbs in any genre, but in horror, it is essential. The mistake that most writers make is struggling to find descriptive adjectives when what they really need is a descriptive verb. Don't get me wrong, descriptive adjectives are great, but they tend to lead a writer into using the dreaded 'adverb'. Nevertheless, there are words you can use to convey something terrifying in your reader's mind.
For example: Helen plunged the butcher knife into his chest.
She didn't just stab him, she plunged the knife.
The verb plunged denotes a violent and cruel stab. Notice that there is no excessive blood and gore here, but instead, a word picture has been created to simply infer the gruesome details.
Of course, I could have added 'over and over again' to that sentence making the horror even more intense, but the idea is still there.
As a writer, it took me forever to learn this. And now things reek and ooze with rot, and people swallow curses and rend flesh. Strong verbs describe strong actions. Don't write home without them.
There are certain creatures you can name too that generally creep people out, like spiders, worms, or maggots. But it's not just referring to them that's effective, it's what they are doing that paints the terrifying picture.
Like this paragraph . . . .
Maggots fed on her eyes. Spiders filled her ears. Centipedes crawled between her legs while beetles enjoyed her breasts. In a frenzied-panic, she tried to claw off her skin to be rid of them.
This is a little more complex to analyze, but still, 'strong verbs' are used to denote the action.
Maggots fed on her eyes.
Personally, I hate maggots.
So what are they doing here?
They are feeding.
Feeding on what?
Her eyes?
Yeah, nice soft, tender, squishy eyes!
What else?
Spiders filled her ears.
Imagine having a spider in your ear.
Ears are shaped like cups, or funnels.
Picture yours filled with spiders.
Yikes! Can you hear me now?
Now let's put some insects in a taboo place.
Centipedes crawled between her legs while beetles enjoyed her breasts.
This line sheds a whole new meaning to the phrase, She's got ants in her pants.
But let's face it, insects are creepy-crawly things, and this is the last place anyone would want them enjoying themselves.
Nevertheless, they still crawled and they enjoyed her flesh.
Then there's the result of the horror, what happens to puny humans when confronted with something beyond their comprehension.
In a frenzied-panic, she tried to claw off her skin to be rid of them.
The phrase 'claw off her skin' paints a very clear picture of pure horror. Again, I am not describing in gory detail what this looks like, but just inferring it for the reader to visualize in their mind.
On an ending note, there are other devices you can use to infer horror without all the gore.
For example, Even as her husband collapsed, Helen spied the pruning shears she had left earlier by the backdoor.
Now pruning shears and an incapacitated victim spell horror in anybody's mind without having to explain how she is going to use them.
Until next we meet,
billwilcox
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TERRIFYING TALES
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DEAD LETTERS
Debbie M 
Comments:
Yes, yes, yes...I do agree...Enough of these teenage vampire stories...Time to put a new twist on an old, familiar tale...I LOVE the idea of a zombie story told from the perspective of "the walking dead". Great job.
 Thank you Debbie. I also agree that zombies have been getting the dirty end of the stick. It's time to let the world know that zombies have feelings too.
LJPC - the tortoise
Comments:
Hi Bill!
You're absolutely right. It seems that everything has been done before, so if you want to write a story, you must find a new twist (or two) in the old formulas. This is far harder to do than it seems, but necessary. Great NL! 
-- Laura
Thanks Laura, I agree that putting a different twist to an old formula can be arduous. But when you look at it in a different way, it is much easier and extremely more fun. .
BIG BAD WOLF Feeling Thankful 
Says:
Please read "Felarya Races"
Sometimes, it is the place itself that is dangerous.
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