 Horror/Scary: October 23, 2013 Issue [#5940] |
  Horror/Scary
This week: Dreams Beget Horror Stories! Edited by: Ẃeβ࿚ẂỉԎḈĥmas  
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Have you ever had a frightening dream? Well, of course we have, WebWitch. What's so profound about that? Read on folks, read on. |
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Hello, folks! I'm Ẃeβ࿚ẂỉԎḈĥmas and I am your guest editor for this edition of the Horror/Scary Newsletter.
Okay, when I ask if you've had a frightening dream, I'm not talking about the type of nightmares that make you wake-up in a cold-sweat, screaming and gasping for breath. Those are probably more random and may be due to some recent horror flick, or, most likely from watching the nightly news. 
I'm talking about dreams that strike at the very core of your fear. Does a dream about being buried alive, terrify you? I think that one strikes a cord with all of us; however, it doesn't have to get to the taphephobia stage to stir-up the fear factor. It could be a dream of driving a car, and when you try to apply the brakes, they don't work. To make that scenario even worse, you're going in reverse!
I've had dreams that didn't really terrorize me but gave me the creeps. I'd wake-up worrying that it was some premonition of a future tragedy. 
Dreams that are more frightening than monsters chasing you, are those that involve a person in the position of trust. I know, I've mentioned that whole trust thing in the last, Horror/Scary Newsletter, I edited, but bear with me for a moment. Suppose that the beloved person is the driver of your car and you are the passenger. You worry in your dream that something might happen, because the road has curves and cliffs and you are not in control. You try to calm yourself down, because the driver is a loved one who would normally protect you. Suddenly, the car seems to veer a little to the left; it catches some gravel and slips a bit, then there is a bump and crevice on the side of the road that pull at the tires, dragging them into its hazardous plan. The car seems to lift into the air, slightly, but then it lands unevenly while it picks-up speed and heads right toward a cliff. The drop to your death, is coming closer to you.
As if by a miracle, a precipice sticks out just enough to catch the car as it continues to roll-on. You sigh with relief because a road mysteriously opens-up where the precipice caught the falling car. It's only a mirage of safety though, because just when you think you are secure, your trusted driver swerves again. Not only do you fear for your life, but also for your loved-one. You don't want that person harmed and wish you could take control of the wheel, but it's too late.
You are facing a forest with huge trees on one side of the narrow road and the ever frightening cliff to the abyss on the other. Either way, you are doomed. Your mind starts reeling; while things seem to be happening in slow motion, the brain is speeding-up, taking in images, thoughts and trying to bargain with you. The driver looks unconcerned and doesn't apply the brakes, but voices a little "Oh, that was close," while staring at you rather than the road, yet manages to bring the car to a safety zone for a few more seconds, giving you another false sense of security. Since security doesn't last long in horror, the whole scenario of non-stop sliding and cliff-falling starts all over again.
Taking it to another level, the car actually goes over the cliff, with no precipice; just the realization that death's door is flying toward you. What are your thoughts? If you try to convince yourself that you are in a dream, would you let the car crash to the bottom to see what happens? Or, would you awaken yourself because the thought is just too horrid? What is going through your mind at the time you are falling?
You might add a strange character appearing from nowhere jumping-out in front of the car. It causes the driver to veer away from him and places the occupants in danger, yet again. Let your imagination run wild with that dream and develop the story.
Now, you have your own road-map for horror, folks. Making a "nightmare" not just vivid, but also repetitive, is a fine way of building a story. Each time the victim wanders back into the nightmare, his subconscious takes him a little further into the chiller, that opens new avenues of fright. Make your readers sweat, folks. Make them feel as if they are the helpless passengers in a vehicle, careening over the cliff.
This car scenario is just an example of how a simple action, driving a car, that is done each day by readers everywhere, can lead to terror. A simple pleasure ride with a loved one, can turn into a chilling story that will hit the emotions of any of us who have had close calls with death, while riding or driving a car.
If you are truly frightened by your dream, and write down those feelings; you will be convincing to your readers. They will be able to feel your fear in your writing. And that's a scary thing, folks. 
Horror HAPPENS when your victims are NOT in CONTROL! Good horror stories are born by you, the author, taking control of that which frightens you and writing about it as though you were living it at that very moment.
Until we meet again in the night -- take your fright to a new height.
Happy Halloween, folks!
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Comments from the last time I was guest editor of the Horror/Scary Newsletter:  "Horror/Scary Newsletter (July 24, 2013)"
Quick-Quill 
For years after watching Birds I would hurry past birds lined on a wire. Even to this day I think about them when I see a flock lined on a building roofline.
I love this NL. It really has me thinking. My favorite movie right now is DEVIL by M knight Shyamalan. Characters, twisted storyline all end up nicely tied but it was like a wild ride on a rollercoaster. I was glad it was over! But I want to go again. I've watched it several time since its available On Demand right now. I want to write like that!
Oooh! I haven't seen that one! I must watch it. I usually catch the M Knight Shyamalan, stuff. I wonder how I missed it?!!
Thanks for the feedback and the plug for Devil. 
pinkbarbie
Thanks for this wonderful newsletter and featuring my story.
You're welcome!It was my pleasure. 
LJPC - the tortoise 
Hi WW! I loved those old B&W movies, too, and I thought your example of the psycho-killer lawyer was very clever. Thanks for the great Horror NL!
~ Laura
Oh, great Mistress of Horror -- I am delighted you liked my humble Horror/Scary contribution. Coming from YOU, it's quite an honor! 
Cobe 
Great newsletter. I too believe that sometimes the subtle nuances of horror, instead of overly obvious and technicolor, make it better and more suspenseful. Thanks.
It's true. Sometimes it's the suspense that keeps us on the edge of our seats.
Gore is gore and after the first two ax choppings, it gets predictable and, well, messy. 
Thanks for the feedback, Cobe. 
drjim
WW! WHO to find assailing us at the door? Not Poe or his Raven - but Webbie-Lore!! Folks who come to read up on spooks and things - the people-suckers and the howler-pooches that don't have to go far to get scary material; I tell them, just come to our house!! Of course, this is not likely to happen, unless it's Halloween say. Tonight, I give it up for Frankenstein, the Monster contrived by a Lady Author who gave literary birth to a creature that MAN creates, not God or some Greater Power. "Frankly, Frankenstein's Monster created quite a quandary for post-modern feminism, for why write a story that eliminated women nurturing the Human Race? Hmmn. Not good. We need a Man Author to create a Frankenstein that does not need Man's contribution to creating such a vile, vile being. What, dear WW, would we call THIS Creature? Frackensighin? Flirtsenhind? And.....no...not the Bride Of Frakenstein either. Something ORIGINAL this way comes, and WW, YOU'LL be the one to write it!!!!
 Okay, Doc, you're a man and a writer -- you could write it. Right?  I'll be happy to read it.
Diana
I also prefer psychological horror to the blood and gore type of horror that seems so popular these days. I've always loved the old Hammer style Dracula type stories. These modern vampire tales just leave me cold. These things tend to go in cycles so maybe we'll see a return to the old fashioned style stories one day.
That would be refreshing, Dave. I wouldn't hold my breath on that one, though. Zombies and Vampires are still going strong. When those have run their course, they'll just start recycling another series a la, Freddy, Jason and Michael. 
Intelligent fright will make my night! 
Gennee via email
I watched all three movies in black and white. I like the Werewolf the best. Black and white brings and air of mystery and suspense.
I agree! And, the Werewolf was my favorite, too. 
BIG BAD WOLF is Merry  Submits: "What Happens at the Barracks; Stays"
& comments: You need unusual creatures.
They can be found, just about any day of the week -- in ones own neighborhood, perhaps. 
Thanks for all of your feedback, folks! We editors really appreciate it. 
Perhaps we'll meet again, sometime.
 WW
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