 Horror/Scary: August 13, 2014 Issue [#6483] |
  Horror/Scary
This week: Too Gory? Edited by: LJPC - the tortoise  
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3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions
| How to find non-gory horror on WDC, in answer to a question from blunderbuss |
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Can Horror Be Too Gory?
Anyone who writes horror stories or watches horror movies knows the look they sometimes get from others—that “Eww. You like that stuff?” look.  Some people just don’t like scary things. Some believe that all horror contains spurting blood and body parts flying every which way.
Okay, some horror does. And some of us like that. 
But many people prefer psychological horror. They want to be frightened a little, but have the bloody scenes happen “off-stage.”
This is the situation my next reader finds herself in, and she wrote the newsletter to see if I could help her.
blunderbuss wrote:
I hate gore but I love horror/scary. Is there a good way of signposting that a story you have written is not going to be gory, but more subtly scary, with perhaps the most punch at the end? I would also like to have this indicator when selecting stories to read and review. Any suggestions?
Since there can be three genre designations for every story, someone looking for not-too-gory might try Thriller/Suspense as the main category and as the second category, put in Dark, Death, Supernatural, Occult, Ghost, or even Psychology. Those may contain elements of horror but are rarely gory.
Another way to find mild horror is to use the Horror/Scary category but to check the age rating on each story. (If you mouse over the title on the search page, you’ll see the rating along with other info.) This way you can stay away from 18+ or GC and stick to 13+. Those things marked 13+ cannot contain explicit violence or sex, and references to drugs or swearing should be only the mildest forms. (See "Content Rating System (CRS)" )
If anyone has another idea about how to steer away from gory when searching for stories on WDC, please put it in the comments to the Newsletter. Thanks!
For sending me a question I used in a Newsletter, blunderbuss received a Merit Badge!  I have other questions I’ll be answering in the future, and please feel free to send me one of your own.
Horror Short Story Awards
Have you read or written a great horror story in the past year? Be sure to nominate it for The Scream Awards! Visit the item below—make sure to read the Guidelines for the rules about nominating. Good luck to everyone who enters!
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Get Published!
Have a story you’d like to get published in a magazine, e-zine, or anthology? Remember to try the free search engine “The Grinder” with lists of hundreds of publications and their rules for submission.
http://thegrinder.diabolicalplots.com/Search.aspx
Until next time: Let the horror bleed onto the pages with every word!
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Here are some spooky stories rated 13+ for your reading pleasure!
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Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form
Don't forget to support our sponsor!
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To my delight, some writers took the time to comment on my last newsletter: "Strange Details" Thank you!
Comments listed in the order they were received.
Quick-Quill  writes: Another wonderful NL with great examples. Its one thing to TELL someone what they need to do, but you went that extra step and SHOWED how to make the basic story even more interesting. I love it. Although, even with the first story (without the cliffhanger) my mind was moving in a more sinister mode. I wasn't surprised at your turn of events, but I had the old lady (in disguise) as the villain.... My twisted mind.
Haha! I love the idea of the old lady as the villain! Thanks for replying to the newsletter, Tina!
Phoenix writes: Another great example of bringing your writing to life. The strange detail sections were vivid and memorable. It reminds me of a memory book I once read. It said that memory champs will often use pneumonics devices that employ strange details because our mind holds on to them better. If, as writers, we employ the same strategy, then our readers will be more engaged and invested. Remembering instead of skipping. Great newsletter, Laura!
I’ve heard of those memory tips, too. It can be hard to come up with strange characters and details, but it’s worth it to make the story memorable. 
Vampyr14  writes: Great idea about the strange details. Not sure I agree about the incidental characters so much because as soon as you draw attention to them, readers assume they're important to the plot and feel cheated if they're not.
Yes, sometimes too much description of minor characters can backfire. Thanks for replying to the newsletter! 
RICHARD writes: I wrote a piece, it is called the amulet. Could you check it and see I have come any where near where it should be for horror
Since you're a new member, I thought I'd point you in the direction of places and groups that review.
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You can also check the Public Reviewing page and if you see any reviewers that you like, you can look at their portfolio to see if they are accepting review requests.
http://www.writing.com/main/my_feedback/action/rrs
Good luck, Joy!
BIG BAD WOLF Feeling Thankful  submits "Monster Cowboys The Book" and writes: One will always find that scare.
We hope to find the scare. Alas, it’s not always so easy to find.
Taniuska writes: Love your examples... This is such a fantastic post. We all get stuck at times and use typical descriptions, instead of ramping it up with something different / strange. LOL.... so true about the moon... I might have done this a few times 
It’s very easy to use tropes when writing. It takes lots of effort and lots of revisions to get rid of them. Thanks for writing the Newsletter!
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