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Horror/Scary: April 03, 2019 Issue [#9470]




 This week: Dark magic
  Edited by: Arakun the twisted raccoon Author IconMail Icon
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Table of Contents

1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions

About This Newsletter

Quote for the week: "Evil is a source of moral intelligence in the sense that we need to learn from our shadow, from our dark side, in order to be good."
~ John Bradshaw


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Letter from the editor

Any character who is out to do evil is frightening enough, but especially so if that character has supernatural abilities. Imagine an evil character who can use magic to manipulate reality. He or she might kill with a spell or gesture, make people or places disappear, or bring demons or monsters into the world.

How would your characters fight an enemy who uses dark magic? Would they try to counter the evil character using mundane, non-magical means or would they attempt to use magic themselves? Either method might work well for a horror story, depending on your characters.

When planning any story, you try to set up road blocks so it will not seem too easy for your characters to accomplish their goals or defeat their enemies. A story involving magic will have magical roadblocks as well as ordinary ones.

Magical characters are more believable if they have some limitations. Human dark magic practitioners are just as susceptible to bullets or blades as a normal human if your characters find a way past their magical defenses.

If your protagonists are also magic users, they will have limitations of their own. Is their magic as strong as that of their enemy? Are they beginners, or have they been practicing for years? Does the user of dark magic have some abilities or artifacts that can't be used by someone who works only within the light? Maybe the dark and light practitioners manipulate the same forces which are neither good nor evil.

If magic is energy, then there should be some corresponding loss of energy for someone who uses it. Will the person become weak or pass out from using magic too long? Maybe the continuous use of magic will affect the character's brain, leading to insanity. Maybe an innocent or naive character will have to lose some of his or her innocence or childlike trust of others when fighting an evil enemy. (That may or may not be a bad thing, depending on the character.)

If magic is an important part of your story, spend some time developing the theory and framework of the magical powers your characters use. This can be just as much fun as writing the story! You might want to base your story on actual legends or create your own.

Something to try: Write a horror story that involves a magical enemy.


Editor's Picks

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The Wild Blue Yonder Open in new Window. (13+)
Up, up, and away...in my beautiful, my beautiful balloon...
#2080976 by Angus Author IconMail Icon


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We Missed You Open in new Window. (13+)
HONORABLE MENTION in the Wintertime Grim Blunt Trauma Contest January, 2019
#2181201 by Monochrome Author IconMail Icon


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The Ring of Lost Hope Open in new Window. (18+)
Written for SCREAMS!!!
#2182480 by IceSkatingSugarCube Author IconMail Icon


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Three Wishes Open in new Window. (18+)
be careful what you wish for...a two-time 2018 Quill Award Finalist
#2159858 by Jim Hall Author IconMail Icon


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 Siderodromophobia Open in new Window. (13+)
A trip through your phobia's
#2154693 by L.A. Grawitch Author IconMail Icon

 
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Ask & Answer

Question for next time: What topics would you like to see in future horror newsletters?

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