TECH: How to Write Horror Fiction 02
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writercisesOriginal posting Oct. 7, 2017
And, continuing our preparation for Halloweenie Horror (remember, the Writers Halloween Contest is off and running!), we look at chapter 2 of How to Write Horror Fiction by William F. Nolan...
BOO!
Now, take me to your monster. That's the second chapter's title, Take Me to Your Monster. "Because the monster is primary within the field of horror, just as the gunfighter is primary in the Western, or the private I is primary in hard-boiled detective fiction." William does say you can write horror without monsters, but even then there usually is something monstrous… Then he goes through a number of examples to show that "your options are wide open as to the type of monster you may wish to create."
Old ghoul, new approach – you can use a conventional monster, but you need to have a fresh presentation, new insights, something different. Vampires, werewolves, zombies, mummies… "If your monster is indeed supernatural, it is your job to make the creature real and understandable on human terms, despite his supernatural powers." Readers need to believe that monster feels real! Convince them, give them a monster with depth, that feels real.
Multiple monsters – sometimes multiple monsters works. For example, maybe a monster and a human… In partnership! Just who is the monster there? Be careful though, multiple monsters can be too much. Usually, two is plenty, three, four, a whole cast of monsters… Well, make sure there's one central one. Credibility! [I will note that current urban fantasy often opens with one monster, and then adds to the cast, often with a throwaway remark about where there's one monster there's more!]
Timing? When do you introduce your monster? There's no real set place, although you need to establish the worry, the fear, the menace very early. The monster? And especially the details of the monster? Those often come out much later. Frequently actions, or bloody results, get an early showing, and then the monster comes out towards the end. You might consider that the revelation is part of the climax! Also, something that is only partially seen, with hints and glimpses, can be scarier than just seeing it. You want to build suspense. It's almost as if the horror genre is a mystery play, with clues and red herrings and all of that building up to finally revealing there is the monster!
"Revealing too much too quickly robs the story of its essential suspense. By withholding facts about the exact nature and full powers of your monster, you keep its threat immediate and fresh throughout the story. And by placing the confrontation between your monster and your protagonist at the end, in the climax, you maintain the monster's fright level to the last page."
The Domain of Darkness – how powerful should the monster be? Should it have multiple powers? Well… Limited powers help ensure that the reader thinks your hero could beat it. If you got a superpowerful monster, you better have a Superman hero, and even then, it's not going to be very real. You can balance unusual strengths with unusual weaknesses. Vampires, strong, transforming, hypnotizing. But also can't stand the sun, holy symbols, holy water, even a stake through the heart. Leave room to beat your monster by honest human endeavors. By the way, if you give your monster specific powers, stick to them. Don't let the monster suddenly change powers just to confuse your hero and your readers.
Human monsters. Is your human monster just a criminal, or have they grown into monsters? No compassion, no guilt, you have to build them into savage monsters. They have to be evil.
So, William summarizes, make your monsters credible. Make sure they threaten your main characters. They must be removed from the norm. And avoid having them be all powerful.
Now pick a monster. Make them scary, and make them real.
Now that you're shivering, quivering, ready to write, remember, the Writers Halloweenie Contest is open! Short stories (up to 5,000 words) and poetry (unlimited). Send them to xxx@yyy.zzz and they will be posted to the list. Deadline October 20, 2 weeks away! So get writinng! And howl at the moon, too!
tink
And, continuing our preparation for Halloweenie Horror (remember, the Writers Halloween Contest is off and running!), we look at chapter 2 of How to Write Horror Fiction by William F. Nolan...
BOO!
Now, take me to your monster. That's the second chapter's title, Take Me to Your Monster. "Because the monster is primary within the field of horror, just as the gunfighter is primary in the Western, or the private I is primary in hard-boiled detective fiction." William does say you can write horror without monsters, but even then there usually is something monstrous… Then he goes through a number of examples to show that "your options are wide open as to the type of monster you may wish to create."
Old ghoul, new approach – you can use a conventional monster, but you need to have a fresh presentation, new insights, something different. Vampires, werewolves, zombies, mummies… "If your monster is indeed supernatural, it is your job to make the creature real and understandable on human terms, despite his supernatural powers." Readers need to believe that monster feels real! Convince them, give them a monster with depth, that feels real.
Multiple monsters – sometimes multiple monsters works. For example, maybe a monster and a human… In partnership! Just who is the monster there? Be careful though, multiple monsters can be too much. Usually, two is plenty, three, four, a whole cast of monsters… Well, make sure there's one central one. Credibility! [I will note that current urban fantasy often opens with one monster, and then adds to the cast, often with a throwaway remark about where there's one monster there's more!]
Timing? When do you introduce your monster? There's no real set place, although you need to establish the worry, the fear, the menace very early. The monster? And especially the details of the monster? Those often come out much later. Frequently actions, or bloody results, get an early showing, and then the monster comes out towards the end. You might consider that the revelation is part of the climax! Also, something that is only partially seen, with hints and glimpses, can be scarier than just seeing it. You want to build suspense. It's almost as if the horror genre is a mystery play, with clues and red herrings and all of that building up to finally revealing there is the monster!
"Revealing too much too quickly robs the story of its essential suspense. By withholding facts about the exact nature and full powers of your monster, you keep its threat immediate and fresh throughout the story. And by placing the confrontation between your monster and your protagonist at the end, in the climax, you maintain the monster's fright level to the last page."
The Domain of Darkness – how powerful should the monster be? Should it have multiple powers? Well… Limited powers help ensure that the reader thinks your hero could beat it. If you got a superpowerful monster, you better have a Superman hero, and even then, it's not going to be very real. You can balance unusual strengths with unusual weaknesses. Vampires, strong, transforming, hypnotizing. But also can't stand the sun, holy symbols, holy water, even a stake through the heart. Leave room to beat your monster by honest human endeavors. By the way, if you give your monster specific powers, stick to them. Don't let the monster suddenly change powers just to confuse your hero and your readers.
Human monsters. Is your human monster just a criminal, or have they grown into monsters? No compassion, no guilt, you have to build them into savage monsters. They have to be evil.
So, William summarizes, make your monsters credible. Make sure they threaten your main characters. They must be removed from the norm. And avoid having them be all powerful.
Now pick a monster. Make them scary, and make them real.
Now that you're shivering, quivering, ready to write, remember, the Writers Halloweenie Contest is open! Short stories (up to 5,000 words) and poetry (unlimited). Send them to xxx@yyy.zzz and they will be posted to the list. Deadline October 20, 2 weeks away! So get writinng! And howl at the moon, too!
tink