wednes | Degrees of Evil?

Everyone once in awhile, I actually allow someone to peruse my idea file. Usually it's top secret stuff that I wouldn't let anyone near, much less another writer. Maybe I am over-protective of my ideas, but plenty of stuff I'm sure came from my head ends up in other parts of the universe either by accident or my loose blogging security. Plus, I am very attached to my idea file; it is good and scary. But this is not about my paranoid fantasy life.

I have received a barrage of criticism about my ideas lately...well, not criticism so much as commentary but being me I tend to take this kind of thing both negatively and personally. It has come in several directions from several people and I'm just trying to work it all out in my mind. In this case, the assertion is that I take things that are simple, sexy or nice and turn them into something evil, murderous or bad.

First of all, yes. I do this. I admit it freely. I love horror. People like to be terrified, myself included. If I could do anything in the world for a living, I would scare people. So yeah, I do this.

But now that I think of it, there's more to it than that. So much modern horror fails when it comes to being really scary. And indeed, some of the movies I find scariest (Psycho and Silence of the Lambs leap to mind) are more often found in the Drama section than the Horror section. Horror has become much more about partially clad teens falling into bloody circumstances that involve chases and grandiose methods of graphic murder. And truthfully, one can only watch so much of that. But I digress.

Horror seems to do one of two things: either it takes something normal like a romance, a new house, or a week at summer camp and turns it into terror. OR it takes something horrible like blood sucking vampires or cannibals, and makes them so romantic and inviting that we can't help but involving ourselves with them. Which is really more frightening? I mean, you can't hang out with a "mad scientist" and then act all shocked that things have gone afoul?

The other thing to keep in mind about horror is that you have to have a victim. Sometimes there's more than one, but there ahs to be someone in peril for the audience to identify with. There are stupid/passive victims who make a series of mistakes than force them to wind up in peril; and clever/active victims who fight back and can manage to run more than 10 feet without falling down. Sometimes the victim is also the killer. Sometimes everyone is a victim in the end. Just like in real life.

Your assignment for the week is to take something you love and make it terrifying.
And no wimping out...I mean REALLY scary.
And then, or course, comment so I can steal your ideas. ;-}

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

I often have several useful ideas each day. The problem is when I come to write anything, I am so rushed as to not make sufficient use of that idea. My son is at the age where he is constantly demanding my attention and therefore breaks my collection of thoughts.

There have been several studies suggesting that children know whether or not you are paying attention to them. Even if you watch them out of the corner of your eye, they will know if your attention shifts to something else, like if you begin to read or are in deep thought.

I suspect that I lack the patience to be a successful parent.

Although, I am not surprised to learn that you are full of good ideas.

Hopefully, a neighbour shall watch him for a few hours, while I make calls to removal companies.

I don't know about studies. But there is plenty of anecdotal evidence. I tend to ignore anecdotal evidence.

Unfortunately I have no Horror ideas. But if you ever want Sci-Fi ideas, let me know. Also, my writing skills are negligible at best.

http://www.livejournal.com/users/madush69/

What I like about writing horror is the idea that you can flip over an every day occurrence and expose the rich vein of evil that's running throughout our lives. Like say, the woman across the street who's been a lifelong racist or the guy who does awful things to dogs--you can punish them without coming across like televangelist and still wake up as a relatively good gal in the morning.

Huh - I never thought to write horror. My stuff is more lime drama where bad stuff happens but I don't focus on that. Also, I have a hard time writing short stories because there's all this 'real life' stuff that leads up to it. But yes, the real scary stuff is 'normal' stuff that's just scary. I mean, like when you read in the news that the guy across the street and six houses down has molested several children in your area.

Of all the things I have written (completed or not), my favorite is horror. I suppose loving horror movies and books, that fact is no real surprise. I think if I was going to take something I truly like from our everyday world and 'horrify' it, I would try something like a possessed computer. I know that sounds cheesy, but just think for a minute. You are on here everyday, you trust it to do what you type it to do, you look to it for fulfillment of entertainment and knowledge. Then one day it starts acting funny. The IT guys can't really help. You get into the programming and find that it is writing itself new programs. Your first thought, a virus! But no, this is somehow different, more....sinister.

You like?

Well just wanted to share, by all means feel free to use it, I am not sure I will work this into my current projects list anytime soon.

CJ

I like your take on horror. It's a genre I can't deal with, but that has nothing to do with its intrinsic value. My partner loves it, I wish I could get her to lj more, you two would have a ball batting ideas around.

And I like the idea file. I have a lot of stuff that doesn't go elsewhere for the same reasons, but letting a few out to play with others is rewarding. It's a fine line, though. I've seen a lot of what I thought I'd come up with appear elsewhere, but I can't help but think that this could also be a manifestation of the collective unconscious. The stuff is out there, and the one who snags it and makes it into something tangible first gets to claim it.

*braces for nightmares*

Very nice, punk.

Ah yes, it is a fine way to talk about things that are bothering me. Several people who suck in real life die horribly in my fiction. I almost want them to recognize themselves...but they are so cleverly changed.

Yeesh! I have trouble with short stories as well. To me, a short story is like a long joke with a scare instead of a punchline at the end. You might remember it, but if you try to retell it it will almost certainly come out wrong.

I see your point though. I agree that characters need backstory if they are going to be compelling.

Thanks. Certainly the prevailence of people relying on technology can lead to some real horror. I don't know if you know this late 70's/early 80's TV movie called Demon Seed.

This woman has a futuristic kind of computer driven home that somehow gets the woman pregnant.

I totally agree on the whole collective unconscious thing. I think that's why a lot of the same types of themes are prevailent in films: fear of being eaten alive, basements, being stalked in your own home...etc.

They deal in fears--and those are similar to most humans, I think. This is exactly why I can't deal with horror--it scares me. I've heard that this has a lot to do with how each of us are wired as individuals, and I believe it. Some people like that feeling, some don't. And it's too bad, there are a lot of really interesting issues horror brings up.

Heard this on NPR a couple days back. It's about the movie Dark Water, but they get into horror and culture a bit, I found it interesting.

I know where you're coming from. At the beginning of the summer, I think that my son was of the opinion that since he was with me all day, he should have been at the center of my attention at all times. He is at the top of my priority list, but that doesn't necessarily mean that he can have my undivided attention 24-7. We've done some negotiating on this issue, and most days he will amuse himself while I do my own thing (sadly, that's almost never writing anymore). That is, unless I get on the telephone. Then, of course, he absolutely must resume his position as "center of the world."

I don't know how old your son is, but just keep in mind that it won't be too long before school starts!

He has just turned three. I intend to talk to the priest so that he might join a reasonable nursery before the infant school. I do not have that much time from work. I feel that I am never alone. There is always someone around, whether at work or at home. It drives me mad at time because I find the need to individualise frequently. His mother eventually came back but she just continued to let him strangle me. Now, I have pulled a muscle in my neck :S

Why, thanks!

I'm getting to be a fan of J-horror myself.
I saw an excellent one last year called The Eye which is about to be redone for US audiences.

Degrees of Evil?

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

Scary story

no subject

no subject

Writing

no subject

Re: Scary story

no subject

no subject

Re: Writing

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject