Things That Your Favorite Books, Authors, etc. Taught You...

Jcomp · Apr 28, 2008

Jurassic Park (the novel) and The Relic (novel) both taught me that your monster doesn't need to have a mystical, supernatural origin to be terrifying.

Salem's Lot taught me that a moment that could be treated like a relatively insignificant throwaway--as it isn't pivotal to the overall story--can be one of the most frightening parts if you give it the same care you give everything else in the book (when Charlie Rhodes gets his).

The Woman in Black (film) taught me that it's not always good to go for the obvious scare, and sometimes the big scare is best delivered without any hint of what's about to happen.

Ringu (film) conversely taught me that sometimes the big scare works better when you've been seeing it coming for a while but feel like you're powerless to escape it.

What have you learned? Share?

HorrorWriter · Apr 28, 2008

JComp,
There are too many books and films for me to list right now. But I think I've learned how to balance overt and subtle threats in my works. It depends on the effect I'm going for on a particular piece. More importantly, I am still learning. You can never learn too much in this industry. Great post!

nybx4life · Apr 28, 2008

I guess from Hatchet and My Side of the Mountain, both books, I learned that a good story can only have 1 character in it (technically, more than one character is mentioned, but secondary characters aren't seen that often)

From myself, you can make something good from any story idea, no matter how terribly cliche'd it is

zahra · May 15, 2008

'Salem's Lot taught me that it works best with ordinary people whose lives you believe in, because then you believe in the horror that changes those lives. And that an idea does not have to be original, as long as you can make it sing (or scream).

'Psycho' taught me that one creepy line of dialogue, though hard to pull off, can make you as scared to go to bed as a creepy set-piece can.

'The Haunting of Hill House' and 'The Lottery' (Shirley Jackson) taught me that you don't have to be loud and bloody and shocking to get the scares across.

Yet 'The Pan Books of Horror' taught me to let my imagination fly and find the most terrible ideas for set-pieces and climaxes.

Still learning how to apply, though!

slcboston · May 19, 2008

Pet Semetery taught me... well, that pet cemeteries are creepy, creepy places and just a bad @#$%ing idea in general.

Which, ok, isn't what you meant, but some things stick with you.

Speaking as writer, the aforementioned book was a powerful example that sometimes what's most horrifying is when you *know* what's coming... can't do anything about it... and yet *have* to keep going.

Ruv Draba · May 19, 2008

Hitchcock, King, Wyndham, Harris all taught me that horror is the suspense of the unthinkable. It's inherently a psychological genre, and it's much more about people than creepies. You don't need a novel new monster - you just need a vision for something unthinkable, a really good appreciation of people, and some skill in making scenes suspenseful.

Lyra Jean · May 19, 2008

movie- Darkness Falls. The dark is the oldest thing people are afraid of and you can still make people afraid of it. After seeing that movie I couldn't turn out my lights for 3 whole nights. I still get scared just thinking about the movie. No, I don't own it. It's too scary for me. lol.

rugcat · May 19, 2008

Charles Dickens, JRR Tolkein, Christopher Isherwood, Raymond Chandler, etc., taught me there are writers and writers; I, unfortunately, am a mere writer.

Countess sterile modern books taught me that all the skill in the world is pointless if you have nothing to say. (To quote Duke E., "It don't mean a thing if it aint got that swing.")

On the other hand, if you have no skill with words, it doesn't matter what you have to say because you can't get it across.

The films Children Of Paradise and Smiles Of A Summer Night taught me that it's possible to be profound about something without ever specifically referencing it, or even mentioning it.

Raiders Of The Lost Ark reminded me there's nothing wrong with sheer entertainment, and it's as hard to pull it off well as it to be profound.

HeronW · May 20, 2008

Nevah mind the big honking monsters crashing through the woods--the little devil dolls are WORSE!

The Scip · May 20, 2008

It taught me that horror is as much about the characters and the story as it is about the big, scary monster.

NeuroFizz · May 20, 2008

Odd Thomas taught me about characterization and use of first person.

Calla Lily · May 20, 2008

HP Lovecraft taught me that the one telling detail can make you afraid to look behind you.

Tracy Groot taught me that a good writer can take the oldest plot and make you refuse to do anything till you finish their spin on it.

Patricia Wentworth taught me that done right, a little romance adds spice to a good mystery. (Did I say that?) And that creating 3D characters are essential. Without them, you're just killing trees.

The Scip · May 20, 2008

Poe taught me that every word counts.

Nakhlasmoke · May 20, 2008

Fitzgerald taught me that life sucks, then you die. Or lose your wife because you're an ageing drunk.

Why am I writing genre again?

Haggis · May 20, 2008

The Scip said:
Poe taught me that every word counts.

Poe taught me that poetic techniques aren't just for poetry. They work well in prose too.

Shadow_Ferret · May 20, 2008

I guess I haven't been paying attention like you guys. My favorite books simply taught me how to read.

Wish I had learned to analyze fiction. No wonder my writing sucks.

mscelina · May 20, 2008

Jacqueline Carey taught me that big, complicated worlds are awesome--if they're done right.

Stephen King taught me that the greatest horror is the one you imagine and not the one that you see.

Margaret Mitchell taught me that a character who would be completely unlikable in life can endure as one of the most beloved characters of all time.

Chaucer taught me that having a gap between my front teeth could be a good thing.

I taught me that no matter how crappy I think my writing is, the more I broadcast that thought the more other people believe it. I'm hoping to teach the Ferret this at some point before I die.

*pats Ed on shoulder and saunters back out of the thread*

DWSTXS · May 20, 2008

Stefan Zweig - The Royal Game - taught me that inside the human mind is a scary place to be

Captain Howdy · May 21, 2008

Stephen King and Francis Ford Coppola have both taught me that you really don't need to know the end of your story when you begin the journey.

Francis Ford Coppola has taught me that its ok, even advisable, to let your characters improvise. He has also taught me, indirectly, to write scenes from different viewpoints, and make editorial decisions at a later date. (yep, I listen to lots of Commentary tracks)

More authors than I can name have taught me that interesting, well developed characters can really make or break a novel, regardless of genre.

James Lee Burke has taught me that character traits can be just as easily relayed to the reader by how other characters interract. In dialogue among his characters it's just as much what isn't said as what is spoken which implies character. If that doesn't make sense, read him, you'll see what I mean (or at least see what I am trying to say).

Burke has also taught me a wonderful technique: to juxtapose a brief description of something natural and beautiful, the smell of a river, the color of a sky, with a scene of repugnant violence, a young girl shot in the back of her head with brains leaking out her nose. The effect never fails to make me sit up and say "WOW!"

patrick bateman · Jun 12, 2008

Anything by Stephen King has taught me that a conversational let-Uncle-Steve-tell-you-a-yarn-around-the-campfire writing style is so much better than trying to be pretenious with your writing.

Mark Walton · Jun 20, 2008

I've learned that a great story will overcome sloppy writing up to a point but great writing can't overcome a sloppy story.

I'm reading one of my favourite authors right now and I just read two glaring errors in one paragraph - but the story is great and I let it slide because I am enjoying it so much.

The first point was having a .38 revolver with 9mm bullets and the second was a first person POV character knowing exactly what happened to him AFTER he went unconscious.

DL Hegel · Jun 20, 2008

My favorite authors taught me to put a little of myself in every character. Walk a mile in their shoes

Captain Howdy · Jun 20, 2008

Mark Walton said:
I've learned that a great story will overcome sloppy writing up to a point but great writing can't overcome a sloppy story.

reminds me...I re-read Mr. King's The Stand recently and was APPALLED when, at the beginning of Chapter Nine, Nick Andros get's ambushed in the middle of US Route 27, and puts up a good fight "decking one of them and bloodying another's nose - broke it too by the sound." I wonder how may letters Steve got about that little slip.

KTC · Jun 20, 2008

Stephen King taught me that characters are of the utmost importance... whatever the genre you choose to work in. In my opinion, he is the best writer there is when it comes to characters. I try to take in whatever I can from his ability to construct such perfectly fleshed out characters.

MHanlon · Jun 24, 2008

In no particular order...

Ray Bradbury taught me that lines from Macbeth can make wonderful titles for horror stories.

William Golding taught me that given the proper situation humanity is mad.

Richard Matheson taught me economy of words and how the world should properly end.

Stephen King taught me that writing can be cool.

Clive Barker taught me the seductive powers of language.

Robert McCammon taught me that you can borrow ideas from other writers and still make your work original, if not better.

Things That Your Favorite Books, Authors, etc. Taught You...

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