Motivation?

[CoffinHunter19]

Hello all! I haven't been on here for long but I already feel at home. I've been flitting around like a ninja and getting a basic idea about what you,er, we do here. This is the first time I've ever posted an actual question so here goes. What keeps you motivated? What's the idea that hangs in the back of your mind when the characters decide to throw a tantrum and hide in a closet? If I may ramble a sec, I read the post about the embarrasment of being a horror writer. The discussion was, to say the least, brilliant. I myself haven't picked up my WIP for quite some time, basically because I am a little ashamed...ashamed? Maybe just disouraged. It seems as though horror writers are the low guys on the totem pole. In browsing the net and other writers rants, if you're not Stephen King get out of horror...perhaps I'm being a bit melodramatic but I felt hopeless, that no agent would even attempt to look at my work if it didn't involve teenage vampires and a possible chance at Hollywood. I'll leave this for now with the hopes that I start a discussion on this, but again...What keeps you going in the dark genre we chose?

[Leukman]

I don't think it's just about getting published. If that was the only reason to write, most of us would've given up some time ago, me thinks. We do it because we enjoy it. And we enjoy it because we have sick, twisted minds that enjoy flexing their terror muscles here and there. I mean, just look at Haggis. You can't find a better example of a warped mind. ;)

Years ago, when I first started writing shorts, there were no online writing forums, and subs were through snail mail only. That was a much lonlier time for me as a Horror writer.

Because even if it's NOT only about getting published, we DO write for OTHERS to read. Back then, getting a story published was the only real way to share it on those terms. Having a 'family' like the Hounds here at AW gives us another chance to share, get good, helpful feedback, and grow in our skill, without necessarily having to wait on the sparce opportunities for editor comments and/or publication.

I've gone through many ups and downs over time, even hanging up my writing efforts for years at a time when my kids were born and very young. At that time I'd thought it wasn't worth my time, given the statistical probability of being able to make a living as a novelist, especially in this genre.

But I've since realized that I enjoy doing it for the sake of doing it. I enjoy being stimulated by new ideas, and playing with them in words. And being able to share my stories with people who're much more interested in reading them being supportive than most other people I know in RL.

What keeps me going in the dark genre?

Ultimately, the answer for that is quite simple. That is where my imagination goes. And where it goes, my words follow. Call it built-in. Don't think I would write anything other than dark/speculative fiction if I tried. :D

[CoffinHunter19]

*bows* My hats off to you...the reply was uplifting and, dare I say, motivational. Since I stumbled on this site I have resumed my WIP. I'm not trying to turn this into some kind of group hug thing, but the fear of failing or the fear of creating garbage is the main reason I stopped writing. Reading this reply and others, I realize (lucky for me sooner rather than later) that we should write simply to write. We need to write so the caged beast inside all horror writers has a chance to blow off some steam before it decides to start gumming up the works. Perhaps I didn't give it enough thought before I posted this because I see the fellowship, I see what keeps us going. To watch someone shiver before they turn the light out, to watch your wife lift her feet before getting into bed, fearing that a cold hand could shoot out from the darkness below and grab her. Already I've added three pages to my work and I have AW to thank for that...I will most certainly be a presence here from now on...good luck to everyone on their work and future endeavors, for without our grisly imaginations a closet would be just...a closet.

[dgrintalis]

I second Leuk. Even if I'm never published, I will continue to write. It's a part of me. And dark tales? Yep, they're a part of me, too. I did not set out to write horror. It just happened, but it's what I write best.

Sure I could write my short stories and give them to my friends and family, but they wouldn't tell me what works and what doesn't. The Houndies do, though and we don't blow sunshine up each other's butts.

I, too, took a break for several years. Life got in the way. Because of the support of my husband, I am now able to spend tons of time crafting words and worlds. I hope to get published, but it's not why I spend so much time writing. My muse whispers at me and if I don't answer, she starts to scream and then she whips out the knives. :D

[EFCollins]

Ah... what would I do without horror? I'd still write, of course.

I started writing seriously when I was just 12 years old. It took me a long time to find where I should be. I tried historical romance, sci-fi (which I can manage, but just barely), YA, even a touch of literary, though I'm not sure exactly what that means. When I finally found my way to horror, it was like coming home.

Too many people think that Stephen King is the only horror writer. True, it may be that he is the most famous writer of horror for all time. But we can't all be him. So the rest of us do what we can. Publishing... meh. It's not a publish me or I'll die situation. I write what I love, a love I've had since the age of nine, when I read my first Stephen King book. It took another 8 years for me to try my hand at horror and I don't think anyone here would argue that it's where my best work is. Almost all of the hounds have seen my horror stories, and quite a few have read my only non-horror novel. Ask them. They'll tell you where my genre-specific home is. (If it's not horror, with me, it's shit. Pure and simple. They won't argue that either... maybe a little, but for the most part I'm right.)

Why do I write horror? What keeps me motivated?

My love of writing and the horror genre keep me going. That's the only motivation I need. Horror taps into raw emotion. It's a bit scoffed at in academic circles, yes, but they are the ones who are afraid to face their baser side. When a person is stripped of all their walls, of every protection against the fears they are afraid to admit to, what do they have? Some revel in it. Others are afraid of it, or jealous of others who can handle it. (This is a general statement and there are always exceptions to the rule) Stripping a person's emotions is a powerful feeling. I've been told "I had to gulp reading that" and "This gave me nightmares!" and "I love reading your work because it's so raw and honest. It made me look over my shoulder more than once... and damn you are talented!" All actual quotes from those who've read my stuff. The last editor who accepted one of my stories told me that there was a "vivid nightmarish quality" and that it "needed nothing more" and "horrifying and positively gruesome". This magazine doesn't regularly accept horror, they do publish it, but it's not in their top genre. But they took my story. Comments like that help keep my head above water... keep me going too, but not as much as the love. No where near as much as the love for writing and horror do.

Basically, I know where I belong, writing wise. And even if no one ever read my stories at all, I'd still write them. Because it's love and passion and need. I need to write like I need to breathe or eat or sleep. I love to write because I never really wanted to do anything else. And I love horror because I have a disturbing turn to my mind that would fit no where else. Horror is my home.

Home is where the horror is.

I want a sign for my desk that says that!!!

[CoffinHunter19]

Haha... I need that on my wall, very good! I agree whole heartedly...a story will just pulse under your skin no matter what you are going to do with it. Even if it sits in a drawer for all eternity you get it out and love every second of it. On the other hand I have to say that publishing is something that definitely motivates a lot of writers, I mean, it has to be there somewhere, right? Perhaps because I only recently decided to publish I have a different idea about it. If I may go off on a tangent for a sec, I had a teacher when I was in the sixth grade who abolished horror (on a tangent of a tangent I was pulled into quite a fight because she didn't want me reading Geralds Game at such a young age) Anyway, story time came around and I wrote a rather cliche piece on a kid trapped in a basement. Through a series of wacky events, indespersed with the Benny Hill theme, he has two broken legs. The story was mainly a look at isolation and his unraveling as a person. While it was exactly what you would expect from a sixth grader, the story was rather gruesome and she promptly rejected it, giving me a D just so I would pass and wouldn't have to come up with a more grisly tale. Whew!
Anyway, back on topic, that moment was a pivotal turning point for me...it took writing from one dimension and moved it to another. Sure, I liked writing because I had a story, but to prove to her that macabre stories could sell and be popular...that was the ultimate, a desire to publish and show her that YES! I can do this, horror is not something to be scoffed at, our dark side is always there no matter how much you try to hide it. Although this was rather winded my point is that sometimes publishing CAN be the motivator just as much as getting the story out can. All in all, very good response and I can't thank you enough for contributing. Never before have I had such a welcome community. ( if you can't tell already I'm a pretty lonely writer..*shrugs* I only had my characters to discuss things with until recently, and they don't like me because sometimes I have to kill them off..oh well, thanks for the input guys.)

[CACTUSWENDY]

Horror....dark...must be the secret area that most folks keep hid from the real world. Me, I find that my humor is tainted with it. My cop novel is laced with it. If I were to ever write in any other genre I bet it would come out with dark fingers of shadows dribbled all through it.

Having AW to hound around in has allowed me to dip my toes into the works of others that hold this weird bond of twisted brain cells. I stand in awe of the others here because they have learned how to unleash their sick dark inner selves. One day I too hope to get that sick...I mean, that free.

Learning to let my muse run wild is still a learning process for me. It's hard to break old habits. We use to have others on here that could spin the tale...cast the words of omens...plaster the walls of inner thinking with colors so vivid that all else appeared only as shades of gray...caused your nostrils to wrinkle up in disgust...etc. etc. etc. (You get the idea.) Some have passed by. Others have arrived. (Looks around for that hanky, the big red one.)

It's cool. Makes for a real family type thingy. In horror/dark I can write what ever I want to what ever degree I want and still not be bad enough. (For the most part.) I think it is just a real fun place to be. I mean, what other genres will allow you to get comments like...'ewe, that is sick.' or 'You make me want to throw up," and it be meant as a good thing?

Love it here. Butt kicks and all.

[EFCollins]

Writers are lonely people, Hunter. It's an artistic thing. ;)

Publishing is a goal, really. I've only recently had anything accepted for publication, but it's something to work for... not a motivator but somewhere to go, if that makes sense. It takes special people to write horror. Hell, it takes a special person to write, period, but horror writers have a little something extra, I think. Horror utilizes the best tools of all genres. In any horror story you have: love (the protag has to have something to lose), suspense, thrills, mystery, action... horror has it all. It's the best of the best, in my humble opinion.

And us hounds... we're a friendly bunch. You should come by the Horror Hounds threads (After Hours and Resurrecting the Dead). We'll BBQ you have a BBQ for you and a proper horror hound welcome. ;)

[Feidb]

Coffinhunter19,

Good question. As for me, I never pay attention to the trends. I write what I write. It's all about getting the story out, whatever inspires me. If it doesn't fit the little niche expected from the grand poobahs, so be it. Maybe that's why I've been at it so long with no results! However, as much as I love to write, I can't see being someone I'm not and trying to pander to whatever trend (vampiers.. cough cough) are out there.

Maybe I'm screwed in horror right from the start because I'm no huge fan of Stephen King. I greatly admire him, but don't like his work.

I embarrass myself all the time when I look back at first drafts I did in say, the mid 90's. However, I know I'm much better now and that embarassment is at best, a fleeting feeling. Sometimes at my writer's group, we'll get some young kid that just blows everyone away with their writing. That is what gets me down more than anything. However, it is only fleeting. I also know that in this business, sometimes the important things don't matter and the only thing that counts is the lowest common denominator. Sometimes, it's not who you know, but who you blow. Since I won't do that, maybe I'll never get published. Then again, it is also like the lottery. You may just pick the winning ticket and some agent will love what you do, at that special moment. It happens.

Whatever the case, I'll keep writing anyway because I want to tell my stories, my way. Maybe, if I croak before I get published, my kids can get them published if the trends change.

I'm never at a loss for motivation. Lazy? Sometimes, but never unmotivated.

[Liam Jackson]

There's a certain pride associated with writing horror. There's also a unique bond between horror writers and readers of horror. I can't say I understand it, but it's very real. I suspect everyone in this forum understands what I mean.

The publisher and his hired guns (editors and marketing) are going to label the book so that sellers have any idea where to shelf it. But they all know that at the end of the day, classifying any work of fiction as a thriller, horror, paranormal romace, Christian fiction, urban fantasy, dark fantasy, etc., will ultimately be decided by readers. Point is, you can call the work anything you like. It doesn't matter.

I used the above genres as examples because those are the various tags placed on my stuff by various book sellers, readers, and critics. Too many niches today, and many times classification is subjective as hell. It's considered "safe" to market horror as thrillers these days. Many publishers take that route. But readers will eventually decide where the book belongs.

By the way, Feidb, when I was shopping my books not a single prospective agent, publisher, or editor asked me if I like Stephen King. ;)

[Feidb]

Liam,

I was never asked either, but I'm sure that a comparison is big on their mind, either to steer towards his style or away from it because there is no use trying to compete with it.

Coffin Hunter 19,

I forgot to mention that I don't feel bottom of the barrel, though we are often not taken seriously. Hell, my books are not supposed to be that serious, regardless of genre (I write in several besides horror).

I think gay porn is probably a bit lower on the totem pole than we are. Just a wild guess!

I was once told to never mention my books are horror, but call them supernatural thrillers because that genre is more palatable to the "delicate" sensibilites of the agents and marketers. I never went that route. I actually write adventure/thrillers also and consider my icky bugs to be adventure/horror, though I don't classify them that way.

Barnes and Noble took a lot of the genres out of the game by making those huge sections for "fiction and literature." Took the oomph right out of those niches! They still have a fantasy/scifi section, westerns, and romances, but if I remember correctly, that's about it. Now Borders still has defined sections, but I don't go there often. B&N is just closer to the house.

[Liam Jackson]

I was never asked either, but I'm sure that a comparison is big on their mind, either to steer towards his style or away from it because there is no use trying to compete with it.


I respectfully disagree, but then, my personal experiences may be drastically different than yours.

Either way, (IMO) the style issue isn't as nearly important as story.

[Haggis]

Me, I'm motivated by fear. Specifically, fear of one of our members, D.L. Hegel.

We have a weekend report thread (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=86517), where we post our word count, number of submissions, number of rejections and number of acceptances. We also then set a goal for the following week. When I don't make my projected word count, D.L. Hegel beats me with a whip, or makes me hang around monkey boy (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/member.php?u=25325), which is even worse.

We'd love to have you join in on the fun, Coffin. Stop on in any old time.

[Leukman]

:Wha:

[EFCollins]

There's a certain pride associated with writing horror. There's also a unique bond between horror writers and readers of horror. I can't say I understand it, but it's very real. I suspect everyone in this forum understands what I mean.

I absolutely know what you mean, Liam. The connection is the hardest thing to understand... I know I don't! But, from a writer's perspective, horror can be so difficult to write if you don't have that mindset. And the readers of horror have it too. It's the human factor, that common element. I don't know exactly what it is, but it's there and only those that love horror as I, we, do get it. :)

[FOTSGreg]

You want or need motivation? Read my blog (well, the posts prior to the last 2 or 3) and you'll find motivation (I hope to provide more motivation there in the near future).

You want motivation? Tell one of us that you do and we'll be more than happy to provide you with enough to get going again.

In fact, most of us will kick your ass until you produce something.

None of us are ashamed we write horror. None of us are Stephen King either. King won the frakking lottery, but he did it the same way everyone else does - by hard work, perseverance, learning his craft, telling a damned good story, and lucking in.

Yeah, guess what? King got lucky. He tells you so in his book On Writing.

But he got lucky because he perservered, stuck with it, and learned how to tell a story that readers wanted to read (and publishers wanted to buy).

There's no one here who cannot tell a damned fine story and who is not, in my mind, the equal of King in their particular method of storytelling.

It only takes 1 person in the publishing industry to believe in you and your career can be "made".

It only takes 1 person in the writing profession to believe in you, but that person has to be you, first and foremost, but guess what? You're not the only person who believes in you here. That's what we're here for - to show you that fellow writers believe in you and what you're writing and to help you improve and learn and perfect your craft.

[CoffinHunter19]

Wow...I have been a little busy with work lately and haven't been on in a couple days. I must say how happy it makes me to hear the good words, and not on a personal level (since joining the forum I have found a huge reserve of motivation) I'm simply happy to see the discussion. It all makes a lot of sense, King did luck out...and I'm familiar with On Writing...it was one of the last books I ended up getting for my collection and the final kick that made me want to get out and publish...I suppose trends are trends and who can say what will be the next big one (my personal favorite, although it's been done to death, is zombies....yeah, yeah, keep the insults down!) The biggest thing we have is each other (awww..a Tanner family Christmas) and I guess that's what keeps me going...thanks guys.