How Far Can You Go?

Switch-Phase · May 25, 2011

I've tossed abit of horror into my WIP, but it's pretty tame, since it's YA and more a supernatural romance.. The thing I was wondering is how far can I take horror? I mean when American Psycho came out, there was an uproar, labelling it controversial.

I thought due to these previous reactions, there were certain things I'd not be able to explore, but then I found a book called "The Pig," by Edward Lee. It was horrifying! I mean it was awesome, but just the most disgusting thing I've ever read..

So now I'm confused. On one hand it looks like even a regular slasher scene could get you in trouble, but on the other, this guy writes the most horrific disgusting stories I've ever seen, and he's well liked for it.

So how do you draw the line between what's publishable and what's not?

Evice · May 25, 2011

For me, when I first got into horror as a teenager I used to try and find the most bloody, horrific gore fest books I could, after a while I got used to it, even became numb to it and moved on to books that play with your mind, these I found much better.

I stuck to Dennis Wheatly, Stephen King and Dean Koontz for many years as I found them to have the right mixture of mind games and gore for me and since I also read fantasy and true life crime books it keeps me busy.

I have wondered when it comes to my writing what is too tame and what is too much, I worried for a time that my stories were too tame, and they probably are really since I find myself writing more for the shock of a good twist in the story, but is that really what makes a good story? Other people want severed heads and maggots and why should I deny that.

Anyway I have considered doing an exercise and writing the most depraved, blood fill story I can possibly think of and see how it turns out, but for now I have to go by what my nearest and dearest tell me about the things I write, they seem to think they are ok, but personally I am still not sure.

Switch-Phase · May 25, 2011

Thanks for the reply.. It's like I'm not overly moved by things like Saw, but Edward Lee just does these stories that are just.. I don't even know how to explain it. He makes it so sick that I want to turn away, but I'm enthralled and have to see what happens next.

Heh like that South Park episode where they write the world's most disgusting book

Evice · May 25, 2011

I know what you mean, i felt the same way about Shaun Hutson books, one persons limit is anothers pleasure so i dont really think that there is a wrong or a right.

Laura_6 · May 25, 2011

The only problem with YA Horror is school libraries. As with any 'edgy' YA book, there are those who will not allow sex, drugs, or extreme violence in their kids' libraries and that's a valuable market to lose.

However, I believe if you write what you love, you won't be sorry. The heck with libraries if they don't 'get it'.

seun · May 26, 2011

Laura_6 said:
However, I believe if you write what you love, you won't be sorry. The heck with libraries if they don't 'get it'.

Well, yes, but if you take that idea too far, you won't have a lot of joy in publishing.

Write what you love and write honestly (even if it means gore and blood and violence) but bear in mind publishing is a business.

Darren Frey · May 26, 2011

Given the fact that my first book has hearts ripped from chests, a throat slashed, and a dead baby being eaten and it was still picked up by a publisher, I consider my books pretty tame so far. As far as violence and gore goes I have yet to push my boundaries. I imagine I will some day. My next book after the one Im writing now will deal a lot with God and the devil so Im ready to take on the controversy of that. Is there really anything that is taboo any more in literature?

Switch-Phase · May 26, 2011

Holy epic, Darren - that's awesome! I'm still getting rejected left right and center for my first MS, so I'm somewhat nervous about playing with the boundaries.. But it seems satisfactory, even if it means a smaller audience. I'd love to be able to write badass horror novels

Aaron Wilder · May 26, 2011

Edward Lee is an exception. His stuff tends to be more splatterpunk than straight horror.

It's like comparing oranges and grapefruits. Yes, they're both citrus fruits that can be eaten or juiced. But both are very different when compared side by side.

You've just got to decide what you're writing and not worry about the other crazies.

SJL · Jun 15, 2011

Flight said:
I've tossed abit of horror into my WIP, but it's pretty tame, since it's YA and more a supernatural romance.. The thing I was wondering is how far can I take horror?

On one hand it looks like even a regular slasher scene could get you in trouble, but on the other, this guy writes the most horrific disgusting stories I've ever seen, and he's well liked for it.

So how do you draw the line between what's publishable and what's not?

There probably isn't any real line to draw. Someone, somewhere will be looking for just what your level of horror is. There is such a variance in what is "acceptable" and what is not. Sometimes it is frustrating reading the "guidelines" of a place called Mindless Bloody, Slasher Body Bone Cruncher Magazine (fictional example) to find they won't accept stories that have gore, victims, torture or animal cruelty. I mean, what the hell?

Sometimes it gets frustrating reading information about a place that accepts "horror" to find it's more "fantasy." Regardless, I think you should write what feels natural to you and not try to guide or hedge you creativity second guessing others.

Switch-Phase · Jun 15, 2011

I hate how I keep finding vampire romances in the horror section lol

IDGS · Jun 17, 2011

In my experience, you can take the gore, horror, discomfort and such as far as you want - provided it does something for the story.

A two-page exposition on the way a head is being torn from it's shoulders in intricate detail may not fit well in a slow-paced section of the book - but if it's the climax and the head belongs to the serial killer (or his victim, *gasp!*) it may fit a little better.

All things must suit the novel, IMHO.

grandmastertuck · Jun 17, 2011

I think the reason why you see some really overwhelmingly gory stories actually published while some other less-intense stories get turned down is moreso a reflection of the storyteller's craft and skill than what's actually in the book. If you write a story that grabs a reader, it will find a market. If you can't write for squat, and try and make up for it by upping the gore, you're probably going to fail. Just my two, I guess.

Fiona · Jun 17, 2011

In the words of author Chuck Palahniuk:

"In motion picture, music and television, they have to maintain a certain decorum in order to be broadcast to an audience. But a book is as private and as consensual as sex. No one gives a damn about books - no one has bothered to ban a book in decades. With that disregard comes freedom.... a freedom you need to exploit. If you want freedom to talk about anything, write books.
There are places only books can go. That's the advantage books have. That's why I write."

I think he said it all. There is truly so much freedom, so little limitations on writing that you are allowed to take things where you want to. Although remember - your chances of getting published may be higher or lower depending on the nature of your work.

IDGS · Jun 17, 2011

Fiona said:
In the words of author Chuck Palahniuk:

"In motion picture, music and television, they have to maintain a certain decorum in order to be broadcast to an audience. But a book is as private and as consensual as sex. No one gives a damn about books - no one has bothered to ban a book in decades. With that disregard comes freedom.... a freedom you need to exploit. If you want freedom to talk about anything, write books.
There are places only books can go. That's the advantage books have. That's why I write."

I think he said it all. There is truly so much freedom, so little limitations on writing that you are allowed to take things where you want to. Although remember - your chances of getting published may be higher or lower depending on the nature of your work.

This.

Wojciehowicz · Jun 18, 2011

If you mean in terms of ideas, as a personal matter, I avoid turning it into porn. Which is what a lot of movies are doing. Constantly raising the shock level. I wrote a great story about a serial killer who in one scene slaughters a family, making a mom and dad watch their teen daughter die first. I just could not do it and trashed every file.

If you mean words, I think violence is like sex. Less graphic the better. I don't need every inch of someone's genitals described in purple prose, and I don't need the same description of a heart being pulled out.

I much prefer Stephen King's quick lead-up and cut to black sort of writing as opposed to a text reconstruction of the visuals of a 70s Italian gore film.

donatos · Jun 20, 2011

Some of the most brutal and disturbing scenes for me haven't come from horror. Often they were in other forms. I guess, not expecting a brutal scene gives it that much more power. I have been more thoroughly shocked from reading Cormac McCarthy than most hardcore horror writers.

CatharsisChild · Jun 22, 2011

I'm the guy that has an idea for a story where an impoverished pregnant woman is vivisected Guinea Pig style by a psychopathic surgeon and has her baby sold to wealthy child molesters.

CatharsisChild · Jun 27, 2011

Oooh... I bet that hurt.

Nagneto · Jul 19, 2011

How about a story of a corrupt government agency that uses children as assassins, whom become targeted by an eldtrich horror who leads a depraved satanic cult?

AP7 · Jul 26, 2011

I dont think anything is "too far." But the farther you push it, the more hit and miss it gets. If it works it works. If it doesnt, then it can be really bad.

How Far Can You Go?

Switch-Phase

Evice

Switch-Phase

Evice

Laura_6

Love what you do. Love who you are.

seun

Horror Man

Darren Frey

Switch-Phase

Aaron Wilder

SJL

Party Crasher

Switch-Phase

IDGS

@LeaveItToIan

grandmastertuck

Slightly misanthropic troll

Fiona

The Banishing, Released March 2011

IDGS

@LeaveItToIan

Wojciehowicz

Alien to My Own Planet

donatos

CatharsisChild

CatharsisChild

Nagneto

AP7