The 2011 Horror Hounds Celebration and Contest Guidelines
- Thread starter EFCollins
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Think of it as several short stories in a row. It's not so bad then.
Indeed. Signing up?
DL, you are a darling! Thank you dearie. Give me two minutes and the book title will be added to the prize list. CheG and SJP, good luck!
CheG and SJP, good luck!
No problem, anytime Effie.
Think of it as several short stories in a row. It's not so bad then.
That's actually very good advice for anyon working on a novel or novella. Alexandra Sokoloff has some very good advice over on her blog about writing novels using the 3 Act Play approach. You can visit her here,
http://thedarksalon.blogspot.com/
It's very easy to break the story down into 3 separate and distinct elements (or chapters) and then further break each down into a few (4-12) distinct elements or scenes. Each separate element or chapter stands on it's own while the individual scenes tie the whole thing together in a distinct fashion.
I use iCard Sort on the iPad to briefly sketch out my plot and scene elements, very generally, but the technique can also be used to define and flesh out characters and motivations.
Trying to write a short story or novel is hard enough by itself. Sometimes the idea of doing the whole thing is simply too overwhelming. Breaking it into acts and scenes allows the writer to deal with only that particular part of his or her work at that time. You don't have to try envision the whole thing and then sit around staring at a blank screen wondering what's going to happen next. You don't even have to map the whole thing out ahead of time. You can work it out as you go and as the characters tell you what they're going to do and you screw them over by throwing stones at them.
Check it out. It's a great technique.
That's actually very good advice for anyon working on a novel or novella. Alexandra Sokoloff has some very good advice over on her blog about writing novels using the 3 Act Play approach. You can visit her here,
http://thedarksalon.blogspot.com/
It's very easy to break the story down into 3 separate and distinct elements (or chapters) and then further break each down into a few (4-12) distinct elements or scenes. Each separate element or chapter stands on it's own while the individual scenes tie the whole thing together in a distinct fashion.
I use iCard Sort on the iPad to briefly sketch out my plot and scene elements, very generally, but the technique can also be used to define and flesh out characters and motivations.
Trying to write a short story or novel is hard enough by itself. Sometimes the idea of doing the whole thing is simply too overwhelming. Breaking it into acts and scenes allows the writer to deal with only that particular part of his or her work at that time. You don't have to try envision the whole thing and then sit around staring at a blank screen wondering what's going to happen next. You don't even have to map the whole thing out ahead of time. You can work it out as you go and as the characters tell you what they're going to do and you screw them over by throwing stones at them.
Check it out. It's a great technique.
After looking at the deadline again there is no way I can write that much in a month. I am fighting to finish a novel and a short story (that went over word count!! arg!) and I can't start another thing.
I have a few legendary villages in my repertoire, hope I find time to enter!
On the subject of horror songs, let's not forget Benny Hill's Ernie, too long for full quotation here, but here's the last two verses!
Now Ernie rushed out into the street
His goldtop in his hand
He said if you want to marry susie
You'll fight for her like a man
Oh why don't we play cards for her
He sneeringly replied
And just to make it interesting
We'll have a shilling on the side
Now Ernie dragged him from his van
And beneath the blazing sun
They stood there face to face
And Ted went for his bun
But Ernie was to quick
Things didn't go the way ted planned
And a strawberry flavoured youghurt
Sent it spinning from his hand
Now Sue she ran between them
And tried to keep them apart
And Ernie pushed her aside
And a rock cake caught him underneath his heart
And he looked up in pained surprise
As the concrete hardened crust
Of a stale pork pie caught him in the eye
And Ernie bit the dust
Poor Ernie (Ernie)
And he drove the fastest milkcart in the west
Ernie was only fifty-two, he didn't want to die
Now he's gone to make deliveries
In that milkround in the sky
Where the customers are angels
And ferocious dogs are banned
And a milkmans life is full of fun
In that fairy dairy land
But a woman's needs are many fold
And Sue she married Ted
But strange things happened on their wedding night
As they lay in their bed
Was that the trees a rustling
Or the hinges of the gate
Or Ernies ghostly goldtop a rattling in their crate
They won't forget Ernie (Ernie)
And he drove the fastest milkcart in the west
Those underlined lines used to scare the squeak out of me when I was little; if you can find on YouTube, check the tension-strings on that part!
On the subject of horror songs, let's not forget Benny Hill's Ernie, too long for full quotation here, but here's the last two verses!
Now Ernie rushed out into the street
His goldtop in his hand
He said if you want to marry susie
You'll fight for her like a man
Oh why don't we play cards for her
He sneeringly replied
And just to make it interesting
We'll have a shilling on the side
Now Ernie dragged him from his van
And beneath the blazing sun
They stood there face to face
And Ted went for his bun
But Ernie was to quick
Things didn't go the way ted planned
And a strawberry flavoured youghurt
Sent it spinning from his hand
Now Sue she ran between them
And tried to keep them apart
And Ernie pushed her aside
And a rock cake caught him underneath his heart
And he looked up in pained surprise
As the concrete hardened crust
Of a stale pork pie caught him in the eye
And Ernie bit the dust
Poor Ernie (Ernie)
And he drove the fastest milkcart in the west
Ernie was only fifty-two, he didn't want to die
Now he's gone to make deliveries
In that milkround in the sky
Where the customers are angels
And ferocious dogs are banned
And a milkmans life is full of fun
In that fairy dairy land
But a woman's needs are many fold
And Sue she married Ted
But strange things happened on their wedding night
As they lay in their bed
Was that the trees a rustling
Or the hinges of the gate
Or Ernies ghostly goldtop a rattling in their crate
They won't forget Ernie (Ernie)
And he drove the fastest milkcart in the west
Those underlined lines used to scare the squeak out of me when I was little; if you can find on YouTube, check the tension-strings on that part!
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Word count being on the low side is no problem for me. Just trying to rein it in so as not to go over is a job. Del, you can borrow some of my words.
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The story has enough juice to fill the cup. But the writer is having trouble squeezing its fruits.
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I have a couple of old fashioned fruit juicers. The metal one might just be big enough for half a brain. Would that help the writer squeeze out the juices?
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If I had half a mind I wouldn't need the juicer.
But thanks Ef. I'll keep you in mind if I need a squeeze.
But thanks Ef. I'll keep you in mind if I need a squeeze.
Oh, I only just noticed this thread! Silly sticky threads and their ability to throw an invisible veil over my brain.
I'm oh so excited to read the entries. I can't even begin to imagine what deliciously awful stories the Hounds & Friends are going to come up with... and that's most of the excitement!
I'm oh so excited to read the entries. I can't even begin to imagine what deliciously awful stories the Hounds & Friends are going to come up with... and that's most of the excitement!
Give it a shot, bois. There's a slew of great prizes and you just might get a sale out of it too.
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