*preorders book*So I guess you're not the ideal audience for my upcoming book, Creepy zombie children versus zombie bigfoot in the haunted zombie house, then.
*preorders book*So I guess you're not the ideal audience for my upcoming book, Creepy zombie children versus zombie bigfoot in the haunted zombie house, then.
I also like ambiguity & don't like a concrete explanation. Creep me out!
I really enjoyed The Little Stranger by Sara Waters. Talk about atmosphere--it was wonderful.
I don't like reading ghost stories. Not one has ever scared me. They've all been rather boring, actually. Where's the fear factor?
I think it's pretty obvious why ghost stories exist. My point was I've never read one that was successful in scaring me. I've HEARD ghost stories, like around the campfire, that were scary; I've WATCHED ghost stories that were scary (The Ring), even if that was pretty rare in scaring me either. But a book? Nope, not a bit scary.Ghost stories scare many people more than anything else because they believe ghosts might be real. Where's the fear factor in a werewolf? I can see believing in ghosts, but very, very, very few things in horror fiction are reality based, so how can they scare you?
But do any stories actually scare you? If I want to be scared, I read the morning news. I read horror fiction because I'm scared for the character, not for myself.
I'm writing a ghost story - full length novel - after years of reading them and loving them.
Personally I prefer a creepy atmosphere, and a more psychological fear. I'm not so into the gore. I also prefer it when the haunting isn't over-explained.
What makes a ghost story effective for you? And what are some over-done cliches you'd rather not see any more?
Ghost stories scare many people more than anything else because they believe ghosts might be real. Where's the fear factor in a werewolf? I can see believing in ghosts, but very, very, very few things in horror fiction are reality based, so how can they scare you?
But do any stories actually scare you? If I want to be scared, I read the morning news. I read horror fiction because I'm scared for the character, not for myself.
I could tell you a ghost story that might scare most people. It happened to me and it was real.
dont get me wrong I am not slamming him. There just something about his style that doesnt appeal to me. But Ghost Story was the one that hit me in a good story place.
for the rest of your comment, I agree completely. Bring back the fear!
If your going to write about Vampire, make them monsters, not glittery, whiny, angst ridden two hundred year old teen agers who only want to date and go to the beach.
oh and I know its an old thread, But I wasn't around when it was started and wanted to comment.
Completely agree with this. That said, The Talisman was the only thing they did together that I really liked, and I always felt like that was mostly King.Funny how we all disagree on writers. I think Straub is three times the stylist the King is. I love the books King and Straub wrote together, but I love them largely because Straub brought his style to King's story and characters.
An agent once wrote on his blog that he hates receiving ghost stories that use some form of white fog to demonstrate a ghostliness to the character or area the author is writing about. He said it was too cliche. But then, that's sometimes how ghosts are seen by humans. So I don't see how that shouldn't be used, if it works for the scene.
ETA: the movie "The Others" used a lot of fog, I believe.
I've been wanting to do a short story based on the Nameless Thing of Berkeley Square for some time now.
I think there's story potential for something really pants-staining there.
What makes a ghost story effective for you? And what are some over-done cliches you'd rather not see any more?