So I wrote a story that's a kind of cross between the Faustian Bargain and the Spanish Prisoner. In it, a sort of psychic vampire tricks people into giving him items that mean a lot to them and then uses the objects to feed on their despair of loss. It doesn't have a happy ending, but it isn't really scary as such. Judging by the reactions of my writers group, it at least made it as far a creepy. Friend of mine told me that it counted as horror because there was a monster in it (the narrator) but I'm not 100% sure. Thoughts?
Did I write a horror story? And if not, what did I write and where do I send it?
- Thread starter Sarashay
- Start date
Well, if the single overwhelming mood is one of fear or dread, yes, you've written a horror story. So sez Poe and Lovecraft (paraphrased).
I'd say either paranormal or psychological horror. For marketing purposes, it's close enough to horror to shop it around the horror magazines.