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[ROOT]/includes/bbcode.php on line 112: preg_replace(): The /e modifier is no longer supported, use preg_replace_callback instead [phpBB Debug] PHP Warning: in file [ROOT]/includes/functions.php on line 4668: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at [ROOT]/includes/functions.php:3815) [phpBB Debug] PHP Warning: in file [ROOT]/includes/functions.php on line 4670: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at [ROOT]/includes/functions.php:3815) [phpBB Debug] PHP Warning: in file [ROOT]/includes/functions.php on line 4671: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at [ROOT]/includes/functions.php:3815) [phpBB Debug] PHP Warning: in file [ROOT]/includes/functions.php on line 4672: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at [ROOT]/includes/functions.php:3815) Horror World • View topic - What Is a Horror Writer Supposed to Look Like?
Joined: Mon Dec 11, 2006 11:30 am Posts: 329 Location: Michigan
It's amazing how many times I'm in convo with someone (on the phone, net or in person) and they find out I'm an author. Their very first assumptions are either - "Oh you write children's books?" or "Oh you write romances!"
My eyebrow starts to raise and inside I'm thinking - Uhhhmmm. No. No. and No!!!! Eeew.
When I tell them I write horror and dark fantasy I get astonishment followed by odd looks. Like I'm a mutant bug they just found meandering on their counter.
"You don't look like a horror writer..."
"You don't sound like a horror writer..."
Which got me to wondering...what in the world is a horror writer supposed to look like? Should we wear blood splats?
I find the misconception amusing and yet vaguely annoying too. What do you guys think?
_________________ <b>~Raven Bower
Author of Horror & Dark Fantasy
Joined: Wed Feb 14, 2007 10:13 am Posts: 29 Location: The Arctic Circle
Ahhh yes, people and their wonderful (mis-)preconceptions...
I'm getting the feeling people think that all horror writers are goths and dress only in black; and that if you look 'normal' or 'sweet', you automatically write other genres.
Well, that's their problem. One more way for us to sneak in unnoticed and start the marketing Poor folks... They'll have no idea...
Well, Stephen King is a pretty creepy looking fellow, so maybe that has something to so with alot of the preconceived notions out there. If I were to guess, I would assume that people mean it as a compliment (even if it doesn't come out that way) . You know like they are trying to say, "You look much too pleasant to have such hideous images dancing about in your head", or something like that. They probably think that to write about ghosts and monsters, you should be deformed and shun the sunlight. I obviously can't call myself a horror writer as I haven't published anything yet, but I am a Christian who happens to love to read and write horror. So, I think many people at my church would be suprised to find out my hobbies in that feild.
A few people there know. I doubt they would say too much to me. I've been going there since I was six years old. A few people were concerned when they found out that I was playing D&D, but they gave up trying to talk me out of it when I politely informed them that I wasn't going to turn into a satan worshiper by playing, and that I planned to continue playing. A few people even worried because I later started taking Tae Kwon Do (I'm a Black Belt), because they thought I would be meditating and moving into an Eastern religion or something. I told them that the Master at the school went to a Korean Catholic church, so they didn't have to worry. I think they've given up trying to sway me away from stuff, now that they see I'm not going to turn away from Christ over any of that stuff.
Joined: Mon Dec 11, 2006 11:30 am Posts: 329 Location: Michigan
Ohhh a dragon? Neat! I'll have to pick that one up and read it too.
I read Piercing the Darkness and This Present Darkness. I liked both of them - particularly the way he used the demons and angels. I only stopped reading him after I read another of his titles (I forget which) and he started getting a little too preachy.
_________________ <b>~Raven Bower
Author of Horror & Dark Fantasy
It has been several years ago that I read it but yeah, I think they thought that it was a bear at first.
You are obviously a fan of the fantasy genre, which books of that sort are your favorites? I have read a lot less of that style but have read some. I of course like Tolkien but didn't finish all of The Two Towers or any of The Return of the King. I read the first nine books of Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series, but it was really starting to seem like he was just dragging it out and I finally gave up on it (I really loved the first book though). The Harp of the Grey Rose was good by Charles de Lint, and I read three or four of the D&D marketed novels (some were good, others were passable, I remember liking one called The Night Parade by Scott Ciencin the best, probably due to the weird horror aspect to it). I also liked Castle Perilous by my instructor from The Writers Digest Novel Writing Course, John DeChancie.
Joined: Mon Dec 11, 2006 11:30 am Posts: 329 Location: Michigan
Ohhh we're on dangerous ground here...
*eyes the lava flowing beneath chunks of ground*
I adore the fantasy genre. Because of that I've been growing increasingly annoyed with what it has turned into. I'm not one for mincing words so I'll call it like I see it.
My favorite fantasy stories are the ones written by Varulf, Hashy (Unknown Paradox) or Jon. I like them because to me they stick to what I like most about fiction - the dynamic characters, the emotion, the feel of life...and death.
Published stuff I like Ian Irvine's work. I liked the first three books of Jordan's Wheel of Time series - after that he really went off the deep end. When I start having to keep a running notebook on a writer's multitude of characters, hanging plot lines and sordid affairs (because it becomes such a bumbling mess that I can't tell who is who or doing what anymore) then the writer is making me work far more than I want to for something I think should be entertaining and fun. Plus, after seeing a few videos of him his attitude towards his readers really grated on my nerves.
I liked Tolkien's work for his world. He was a genious. Though admittedly I'm very character oriented and he didn't go quite so much into his characters' inner lives as I'd have liked to see.
I really enjoyed R.A Salvatore's first set of series - The Dark Elf Trilogy and the Icewind Dale Trilogy. However, after that he too got a little wacky and convulted. I still think he's a good writer but...I think he needs fresh characters.
I liked the Dragonlance series up until the end - which I thought was a cheat and as a reader I was very unhappy with it. I also didn't quite like the way the authors treated their readers and their readers' desires.
*begins mantra - curb desire to rant, curb desire to rant...*
_________________ <b>~Raven Bower
Author of Horror & Dark Fantasy
I definetely know what you mean about the snails plot pace in the later novels. That's what finally convinced me to give up on them. I also grew tired of reading about how "wool-headed" (stuborn) everyone thought everyone else was in the stories.
Joined: Mon Dec 11, 2006 11:30 am Posts: 329 Location: Michigan
lol
Yeah, that about made my scalp start to hurt. I wonder how many texts we could fill with braid pulling references alone... I forgot about the wool-headed thing though. Kinda makes you wonder about the sheep population
The first book Goodkind pulled that in it worked great (kidnapping thing), second was ok, the third well...didn't work so much. After the fourth I gave up. If the only way you can manage to motivate your characters is kidnapping one of them...then forcing your readers to traipse around the world while the other character tries to 'save' them - you've lost me.
I really, really liked Martin's first two books. But then it started to fade after the third and again I tossed the series after the fourth book. Or was it the third? I don't recall.
Maybe it's a disease that infects writers when they try to go over the classic 'trilogy' with the same set of characters. Or try to show too much of their world and what's going on in it in one set of books.
_________________ <b>~Raven Bower
Author of Horror & Dark Fantasy
Joined: Tue Mar 06, 2007 11:00 am Posts: 26 Location: Milwaukee, WI
In Martin's case, I think he's on the path of Jordanitis. His world is just so big, with so many characters in so many places that it's hard to keep them all moving. His fourth book actually only covers half of his characters, because it got too large to include all of them. And he added a couple new chars in it.
Goodkind I think just changed the kind of story he was telling. Taking on Darken Rahl made for a good story. After that, he kinda lost his focus. Is the series about the battle against the Imperial Order? Is it about Richard's development and/or his relationship with Kahlan? Is it about the Sisters of the Dark? It seems like each book in the series focuses on something different, and the story he tells is slightly less powerful for it.
Although I should thank him for steering me away from kidnapping plots after seeing how lame they get through repetition.
Joined: Mon Dec 11, 2006 11:30 am Posts: 329 Location: Michigan
Exactly. So far Ian Irvine has steered clear of that by focusing on only a few characters. All the others that show up are still vivid but he doesn't distract you with them or dump massive amounts of history on you.
Plus he sticks to 3 - 4 books in a series rather than...12...
Check him out if you have time.
_________________ <b>~Raven Bower
Author of Horror & Dark Fantasy
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