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Here on The Cult of Me we're joining in the fun! We continue the proceedings with a guest post from Brandon R Luffman where he discusses fear in horror writing.
Gore Vs. Dread
In Horror Writing
What is it that scares people?
Particularly, what is it about a horror story that scares them? It's a pretty
basic question, but I think the answer can give us insight into how to write
better horror.
At its heart, horror fiction is often not
so much about fear as it is about dread. The difference, of course, is that one
is a reaction to a direct threat, while the latter is anxiety about an unknown.
It might be dread of an uncertain outcome, or the question of whether that bump
heard in the night was just the house settling or something more sinister.
It is far too easy to confuse dread and
fear with disgust. In the real world, seeing something horrific can certainly
inspire fear. It's a natural human reaction. But, in fiction, does a
description of a gory scene actually heighten the feeling of fear or suspense
in the reader? I think the answer is no.
It's true that gore has its place in horror
fiction. My own recently released novel, Frostwalker,
has its fair share of grisly bits. But those parts of the story aren't an
attempt to inspire fear. They're just the natural by-product of a town overrun
by the walking dead!
So, if gore can't get us there, how can we strike fear in the reader's
heart? How do we really scare them?
The answer is through dread or, in more
common parlance, through tension.
Tension comes not from what horrors stand before you, but from what might be there. Show the reader a
dismembered corpse and you might make their stomach turn. But show them a
trickle of blood running out from beneath the baseboards and you'll give them dread.
The classic fear is the fear of the dark.
It's the perfect example of this principle in action. Why do people fear
darkness? It is, after all, nothing more than the absence of light. But, from
our earliest days, humans have been denizens of daylight. The fear of the dark
isn't a result of what's out there – it's the fear of the unknown. It's the
fear of what might be out there.
We don't fear the monster under the bed
because of previous experience. Most of us have never had talons clamp onto our
ankle as we climb into bed. The source of our fear is simply not knowing what might be under there
among the dust bunnies and orphaned socks.
So, while gore has its place in horror
fiction, we should remember that it is simply window dressing. Gore sets the
stage and shows us the result of horrific events. But true fear comes from
knowing that we'll have to face that horror on the next page, or in the coming
chapters. We know that, eventually, it will
come for us.
About
Brandon
Born
in Statesboro, Georgia in 1976, Brandon Luffman was raised in rural North
Carolina from the time he was old enough to walk. In the sixth grade he
discovered The Chronicles Of Narnia. Soon after that, he was on to Stephen King
and Arthur C. Clarke. At the same time, he was making his first forays into
writing fiction. After creating a series of short fantasy pieces for a class
assignment that were received with praise, he was hooked on writing fiction for
the entertainment of others. Now Brandon writes supernatural horror as well as
fantasy, science fiction, and other genres. His short fiction is available
online in various formats. Brandon still lives on the family farm in
northwestern North Carolina with his wife and family. Taking inspiration from
his homeland, he brings southern sensibilities and a modern flair to these
classic genre themes. His first novel, Frostwalker,
was released in May of 2013.
Connect with Brandon
Frostwalker
There’s
something in the woods behind Jake Marsden’s house – and someone wants him to
find it. A strange dream shatters his sleep, night after night, and a
compulsion to find the dark presence in the forest wars with his logical and
ordered nature. What’s a geek to do?
When
his small hometown of Wynn, North Carolina falls under an ancient curse, Jake
will find himself in a battle against creatures worse than any he’s faced in a
game. Playing for keeps, it will be geek versus god in the fight to stop an
evil force bent on destroying everything he holds dear.
The Geek Shall Inherit The Earth – If They Live Long
Enough.
Paperback – $7.99:
Ebook/Kindle – $3.99 $2.99:
Smashwords | Amazon | Kobo | Sony | Diesel | Versent | iTunes | Barnes & Noble
Win a paperback copy of Frostwalker!
The Card
When
a strange tarot card appears in a friend’s deck, Jason assumes it’s just a
prank done in poor taste. But, when terrible events befall those around him, he
must face the possibility that something sinister is afoot.
Death
is closing in, along with a suspicious detective who believes that Jason may be
the killer he’s stalking. With his life turned upside down, Jason finds that
there are worse things to be hunted by than the authorities.
This
4,500 word short is a supernatural horror story in the spirit of the pulp era,
but with a modern feel.
Available
for 99 cents from the following retailers:
Smashwords | Amazon | Kobo | Diesel | Barnes & Noble | Sony | Versent
Great post!
ReplyDeleteThank you, and thanks for reading!
DeleteAlso, thanks to Mr. Brookes for having me visit, as well as for doing a guest post of his own at my blog!
If you'd like to read his post, here's a link:
http://brandonrluffman.wordpress.com/2013/07/22/blogger-book-fair-guest-post-by-michael-brookes-playing-in-someone-elses-sandbox/