Horror Aficionados discussion

This is a short, thoughtful essay I wrote discussing the relevance of the horror genre in literature. I'd love to hear your own thoughts, arguments and critiques.

http://darnellsakidickerson.blogspot....

Yeah but nobody ever specifically writes 'horror' for money any more.

I have written lots of stuff, ranging in genre from literary to horror with sci-fi, fantasy, and humor thrown in. The writing that resonates most with me is horror, and it seems to resonate with my readers as well. Why is this? Maybe I have a twisted mind, or there are dark things in my soul that can only be released through dark fiction. Or maybe it's ust fun. It's fun to write and it's fun to read. But for me, the main reason that it's fun is because of the questions the genre raises in both the readers' and the writers' minds. Your essay hits on this a bit when it says that one of the reasons we respond to horror is because we recognize the potential for horrific things within ourselves. That's what many of the classic horror tales were trying to do and some writers still try. Think of the classic horror character of the werewolf. Unlike the modern wolves who can control what they are and what they do, he classic werewolf was a tragic character. A normal person, many times a good and kind person, who becomes a killer once a month through no fault of their own. The monster is inside the wolf, who is as much a victim as those he preys upon, and there is no solution but to kill the creature.
People respond to horror stories because they give a face to our fears, whether those are tangible fears like serial killers or monsters, or intangible ones like the evil that lurks in all of us. And writers like to explore this as well.
Yeah, some people write horror to make money, but a reader can usually tell the difference between a story that was written for profit and one that was written because the writer just wanted to write. Like many, I write because I want to, and if I happen to make money, so be it. That's not why I do it. If I never made another penny as a writer, I would still do it, because I love to write. It's nice to see my income increase, but even more rewarding is knowing that something that I worked hard on has touched something in someone else. I would rather see a dozen good and honest reviews than a thousand sales. My favorite review that I have ever received was for a free short story I published. It was just two words (with five stars attached) that said "Goosebumps, everyone!" That is why I write horror. That is why I write anything. I gave someone the experience that I hoped they would have.
I suggest that anyone wondering why anyone would want to write (or read) horror pick up the book Danse Macabre by Stephen King. Now he is considered by many critics to write mostly pulp fiction that few educated readers take seriously, but I believe that like Charles Dickens, Stevenson, or any of the others who wrote horror novels that became classics, history will recognize his literary genious.

Scott- Horror was huge in the 90's from what I understand and there were a lot of authors and directors that pushed out a lot of horror to ride the trend and make money but it was weak at best. These days it's kind of "unfashionable" to be a horror writer. It has a negative stigma of being a genre writer who's work gets thrown into a bargain bin so I don't think people write horror these days to make money, it's not all that lucrative. It'd be better to write YA Paranormal or Erotica right not. Not that there's anything wrong with being a career writer who "writes to market" it's just not my thing and usually yields bad work.

Ardy- Geez, awesome response. Thanks' for bringing up the unique inner drama that classic horror offered, that was an excellent point.
I feel the same way. A good honest review, affecting someone's life in a profound way, those are things money just can't buy. (Well you can buy reviews but you can tell they're not honest, just pretty, meaningless words)

It is unfortunate that King is kind of mocked these days but it's fairly obvious that at least some of his work will stand the test of time and be categorized as a Great American Classic. It's just a matter of time.

I think the point of writing horror is to tell a great story. I mean, horror, for me, is one of my favorite genres. It shows the darkness that lies within each and every one of us during stressful situations that we encounter. Ardi- I love your point about King. I believe as well that he will become a literary genius in the future like that of Charles Dickens, Edgar Allan Poe, etc. But anyway, usually when people write horror for money, it isn't any good since the writer doesn't put their heart in it. If they write because they love doing though and they don't care about the money, that shows in their writing.

There is just as much point in writing horror as any other genre. Why wouldn't there be?

Great blog post.

I think too that confronting our fears is a way to release them.

Fear is one of the primal emotions in human beings, it's what kept us alive in more dangerous times.
Fearing a noise in the dark saved many from a violent death at the claws of a predator.
Reading horror is a way to experience those fears without actually being in danger (well, maybe a bit of psichological danger but alas) thus giving us a pleasurable sensation when we do it.
Horror writers provide us with the means for that.
Most published authors do write for money, many wannabe writers do too but I believe there are number of people who write horror for the sheer pleasure of it.

Great topic and good points by all...and while being a horror writer isn't as "sexy" as some genres, I think horror (out of ALL genres) has more depth and range of emotions, more that can be explored, and previously stated, it is all about fear and how we react to it. I think that's what King has been so popular. Most people can relate to his characters and what "fears" they're dealing with. I also think that horror as a popular genre has had its ups and downs, peaking in the late 80's and early 90's, and declining in the mid-90's to late...and having a bit of a resurgence after the year 2000. Thank God for the small-press keeping horror alive and despite the demise of such publishers like Leisure, and because of the digital boom, horror is alive and well...perhaps maybe not as prevalent in bookstores unless you include the continuously strong YA and Teen Paranormal books...and the cool thing about that is that eventually...hopefully...these young readers will grow up to read King, etc etc...and I have seen this happen. I would like to see these young readers grow up to discover some of the amazing but lesser-known horror talent out, and there are LOTS!

JD wrote: "There is just as much point in writing horror as any other genre. Why wouldn't there be?"
Totally agree JD

Kings has been around since the seventies, his work will never fade.

Chris wrote: "Great topic and good points by all...and while being a horror writer isn't as "sexy" as some genres, I think horror (out of ALL genres) has more depth and range of emotions, more that can be explor..."
I agree with you. I am 17, and have been reading King for a couple years. He is truly amazing at the creation of such genuine characters and the fears that they possess. He is my favorite writer for that reason, as well as many others.

David, thanks for posting, and definitely check out other authors in the genre. King is one of my alltime favorites but there are so many terrific writers out there...and sites like this one do a great job introducing readers to new ones.

Right? After finish The Dark Tower VII I am going to find some other writers.

You can never really finish the Dark Tower series. After reading the seven books you have to go back and read about half of his other novels to get the whole story, including The Stand, IT, Salem's Lot, Hearts in Atlantis, and lots of his short stories. And he's still writing more! But yeah, there are lots of other good writers out there, and you can tell which ones write because they love to do so.
The best thing about Horror literature is that it breaks characters down to their most basic natures. People like reading about Romance or mysteries or other "literary" plots, but there is no better insight into a character than what they would do when completely terrified.

Check out Brian Keene, David. You'd really like him. Check out his novel, GHOUL, which is my favorite by him so far.

I've read one of his books. Darkness on the edge of town. It was a very great book.

Ardy wrote: "You can never really finish the Dark Tower series. After reading the seven books you have to go back and read about half of his other novels to get the whole story, including The Stand, IT, Salem's..." Yeah. I feel that the horror is genre is probably the most realistic genre because it shows the horrors of mankind and what we do in terrifying situations. Horror is the ultimate insight into the depths in the human mind whether they be the darkness dwelling in us all, or other atributes.

Nice, David...yeah, I have most of Keene's novels, and he just released two new short novels published from Deadite Press...

One of my favorite King references was when he referred to his own books as the literary equivalent of a Big Mac and fries...

Yea haha. I heard about that:D I love King. Off topic, but have you read anything by Jonathan Maberry?

Chris wrote: "One of my favorite King references was when he referred to his own books as the literary equivalent of a Big Mac and fries..."

The analogy is correct mostly. Mass produced. Somewhat palatable and available everywhere (except India). The analogy breaks down when you realise a Big mac and fries is fast food. King is slow literary food with too many frills these days.

Oh yeah...Maberry is awesome. His Joe Ledger novels are excellent, although not out and out horror. I have yet to check out his teen Rot & Ruin series but will soon, since they come highly recommended. If you can find his Pine Deep trilogy (out of print, but available in digital as ebooks) I would strongly remommend them, David. Those books are in my Top 10. Nuff said!

I think King meant two things by that long-ago mentioned comment (but I see your point, respect it, and somewhat agree): that his work is generally frowned upon by the literati community and he doesn't give a crap about that...and that his work is easily accessible by a wide audience, appealing to the masses, etc. His work has changed over the years, he's become a bit too "far left" but still readable and mostly enjoyable...hell, he's still the King, in my book...

I get asked this all the time - both as a bestselling horror novelist and as a frequent guest speaker at genre conventions. There is definitely a point to writing horror. First and foremost, I think that horror is a genre that by definition allows us to examine the extremes of the human condition. I.e., by putting characters in situations that are truly "horrific," we allow them to demonstrate the best - and sometimes worst - of humanity.

An example: probably the most-discussed and written-of war was World War II. There are a lot of reasons for this, but I suspect that a major one is the simple fact that the horrors that occurred were so grave, so horrible, that they highlighted in stark contrast both humanity's greatest flaws and its greatest potential. Nowhere can we reach higher than when we are put into the depths.

Another reason for horror's relevance and importance is that it is one of the last remaining genres where it is not only acceptable but often encouraged to discuss the possibility or reality of religion and God. In most other genres, religion and the supernatural have little or no place - characters are usually either atheistic or at best quietly agnostic. However horror, because it so often posits the existence of (usually angry) entities in existence beyond this plane of life, also permits for discussion of the possibility of entities of Good beyond this life - angels vs. demons, God vs. the devil. And whether you are a person who believes in such things or not, the fact is that most people DO, and so such topics and themes not only resonate with the public, they are intensely important to their lives.

I could go on, but the simple answer is that horror not only matters and has a point, it may have the capacity to discuss the great Truths of human existence better than any other genre.

Chris wrote: "Oh yeah...Maberry is awesome. His Joe Ledger novels are excellent, although not out and out horror. I have yet to check out his teen Rot & Ruin series but will soon, since they come highly recomm..." OK. The Rot & Ruin books are unlike any zombie books I have ever read. They are unique and amazing books. I shall check out more Maberry soon, since I find him a really great author. Even if I've only read two of his books.

Great points, Michaelbrent, thanks for your insight...

Welcome, Chris!

I will posit a new suggestion as to why horror writers write horror. They may not have a choice. The muse that speaks to us and drives our writing simply may not allow it. I'll explain.

As Darnell pointed out above, writing to market usually yeilds bad results. King has pulled it off a couple of times. Both 'The Body' (a.k.a. 'Stand by Me') and 'The Reach' were written for market and neither is without elements of fear and terror. We all know that 'The Body' became a raging success, primarily because the movie did, but 'The Reach' was rejected from the very magazine King had written it for. Not because of the element of horror, but because the character commented that women will pee down their leg unless they sit down. Kings muse, or that inner voice that drives his talent, always seems to lead him into the horror genre.

I've experienced this myself. My editor is a romance novelist. She once asked me to try to write a romance story, just to see if I had it in me. It began well, a woman caring for her invalid mother met a man...blah, blah, blah. Despite my best intentions, it went south. The man murdered the woman's mother and was then devoured by the dust kitties under the old woman's bed. It is a truly awful piece that will never see the light of day, but my point is, try as I did, I couldn't keep the romance story on the rails.

Perhaps the horror writer writes horror because that is the voice that speaks to him the best.

Many writers attempt to do something different and sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Many of us have to stick with what works for us, what drives us, what we love, which is an exploration of darkness, which resides in all of us...or the darkness that is hiding right outside our bedroom window...or the nameless dread lurking in the closet. So to speak.

T, I've been writing horror for years, published short stories in the small-press market, but have also tinkered with erotica. But horror has always been my first love, main focus, and that'll never change.

Michaelbrent wrote: "Welcome, Chris!"

Thanks! Just read a great review of your latest and will be checking that out...

Chris wrote: "T, I've been writing horror for years, published short stories in the small-press market, but have also tinkered with erotica. But horror has always been my first love, main focus, and that'll nev..."

I've thought about trying erotica, but always felt that could go FAR worse than the romance attempt. LOL

I do write a fair amount of Sci-Fi, but there's usually something supernatural in there somewhere.

I hear you...I did the same thing with an idea for a teen horror novel...scrapped it due to not wanting to dilute the story because of writing for a younger audience. I have started a dark fantasy (again, written for a YA or teen audience) called SHIFTER but haven't gotten back to it on months...

I've read some of the YA market books. Twilight (Yech!), 'Hunger Games' (better, but I still don't see what all the fuss is about). I think some of the best are Patterson's series about the winged children. 'Maximum Ride' threw me completely for a loop. I got it expecting another great Alex Cross novel (I knew nothing about it when I got it) and got a completely different, but great read.

Of course, no one can disparage the 'Harry Potter' series. Great stories, all.

Yeah, HP was a phenomenon but even with the arguably silly romantic aspects of the Twilight novels, I'm hopeful that these teen readers grow up to read more horror. Teen novels are hugely popular, whether it be paranormal or the dystopian-type novels...

Michaelbrent wrote: "I get asked this all the time - both as a bestselling horror novelist and as a frequent guest speaker at genre conventions. There is definitely a point to writing horror. First and foremost, I th..."

Thanks for your insight, and for bringing up the religion issue. As a Christian, I am often scolded by other Christians for reading horror, and for writing it. I have tried my hand, with some success, at writing "Christian" fiction, and will continue to do so, but usually the only people who read such books are Christians themselves. If one wants to make their readers think about those issues, horror is the best way to go. And those topics do tend to show up naturally in the horror genre. Books like The Stand and Desperation and movies like End of Days and Constantine are great examples of this. And I feel I can be more honest in my approach to religion in my secular pieces because most of my characters aren't religious themselves. That opens up some doors when the are forced to deal with the supernatural.

Ardy wrote: "Michaelbrent wrote: "I get asked this all the time - both as a bestselling horror novelist and as a frequent guest speaker at genre conventions. There is definitely a point to writing horror. Fir..."

Religion is definitely "at issue" in much horror writing. In one of my recent novels, Apparition, the characters are Methodist. This is peripheral to the plot (though their pastor does have some crucial information), but important to the characters themselves, and would have been much more difficult to work into in, say, a sci-fi or fantasy piece. Horror is truly a genre with surprising depth in this area of discussion.

T. wrote: "Despite my best intentions, it went south. The man murdered the woman's mother and was then devoured by the dust kitties under the old woman's bed.

Hahahaha. I almost fell out of my chair when I read that! Sounds exactly like me. :D

I read an article a while back that said horror sells better to Republicans because they accept the existence of Evil.

Democrats view Evil as potential voters, apparently.... ;)

Jon Recluse wrote: "I read an article a while back that said horror sells better to Republicans because they accept the existence of Evil.

Democrats view Evil as potential voters, apparently.... ;)"

Snicker...

it went south. The man murdered the woman's mother and was then devoured by the dust kitties under the old woman's bed. It is a truly awful piece that will never see the light of day, but my point is, try as I did, I couldn't keep the romance story on the rails.

T: You and I have the same problem, and that's a good thing. *maniacal laughter*

This is off topic, but has anyone read The Road by Cormac MacCarthy? I just wanna know how it is.

Jon Recluse wrote: "I read an article a while back that said horror sells better to Republicans because they accept the existence of Evil."i>

That explains the amount of republicans on HA, I was wondering

Bandit wrote: "Jon Recluse wrote: "I read an article a while back that said horror sells better to Republicans because they accept the existence of Evil."i>

That explains the amount of republicans on HA, I was w..."

Did I miss the official headcount?

I think you did, there were cookies too

Of course there were.

Tressa made them, it was a special occasion :)

Because I wasn't invited?

you were there, it was a republican cookie party...search your memory