Ghost Stories or No, that's not pee it's wine

Ghost Stories or No, that's not pee it's wine 

 I have been obsessed with tales of the dead since I first read the entire section of my local library. People love to be scared and there is something about the notion that we stay around after our deaths, to mist in and out of dark corners that is simply enticing to write about.

What do you find scary about the idea of Ghosts? Would you find it more frighting to see one or to hear one?

When you write try not to please someone else, stick to what makes you afraid of the dark and go with it. Think of a way to die and start there, write out how the ghost became a specter, again even if you don't need all that information for your story it will really help with the writing of the piece, whether it is a short story for a magazine or blog or a novel for publication. 

There are places and ways to die which are naturally to our mortal minds much more terrifying than others. If you're feeling a little stuck try out one of the classics. A castle in the Irish green. Motels in Maine. Long ago car accidents. The violent end for a violent person.
You can begin with a well worn idea and make it your own through great character development and an ability to make the normal seem somehow sinister.

Write what you know

Write what you know

Did you grow up traveling the world with army parents? Live in the big city as a little kid? Scuff cow poop till the rooster passed out? Well use it and don’t lose it. Those early experiences help shape the writer you become and can give you unique and wonderful tales to tell your readers.

Start off by writing out three interesting tidbits from your young days. Look at them and see if one of those could be the foundation to a neat story.

Take the memory of those interesting days and fill in details of setting and even add a few characters based on those around you. See where the idea takes you, even if it's in a different direction than you thought you'd go. The germ of a good idea may grow into something competently different.

Even if you have been writing for quite some time going back to your roots and rediscovering untold stories is exciting and helps you grow as a writer. As you go over the stories and decide which ones will be best for your readers think about how you might share the first story, give it away to your Social Media pals, tweet the first line and link to a copy of the story on your facebook page. These short pieces can be a really great way to get people reading your work and interested in reading bigger projects.

Picking The Right Genre Pt. 1: Fantasy and Horror

Picking The Right Genre Pt. 1 

I think it’s key to remember that you don’t have to try and be unique, just write something you feel deeply about and it will read much better than if you’re trying to be the next Hemingway.  

Fantasy Writing or what's that you dropped your light sword thingy

Developing strong characters:

The five key areas for building depth in your characters;
1. Create an untold background for each character, which can be alluded to throughout the story. Is your hero really scared of the mystery he faces? Is the world about to be destroyed and only small signs within the tale can help the characters survive?

2. Learn to give each character unique words and manners. Holly Jesus, is that a nervous tick or are you about to shoot me?

3. Give your readers a good visual impression of what your characters look like, the reader will identify with them more. I know, it sounds simple but so many stories don't ever give you a solid image of the people within the novel's world.

4. Learn to intertwine the characters’ back-stories into the whole book; exposing the important background points for a deeper and more personal story. Make your readers understand why the characters are doing what they do.
Is your character coming from pain, joy or confusion? Where they have been will help make it easier for you to write where they are going.

5. Learn how what other characters say and don’t say can shine light on your main character.

Creating a believable word:

Draw an image of the world and its rules with your words.
The difference between:
Sam walked into the building and Sam, in his regulated outfit of grey and green, walked softly up the silver metallic stairs and into the section 5 Concord building.

See, looks easy but you have to know what the world is made of before you can write about it. 

Horror  

Oh no, did you hear that? It sounds like an awesome horror novel just out of reach. 

Watch horror films, read good short horror stories. Begin to let the pacing and sense of terror seep into your skin. What makes something scary? If I had to pick one thing it is the deeply disturbing idea of something not quite within reach or sight; the almost heard and half seen creatures of true terror.

If you're just starting out on writing a horror piece try picking a location and then build around that. You can read a review of perhaps the best horror writer of all time here.