Horror Newsletter January 3, 2007

About this Newsletter:

Men fear death as children fear to go into the dark; and as that natural fear in children is increased with tales, so is the other.
~Sir Francis Bacon


No passion so effectively robs the mind of all its powers of acting and reasoning as fear.
~Edmund Burke


When you look into the abyss, the abyss also looks into you.
~Nietzsche


From the Editor:

Cryptozoology

Have you heard of cryptozoology? It is the study of still unknown species of animals for which conclusive proof is missing. It may also encompass species considered extinct but which have been sighted. The name given for such creatures is cryptids. And yes, the field covers such legends as the Lock Ness Monster and bigfoot.

While searching for information on this topic I found very little on how to become a cryptozoologist and more on the actual cryptids themselves. The advice I did find was sound enough:

A cryptozoologist should have a scientific background but be open-minded and be willing to utilize an interdisciplinary approach.

There are no programs of study or cryptozoology departments at colleges and universities.

Zoology and anthropology are often the chosen discipline of a cryptozoologist.

This area is often considered a pseudo-science and is scoffed at by skeptics.

An ability to delve into local folklore is a plus. Often people native to the region have heard stories or have seen something unusual.

There are NO career opportunities in this field. In other words, keep your day job and make this a hobby. Should you discover a species and have irrefutable proof, then maybe you can write a book and do the lecture circuit.

There are many sites dedicated to sightings and recognizing certain species/creatures. If this is something that interests you, it would certainly be worth your time to check some of them out.

In the months to come, I may delve into certain cryptids as I find good information. It's even rumored that bigfoot roams the mountains a few miles from my home. Maybe I'll get a picture for you!

Until next month,
Nikola



Feedback:

From SHERRI G ♥ WDC ♥ : This newsletter is great, Nikola! My New Year's intention is to finish writing the second horror novel I've been working on since this month, along with the other three novels and two books of poetry I'm working on too. Two of my completed ones are due to be released this year. One on January 8th, and the other in June. This year's been a great one for me!


From Robert Waltz : Writing resolutions for the New Year? Well. I know I want to write more fiction, but that's not a very specific goal. Let's try: 1) Finish the Daily Writing Challenge 2) Start a new blog and 3) Finish a novel. There, I've said it: one of my goals (I don't make resolutions anymore, but I can set goals) is to complete one novel-length (50K - 80K) work.

And I know you both can do it! All my best for a great new year!