*Magnify*
SPONSORED LINKS
Printed from https://www.writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/7625-Gotcha.html
Horror/Scary: May 04, 2016 Issue [#7625]

Newsletter Header
Horror/Scary


 This week: Gotcha!
  Edited by: Arakun the Twisted Raccoon
                             More Newsletters By This Editor  

Table of Contents

1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions

About This Newsletter

Quote for the week:

"Poor decisions and bad luck are contingencies of most horror films."
~Wesley Morris


Word from our sponsor



Letter from the editor

The main characters in your story are exploring (insert dark, gloomy setting of your choice). They turn a corner or open a door, and....MREOOOW! a cat leaps out with an indignant yowl and runs away. As your characters catch their breath and laugh at themselves for being scared of a cat, something else that is really scary and evil slips up behind them...

While cats leaping out of every possible hiding place have become cliches, false scares are an important element in horror stories. If everything that jumps out is a real boogeyman, the readers become desensitized to them, and they lose their effect.

When you ratchet up the tension only to release it with a false scare, the characters (and the readers) let down their guard and are more vulnerable to whatever real threat is coming up.

Be careful not to follow every false scare with a real scare, or the readers will know they are coming. Vary the timing to keep the reader on edge. False scares work best near the beginning or middle of the story. Near the climax of the story they might only serve to slow things down and actually annoy the reader.

False scares might serve more than one purpose. For example, a harmless individual who initially scares your characters might give them some important information that they will need later on. Or maybe you could turn the whole thing upside down and have a seemingly false scare really turn out to be harmful after the characters have written it off as harmless. Another variant might be a character who cries 'wolf' once too often, and then is not believed when he or she is really in danger.

Something to try: If you have a horror story that doesn't seem to work, try adding a few well placed false scares.



Editor's Picks

 Invalid Item 
This item number is not valid.
#2082434 by Not Available.


STATIC
One Man's Trash  (ASR)
Headline - Corridge MA: POLICE LINK MASS DEATHS TO CULTIST ACTIVITY.
#2016170 by J. B. Anthony


STATIC
Menagerie of the Damned  (E)
The spirits of the damned will never escape my prison.
#2015714 by Angels in my Ear


Do You Really Want To Read This?  (13+)
Well, Do You?
#1794443 by Angus


STATIC
High and Outside  (GC)
Baseball's most colorful personality had so many fans it was hard to keep track...Oct.'11
#1821307 by Indelible Ink

 
Submit an item for consideration in this newsletter!
https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form

Word from Writing.Com

Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
         https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form

Don't forget to support our sponsor!

ASIN: B083RZJVJ8
Amazon's Price: $ 19.99
Not currently available.


Ask & Answer

What topic would you like to see in a future horror newsletter?

*Bullet* *Bullet* *Bullet* Don't Be Shy! Write Into This Newsletter! *Bullet* *Bullet* *Bullet*

This form allows you to submit an item on Writing.Com and feedback, comments or questions to the Writing.Com Newsletter Editors. In some cases, due to the volume of submissions we receive, please understand that all feedback and submissions may not be responded to or listed in a newsletter. Thank you, in advance, for any feedback you can provide!
Writing.Com Item ID To Highlight (Optional):

Send a comment or question to the editor!
Limited to 2,500 characters.
Word from our sponsor
ASIN: B07NPKP5BF
Product Type: Toys & Games
Amazon's Price: Price N/A

Removal Instructions

To stop receiving this newsletter, click here for your newsletter subscription list. Simply uncheck the box next to any newsletter(s) you wish to cancel and then click to "Submit Changes". You can edit your subscriptions at any time.


Printed from https://www.writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/7625-Gotcha.html