The Intruder Letdown Editor: Gaby 
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When you have expectations, you are setting yourself up for disappointment.
~ Ryan Reynolds
The sudden disappointment of a hope leaves a scar which the ultimate fulfillment of that hope never entirely removes.
~ Thomas Hardy
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In the past few weeks I've been on a Freida McFadden binge. I've devoured about 4-5 books in just 3 days. She's more of a mystery writer rather than horror, but some of the scenes she writes about can lead to the horror genre. Still, they're too short and too sweet and at the end she unravels the entire story because it's hard to figure out who actually did it and why.
Her book, The Intruder, started off really good. Even though the setting is a cabin in the middle of the woods and although a bit of a cliche, she started off strong. In fact, I loved where she was going with the story. Alone in a cabin and all of us a sudden, there's a pale face peering at her tough the window. The fear was there! The question of what will happen next and who the face belonged to? Check. And then, poof. All gone. The fear, the question, the anticipation, everything. It was the perfect start to a book that ended up going completely south in a way. Is it because she's a mystery writer and horror wasn't really part of it? Probably.
However, I can't help think that it was a completely missed opportunity to delve into a completely different genre. Not to mention a good one! Once I've finished the book, even the ending was a bit of a disappointment since she rarely ends with a happy ending in general, but this called for it and yet, another letdown.
I'm not writing this so you can read her book. No. I'm writing about it to explain how we tend to stick a little too much to what we know and forget that we are allowed to spread our wings.
When we review each others writing, we try not to make too many suggestions, aren't always entirely truthful because we want to encourage the other, but forget that it can also be a hindrance. I mean, it's hard to let go of what you've already written down and what you've planned for its future, and therefore ignore most of the advice we get anyway. However, if someone suggested to go in a different direction, it may not be bad advice. The reader does see what the writer simply can't. An opportunity.
Be open-minded to the suggestions given to you in reviews. Someone just might see more potential in your writing than you'd expect. While it's hard to dissect what you've already written, it might open up doors you didn't know you owned. It just might improve your writing skills. Don't be like Freida and waste a good chance for something unexpected.
'Til next time!
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Horror/Scary: July 08, 2026 Issue [#13838]