Luke Walker's Blog: https://lukewalkerwriter.wordpress.com, page 40
March 25, 2012
Waz (Overlooked horror films)
WAZ
I watched WAZ last night. I first watched it a couple of years ago, enjoyed it and have been meaning to watch it again for a while. I enjoyed it as much the second time as I did the first. For those who haven't seen it, it's a horror/thriller about the police investigation into a serial killer who leaves bodies with the term WAZ carved into their flesh. If you're familiar with the seedy, grotty atmosphere of Seven, then you'll know what to expect with WAZ.
After it finished, I thought about horror films which are overlooked or which don't generate big money and big talk from the critics. People who don't watch horror films have heard of films like The Exorcist or the Saw series or even (shudder) the never-ending Final Destinations, but what about the films that don't feature pretty people being stupid or those that achieve their fame by throwing blood and snot at the screen without any attempt at being frightening? Take REC, for example. Bloody as hell, but also frightening. Its's a superb horror film and what happens? The American remake (Quarantine) comes out before REC has had any chance in the States. Or the French film Ils from 2006. A great film all round. Put that against the Kate Beckinsale film The Strangers and see which one people are more familiar with.
So, what are your favourite overlooked horror films? Let's share them and give them the business and publicity they deserve.
I watched WAZ last night. I first watched it a couple of years ago, enjoyed it and have been meaning to watch it again for a while. I enjoyed it as much the second time as I did the first. For those who haven't seen it, it's a horror/thriller about the police investigation into a serial killer who leaves bodies with the term WAZ carved into their flesh. If you're familiar with the seedy, grotty atmosphere of Seven, then you'll know what to expect with WAZ.
After it finished, I thought about horror films which are overlooked or which don't generate big money and big talk from the critics. People who don't watch horror films have heard of films like The Exorcist or the Saw series or even (shudder) the never-ending Final Destinations, but what about the films that don't feature pretty people being stupid or those that achieve their fame by throwing blood and snot at the screen without any attempt at being frightening? Take REC, for example. Bloody as hell, but also frightening. Its's a superb horror film and what happens? The American remake (Quarantine) comes out before REC has had any chance in the States. Or the French film Ils from 2006. A great film all round. Put that against the Kate Beckinsale film The Strangers and see which one people are more familiar with.
So, what are your favourite overlooked horror films? Let's share them and give them the business and publicity they deserve.
Waz (Overlooked horror films)
WAZ
I watched WAZ last night. I first watched it a couple of years ago, enjoyed it and have been meaning to watch it again for a while. I enjoyed it as much the second time as I did the first. For those who haven't seen it, it's a horror/thriller about the police investigation into a serial killer who leaves bodies with the term WAZ carved into their flesh. If you're familiar with the seedy, grotty atmosphere of Seven, then you'll know what to expect with WAZ.
After it finished, I thought about horror films which are overlooked or which don't generate big money and big talk from the critics. People who don't watch horror films have heard of films like The Exorcist or the Saw series or even (shudder) the never-ending Final Destinations, but what about the films that don't feature pretty people being stupid or those that achieve their fame by throwing blood and snot at the screen without any attempt at being frightening? Take REC, for example. Bloody as hell, but also frightening. Its's a superb horror film and what happens? The American remake (Quarantine) comes out before REC has had any chance in the States. Or the French film Ils from 2006. A great film all round. Put that against the Kate Beckinsale film The Strangers and see which one people are more familiar with.
So, what are your favourite overlooked horror films? Let's share them and give them the business and publicity they deserve.
I watched WAZ last night. I first watched it a couple of years ago, enjoyed it and have been meaning to watch it again for a while. I enjoyed it as much the second time as I did the first. For those who haven't seen it, it's a horror/thriller about the police investigation into a serial killer who leaves bodies with the term WAZ carved into their flesh. If you're familiar with the seedy, grotty atmosphere of Seven, then you'll know what to expect with WAZ.
After it finished, I thought about horror films which are overlooked or which don't generate big money and big talk from the critics. People who don't watch horror films have heard of films like The Exorcist or the Saw series or even (shudder) the never-ending Final Destinations, but what about the films that don't feature pretty people being stupid or those that achieve their fame by throwing blood and snot at the screen without any attempt at being frightening? Take REC, for example. Bloody as hell, but also frightening. Its's a superb horror film and what happens? The American remake (Quarantine) comes out before REC has had any chance in the States. Or the French film Ils from 2006. A great film all round. Put that against the Kate Beckinsale film The Strangers and see which one people are more familiar with.
So, what are your favourite overlooked horror films? Let's share them and give them the business and publicity they deserve.
March 21, 2012
The new book
I started work on the new book a couple of days ago. Going well so far. I'm about 7,000 words in and I've got the plot (loosely) worked out. As I've probably said more than once, I like to have an idea of where I'm going otherwise I tend to get lost and lose my momentum. Saying that, the story has already veered a little from my outline but that's fine with me.
Something occured to me yesterday. I don't know whether to refer to this book, title-less at the moment, has Book 12 or not. It is the twelfth book I've written, but the first two are definitely trunked. Ditto to four and six. Three and five may resurface in the future although they'll be so different to the original stories that I could probably call them new books. The couple I wrote before The Red Girl will hopefully materalise at some point. All this is a long way of saying part of me wonders if I should call the new book number four and put the older books to bed. I'm fond of them but they're not publishable by any means. So what to do...
Right.
Decision made.
The new book will be refered to from this point on as...
Book 4.
And it's goodnight to my older books.
Something occured to me yesterday. I don't know whether to refer to this book, title-less at the moment, has Book 12 or not. It is the twelfth book I've written, but the first two are definitely trunked. Ditto to four and six. Three and five may resurface in the future although they'll be so different to the original stories that I could probably call them new books. The couple I wrote before The Red Girl will hopefully materalise at some point. All this is a long way of saying part of me wonders if I should call the new book number four and put the older books to bed. I'm fond of them but they're not publishable by any means. So what to do...
Right.
Decision made.
The new book will be refered to from this point on as...
Book 4.
And it's goodnight to my older books.
The new book
I started work on the new book a couple of days ago. Going well so far. I'm about 7,000 words in and I've got the plot (loosely) worked out. As I've probably said more than once, I like to have an idea of where I'm going otherwise I tend to get lost and lose my momentum. Saying that, the story has already veered a little from my outline but that's fine with me.
Something occured to me yesterday. I don't know whether to refer to this book, title-less at the moment, has Book 12 or not. It is the twelfth book I've written, but the first two are definitely trunked. Ditto to four and six. Three and five may resurface in the future although they'll be so different to the original stories that I could probably call them new books. The couple I wrote before The Red Girl will hopefully materalise at some point. All this is a long way of saying part of me wonders if I should call the new book number four and put the older books to bed. I'm fond of them but they're not publishable by any means. So what to do...
Right.
Decision made.
The new book will be refered to from this point on as...
Book 4.
And it's goodnight to my older books.
Something occured to me yesterday. I don't know whether to refer to this book, title-less at the moment, has Book 12 or not. It is the twelfth book I've written, but the first two are definitely trunked. Ditto to four and six. Three and five may resurface in the future although they'll be so different to the original stories that I could probably call them new books. The couple I wrote before The Red Girl will hopefully materalise at some point. All this is a long way of saying part of me wonders if I should call the new book number four and put the older books to bed. I'm fond of them but they're not publishable by any means. So what to do...
Right.
Decision made.
The new book will be refered to from this point on as...
Book 4.
And it's goodnight to my older books.
March 16, 2012
March 14, 2012
The next book (and other stuff)
I recently began outlining my next book and can tell you now, it won't be a followup to Belham as I originally thought it would be. I will write a sequel to Belham (possibly after the next book) but two things came up which changed my plan. Firstly, the rough outline I had for Belham 2 didn't quite work so I need to rethink it. Secondly, the idea for the next book came to me and was just so right and compelling, I've gone with it instead of working on a couple of short story ideas. Ordinarily, I would have written at least one of the shorts but as I've spent so long editing, I'm keen to get stuck into something meaty. So that's led me to the next book.
It's gone through a few changes over the last week and is now at the plot outlining stage. I like to have a rough idea of where I'm going otherwise I tend to get lost several thousand words in. The funny thing is I was playing with the idea of simply winging this one, but I realised early on that won't work. That's not to say it won't be the way to go with a future book. It's just not the best way forward at the moment. In any case, one of the changes which has come up is the gender of the two principal characters. At first, I had a man in mind for both. There was something wrong with that and I couldn't quite put my finger on it. After a day or two, it clicked. My characters are women. Obviously I can't go into much detail why this change has come up – not without spoiling a book I've yet to start writing – but I'm definitely convinced it's the way to go.
This is one of the reasons I say a writer should listen to their characters. Whatever the story is, it's their story. It's not mine. I can guide the plot but if it ends up going another way (or if someone turns out to be a woman, for that matter), then that's what happens. The outline should be done by the weekend and I begin writing next week. I can't wait.
And other news – Belham is now with a writer friend who will read it and give me her feedback. So that should be ready for submission within a couple of months. And I got my third review for The Red Girl on Amazon this morning.
It's all good.
It's gone through a few changes over the last week and is now at the plot outlining stage. I like to have a rough idea of where I'm going otherwise I tend to get lost several thousand words in. The funny thing is I was playing with the idea of simply winging this one, but I realised early on that won't work. That's not to say it won't be the way to go with a future book. It's just not the best way forward at the moment. In any case, one of the changes which has come up is the gender of the two principal characters. At first, I had a man in mind for both. There was something wrong with that and I couldn't quite put my finger on it. After a day or two, it clicked. My characters are women. Obviously I can't go into much detail why this change has come up – not without spoiling a book I've yet to start writing – but I'm definitely convinced it's the way to go.
This is one of the reasons I say a writer should listen to their characters. Whatever the story is, it's their story. It's not mine. I can guide the plot but if it ends up going another way (or if someone turns out to be a woman, for that matter), then that's what happens. The outline should be done by the weekend and I begin writing next week. I can't wait.
And other news – Belham is now with a writer friend who will read it and give me her feedback. So that should be ready for submission within a couple of months. And I got my third review for The Red Girl on Amazon this morning.
It's all good.
March 11, 2012
Leaving reviews
Just a quick one today - if you read my book, can you do me a big favour, people? Any and all reviews welcome on sites like Amazon or Goodreads or wherever, really. Be completely honest. If you didn't like it, then say so. Of course, if you thought it was the best thing since sliced bread, I'm happy for you to say so :)
Reviews aren't for me or for any other writer. They're for the readers. So feel free to tell other readers what you thought.
Thanks. You're all lovely.
Reviews aren't for me or for any other writer. They're for the readers. So feel free to tell other readers what you thought.
Thanks. You're all lovely.
March 5, 2012
The Slope - where it came from
Spoilers for The Slope below...
Several months ago, I posted about writing short stories and how I usually have a few ideas jotted down in a file. When I'm inbetween books, I'll have a look in this file and see which idea shouts loudest at me to be written. The basic story of The Slope was one of the few ideas I had when I last opened that file and found it a bit thin. The ingredients of it, though, I'd had those for a while - particularly the idea of bad places. If you've read my book (and if not, then why not, you swine?) The Red Girl, you'll know this is an idea I like to explore. I think everyone gets a vibe about certain places. They just feel a bit off, a bit dodgy. Depending where they are, you can put this down to unsafe areas or intimidating locals or anything along those lines. But what about the places that have no obvious reason to feel...off?
The bit of land that makes up the slope in the story is more or less as I've described. It's near a bridge which connects one area with what was, until a couple of years ago, a fairly isolated green space. A hospital has been built there which sorts of detracts from the sensation of being cut off, but as far as I know, the slope itself is still there - a green tongue that rolls down from the side of a bridge and forms a bit of scrubland beside a hedge and a barbed wire fence. I lived near it as a kid and always got spooked when I passed it. I had no idea why then and I don't really know why now. Maybe it was because it would be easy to fall down the slope and be down there in the shadows while normal life was literally just a few feet away. A person could hide down there and watch people cross the bridge and they'd have no idea who was down there. Maybe that was it.
As for the brother relationship and what happens with Billy and Colin, that came from wanting to see what happens when an unquestioning relationship is put against something as horrible as the boys' experiences before the opening narration. I wanted to see what the brothers would do in the face of that and how it would affect one of them years later. And while I don't know what happens after the end of the story, I hope Billy gets to at least hurt the the slope and the thing that lives down there. I think he deserves that much.
So that's more or less where my story came from. Hope you liked it.
Several months ago, I posted about writing short stories and how I usually have a few ideas jotted down in a file. When I'm inbetween books, I'll have a look in this file and see which idea shouts loudest at me to be written. The basic story of The Slope was one of the few ideas I had when I last opened that file and found it a bit thin. The ingredients of it, though, I'd had those for a while - particularly the idea of bad places. If you've read my book (and if not, then why not, you swine?) The Red Girl, you'll know this is an idea I like to explore. I think everyone gets a vibe about certain places. They just feel a bit off, a bit dodgy. Depending where they are, you can put this down to unsafe areas or intimidating locals or anything along those lines. But what about the places that have no obvious reason to feel...off?
The bit of land that makes up the slope in the story is more or less as I've described. It's near a bridge which connects one area with what was, until a couple of years ago, a fairly isolated green space. A hospital has been built there which sorts of detracts from the sensation of being cut off, but as far as I know, the slope itself is still there - a green tongue that rolls down from the side of a bridge and forms a bit of scrubland beside a hedge and a barbed wire fence. I lived near it as a kid and always got spooked when I passed it. I had no idea why then and I don't really know why now. Maybe it was because it would be easy to fall down the slope and be down there in the shadows while normal life was literally just a few feet away. A person could hide down there and watch people cross the bridge and they'd have no idea who was down there. Maybe that was it.
As for the brother relationship and what happens with Billy and Colin, that came from wanting to see what happens when an unquestioning relationship is put against something as horrible as the boys' experiences before the opening narration. I wanted to see what the brothers would do in the face of that and how it would affect one of them years later. And while I don't know what happens after the end of the story, I hope Billy gets to at least hurt the the slope and the thing that lives down there. I think he deserves that much.
So that's more or less where my story came from. Hope you liked it.
March 1, 2012
The Slope published today
My latest short story The Slope has been published today at Dark Fire. Have a read and let me know what you think. I'll post a bit about where the story came from at some point, but for now, just enjoy the tale.
The Slope
The Slope
