Brandon Cornett's Blog, page 14

Poltergeist (1982): Creepy Clown in Bedroom Scene

This article is part of a 10-part series that examines some of the creepiest horror movie moments involving children. Here, we’ll be discussing the scary clown scene from the 1982 supernatural horror movie, Poltergeist, which comes in at number eight on the list.

The original Poltergeist movie from 1982 was movie magic. The 2015 remake, not so much. In the original film (written by Steven Spielberg and directed by Tobe Hooper of Texas Chainsaw fame), there’s a particularly scary scene involvi...

A Quiet Place (2018): Space Shuttle Scene on Bridge

This blog post is part of a series that counts down ten of the scariest horror movie scenes featuring children. You can follow the link for even more creepy movie moments.

The 2018 movie A Quiet Place is about a family struggling to survive in a world filled with monsters. As it says in the official IMDB blurb: “In a post-apocalyptic world, a family is forced to live in silence while hiding from monsters with ultra-sensitive hearing.”

Talk about a great premise for a movie. Wow! As a ficti...

The Conjuring (2013): Behind the Bedroom Door Scene

This blog post is part of a series that counts down ten of the scariest horror movie scenes involving kids. You can follow the link for even more creepy movie moments.

There’s something standing behind you, but you can’t see it. You might feel its presence. You might even hear it breathing on the back of your neck. But you can’t see it. It’s the stuff of nightmares. So it’s only fitting to encounter this kind of scene in one of the most nightmarish movies of all time, The Conjuring.

This ...

Halloween (1978): You Can’t Kill the Boogeyman Scene

This blog post is part of a series that counts down ten of the scariest horror movie scenes involving kids. Follow the link above to see all ten.

The original Halloween movie helped usher in the “slasher” subgenre of horror, which took off in the late 1970s. John Carpenter used so many innovative and effective techniques in that movie, it’s hard to pick a favorite.

But this is a list of scariest horror movies involving kids, so let’s turn our attention to little Tommy Doyle, played by Bri...

The 10 Scariest Horror Movie Scenes Involving Kids

Do you like scary movies that feature child actors? Good. Because we’re about to take a deep dive into the ten scariest horror movie scenes involving children, counting down from ten to one.

From the earliest days of film, writers and directors have realized they could make scary movies scarier by incorporating child actors into their scenes. It makes sense, when you think about it. A scary scene with adults is one thing. But when you add children into the mix, you get a higher level of v...

Types of Horror Fiction: 10 Subgenres With Recommended Books for Each

At a glance: This article lists ten popular types or subgenres of horror fiction, with some recommended novels for each category.

Dividing the horror genre into individual subgenres is harder than you might think. (Trust me on this.) There’s a lot of overlap and crossover. Some novels straddle the line between two or more subgenres. Other books blaze a path of their own and don’t fit squarely into a single category.

For example: Zombies. Do they stand alone in their own genre? There’s ...

Starting a Novel With Dialogue: Five Dos and Don’ts

Starting a novel with dialogue can be tricky, even for the most experienced writers. That’s why many writers avoid it altogether. When done poorly, it can leave readers scratching their heads. Who are these people? Who’s the main character? How is this conversation meaningful to the story?

But it can also be done well. With the right technique, you can start your novel with dialogue without losing readers along the way. It just requires some forethought and planning, and that’s what we’ll...

How to Overcome Fear and Doubt When Writing Fiction

Many writers experience some kind of fear or doubt when writing and publishing new material. But it’s especially common among aspiring writers who haven’t yet published their own work.

If left unchecked, writing fears and anxiety can become overwhelming. They can prevent you from finishing your work. They can choke off your creativity. They’re like a little hobgoblin perched on the shoulder, whispering negative thoughts in your ear.

But it doesn’t have to come to that. Once you understand...

Creating Believable Characters in Sci-Fi, Fantasy & Horror Fiction

At a glance: This article offers some tips and strategies for creating believable characters in speculative fiction, namely sci-fi, fantasy and horror.

Image by Mystic Art Design (Pixabay.com)

Investing time and energy into your characters is one of the best things you can do to improve your writing. By making your characters more believable, you’re helping readers suspend their disbelief and accept the fictional world you’ve created.

This is true for writers of any genre. But I would a...

Ten Tips for Writing Zombie Novels and Fiction

Need some tips for writing zombie fiction? Youve come to the right place. On this page, youll find some of my own writing advice, along with zombie-writing tips from other writers.

Brandons Top 10 Tips for Writing Zombie Fiction

You could fill an entire book with tips and strategies for writing zombie fiction. But this is a blog, not a book. So Ive boiled it all down into ten key points. Without further ado, here are my top-ten tips for writing zombie novels:

1. Invest in your characters.

...