Mischief
I've been pondering on ghosts and worse. Child ghosts figured in my last two novels and I suppose they're disconcerting because they're sly and knowing in a way that children shouldn't be. Their behaviour is sinister and convincing but it contradicts the innocence of their appearance. They undermine our expectations and scare us in a subtly disturbing way.
Stephen King wrote that when the author is obliged to describe his monster, disappointment is the inevitable reaction experienced by the reader.
I wouldn't wish to contradict the great man, but think this can be allayed somewhat by providing a plausible explanation for how the monster - or demon - came to exist at all.
You can take the Lovecraft approach and insist these things are already lurking out there - in the depths of the ocean, on the edge of space, in the high mountains or even in the walls of a remote and solitary house.
Or you can have your characters deliberately bring the evil about; conjure it by indulging in practices they'd be far wiser to avoid.
I have to say that's the approach that works best for me.
Stephen King wrote that when the author is obliged to describe his monster, disappointment is the inevitable reaction experienced by the reader.
I wouldn't wish to contradict the great man, but think this can be allayed somewhat by providing a plausible explanation for how the monster - or demon - came to exist at all.
You can take the Lovecraft approach and insist these things are already lurking out there - in the depths of the ocean, on the edge of space, in the high mountains or even in the walls of a remote and solitary house.
Or you can have your characters deliberately bring the evil about; conjure it by indulging in practices they'd be far wiser to avoid.
I have to say that's the approach that works best for me.
date
newest »
newest »
message 1:
by
Martin
(new)
Nov 20, 2012 05:55AM
I totally agree with you F.G. I think One of the most irritating plot devices in horror novels is the inability to describe fully the menace or monster which quite often is central to the plot. It's ok if it last a few chapters to build tension and atmosphere but if it continues for too long I find annoyance often sets in..!
reply
|
flag
I agree with you both as well. I don't like ending a book without knowing why the evil became evil or even what set the events in motion. To me, there is nothing more annoying than the lack of backstory that adequatedly explains why the evil or horror exists.
It's rabbits out of hats, Romi. I don't mind when magicians do it, but when writers do it it's cheating the reader out of what their investment in taking the time and trouble to read the story entitles them to. (I'll climb off my soapbox now. Might break an ankle).
