Jessica
asked
Michael Grant:
I’m currently working on writing a book and I’m having a hard time writing creepy scenes (I really like the way you write scary scenes), I wanted to know if you have any tips on writing creepy/scary scenes? Thanks!
Michael Grant
There are a number of ways to do it. My literary idol, Stephen King, builds dread long and slow. My approach is different, probably because I don't have that kind of patience, and YA readers don't often like long build-ups.
My approach is to simply report what I see. An eyeball eaten by maggots, let's say. OK, it's bad all by itself, right? But do the maggots make a sound? All those tiny mouths chewing on eye goo? Is there a smell? Add a specific detail, for example, maybe a couple of maggots have gone off on their own and are not squirming up a nostril. Maybe a maggot falls on the ground and is crunched underfoot.
Specificity, detail, and the unexpected detail. Whatever your situation, explore it in every aspect. Think about all the ways to see, hear, smell, touch the scene. Don't beat it to death, just treat it like a good reporter: this is the horror I see before me, let me tell you about it.
My approach is to simply report what I see. An eyeball eaten by maggots, let's say. OK, it's bad all by itself, right? But do the maggots make a sound? All those tiny mouths chewing on eye goo? Is there a smell? Add a specific detail, for example, maybe a couple of maggots have gone off on their own and are not squirming up a nostril. Maybe a maggot falls on the ground and is crunched underfoot.
Specificity, detail, and the unexpected detail. Whatever your situation, explore it in every aspect. Think about all the ways to see, hear, smell, touch the scene. Don't beat it to death, just treat it like a good reporter: this is the horror I see before me, let me tell you about it.
More Answered Questions
Kirstin Morrell
asked
Michael Grant:
So Michael, thanks for the review like! Just so you know, I updated it to reflect that I found more information to show that you were right! The LA Times had an article confirming your use of "Gold Star Family" was correct for the time. Super cool. Thanks for the amazing detail in Front Lines. It was a great book. I look forward to more. When will #2, Silver Stars, be out in paperback?
Arpit Ranasaria
asked
Michael Grant:
*Spoilers on book 3* I am asking this question without having read anything after Lies. In Lies, you have a part where it shows the story through Connie Temple's perspective from the outside, Petey does his thing where he removes the barrier and they see the outside world, but the ending of the book appears to suggest that all of the visions orsay was receiving and what Petey saw was false. Was this a mistake?
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