Or at least "Creepy." A conversation about sound, setting, syntax and other s-words that are important to readers and writers of suspense, horror and any other genre that aims for unease
Brilliant deep dive. I read it while staring out at the Pacific Ocean… which only made me think of Jaws…
The fight or flight response analysis is spot on. This must be what’s triggered when I feel myself in danger along with the characters [why we tell ourselves “it’s just a movie” ?]. The adrenaline starts pumping. And this physiological response feels much harder to elicit in novels than movies. We are physically placed in scene in a movie with the camera and actors, but can keep more distance with reading (which seems counterintuitive since reading is SO cerebral and intimate in other ways). This makes sense in the context of The Stand being the most scared I’ve ever been reading too - immediately I turned to what would I do in this situation, usually the answer is hide or die (never fight lol).
I am now super curious to try and find something scary and dissect the language patterns being used. Again back to King (why is it always King!) he does this weird thing of interrupting internal dialogue with almost
[intrusive thoughts]
in brackets like that which always freaked me out. But again, not the same as watching Talk to Me through my sweater.
I also appreciate the comment of scary being exhausting. We sit with a movie for maybe two hours. That’s our physical limit with fight or flight. Can you imagine if a book was as scary for the duration??? Our hearts would explode. So maybe we don’t want this. Maybe dread IS enough. Let’s leave it for movies…
Thanks Natalie! Loved reading your follow-up comments. As for mere thoughts generating true heart-pounding fear, all I have do is think of Jaws and I go into a panic. As a late onset ocean swimmer, it is dangerous to even THINK the word shark (or even think too hard about an overly curious seal coming near me--that's something that happens more often where we live--and seals, like dogs, can bite). And it's all because of that movie I saw when I was a kid. The next time you come across a passage from a novel that does scare you, I hope you'll share it!
Oct 26, 2023Liked by Andromeda Romano-Lax, Natalie McGlocklin
The honest-to-god jump scare when I read my name!! 😂 Like, a total zing of adrenaline! So maybe that's the key--personally address every reader.
This is all so helpful and brilliant! Thank you. And I re-read Salem's Lot like 10 years ago and it scared me so bad I literally could not get up from the chair to go to bed. As is said below, it's always King!
Brilliant deep dive. I read it while staring out at the Pacific Ocean… which only made me think of Jaws…
The fight or flight response analysis is spot on. This must be what’s triggered when I feel myself in danger along with the characters [why we tell ourselves “it’s just a movie” ?]. The adrenaline starts pumping. And this physiological response feels much harder to elicit in novels than movies. We are physically placed in scene in a movie with the camera and actors, but can keep more distance with reading (which seems counterintuitive since reading is SO cerebral and intimate in other ways). This makes sense in the context of The Stand being the most scared I’ve ever been reading too - immediately I turned to what would I do in this situation, usually the answer is hide or die (never fight lol).
I am now super curious to try and find something scary and dissect the language patterns being used. Again back to King (why is it always King!) he does this weird thing of interrupting internal dialogue with almost
[intrusive thoughts]
in brackets like that which always freaked me out. But again, not the same as watching Talk to Me through my sweater.
I also appreciate the comment of scary being exhausting. We sit with a movie for maybe two hours. That’s our physical limit with fight or flight. Can you imagine if a book was as scary for the duration??? Our hearts would explode. So maybe we don’t want this. Maybe dread IS enough. Let’s leave it for movies…
P.S. And yes. WHY IS IT ALWAYS KING?
Always 😂
Thanks Natalie! Loved reading your follow-up comments. As for mere thoughts generating true heart-pounding fear, all I have do is think of Jaws and I go into a panic. As a late onset ocean swimmer, it is dangerous to even THINK the word shark (or even think too hard about an overly curious seal coming near me--that's something that happens more often where we live--and seals, like dogs, can bite). And it's all because of that movie I saw when I was a kid. The next time you come across a passage from a novel that does scare you, I hope you'll share it!
The honest-to-god jump scare when I read my name!! 😂 Like, a total zing of adrenaline! So maybe that's the key--personally address every reader.
This is all so helpful and brilliant! Thank you. And I re-read Salem's Lot like 10 years ago and it scared me so bad I literally could not get up from the chair to go to bed. As is said below, it's always King!
Shout-outs as jump scares. 😂Watch out, they can happen *anytime*, especially if you keep writing great books!