Story Progress

[jarandhel]

Well, I still haven't written word one of this story, but it's coming together rather nicely in my mind despite that. I know a bit more about the main character, a lot more about the situation and setting, and the events which will unfold, and I'm reasonably certain of both the beginning and the conclusion of the tale. A secondary character is also starting to emerge and fit her?self into the story's pattern. I'm somewhat surprised by the direction this particular tale is going... I thought at first, from the traits of the main character, that this was going to be a tale about a character forced to confront almost the physical manifestation of a particular phobia. Or possibly learn that the antithesis of his phobia could be more terrifying, I did have somewhat of an idea along those lines as well. Instead, the story is becoming a real "supernatural"? horror story in tone (though still painted upon the backdrop of a superficially rational world), and the fear involved while still central to the plot is going to become apparent less as a direct confrontation, and more as the backdrop for a deeper psycho-spiritual battle on other levels. I'm pretty sure that this premise, with this main character, will result in a short story and not a novel... but that has more to do with the tale that was appropriate for this man than it does with the potential of the setting.

I'm reasonably sure that I'll start writing the actual scenes tomorrow evening... the storyline is slowly working itself out in my mind, and I believe that the parts which still remain vague will reveal themselves to me as I begin to give shape with words and suggestion to the scenes which are currently manifest in my mind's eye.

This is actually my first attempt at writing a horror story... I've read a moderate amount of them, though they're not generally my favorite genre, but for some reason this story feels right. I can see in it similarity to several stories which have moved me in the past, and also one of my favorite movies, though I hasten to say that nothing I am using is actually dirived from those sources. I can also see certain parallels to my own fears and some memories I have of other times and places... those I am incoporating as appropriate, or letting them guide my overall effort into new areas of speculation.

This story is coming to life, and more and more I can hear the siren call to give it shape and substance upon the page, unleash it into the world of man. I won't be keeping it waiting for long.

Comments

[zaecus.livejournal.com]

A character driven supernatural thriller... I don't think I've read one of those in a very long time, certainly not in short story form. The vast majority these days are event driven, where the characters are constantly reacting to the plot and not actually creating it.

I'm intrigued.

[jarandhel.livejournal.com]

Well, there's a good amount that he'll be reacting to, but the actual story will hinge around his thoughts and feelings and ultimately his choices. I read something once, in one of my favorite books on writing... "Adapting this theory to horror fiction, we might say that all other objects in the story--the landscape, the other characters, the supernatural presence, even the individual events--represent some aspect of the protagonist (or victim). Each piece suggests or tells us something about our main character. Far more, I suspect, than a delineation of traits and opinions ever could. This dark moor reflects an inner terrain that is the character's alone. These people would not be here in the story except that the character needed them to be, perhaps because they embody essential aspects of the character, or represent the various points-of-view of his or her own internal dialogue. This horrifying presence is a child of the character's worst fears and surpressed imaginings. And somehow we know that these events could not have happened to any other person, in quite this same way, no matter how perfectly ordinary or innocent the character seems to be." -How to Write Tales of Horror, Fantasy, and Science Fiction, "One View: Creating Character in Fantasy and Horror Fiction", Steve Rasnic Tem. That's kind of what I'm going for with this... the events which will take place are happening because this character is here at this place at this time, and there is no way that they could possibly ignore the unintended summoning which pours forth in terror and longing from the depths of his very soul.