Insecure Writers Want to Know
Remember, guys. I’m the big chicken of the group when it comes to scary stories. They keep me awake at night. Therefore, my ghost stories may not be as scary to you as they are to me. Edgar Allan Poe’s stories used to keep me up for weeks during my literature courses at college. I just wished I could have studied while I was staring at the light bulb, too frightened to close my eyes.
Yes! I still close my eyes during the Indiana Jones Raiders of the Lost Ark scene when the ark opens and takes all the bad guys away. And yep! I also close my eyes during the Indiana Jones The Last Crusade scene when the bad guy instantly becomes old and dies.
I can tolerate “funny” ghost movies or books. But not the violent blood and guts scary stories. So, I’m happy with the original Ghost Busters and the Abbott and Costello movies: Meet Frankenstein and Hold That Ghost. I enjoyed reading Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton, but could NOT watch the movie.
But the stories that truly scare me are the stories that hold possibilities in real life. They truly terrify me. A person being stalked by someone. Someone stealing your identity. Or worse—your kids! And, unfortunately, The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks. A loved one losing her memory is frightening because nobody knows what the future will bring. Even without ghosts. This can be terrifying. How about you? What sends chills up your spine?
On a lighter note, my finalist’s page is up for the 2023 Pangaea Poetry Prize. You can find my 7 haiku poems entitled “Seasons of Life,” on The Poet’s Billow website.
Business Insider did purchase my pitch about building extra days into travel in case you miss your connection. It hasn’t been scheduled for publication yet. I’ll keep you posted.
The Pocono Liars Club took me up on presenting about backstory in memoir and fiction. You can sign up for this FREE Writing Workshop on Saturday, October 26, 2024, from 9am – 4pm at Eastern Monroe Public Library in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania here. If you are in the area, I’d love to meet you!
Thank you for stopping by my little spot on the web. Please come again! And please sign up for my newsletter to find tips on writing and camping. https://victoriamarielees.com/contact/ It’s greatly appreciated.
This post was written for the Insecure Writer’s Support Group. I’d like to thank our co-hosts for October: Nancy Gideon, Jennifer Lane, Jacqui Murray, and Natalie Aguirre! Please visit them if you can.
Our group posts on the first Wednesday of every month. To join us, or learn more about the group, click HERE.
You have a lot going on!
Yes, real life is far more terrifying than ghosts. Things that could really happen.
Absolutely, Alex. Always appreciate your visiting Adventures in Writing and leaving a note. You are the best!
Losing one’s memory is a scary thought.
I don’t mind blood and guts, but I don’t like slasher flicks or torture porn. Those are just disturbing.
You are so right, Diane! We never know what the future holds for us. And slashing and torture ARE very disturbing. But…I can’t do blood and guts either.
Thanks for visiting Adventures in Writing and leaving a note. It’s greatly appreciated. Have a beautiful week!
Congrats on all your good news. I enjoy light ghost stories like Ghostbusters too.
Thank you so much, Natalie, for your kind words.
Yes, “light” ghost stories are fine. Always a pleasure seeing you here at Adventures in Writing. Have a beautiful week!
The extra days – Brilliant, congratulations
Stalking ? Terrifying,, don’t want to say more, except the police were first rate.
ID fraud ? Unspeakable. Resolving this took a very long time.
Icy, snowy mountain trek? My choice, can’t blame anybody else.!
Thank you, Esther, for your kind words. Truly appreciated.
Reality can be MUCH scarier than fiction. So glad the police were helpful. ID fraud is a true nightmare. Stay strong!
Scarier than what happened is what might happen. Real life is scary. Psycho-killing movies are scarier that what comes labelled as *Horror Movies*
So true, Anastasia. Real life is VERY scary. I don’t like psycho-killing or horror movies.
Thank you so much for visiting Adventures in Writing. I apologize for the late response. I’m relearning my website/blog Adventures in Writing. Now I need to approve comments in a new way. Have a great day!
Like you, I am not a fan of stories that mimic what could happen in real life. The real thing is hard enough.
It sure is, Liza. Thanks for joining the conversation here at Adventures in Writing. Have a safe week!
I’m with you about real life. Lots of scary things can happen in real life, and that’s way scarier than ghosts and zombies and other things that don’t exist. Medical stuff probably scares me the most.
Me too, J.S. Grounded in reality is always scarier to me.
Thank you so much for visiting Adventures in Writing. I apologize for the late response. I’m relearning my website/blog Adventures in Writing. Now I need to approve comments in a new way. Have a great day!
Psychological horror is much more effective than blood-and-guts horror, and a deep abiding unease lingers longer than does a series of jump scares.
Hello and welcome to Adventures in Writing, John. I understand what you mean. Those kinds of stories stick with us much too long. Thanks for your note!
Apologize for the late response. I’m relearning my website/blog. Now I need to approve comments in a new way. Have a great day!
I don’t like scary stuff either.
Congrats on being a finalist! Best of luck!
Thank you for your kind words, Melissa. I truly appreciate them. And nope! I don’t like scary stuff. Have a beautiful day!
I’m like you, I scare too easily so no horror for me. I think it’s best not to have any bad imaginary in my head because they do linger.
Have a lovely day.
Hello and welcome to Adventures in Writing, Lissa. Yes, the scary images linger much, much too long for me.
I apologize for the late response. I’m relearning my website/blog. Now I need to approve comments in a new way. Have a great day!
Yeah, I’m a bit of a chicken as well. Give me Ghostbusters and other lightweight ghosts.
Yep! I’m with you, Kim. The world is scary enough. Don’t need to read or watch truly frightening stories. Happy Halloween!
Ghostbusters is always a good pick. Comedy is better than horror.
Enjoyed reading your haiku, my fav: “Summer Exploration.”
Read your bio re camping etc. Wondered what you do in your “spare time”!
My all-time favs are the chicken skin tales of marching spirits and ghostly appearances in Hawaii.
https://gail-baugniet.blogspot.com
Hello and welcome to Adventures in Writing, Gail. Yes, comedy is MUCH better than horror!
Thank you so much for reading my haiku and for your kind words. They are greatly appreciated.
I apologize for the late response. I’m relearning my website/blog. Now I need to approve comments in a new way. Have a great day!
Good take on how other genres apart from horror can be just as scary in different ways. It’s definitely not all about blood and guts.
Right, Nick. The truer to life a story is, the scarier it can be to me. Happy Halloween!
I completely agree with what you said about the most terrifying stories being the ones which could happen in reality. Even though I’m not the biggest horror fan, I’d definitely prefer to watch a film about ghosts than a true-to-life scary movie. But ghost stories aside, congratulations on the good news!
Thank you, Damyanti. The stories that could actually happen are always the scariest. Thanks for visiting Adventures in writing and leaving a note. Have a beautiful weekend!
I sure agree with you about the scariest ghost stories–the ones that hold possibilities in real life. Congrats on your article sale!
Thank you, Jacqui. Yes, life is scary enough for me. I don’t need horror or scary books or movies to watch.
Thanks for visiting Adventures in writing and leaving a comment. Have a beautiful weekend!