Comments on: FEAR: Why Humans Crave Stories That Scare Them

By: Odia Diedericks van Loggerenberg

Odia Diedericks van Loggerenberg — Tue, 28 Jan 2020 12:59:21 +0000

I see I am not supposed to use emojis on WordPress. The 2 question marks are actually smiley emojis.

By: Odia Diedericks van Loggerenberg

Odia Diedericks van Loggerenberg — Tue, 28 Jan 2020 12:57:25 +0000

I enjoyed your post. ??

By: FEAR: Why Humans Crave Stories That Scare Them — Kristen Lamb | Kat's Writing Runway

Fri, 17 Jan 2020 21:37:00 +0000

[…] via FEAR: Why Humans Crave Stories That Scare Them — Kristen Lamb […]

By: Debby Zigenis-Lowery

Debby Zigenis-Lowery — Thu, 09 Jan 2020 19:26:33 +0000

Thank you so much for your analysis and regard for spec fic. I started writing fantasy at a time when me an my fellow fantasy writers felt like we lived in a literary ghetto. Thank God for J.K. Rowling for exploding the ghetto walls. A little bit of that old disregard for speculative fiction still haunts me, so it is a delight to read it’s praise from an author I respect. Thank you!

By: Top Picks Thursday! For Writers & Readers 01-09-2020 | The Author Chronicles

Thu, 09 Jan 2020 18:03:46 +0000

[…] readers can helps us understand how and what to write. Kristen Lamb explores why humans crave stories that scare them, Bonnie Randall encourages writers to embrace the bleak in their stories, and Helen Taylor delves […]

By: Kristen Lamb

Kristen Lamb — Wed, 08 Jan 2020 23:31:14 +0000

In reply to Jenny Milchman. Girl must be something in the zeitgeist! I was just recommending one of your books the other day! *mind...blown* Yes, the most terrifying monsters are us.

By: Jenny Milchman

Jenny Milchman — Wed, 08 Jan 2020 17:16:27 +0000

I was weaned on the horror of the 70s–King (the elder), Ira Levin, Frank de Felitta, etc.–and it will always be, ironically, my comfort read. Though I write psychological fiction where the danger isn’t supernatural, I’ve always felt that the worst monsters are men (and a few women) (and some children). Cujo is terrifying because the zombie state is wrought by a virus. (Bacterium?) The hotel in The Shining might’ve been haunted, or the whole thing might’ve been a metaphor for the alcoholic family. The scariest dangers are human.

By: Kristen Lamb

Kristen Lamb — Tue, 07 Jan 2020 23:51:20 +0000

In reply to Ken Hughes. NICE OBSERVATION! *fist bump*

By: Ken Hughes

Ken Hughes — Tue, 07 Jan 2020 18:42:54 +0000

To look at it from the other direction: horror is so universal, Jane Austin was writing it.

Any pre-modern study of a woman looking to marry was her staking her life on being able to guess if the man would turn out to be a brute, a fool, or something worse — since the lady had no escape if she guessed wrong. (Hasn’t entirely changed…)

Every story with any oomph has something worth fearing in it. Over horror is great, especially if the story makes it relatable too. But “quieter” stories run on the same fuel, about whatever the characters Want and whatever might take that away. And that certainly can include starting that cupcake shop despite the family’s doubts.

By: Mark Schultz

Mark Schultz — Tue, 07 Jan 2020 02:29:30 +0000

In reply to Kristen Lamb. Thanks for that, I will keep it in mind.