Using Fear to Your Advantage
I must admit I use my own fears for the good of my writing--to spur the imagination. Fear helps me create scary scenarios. Elements of fear are widely used in movies and books to scare the bajeebers out of the reader and movie audiences.
Common Fear Elements*The dark (What is in the dark? Is it coming for you? What will “it” do to you?)
*Vicious Dogs (Can you imagine being chased by rabid, angry or possessed dogs?)
*Spiders (Can you imagine waking up in bed wrapped in a spider web and seeing the spider over you chomping?)
*Snakes (Remember Indiana Jones and his fear of snakes?)In The Hotel (working title), my MC’s fears include an abusive father, not being able to escape her horrible life, and of losing those she loves most. People can be driven to desperation when they are afraid.
Fear can touch the reader in very personal ways. If you write, how have you used fear? If you are a reader, what fear was used in a book (or movie) that still lingers in your mind?
Have a great weekend!
Comments
I used fear to drive Byron's actions, even though he didn't realize what it was he really feared.
My MC in the book I'm editing is afraid of a lot. She is a ghost who saw a lot of horrors during her short life in a mental hospital, and her fear mostly boils down to history repeating itself, but specifics are doctors, being strapped to a bed, electroshock, and the violence of the kids living in the newly re-opened facility (now a reform school). Some of her fears are quaint (and hopefully a little funny--like fear of the kids swearing) but i hope MOST draw the reader into realizing how horrible her life was.
In my play Jewell is afraid of her husband, but more afraid to leave him.
Lydia, I wish I would have outgrown that one.
Hart, The book sounds so good. And if I know your humor, it will be hilarious.
Mary, The play sounds very interesting and true. So many people are afraid to leave something they know, even if it's not good for them.
Don't like frighteners .. The Birds was pretty horrid .. and I just wrote a post about Gull!! Oh well takes all sorts to make the world .. cheers Hilary
I meant what I said though .. please call me Valerie, or Thomasina .. or .. anyway which you like .. I'll be over to mow your yard though!!?? I'm off for a cup of tea now .. need to revive myself .. after that blue. Cheers Hilary
Randy, I know how hard it is losing those close to you. When I was young, I lost my mother and both grandmothers within a six-month time frame. I'm so sorry you had to go through something so similar, too.
My older sister was always afraid of the dark. I use to feed on her fear...told you I was evil, even as a child.
Way back, too many years ago to mention, we had an outdoor toilet...a long way from the house. Between there and the house was a smokehouse. I would always wait and jump out to scare my sister. I mean, really, how many times of someone jumping out of the same place does it take to get over it?
Well, she didn't, but she did get smart and made me go with her every time so I couldn't scare her.
One night, she jumped up and accused me of grabbing her behind. I said I am right here. I shine the light down the hole and there is MY cat! She had jumped up and patted my sister on the behind.
I do believe to this day, my sister thinks I told the cat to do that.
As far as critters, I hate them all! Ick.
Gail, I can see you doing that. I'm having empathy for your sister because I have been in her shoes. :) Oh including cats scaring me.
CM, I've been known to pray away bad dreams. It works.
Ann
Tk cre
I think the base of fear is a loss of control. Personal control.
The thing I fear?
Blindness. I would be lost without my window on the world.
Indie