Suspense, Mystery, and Horror Writing: On Writing by Stephen King

Some things to remember about writing stories:

• We get our inspiration from our memories
• A good story surprises us in a plausible way
• Plot is not just this happened, then that happened, but this happened because of that happening...
• The shorter the story, the more concise--the more development of plot, characters, and theme the longer the short story
• Description slows down the reading process: you can control the pace of a reader
• Dialogue speeds up the reading process: you can control the pace of a reader
• Traditionally, conflict is person v. person, person v. self, person v. nature, person v. society

Come up with two separate ideas for a story. You can choose any genre at this point, but realistic fiction will probably work best. To get a premise for a story, choose a character in a specific situation or setting and give that character a problem to solve or resolve.

• ex. Brandon is waiting for the bus when a black car drives up and a mysterious man in a grey suit opens the door and beckons him inside the car. 
• ex. Marissa is finishing her shift as a waitress when a tattered-looking bum slips into the diner. He appears to have something hidden in his coat.
• Now you try.

In Stephen King's book On Writing, he has a section called "Toolbox" in which he reminds us that:

• Writers have a figurative "toolbox" just like a carpenter does. We use the tools of our trade to make stuff or fix stuff.
• On the first shelf of the writer's toolbox is: vocabulary. Words. The more words you know or come to know, the better. Some writers use a lot of words, others not as many, but writers have a way of collecting words so they can use them in their writing. You can too!
• Write a short list of your favorite words (try to get at least 10) in your journal
• On the second shelf is grammar. While you are learning this, note that well-constructed sentences can have a lot of power in a story. You have to master enough grammar to communicate your ideas effectively when you write. There's no way around this. Luckily, you're currently in the right place to improve your grammar.
• Write a short sentence that is grammatically correct.  Ex. The cat scratched him.
• Then write a long sentence that is grammatically correct that communicates the same basic information.  Ex. The black and white calico cat reached out his paw without hesitation or provocation and slashed him across the back of the neck, drawing rigged welts of blood in parallel lines, forcing a shrill screech to fill the otherwise quiet and dark basement--then the cat fled back up the stairs, leaving him alone in stinging pain.
• Then write a third time, dividing up your long sentence into a variety of short and long sentences. Ex. The black and white calico cat reached out his paw. Without hesitation or provocation, it slashed him across the back of the neck. The claws drew rigged welts where blood appeared slowing, like peeking from behind a curtain of skin. A forced and shrill screech filled the quiet and dark basement. The cat fled. It scampered back up the stairs. He was along with his stinging pain.
• And finally, on the third shelf is style. Style includes your use of tenses (present, past, future), POV (1st, 2nd, 3rd), diction (word choice), paragraphs (how long or short they are), sentence length, and, of course, the use of various literary elements and techniques. We'll discuss this more at length later.

Throughout this unit, we will be working with the techniques of suspense. For mystery, suspense, action, and horror writers, this skill will be essential. Suspense is used in all good storytelling, no matter the genre. Romance and Science Fiction or Westerns and Fantasy or Comedy or Realistic Fiction and children's literature. Even poetry and plays use suspense. So let's learn how to improve our craft.

Suspense: delaying the reader's gratification. The intense feeling (often of anxiety) a reader feels when characters in stories/films, etc. are either in danger, threatened or the outcome of the story is in question. This uncertainty creates a feeling of suspense. The feeling a reader gets is called MOOD. The way the writer uses words (diction) to create that mood is called TONE. Tone is your job as a writer. With the proper tone (say a suspenseful tone) your mysteries, horror, and suspense stories will be more effective.

As writers, we want to make sure our readers ask: what's going to happen to my favorite character in this situation or what will happen because this is happening to my favorite character?

Some ways to create suspense:

• Show (describe) the danger or threat
• Make a list of some common and uncommon dangers or threats
• Hint at possibilities through your diction (careful word choice) and imagery
• Delay gratification by keeping your reader guessing as to what will happen next
• Use description as a way to break up or slow down the resolution of events
• Use dialogue as a way to break up or distract characters from the resolution of events
• Cut to a different scene--use white space to transition from one scene to another
• Cut to the POV of a different character--this is called parallel action
• Stop the scene before you resolve it--this is often called a cliffhanger

Together, let's read the first chapter (or two) of Stephen King's On Writing (part 3). As we read, consider your goals as a writer. What did you want to come to the School of the Arts and major in creative writing to learn? Consider how a master storyteller like Stephen King can help you achieve your writing goal(s).

Finally, if we make it this far, let's go to the lab to do at least one (and maybe two things):

LAB:

TASK #1: Write a short (200-300 word) scene that involves a specific character involved in a specific conflict. Keep your scene tight--in other words, just focus on the now of the character in the conflict.
For now, just write that scene...you will be adding to this scene in future classes. To get you started, use one of the hooks in the writing practice today. You may also use the material from your journal as to character, situation, and setting.

Finally, we are not going to read Stephen King's first section of his book On Writing due to length and time. But, we can still use what he wrote to spur us on to greatness and a bunch of ideas for our own writing.


Stephen King: On Writing Post Ideas

TASK #2: Stephen King invites us as readers into his life. He says of his memoir that it is his attempt to "show how one writer was formed...snapshots, most out of focus" (page 4, On Writing). For your next few blog posts, you will be asked to reflect on your OWN life as to how YOU were formed. These 'snapshots' will be collected together for your own mini-autobiography/memoir that will be collected on YOUR BLOG as part of your final journal. I will be adding to this list as the days wane.

Please use any of the following prompts to write your posts. You may write as many of these as you can or want. Remember: our goal is to approach writing fluency. You can't get better at writing by avoiding it. Use these prompts to give your ideas a good jumping off point for your inspiration and reflection. Above all, try to tell as much of the truth as possible. Where you don't recall a detail, it is fine to make something up. Feel free to use dialogue, imagery, or other effective writing techniques to tell your story or communicate your ideas.

PROMPTS (with chapter models from On Writing by Stephen King):

• Chapter One: Write about your earliest memory.
• Chapter One: Write about an injury you suffered when you were young.
• Chapter Two: Write about one of your babysitters (or one of your babysitting jobs, if you'd like)
• Chapter Two: Write about a time when you were sick or violently ill
• Chapter Three: Write about a crazy stunt your brother, sister, or you did
• Chapter Four: Write about your experience or first memory of death (if you can't think of one, ask your parents, or a sibling)
• Chapter Five/Six: Write about getting a childhood sickness (the measles, chickenpox, pneumonia, ear aches, stomach viruses, etc.) or operation (even your first shot at the doctor's office...)
• Chapter Five/Six: Write about a doctor's visit (include some dialogue...)
• Chapter Seven/Eight: Write about your first story you ever wrote
• Chapter Nine: Write about your first crush, kiss, or date
• Chapter Nine: Write about an embarrassing moment (how did you survive?)
• Chapter Ten: Write about one of your siblings (or a friend, if you are an only child)
• Chapter Ten: Write about your first "scientific experiment"; or write about your first experience with a "blackout" or when the electricity (or internet) went out
• Chapter Eleven: Write about a favorite t.v. show when you were growing up
• Chapter Twelve: Write about your first 'rejection'

HOMEWORK: Read Stephen King's On Writing, chapters 2-5 (pages 146-170) (that's about 12 pages per day...); We will be using what we read next class for a writing assignment, so please read these chapters.