TAKE FIVE...

Admit it. You really wanted to share your deepest darkest fears. So, I am giving you another chance.

Let's try this again. Because I really want to know.

What are you affraid of? What--to YOU--consitutes a scary, tension-filled scene?

Also, what was your favorite scary--book--moment? Have you read a book where you were just scared out of your pants? OR maybe just really uncomfortable.

For me, a good example was when I read LORD OF THE FLIES in HS. The part where the boys turned on each other and one decides to crush the 'fat boy' with a boulder. Yeah. Upsetting when that happens. I hated it. But it brought the tension to a whole new level in that book. A boy was now dead.

I have also read books where they didn't quite pull it off. Where you are sort of let down by the lack of creativity of the person.

YA Highway had a great post on that. They talked about the different arenas that create good tension. Check it out.

Something I do when trying to write a really tense scene is to remember something personal that happened to me. Especially while young when emotions flared more readily. It's really hard for me to get that worked up while writing. But if I can think of a time someone really got under my skin, I try to think of 'why?' What made what they did or said truly urk me?

Maybe you have some examples?

Also, have you had a time where you were truly affraid? I have. But I would especially love to hear what makes guys scared, since I am writing a book with a male MC. Any guys want to take that one up out there?

ps. I just noticed that Dracula was played by Christopher Lee in that ad. Isn't that awesome? Now I want to go find that movie!

The Sum of All Fears

For book number two of the series I am writing I am trying to come up with the ultimate scary place. I’m not sure yet if I want it realistic or not. Probably not. It will be a place that doesn’t exist in our realm of understanding.
So, I decided to make a list of what scares me the most. And I am hoping that each one of you who reads this blog will help me by telling me what you are most afraid of. Name your top five if you like. Or one. It doesn’t matter.
Here is my list:
(not in any particular order, just what comes to me first)


1. Seeing someone I love suffer cruelly and not being able to help them. (I have nightmares of being trapped in a holding cell, POW or something, with my children or husband in the next cell being tortured, and having to watch.)

2. Heights

3. Spiders

4. The boogie man (this one I thought I was over, and then I spent the evening alone in my house without my big strong husband to protect me…maybe I should re-entitle this one : noises I don't recognize) *

5. At first glance, corpses. (yes, those still scare me)


(notice I didn’t mention death. Been through that too much. Doesn’t scare me anymore.)


*also, what would the boogie man look like?

I really think brainstorming helps the creative process. Especially when others are involved. It always interests me what other people think of that I look over completely.


Now to your list…

What are you afraid of? Let it be person, place, thing, environment…food…bugs. =)


Oh, I forgot one BIG one... DROWNING! I hate water and small places...and crowded places...

boy I'm scared of a lot of things =) Not really.  Well, maybe. Sometimes.