The inspiration behind a horror story can be anything, although all themes are decidedly dystopian: social injustice, politics, capitalism, environmentalism, feminism, bad romance. At MCM Comic Con, a panel of artists and authors talk us through the techniques used in creating suspense, and that very crucial motivation in creating a horror: the love for your story.
How do you do a good horror story? Go for the jump scare approach? All out gore? Or play mind games like The Tell-Tale Heart?
At the MCM Comic Con session on 26 May 2019, “Indie Horror Comics”, Katie Whittle (Frisson Comics), Morrigan Corbel (Twitch Affiliate), Mark Adams (Hellbound Media), Lyndon White and Joseph Oliveira (Afterlight Comics) told us how it was done.
1. Look to real life situations for inspiration
Corbel described horror as writing fiction from a dream: “when you wake up, you’re not sure what it was”. Still, like other literary genres, horror merely reflects what is happening in society, with the sense of fear amplified.
Whittle, the creative powerhouse behind Frisson Comics, found inspiration from environmental issues, amongst other things. Take Only Photographs, Leave Only Footprints is a horror story about ‘demonic’ barnacles, inspired by her trip to the seaside. It was her commentary on environmental issues. Other works published by Frisson Comics, such as Blue Collars, were inspired by social injustice.
Oliveira, author behind Wendigo Wood and Folktales of the Cryptids, said he builds up the suspense using dark shadows and splash pages. White, author of Sparks and The Fallen Star, said it’s not necessary to show blood in a horror story. Showing a horrifying grin can be just as effective.
Whittle prefers to entice the readers with very beautiful illustrations, which she is very good at. Case in point: The Call Of The Copse. She said she’d treat readers to beautiful images and palettes, then gives the story a twist of the unexpected.
Blue Collars and Pestilence by Frisson Comics are inspired by social inequality and environmental issues such as climate change and zoonoses. Kickstarter campaign for Blue Collars Vol 2 is here. Image: Story Of Books
3. Be mindful of copyright
When asked how to re-do Dracula, an old classic that inspires many vampire and werewolf fictions, White said if it’s good, don’t re-do it. You do it because you love the story and the character. If you do it because it is popular, people will pick up on it. But because Dracula is out of copyright, creatives won’t get sued for producing works based on that character.
To craft a good horror, Oliveira said he’d start with a plot and then assess the strengths and weaknesses of the story. White advised us to “do what you love. If you don’t love it, you won’t see it to the end”.
Adams recommended us to start short. “Start with short stories first,” he said. “Write the story outline down from start to finish. It must have a beginning, a middle and an ending. Then you fill it in and edit.”
What we collected at MCM Comic Con in May 2019: Samurai Slasher by Mike Garley, Sparks and The Fallen Star by Lyndon White, and Stay Awake and Wendigo Wood by Joseph Oliveira, Afterlight Comics. Image: Story Of Books
5. Understand where fear comes from
It’s also important to understand the psychology behind your monster. “What makes a monster a monster?” White asked. “What is it that the antagonist is afraid of?”
As for the protagonist, Adams said “the ability to see things” is quite prominent especially in the slasher genre. Citing one film, he pointed out that “one character can see things and is able to defeat the antagonist. She can get into his head.”
The Tokyo Ghoul box set. Sui Ishida’s iconic manga is more goth than horror. The creator once said he was inspired by romance, a genre he really likes. In a way, Tokyo Ghoul is a romantic story, but with bug-like ghouls that eat humans. Image: Story Of Books
Corbel said humans can be more horrifying compared with imaginary monsters like werewolves and vampires. Living as a woman can be horrifying, she maintained. Whittle added that female writers can write about horror in a different way. “We know more about fear,” she said.
Her comment inspired Story Of Books to ask the panel: Why are female characters so predominant in horror genre? For example: The Woman In Black, Carrie, Annabel, The Conjuring, Insiduous, The Ring – the list goes on. The supernatural foes are very female and very scary. Where do we get that trope from?
Whittle said, jokingly, that was probably written by men with nagging wives or mothers. Corbel explained that this has its roots in the Victorian era – a reflection on feelings towards patriarchy. It is opposite end of how women are normally portrayed in literature. Instead of sexual, beautiful and nurturing, the female character is depicted as powerful, destructive and downright scary.
The inspiration behind a horror story can be anything, although all themes are decidedly dystopian: social injustice, politics, capitalism, environmentalism, feminism, bad romance. At MCM Comic Con, a panel of artists and authors talk us through the techniques used in creating suspense, and that very crucial motivation in creating a horror: the love for your story.
How do you do a good horror story? Go for the jump scare approach? All out gore? Or play mind games like The Tell-Tale Heart?
At the MCM Comic Con session on 26 May 2019, “Indie Horror Comics”, Katie Whittle (Frisson Comics), Morrigan Corbel (Twitch Affiliate), Mark Adams (Hellbound Media), Lyndon White and Joseph Oliveira (Afterlight Comics) told us how it was done.
1. Look to real life situations for inspiration
Corbel described horror as writing fiction from a dream: “when you wake up, you’re not sure what it was”. Still, like other literary genres, horror merely reflects what is happening in society, with the sense of fear amplified.
Whittle, the creative powerhouse behind Frisson Comics, found inspiration from environmental issues, amongst other things. Take Only Photographs, Leave Only Footprints is a horror story about ‘demonic’ barnacles, inspired by her trip to the seaside. It was her commentary on environmental issues. Other works published by Frisson Comics, such as Blue Collars, were inspired by social injustice.
2. It’s about anticipation
Oliveira, author behind Wendigo Wood and Folktales of the Cryptids, said he builds up the suspense using dark shadows and splash pages. White, author of Sparks and The Fallen Star, said it’s not necessary to show blood in a horror story. Showing a horrifying grin can be just as effective.
Whittle prefers to entice the readers with very beautiful illustrations, which she is very good at. Case in point: The Call Of The Copse. She said she’d treat readers to beautiful images and palettes, then gives the story a twist of the unexpected.
3. Be mindful of copyright
When asked how to re-do Dracula, an old classic that inspires many vampire and werewolf fictions, White said if it’s good, don’t re-do it. You do it because you love the story and the character. If you do it because it is popular, people will pick up on it. But because Dracula is out of copyright, creatives won’t get sued for producing works based on that character.
4. Hatch a plot
To craft a good horror, Oliveira said he’d start with a plot and then assess the strengths and weaknesses of the story. White advised us to “do what you love. If you don’t love it, you won’t see it to the end”.
Adams recommended us to start short. “Start with short stories first,” he said. “Write the story outline down from start to finish. It must have a beginning, a middle and an ending. Then you fill it in and edit.”
5. Understand where fear comes from
It’s also important to understand the psychology behind your monster. “What makes a monster a monster?” White asked. “What is it that the antagonist is afraid of?”
As for the protagonist, Adams said “the ability to see things” is quite prominent especially in the slasher genre. Citing one film, he pointed out that “one character can see things and is able to defeat the antagonist. She can get into his head.”
Corbel said humans can be more horrifying compared with imaginary monsters like werewolves and vampires. Living as a woman can be horrifying, she maintained. Whittle added that female writers can write about horror in a different way. “We know more about fear,” she said.
Her comment inspired Story Of Books to ask the panel: Why are female characters so predominant in horror genre? For example: The Woman In Black, Carrie, Annabel, The Conjuring, Insiduous, The Ring – the list goes on. The supernatural foes are very female and very scary. Where do we get that trope from?
Whittle said, jokingly, that was probably written by men with nagging wives or mothers. Corbel explained that this has its roots in the Victorian era – a reflection on feelings towards patriarchy. It is opposite end of how women are normally portrayed in literature. Instead of sexual, beautiful and nurturing, the female character is depicted as powerful, destructive and downright scary.
Comics on Story Of Books
How to break into comics and catch the attention of major publishers (14 June 2019)
How to fund your project and promote it – if you’re an introvert (14 June 2019)
MCM Comic Con: How to make comics by Neil Gibson, Author, “Twisted Dark” (2 June 2019)
Anime masterclass: How to adapt manga to screen by Yuichiro Hayashi, Director, “Kakegurui” (2 June 2019)
MCM Comic Con: Holding out for a hero (25 May 2019)
Five Minutes With: Tom Smith, Author & Editor, Frisson Comics (23 November 2019)
MCM Comic Con: Start your universe with feelings (3 November 2018)
MCM Comic Con: Read out your script, learn to draw and find a mentor (1 November 2018)
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