Posted inSnippets of the Strange

Notes from Horror 101

I just finished teaching a wonderful "Horror & Suspense Writing" course at Seton Hill University. Under my office door last week, I found a slip of paper from an anonymous student, who was writing down the weirdest of the wacky things that came out of my mouth during lectures and discussions. Here's a select few snippets of profound wisdom: On point-of view in horror fiction: "You shouldn't be writing in First Person Singular all the time...instead, try writing in First Monster Singular." Responding to a question about sexual perversion in horror fiction: "What do you mean?  Necrophilia is the safest…
May 16, 2008Posted inSnippets of the Strange
Posted inDictionscary

squalid

"Squalid" refers to something filthy and repulsively foul -- like the living conditions of a cat collector with an affinity for gourmet cheese -- but to me it sounds even worse. When I hear the word "squalid" the very sound of the letters makes me think of a "squid" with a "wall" in the middle of it -- the wall of a nasal cavity. It also sounds sort of square, sort of solid, but not quite either of those -- more lumpy and slumping like some lesser Lovecraftian monstrosity. Yeah, Squalid is the younger brother of Nyarlathotep, but he isn't…
March 27, 2008Posted inDictionscary