The thing that scares me the most is the idea of the cursed item or the boogeyman that once you come into contact with it, you can't escape it. It does me in every time.
I was away from substack for a few days so am late replying. Thank you for mentioning the story. I really love this one and love that you connected with it!
What makes you feel afraid? Creepy crawlies still affect me, but not as much as they used to. Heights and depths both really scare the crap out of me. I think it's because with either of them, the death that would result (or at least the process of dying) would leave me time to panic. I'm not scared of death, but I am of dying. I suppose that's at the root of all my fears - the potential for a painful or lingering death.
If you’re an author, how do your fears influence the stories you write? Quite openly. I often use my phobias or even my rational fears as a springboard for stories. I even did a short story collection (House of Phobos) where each story tackled a different phobia. Not all of them were mine. I took a poll. But for some of them, it was easy to write from that place of fear.
If you’re a reader, how do your fears influence the stories you read? Don't we all love to read stories that give us that little frisson? All of us in here anyway. I remember reading Pet Semetary in college. I finished the book and there were only two lights on. One was across the room. Rather than get up, turn it off, and cross the room in darkness, I just slept with it on.
Ooohhh yes. Thank you! I have found my people! I just posted my first light horror fiction/nonfiction where the only thing I can guarantee that are real are the ghosts. I have so many ideas for ways for this 1st story to divulge into a marvel type universe lol.
Also, I second polly. I used to be afraid of leaving people behind. Turns out, I'm the only one surviving and this may be scarier lol!
My biggest fear is open water (I see I'm not the only one with that fear on this thread) followed by small spaces, climbing the stairs up from some place dark, the moments just before falling asleep, and making the trek to the bathroom at night while camping.
I love asking explicitly for folks to think about what makes people feel afraid.
If it's on TV (or in a book), there's nothing more frightening than subtle creepiness, period. No shocking gushing blood does the trick for me, but sneaky little moments that aren't quite right? Terrifying.
That's a scenario my dad is slowly facing. Thought he'd die before everyone else he knew because of health issues. But he's outlived my mom, both of his siblings, and all but two or three of his friends.
No hard and fast rules. As long as it fits within the horror genre. (Like posting a story that's a romantic comedy set in the Roman Empire, for example, probably won't fit the tone or spirit of Macabre Monday.)
Fear of things lurking beneath the surface of reality, fear that my ‘known’ is only the tip of a sinister iceberg. 😮
my fears are of dark water. there is something underneath.
darkness in strange places... the fear that when you turn on the light, there will be something suddenly revealed that was creeping up.
bathroom cabinets. just do I need to say any more about those?
landing in aeroplanes... it is always going to crash.
Good morning-Here's a short story for MM. It's about a security guard who is punished for his laziness.
https://open.substack.com/pub/jasonduck/p/lay-back-and-relax?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=2ja1cw
Thanks for sharing my story 💜
You’re welcome. I enjoyed reading it. 😊
The thing that scares me the most is the idea of the cursed item or the boogeyman that once you come into contact with it, you can't escape it. It does me in every time.
I was away from substack for a few days so am late replying. Thank you for mentioning the story. I really love this one and love that you connected with it!
What makes you feel afraid? Creepy crawlies still affect me, but not as much as they used to. Heights and depths both really scare the crap out of me. I think it's because with either of them, the death that would result (or at least the process of dying) would leave me time to panic. I'm not scared of death, but I am of dying. I suppose that's at the root of all my fears - the potential for a painful or lingering death.
If you’re an author, how do your fears influence the stories you write? Quite openly. I often use my phobias or even my rational fears as a springboard for stories. I even did a short story collection (House of Phobos) where each story tackled a different phobia. Not all of them were mine. I took a poll. But for some of them, it was easy to write from that place of fear.
If you’re a reader, how do your fears influence the stories you read? Don't we all love to read stories that give us that little frisson? All of us in here anyway. I remember reading Pet Semetary in college. I finished the book and there were only two lights on. One was across the room. Rather than get up, turn it off, and cross the room in darkness, I just slept with it on.
Ooohhh yes. Thank you! I have found my people! I just posted my first light horror fiction/nonfiction where the only thing I can guarantee that are real are the ghosts. I have so many ideas for ways for this 1st story to divulge into a marvel type universe lol.
Also, I second polly. I used to be afraid of leaving people behind. Turns out, I'm the only one surviving and this may be scarier lol!
My biggest fear is open water (I see I'm not the only one with that fear on this thread) followed by small spaces, climbing the stairs up from some place dark, the moments just before falling asleep, and making the trek to the bathroom at night while camping.
I love asking explicitly for folks to think about what makes people feel afraid.
If it's on TV (or in a book), there's nothing more frightening than subtle creepiness, period. No shocking gushing blood does the trick for me, but sneaky little moments that aren't quite right? Terrifying.
I used to have a fear of being the first in my group of friends to die. Now I'm frightened of being the last...
That's a scenario my dad is slowly facing. Thought he'd die before everyone else he knew because of health issues. But he's outlived my mom, both of his siblings, and all but two or three of his friends.
Yeah. Growing old can be a buggeration. But I'm glad we don't live forever. That would be worse. 😌
are there any rules for subs? can you post anything?
No hard and fast rules. As long as it fits within the horror genre. (Like posting a story that's a romantic comedy set in the Roman Empire, for example, probably won't fit the tone or spirit of Macabre Monday.)
grand - well word gets out is certainly within the white lines then - thanks John