Looking For Some Help
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- gwenythlove
- Mi-Go Brain-Bait
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- Joined: Wed Jun 15, 2005 6:30 pm
- Location: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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Looking For Some Help
Hello everyone, I am new to the group and need a little help. I have been asked to write for an anthology that requires Mythos fiction. They are not interested in anything written in a mock-Lovecraftian style. I am very new to this genre and am looking for maybe links or advice that can help me on my path. Thanks so much. All help is greatly appreciated.
Gwenyth Love
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Pretty-Scary
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Dark Idol Finalist
Black Light Horror Productions
www.blacklighthorror.ca
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- Lagwolf
- Haunter of the Dark
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Read some of my stuff posted on here. I have been told I do mythos fiction that is not a pastiche of Lovecraft.
Dodgeblogium: www.andrewiandodge.com
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- gwenythlove
- Mi-Go Brain-Bait
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Wed Jun 15, 2005 6:30 pm
- Location: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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Thank you, I will make sure I do just that.
Gwenyth Love
Dark Idol Finalist
Black Light Horror Productions
www.blacklighthorror.ca
RAGE Machine Magazine
Editor
http://ragemachinemag.tripod.com
Pretty-Scary
Columnist/Book Reviewer/Interviewer
www.pretty-scary.net
Dark Idol Finalist
Black Light Horror Productions
www.blacklighthorror.ca
RAGE Machine Magazine
Editor
http://ragemachinemag.tripod.com
Pretty-Scary
Columnist/Book Reviewer/Interviewer
www.pretty-scary.net
- Jesus Prime
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- Location: Ireland (Moon-Bog country)
- Jesus Prime
- Moderator
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- Joined: Tue Jun 28, 2005 5:38 pm
- Location: Ireland (Moon-Bog country)
Sounds about right. I only ever subtly use mythos elements, really. However, I did launch into a mighty big list of names in one tale, but I think it came out okay.Aleister wrote:I think the key thing is to give the mythos-feel, without coming off like you are mimicking HPL, or just name-dropping elder-god style.
Adrian wrote:TELL ME YOU ORDERED THE FUCKING GOLF SHOES!
Adrian wrote:I sure love my pudding.
- Jesus Prime
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- Location: Ireland (Moon-Bog country)
- Jesus Prime
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- E.A. Lovecraft
- Shadow Out Of Time
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I cringe just about every time I see an established mythos name. Good stories get away with it not by relying on the name to create the dish, but by using it to add that ever-so-subtle dash of flavor. Seems like too many authors depend on the weight of the mythos icon(s) named to create the horror.Aleister wrote:I will rephrase, I think name-dropping as fine, as long as it comes off as valid work, and not simply name-dropping
- Jesus Prime
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On a similar note, is it going too far to use a fictional Irish city with an insane asylum and University, and name it Arkford?E.A. Lovecraft wrote:I cringe just about every time I see an established mythos name. Good stories get away with it not by relying on the name to create the dish, but by using it to add that ever-so-subtle dash of flavor. Seems like too many authors depend on the weight of the mythos icon(s) named to create the horror.Aleister wrote:I will rephrase, I think name-dropping as fine, as long as it comes off as valid work, and not simply name-dropping
Adrian wrote:TELL ME YOU ORDERED THE FUCKING GOLF SHOES!
Adrian wrote:I sure love my pudding.
- E.A. Lovecraft
- Shadow Out Of Time
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Are you asking how we'd react to a setting that is basically Arkham in another country?
My question about modern mythos fiction is this: so much of the mythos was left unexplored by Lovecraft, why do so many feel the need to recreate what has already been done? Why not approach it from different directions? There must be more ways to illustrate the horror than using insane asylums, a handful of crusty old tomes, academics, and inbred hillbillies.
Reading a well-written pastiche can be fun, but let's face it, it just doesn't spark the same degree of suspense as did the originals. This isn't because the writer doesn't have the story-telling skills that Howie had, it's because we know the scoop by now. When the main character brings out a Necronomicon or Cultes des Goules, we no longer go, "Oooooh." We go, "Of course he did," and then we have to read the same old spiel about how rare and myterious the books are.
My question about modern mythos fiction is this: so much of the mythos was left unexplored by Lovecraft, why do so many feel the need to recreate what has already been done? Why not approach it from different directions? There must be more ways to illustrate the horror than using insane asylums, a handful of crusty old tomes, academics, and inbred hillbillies.
Reading a well-written pastiche can be fun, but let's face it, it just doesn't spark the same degree of suspense as did the originals. This isn't because the writer doesn't have the story-telling skills that Howie had, it's because we know the scoop by now. When the main character brings out a Necronomicon or Cultes des Goules, we no longer go, "Oooooh." We go, "Of course he did," and then we have to read the same old spiel about how rare and myterious the books are.
- Jesus Prime
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Well, it's not so much an Irish Arkham, as it is a city borrowing elements from Arkham. I use an asylum for a lot of stuff not because of Lovecraft, but because I was always fascinated by the character Renfield in 'Dracula'; there's also a huge lake, botanic gardens, and a harbour. It's mainly the name that I cribbed from Lovecraft, because it sounded so much better than Lakeford (as it was originally called in the initial draft of 'Lure of the Kraken')E.A. Lovecraft wrote:Are you asking how we'd react to a setting that is basically Arkham in another country?
My question about modern mythos fiction is this: so much of the mythos was left unexplored by Lovecraft, why do so many feel the need to recreate what has already been done? Why not approach it from different directions? There must be more ways to illustrate the horror than using insane asylums, a handful of crusty old tomes, academics, and inbred hillbillies.
Reading a well-written pastiche can be fun, but let's face it, it just doesn't spark the same degree of suspense as did the originals. This isn't because the writer doesn't have the story-telling skills that Howie had, it's because we know the scoop by now. When the main character brings out a Necronomicon or Cultes des Goules, we no longer go, "Oooooh." We go, "Of course he did," and then we have to read the same old spiel about how rare and myterious the books are.
As for Mythos tomes, I usually only use the Necronomicon, not for weight, but because it has been roughly dated to somewhere in the 800s. It's this antiquity I use more than the book (cf the inscriptions on the plaque in 'He Who Is Set Upon His Mountain'). Apart from that, I'm phasing in the antediluvian 'First Book of Sarnoch', written before the Jewish Exodus. It should feature heavily in the piece I'm currently working on ('Dreams from Outer Spheres' - also featuring Ezekial-style Cherubim).
Adrian wrote:TELL ME YOU ORDERED THE FUCKING GOLF SHOES!
Adrian wrote:I sure love my pudding.
- E.A. Lovecraft
- Shadow Out Of Time
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That description sparks my interest much more than any that would include Arkham, asylums, and the Necronomicon. Even if I knew beforehand that it was a mythos tale, it sounds as if it might add a breath of fresh air. But that's just my opinion. I realize there are folks who can't get enough of the old stuff, and more power to 'em when they do.I'm phasing in the antediluvian 'First Book of Sarnoch', written before the Jewish Exodus. It should feature heavily in the piece I'm currently working on ('Dreams from Outer Spheres' - also featuring Ezekial-style Cherubim).