Hello, I'm Friday

And for the next ? weeks (as long as it takes, I suppose), you can hip-hop on over to http://borrowedsaints.blogspot.com and read installments of The Borrowed Saints. Yes, I'm posting the whole $^#&@* thing until it's out there, free for the taking.

Why?

Because I can, I suppose.

Because once upon a time, this man:

Thought it would be a good idea to record a live album in prison (with inmates as the audience), and he was right.

I find that a wee bit inspiring. The lesson? Just do it.

With a Nod to Johnny Cash

Today's post is about writing horror. Not a how to; there are folks out there much more horrific and talented than me to make that happen. This is about writing the dark things and being okay.

I don't usually blog about rejections anymore. A waste of time, really, 'cause we all know they happen. But two I've received in the last month really crawled under my skin and laid eggs. Each was for a different story, but both mentioned bad things happened for "no reason". One rejection came from a very prominent science fiction/fantasy publication...the other from an upstart.

One rejection, for the flash story "Communion", explained (in a very snarky manner) that they wished people didn't think killing children for no reason was entertaining. For the record: I don't think killing children is entertaining. Secondly, if you've read the story (and most of you have--thanks), I think the reason was pretty clear. Lord of the Flies is a helluva good book, and a couple toddlers short of a handful get whacked in that one...but I digress.

The second rejection made me feel dirtier, to the effect of a man stalking a woman and murdering her for no reason isn't my idea of entertainment. Okay, you haven't read this story yet (and I hope you will have the chance), but the protagonist a) isn't stalking anyone; he's experimenting with his new "powers" and b) he doesn't plan on killing the woman--he's just faced with a moral choice at the end: one life for another--and he doesn't choose the woman because she's a stranger. But I still felt dirty.

"Horror writers" get a bad rap. Some of the nicest people I know are horror writers. I'm going to put that on a t-shirt.

I don't write splatterporn. I don't like to read splatterporn. I hate movies that are nothing but splatterporn. (um, Sorority Row* anyone?) Bad things happen in my stories (usually), but my goal is usually to tell a broader story than the bad things.

Look, this is life. Bad shit happens.

...and Johnny Cash makes me feel better.

*check out the trailer...didn't I see this when it was called I Know What You Did Last Summer? Oh wait--it's a remake. I want my money back.