I give up

[Naomasa298]

Yep, I give up. I can't come up with a story idea for horror, science fiction, or non-Vancian fantasy that really grabs me right now, and I want to write. So I'm giving up the idea of changing genres for a bit.

I'm going to go back to writing Vance, just so I can get some words down on paper.

 

[MoonChild]

Yep, I give up. I can't come up with a story idea for horror, science fiction, or non-Vancian fantasy that really grabs me right now, and I want to write. So I'm giving up the idea of changing genres for a bit.

I'm going to go back to writing Vance, just so I can get some words down on paper.

Anything could be horror tho. Think of a normal activity - a summer picnic - then just imagine things happening to make it horror

 

[Naomasa298]

Anything could be horror tho. Think of a normal activity - a summer picnic - then just imagine things happening to make it horror

I know, but I want something that has an emotional stake beyond just being scary, and it has to be something that really resonates with me. I'm past the stage now of writing just plot-driven scary horror. I have some ideas, but nothing that's giving the feels. I'll come up with something, but it's not clicking right now.

 

[MoonChild]

I know, but I want something that has an emotional stake beyond just being scary, and it has to be something that really resonates with me. I'm past the stage now of writing just plot-driven scary horror. I have some ideas, but nothing that's giving the feels. I'll come up with something, but it's not clicking right now.

I wish you luck, then horror is not a genre I write/read so I can't suggest anything I'm afraid.

 

[Trish]

I know, but I want something that has an emotional stake beyond just being scary, and it has to be something that really resonates with me. I'm past the stage now of writing just plot-driven scary horror. I have some ideas, but nothing that's giving the feels. I'll come up with something, but it's not clicking right now.

Could you combine them? A vancian fantasy horror? Or dark vancian fantasy?

(I'm not familiar with Vance as you know, so maybe you can't. Just trying to help get you going)

 

[Naomasa298]

Could you combine them? A vancian fantasy horror? Or dark vancian fantasy?

(I'm not familiar with Vance as you know, so maybe you can't. Just trying to help get you going)

Unfortunately not horror. Vance's style is arch, elaborate and generally humorous. I've adapted it to a more emotional register (taking a few rare examples of when he did it himself), but afaik, he never wrote anything dark. There were some darker stories in his very early work, but they had a very different style. Even when his storylines were a bit darker, they still had the same ironic, humorous tone.

 

[Trish]

Unfortunately not horror. Vance's style is arch, elaborate and generally humorous. I've adapted it to a more emotional register (taking a few rare examples of when he did it himself), but afaik, he never wrote anything dark. There were some darker stories in his very early work, but they had a very different style. Even when his storylines were a bit darker, they still had the same ironic, humorous tone.

How about putting a Vancian character in a horror or sci-fi. So you keep his mannerisms and humor and magic and such, but dump him into a world that is alien to him? Like time travel or something?

 

[That Guy Named Aaron]

Writing can be like that sometimes, yo.

Write what you feel like writing at the moment. Finish it, move on to the next.

 

[Naomasa298]

How about putting a Vancian character in a horror or sci-fi. So you keep his mannerisms and humor and magic and such, but dump him into a world that is alien to him? Like time travel or something?

Ah, you see, that's one of the key things about Vance - his writing and tone aren't separate from the world. It only works because of the world,, and its internal workings. All the other characters expect people to talk like they do and have a similar outlook. You can't really take them out of their environment (Vance wrote fantasy, sci-fi and science fantasy) and have them speak and act in the same way, it would fall flat.

I'm not trying to be difficult, it's the nature of the style, I'm afraid. It's a worldview, both from the characters and the author as well as a way of speaking.

 

[Naomasa298]

Well, the WIP is a Vancian fantasy romance(-ish) so it'll be a little different, I suppose.

 

[Trish]

Ah, you see, that's one of the key things about Vance - his writing and tone aren't separate from the world. It only works because of the world,, and its internal workings. All the other characters expect people to talk like they do and have a similar outlook. You can't really take them out of their environment (Vance wrote fantasy, sci-fi and science fantasy) and have them speak and act in the same way, it would fall flat.

I'm not trying to be difficult, it's the nature of the style, I'm afraid. It's a worldview, both from the characters and the author as well as a way of speaking.

I didn't think you were trying to be difficult. I get what you're saying. Without knowing Vance's work (which is a big deal for this conversation and I get that) I think the challenge of it would be fun. Instead of drawing humor from the Vancian though, you'd have to flip it and find the humor in others' reactions to him and his frustration/horror when things don't work or play as expected?

Since I don't know Vance I imagine it similarly (though I do know it's different, promise) to putting a Harry Potter character into IT or a Steinbeck character into Star Trek (my sci-fi knowledge is so pitiful, sorry).

 

[Rath Darkblade]

Anything could be horror tho. Think of a normal activity - a summer picnic - then just imagine things happening to make it horror

You don't even have to imagine it. It actually happened. See here: Fu-Go balloon bomb (Single lethal attack) - Wikipedia

As for me ... I'm sorry, but horror isn't my genre, so I'm afraid I can't help much. :| Hopefully the wiki-article gives you an idea, I hope!