What is gothic horror?

Does that mean I'd have to write about the kids coming out of Hot Topic getting killed?  Because I'd enjoy that.

Quoted from zdamort What is gothic horror?

Run with it.

I have to agree with Phil.

The OWC should be specific about the type of horror - something like Monster Movie or Gothic  or whatever. Otherwise will end up with 40(-1 for me)+ zombie slasher scripts.

I would also suggest that we take the max page count down from 15 to 10.  That will significantly reduce the amount of reading without sacrificing story.

My $0.02          

I think 15 is appropiate.  But yes, I think the kind of Horror for the next OWC should be specified, or at least be given a specific subject to follow.  

10 pages sound like a fairer deal. Considering a few writers are part of other forums and comps. It would allow for them more reading time and better reviews.

Quoted from dogglebe Who wants to read 40+ slasher scripts?

Nobody.  What you can do is specify "no blood".

You can have any topic you want -- but you have to write a horror script without blood.

Quoted from bert Nobody.  What you can do is specify "no blood". You can have any topic you want -- but you have to write a horror script without blood.

Let's make it interesting. No death.

Write a horror story in which no one dies (or is mutilated/tortured/have their limbs amputated)

That would force people to create mood and tension instead of shock and gore which is such an easy pitt fall in the genre.

Also, it might deter those who would otherwise contribute with the most generic genre-scritps that most people don't want to read any more of.

Anything not resembling another Saw would be a victory in my opinion.  Personally, I like the 15 page limit.  Allows for more flexibility when fleshing out a story, while at the same time does not prevent anyone from writing a 10-pager.

Quoted from Tony Gangemi Anything not resembling another Saw would be a victory in my opinion.

Amen.

Saw and Hostel have had an unfortunate sphere of influence of young writers, IMO. It seems the canon is that if something's 'gross" it's horror.

Just because something's uncomfortable to look at, doesn't mean it's scary.

Which is why I'm so anxious to set down a parameter that ensures that we won't get any Saw knock offs, slasher films, zombie munch-fests or anything that's been done to death.

So if you had to write a horror in which no one died, that would really challenge you as a writer and isn't that what the OWC is for?

I like halloween and horror movies, but I'd like to see something different. A lot (but not all) the OWC's had a horror/slasher/ghost slant to them last time, complete with killer mutant children wielding deadly lollipops (which I liked).

I'd suggest a Horror story set in the Western Genre (like the Donner party)...Lots of ghosttowns and history out there, including the very haunted Goldfield Hotel outside of Tonopah, NV.

That might be fun and add a different dimension to the challenge.

Quoted from Blakkwolfe I like halloween and horror movies, but I'd like to see something different. A lot (but not all) the OWC's had a horror/slasher/ghost slant to them last time, complete with killer mutant children wielding deadly lollipops (which I liked). I'd suggest a Horror story set in the Western Genre (like the Donner party)...Lots of ghosttowns and history out there, including the very haunted Goldfield Hotel outside of Tonopah, NV. That might be fun and add a different dimension to the challenge.

I'd be on board with that.

Please nothing with Westerns, please nothing like that.

Bull Creek? Um, heh, I think there's a mistake here. I didn't write Bull Creek. I don't know who did, but I sure didn't. I actually wrote "Sean Elwood's Crazy Adventure with Four Other Friends on their Way to Zuro City While Being Chased by Cannibalistic Dead Humans (Also Known As Zombies)"...

...But it was rejected considering the fact that I don't see it up there. Heck, I don' think I even followed the rules! What was it, like 83 pages...the theme was zombies and genre horror...I think that still would have fit...I'm sure it would have...



By now I hope that you guys all know that I'm kidding, though I don't expect you to laugh due to the fact that I couldn't be funny even if my life depended on it. I, in fact, did write Bull Creek, and when I wrote the title, I was like, "Why does this sound so familiar?" Turns out there's a boating dock next to this large bridge here in Austin on Lake Ausint called Bull Creek. I freaked out when I saw it.

The End.

Sean

Horror without any gore? Fine. Horror without any death? HELL NO! Even if it's a Drama or a Comedy I'm writing, I'll always have a death or two.

I would also like it if we were allowed to use blood as long as it is not coming out of a character that has just been cleavered in the face or some shit like that.

Hey! Actually, I think that's a friggin' good idea: Use blood, but make it have meaning. Doesn't have to be involved with death.

I dunno...I'm up for anything you guys scome up with.

--Julio

Quoted from ReaperCreeper Horror without any gore? Fine. Horror without any death? HELL NO! Even if it's a Drama or a Comedy I'm writing, I'll always have a death or two. I would also like it if we were allowed to use blood as long as it is not coming out of a character that has just been cleavered in the face or some shit like that. Hey! Actually, I think that's a friggin' good idea: Use blood, but make it have meaning. Doesn't have to be involved with death. I dunno...I'm up for anything you guys scome up with. --Julio

But isn't the point to challenge your convention? You say you always have a death or two no matter what you write. Well, all the more reason to attempt to write something without it.

Other than that, the parameter of "use blood in a meaningful context" is way too vague. What's meaningful or not will be highly subjective and vary from participant to participant. You have to go for the absolutes. Either it's allowed or it isn't.

I think the OWC, especially the Horror OWC, should force us to think outside of the box, because honeslty I don't wanna read 80+ generic scritps about teenagers getting slashed up.