slasher movies – John McCool

Current Novel WIP Update

Hey Reader!

This is just a little update on my current work in progress. I have been writing “There Came A Knocking” every day since the beginning of January of this year. It’s been such an incredible experience, and I can’t wait to talk more about it in the near future! However, while being in such a sensitive phase in the novel writing process, it becomes a little hard to talk about it with so many story pieces being moved around the board.

I’m currently almost finished with my second draft of the novel which is a huge accomplishment. When I finished the first draft, I made one of the biggest mistakes an author can make after wrapping up that phase of the process. I immediately started working on the next draft as soon as I typed the final period on the sentence. For those of you who do not know, drafting your manuscript is nothing more than going over your work from top to bottom and editing. It’s to make sure you have a consistent story with no plot holes or continuity errors.

Most authors recommend taking a few weeks off after you finish your first draft to get rid of the book eyes, as it’s called, then hop into the second draft with the eyes as a self editor. So, I didn’t do that. I hopped in straight into the deep end of the pool which led to a wee bit of burn out. Rookie mistake, but we live and learn. The burn out didn’t last long, so as soon as I took a breather, I hopped back into it, and now I’m knocking on the door of a finished second draft.

My wife, of course, will be my alpha reader, but as soon as it’s ready to go I’ll begin the recruitment of my beta readers. After that, it’s go time for my editor, then my proofreader who I’ve yet to hire. Only then will I start to assemble a solid group of ARC readers to begin the long awaited day of November 10th! I’m very excited for this piece of literature I’ve worked so hard on, and I hope all of you enjoy the gripping, terrifying story as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Until next time!

John McCool

What makes horror so intriguing?

Horror is a genre that has been around for centuries, and it continues to be one of the most popular genres of entertainment. But what makes horror so interesting? Why do people flock to horror films, books, and video games?

One of the main reasons why horror is so interesting is because it allows us to explore our fears in a safe way. Horror films and books allow us to confront our fears in a fictional setting, and video games give us the opportunity to test our courage in a virtual world. Horror can also be used to explore deeper psychological issues, such as the fear of death or the unknown.

Another reason why horror is so popular is because it provides an adrenaline rush. Many horror films and books are designed to make us jump, scream, and feel a rush of excitement. This sense of adrenaline can be addictive, and it is one of the main draws of the horror genre.

Horror also can contain a sense of humor as well. Most lovers of horror come with a slightly darker sense of humor that can be explored a little more within the confines of the page and screen. One of my current works in progress is just such a thing. I’m not quite read to talk too much on it right now, but adding a sense of humor to traditional darker themes is a good way to brighten up stories that most of the time would turn away an audience.

Think of Scream. It’s one of my favorite slasher movies of all time. The writers chose to add a veil of humor over a story that’s actually quite tragic when analyzed. This made the film more approachable and attractive to new comers to the slasher genre that had been previously driven by gore. Now, not saying Scream doesn’t have its fair share of gore, but with the added humor, it diffused the senseless violence.

Finally, horror can be used to explore themes and ideas that are often difficult to discuss in other genres. Horror can be used to explore taboo subjects such as death, violence, and the supernatural. It can also be used to explore the darker side of humanity, such as greed, power, and revenge.

Horror is a genre that is both entertaining and thought-provoking. It allows us to explore our fears in a safe way, provides an adrenaline rush, and can be used to explore complex themes and ideas. It is no wonder why horror continues to be one of the most popular genres of entertainment.