Why Write Horror?

Perhaps the first question anyone asks me is "So, what made you choose to write horror?" Not sure what the deal is.  Maybe I don't look the part.

Maybe people are expecting my hair poking every which way like The Bride of Frankenstein. Or dark twitching bags under my eyes from the many sleepless nights I must have - as it is clearly evident that every horror writer is haunted by the monsters they create.

True, the nightmares come with the territory, but those supposed eye bags are no where to be found. Concealer is a horror writer's best friend, after all.

Presumed appearances aside, I guess it is a valid question to ask a horror writer. The better question is "Why does anyone choose to write horror?" Or even, "Why does anyone read horror?"

Fear is not the most comfortable emotion to have. In fact, we avoid it at all costs. We've all turned on a closet light before bed sometime or another. So then why do some choose to find entertainment in scaring themselves when fear is something our culture ignores.

Horror is Controlled Chaos.

Fear may not be comfortable, but we still love it. They don't call them "funhouses" for nothing. We enjoy the thrill of getting scared. Fear is funny; at least it's funny after the fact. 

We like the idea of cutting loose.  We like controlled chaos - to feel like we're in danger while not actually being in any danger.

Look at it this way. We're nice and cuddly on our sofa, drinking coffee and reading a good Stephen King. And as we carry on, we get this horrible feeling that we're being watched. We stand up and shut all the curtains, but that nagging danger is still in the back of our head. But then as soon as we put the book down, the spell is broken and we laugh at the fact that we were even anxious in the first place. We are back in the real world, safe and sound.

But for one singular moment, our brain thought we were in danger, and we got excited. We were thrilled.

Horror Teaches Lessons.

Horror is as relevant as any other genera of fiction. Asking why we read or write horror is the same as asking why anyone reads any kind of story.

We read to see a character overcome obstacles; to see a character interact with what we presume is the worst case scenario; or to watch a character break under pressure.

The common saying is that smart people learn from their mistakes; wise people learn from the mistakes of others. When our characters succeed (or fall) due to their obstacles, we as readers learn from their actions.

In the Tell Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe, the main character ultimately can't live with the guilt of his violent crime and so he turns himself in. Through this character, we learn that our moral conscience will ultimately bring our guilt to light whether we want it to or not. Therefore, we are taught to avoid wrongdoing through this character's actions, and we become better people through experiencing these circumstances with him.

Horror Hurts.

Most importantly, horror touches on themes that many other genera shy away from. In horror, we are forced to confront the dark side of society, culture, and worst of all - ourselves.  Horror hurts.

Horror is a lament.

We see a portrayal of society's corruption in The Purge, a duality of good and evil in the split personality of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and perhaps most frightfully the humanity of the demonic in John Milton's Paradise Lost. 

We see these things in horror and then we lament about the reality of corruption and evil in our own world. Yes, horror is fiction, but horror also reveals the ugly truth about our selves in its metaphors.

Why I Chose Horror

I write horror for the very reason people read it. To be frightened. To be thrilled. To be entertained, but also to learn and to hear the truth.

Horror is a wonderful, layered genera. It's more than B movies and gore. For me, at least, it's certainly an avenue worth exploring.

Why do you read horror?  I'd love to hear your thoughts on the matter.