words and books

[trailofstars]

I'm on a pretty good writing roll. I feel as though I know what I'm trying to do, and the words are coming. Of late I've often been able to get out of my own way, away from the overthinking that too often has stifled my creative process these last couple of years. Since the start of the year I've finished two stories and I'm currently on a rewrite

Comments

[jtglover]

Congrats on the role! Better to have a couple-few good stories in the hopper than nothing, or too many. Good luck with your week off, if it comes to pass. Autumn would be a good time, given what it's always meant for your creativity.

What a good list of books! I was just thinking roughly the same thing about Rosemary's Baby the other day and wasted words. I have Harvest Home sitting on a shelf unread, but I will read it at some point. As for 60s and 70s horror novels... I assume you've read The Exorcist. What about The Howling? Both have merits, but The Howling is an almost prototypical tight horror novel from the period. Herbert's The Rats -- pulpy but good. I can't remember if we've ever discussed it, but I'm sure you've read about The House Next Door in Danse Macabre, even if you haven't read it, and it is so good.

[jtglover]

*roll

[trailofstars]

Oooh, The Howling, that's a good idea. I actually haven't read it. I have read The Exorcist, and I'm honestly not a fan (a rare case where the movie is better than the book, I think) although it was quite a trip since I was still an altar boy when I did read it. :) Herbert--I haven't thought of him in a long while. I believe the only book of his I have read is The Dark, and that was when I was in junior high.

Surprisingly, I've not read The House Next Door. I think it and Herbert's book are the only ones discussed at length in Danse Macabre where that's the case. It was definitely in the back of my mind. And since you give it a high recommendation, I think I will push it up the list.

[docsrock]

"I think the house I live in is very conductive to getting that energy flowing"

All this sounds great, but before you get in too deep, make sure that said energy isn't like, the evil spirits of long dead children who perished in the basement at the hands of their ax murderer uncle in 1973. ;-)

I do like the idea of your writerly staycation. I look forward to reading how it goes.

Last, I can sort of relate to the "I've done X, now I'd like to do Y" thing: I did a lot of writing this summer, and it felt great. Now that the school year has started, I need to work it back into my schedule. I began a fun little story, and I'd really like to know how it ends.

[trailofstars]

I thought that maybe you were doing a little writing, judging from your FB posts. That's awesome! You have to keep it on your schedule--the tale demands to be told! And good point about the house...as far as I know it doesn't have a sordid past, but these things have a way of staying hidden...

I really like the idea of the writerly staycation too. Some things are a little unstable at work, and that's the main thing standing in my way of taking the time off now. Hopefully I can settle things down by mid-October or so.