I loved this story. The other comments are spot on. This story has great creepiness and you nailed it with the neighbors. Horror is my favorite genre which means I've read a lot. A horror story has to be good and unique for me to like it.
You mentioned that you cranked this story out in 90 minutes while exhausted. How much revision did you need to do or is fatigued artist your new approach?
I did a first edit immediately after writing it, then a quick read through on my phone the next day, with a few adjustments on words (probably 20-30 words in total) but otherwise this about 98% the original splurge 😁
I'm not sure 'so exhausted my internal critic is sleeping' is a very sustainable writing approach, but it's been very nice to read such warm responses to this one. I knew the tone was a bit different while I was writing it and it felt like a strong one, so I'm happy those instincts appear aligned with readers. Developing those instincts further is part of the day I write on here each week (it's also fun!).
Great short! I like how even stripping away the plants, which is usually what makes spaces like that creepy, doesn't diminish how haunted the land comes across.
You know when you're writing and you really feel the thing you're describing in your bones? This story was like that, and the land was not going to be tamed!
That's a lovely thing to say, thank you! To be honest, I'm absolutely exhausted this week and slammed this out in one shot over about 90 minutes after work yesterday - and I have a feeling that really helped it! That level of fatigue made me like I was in a dream while typing, and I just let it all flow. I had no structure, characters, or end point in mind, only a small idea (what if a house is already haunted before it's even been built?) and everything just came from there.
I loved this story. The other comments are spot on. This story has great creepiness and you nailed it with the neighbors. Horror is my favorite genre which means I've read a lot. A horror story has to be good and unique for me to like it.
You mentioned that you cranked this story out in 90 minutes while exhausted. How much revision did you need to do or is fatigued artist your new approach?
I did a first edit immediately after writing it, then a quick read through on my phone the next day, with a few adjustments on words (probably 20-30 words in total) but otherwise this about 98% the original splurge 😁
I'm not sure 'so exhausted my internal critic is sleeping' is a very sustainable writing approach, but it's been very nice to read such warm responses to this one. I knew the tone was a bit different while I was writing it and it felt like a strong one, so I'm happy those instincts appear aligned with readers. Developing those instincts further is part of the day I write on here each week (it's also fun!).
Thanks for the question 🙂
Great short! I like how even stripping away the plants, which is usually what makes spaces like that creepy, doesn't diminish how haunted the land comes across.
You know when you're writing and you really feel the thing you're describing in your bones? This story was like that, and the land was not going to be tamed!
Great creepiness and atmosphere! This was a great read. Keep writing, fellow horror writer!
Thank you 💜 what I'm getting from these responses is that I should write more in an exhausted fugue state 😅
So creepy, Mata! Atmospheric. I like how the neighbors know The Lot is "wrong" and try to pawn if off on someone else.
Absolutely! Part of what I love about horror is how it pokes at human nature, bringing to light our best and worst characteristics.
This is awesome writing! Respect!
That's a lovely thing to say, thank you! To be honest, I'm absolutely exhausted this week and slammed this out in one shot over about 90 minutes after work yesterday - and I have a feeling that really helped it! That level of fatigue made me like I was in a dream while typing, and I just let it all flow. I had no structure, characters, or end point in mind, only a small idea (what if a house is already haunted before it's even been built?) and everything just came from there.