Positive Choices -

Writing Scary Scenes by Rayne Hall

I remember sitting on the floor in front of my great Uncle Cash with my siblings and cousins.  Uncle Cash was a master story teller of terror.  His voice reverberated the suspense. I was captivated with the smells, sights and sounds of the story. So entranced and engrossed in the story with the lights out and on a stormy night that we would sit closer to each other holding hands shivering with fear.  Then the climax he would shout BOO! And we would all scream terrified into our Mom’s arms then laugh at each other for being such sissies.  

Oh how I have tried to create a verbal story telling of terror on my Uncle Cash’s level of expertise, always failing.

Rayne Hall makes the ability to tell scary scene into a how to reference guide.  I am so excited to have been able to read her book to evaluate it here on my blog.  I was unaware of the differences between suspense, anxiety, unease, apprehension, foreboding, excitement, dread, revulsion, shock, panic and horror. Not only does she explain what they are but how to use each and the pitfalls of using them too much or inappropriately. 

You can receive your copy at www.amazon.com and www.barnesandnoble.com.

She also teaches writing workshops for all levels of authors at https://sites.google.com/site/writingworkshopswithraynehall/