Any short story writers here?

I am writing a whole bunch of short stories that I hope to put into a collection of stories that all relate and parallel each other. I am however writing another short story that doesn't relate to the others I would like an opinion on.

The story is about a guy called Casey who is obsessed with horror movies and spends his whole life addicted to watching them. One day he goes to rehab to face his problem head on and gets thrown out. Outside the rehab center he meets another horror fanatic who belongs to s secret horror fan society that Casey thinks are just people who hang out and watch horror movies. To his horror he finds out that they are so dedicated to the art of horror that they actually recreate their favorite movies in real life with real people who get killed.
The horror fans create their own killer identity and kidnap victims and put them in a house and then recreate their own movie scenario.

Its going to be a horror/comedy kind of book, lots of movie references and homages.

I feel I should add something to this plot. The rest of the plot involves Casey discovering a creepy underworld of horror movie fanatics, who funnily enough set their group in Norfolk england. I don't know if you guys know Norfolk, but its a very quiet country area of england where not much happens. Perfect for this plot!

I like the idea, comedy and horror mix well if done the right way.

I would totally dig reading that!

It sounds like a HOT BLOOD story-
you've got my attention...

I wish i knew whether i wanted to make this a short story or a full novel. I don't want to stretch it out too much, but I also don't want it to be too short. Maybe something around the length of a Steinbeck book like of mice and men would be appropriate. heck if Joseph Conrad can write a book as short as Heart of Darkness and still make it a great read, I might be able to do the same
Comparing my unfinished story to Heart of Darkness set the bar a bit high now that I think about it...

Dunno, have you seen APOCALYPSE NOW?

Anyway, I think you may have given me an idea for my DMP-
don't worry, all my stories are true, that's kinda the problem-
carry on, folks...

^^love novels that size, short enough to read during travel, long enough to be a well developed story. I might never have liked Steinbeck (cuz they made me read the Red Pony in middle school) if Cannery Row hadn't been so short that I figured "what the hell" Now Im in love with Steinbeck's good stuff

Oh, I get it now: "SHORT-STORY writers."

I mis-thought the topic to be about short writers of stories.


_________________
"If you allow yourself to be offended, then you're a bit of [a] nitwit."
(Christopher Moore)

I think this plot would work better as a novella rather than a short story or novel. It's too complex of a situation, I think, for a short story, but yet too simple for a novel.

This sounds very readable though, so I wish you the best of luck with it.

Since this is a horror movie homage, will there be any issues with mentioning names of horror movies when its published? Copyrights and such I mean.

As far as I know, it's essential to have permission. If you don't ask, and they find out, you'll be in big trouble (that is, if they decide to take legal action).

The only way you can use titles of films is if they no longer contain a copyright. For films, I think it's 70 years following the death of anyone who has a big involvement in the crew or cast. I'm not completely sure though, because it's more complicated than the copyright of a novel or song.

I think you should take precautions and ask just in case, to avoid breaking any regulations.

Definitely a legal person question.

I think though that you can name things, but not quote them, without permission. If you use lyrics or quotations, you need permission, and you have to acknowledge that permission.

Maybe check the reference links here to see if there's a copyright section. Oh, and Google.

I am, again, no help whatsoever. But I mean well.

B

LostInWalmart wrote:

Definitely a legal person question. I think though that you can name things, but not quote them, without permission. If you use lyrics or quotations, you need permission, and you have to acknowledge that permission. Maybe check the reference links here to see if there's a copyright section. Oh, and Google. I am, again, no help whatsoever. But I mean well. B

I don't think it will be necessary to quote the movies, just name them. Like a character saying Halloween or Texas chainsaw massacre was a good movie, or how much Jason X sucked.

You can also come up with clever ways to refer to them without naming them
so that those who've seen them will know what you mean...

Like how I can never remember the names of CHEECH & CHONG movies & just go:
"You know, the one with the lizard dope..."