Day of the Dead

As our current callout aims to produce a collection of haunting histories written in the style of the nineteenth century ghost story authors, it seems appropriate to include a blog which focuses on the dead.

Whichever your viewpoint, October 31st appears to be a common day chosen for ancestor reverence from around the world, be it as Halloween, Samhain, Day of the dead or otherwise.

The 'Day of the dead' is one of the best known forms of ancestry reverence in the Western world and is a national holiday in Mexico. Similarly themed observances which may be celebrated on alternative dates occur around the world. Despite its name, day of the dead often involves up to three days of celebration and is derived from Aztec and indigenous observances. According to Frances Ann Day, the day of the dead celebrations commence on October 31 (All Hallows Eve) with the construction of altars to the deceased, often containing favourite foods and beverages alongside photographs or possessions, all designed to invite the spirits of the dead to return for a visit. This is followed by November 1st (All Saints Day) which is celebrated as the day when adult spirits return to visit the living, and finally November 2nd (All Souls Day) which is celebrated by families visiting the graves and tombs of their relatives. Alternatively, November 1st is chosen to honour deceased children and infants whilst November 2nd is taken for veneration of deceased adults. Veneration of the dead can take many forms, including sharing of anecdotes about the departed through to spending the night by the graves of their relatives. Some even write short poems, known as calaveras (skulls), about the dead. Common symbols of the holiday include decorative skulls, sweet breads and marigolds, a flower traditionally used to honour the dead.

Similarly, Samhain, is a Gaelic festival celebrated from sunset on October 31st until sunset November 1st. As Samhain was viewed as a liminal time when spirits could more easily enter the world of the living, the souls of the dead were thought to revisit their homes. To entice the dead to join in celebrations, places would be set for them alongside the living at the tables of feasts. A similar example of 'dining with the dead' is illustrated by  catacombs in Malta which contain carved dining benches located around subterranean tombs which have been proposed as locations where the living could dine with the dead.

An alternative form of ancestor reverence is demonstrated in Hallstatt Austria. Famous for salt mines, Hallstatt is also famous for its beinhaus (bone house) which dates to the twelfth century. The beinhaus contains over 1200 skulls, many of which have been elaborately painted for decoration. Due to space limitations in the village for internment of the deceased, graves were opened 10-15 years following burial and the skulls were removed, cleaned and reverentially placed in the beinhaus to venerate the dead.

Similarly, ancestry reverence and belief in ghosts is common in Chinese culture and beliefs. Even Confucius is reported to have said, 'Respect ghosts and gods, but keep away from them'(1). According to the Chinese calender, the seventh lunar month is the ghost month, during which the gate of hell remains open allowing suffering spirits to return to visit their families on earth. The highlight of the ghost month is the Chung-Yuan Festival, also known as the hungry ghost festival, which occurs mid-month. During this festival, food is prepared as a treat for spirits and homeless ghosts and water lanterns are lit to welcome spirits to our world to join in the feast. In 2014, the ghost month will commence July 27th and finish on the 24th of August. Elders list behaviors which are discouraged during this month as they are thought to ill-advised. Note, the hungry ghost festival is separate from the Qingming and Chung Yeung festivals (occurring in Spring and Fall respectively), during which living descendants pay homage to their deceased relatives.

Whatever your beliefs, ancestor reverence and suitable respect for the dead may serve you well and appease the spirits. 

1.  "Chinese Ghost Culture". Ministry of Culture, P.R.China. Retrieved 23 Mar 2014.

Further reading:

Chinese ghost month taboo

The Chinese ghost month

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This blog post was written in the spirit of the April 2014 A-Z Challenge whereby a post is written every day during the month of April (with the exception of Sunday). The theme of each post is meant to correspond with a letter of the alphabet in sequential order. Tomorrow's post will be on E. For details and to visit the A-Z Challenge website, click here.

Cracking Characterisation

The driving force behind any great fiction is a cast of captivating characters. Good characters strengthen and seamlessly contribute to a story’s plot and setting as they interact according to individual competencies and challenges. The best characters are memorable and complex. They strike a chord and, whether their role is to be charming or cruel, they must capture the reader’s compassion. Empathy is key. A reader does not have to like a character but they do need to either identify with, or at least understand, them.  Even characters whose actions are unsavoury it helps for the reader to have an idea of how and why they are the way they are. Characters also need to be believable. Like real people they are multifaceted and have unique histories and vulnerabilities that shape who they are. It is these internal workings which lead a character to think, speak and act in a certain way. Internal conflict can be reflective in dialogue. As the story progresses characters react and grow through their response and the story further develops as a consequence of their actions and growth. Consistency between internal conflict and action is key; however, characters should not become too predictable and should be capable of change and thus, surprise. So, just how does a writer craft such compelling characters?

 

Before putting pen to paper, or fingers to keypad, it is essential for the writer to know their characters inside and out. Consider what their core conflicts may be. What are their ambitions? What do they want in life? What do they need? What is motivating them within the story? How is their world view and judgement of others reflective of what has previously happened to them? How might this change? 

It is useful to start with a few character sketches. Some may want to start with the basics such as gender, age, mannerisms and a few physical traits, just enough to get a brief visual before moving on to what they do. What are their credentials? What work do they do? What are their hobbies? Examine each character in detail. Consider upbringing and social class. What led them to their current circumstance? What are their fears, sorrows and failures? What causes them to feel guilt, or shame? Are they harbouring a secret? What are their vulnerabilities? What are their strengths and capabilities? Imagine a conversation with your character. Write out a list of questions that will help you get to know them. Question their motives, their behaviour.  Look for clues in details. Where do they live? What type of things do they surround themselves with? What objects do they carry in their hand bag or pocket, and why? What do such details say about them as a person?

Only with an in-depth knowledge of who their characters are and a sound understanding of how they function, can a writer create a vibrant cast of personalities that capture attention and live-on in reader memory.

To sum up, here’s a few C’s of characterisation to remember:

• Compelling and complex
• Core conflict and contradiction
• Create compassion for the charming and  the cruel
• Consistent yet capable of change
• Characters’ credentials, capabilities and clues

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This blog post was written in the spirit of the April 2014 A-Z Challenge whereby a post is written every day during the month of April (with the exception of Sunday). The theme of each post is meant to correspond with a letter of the alphabet in sequential order. Tomorrow's post will be on D. For details and to visit the A-Z Challenge website, click here.

Brief Blurb on the Baneful Banshee

Irish mythology offers a rich source for supernatural beings including pixies, leprechauns, fairies and, of course, banshees. The term banshee is derived from the Gaelic 'bean-sidhe' and is loosely translated as 'woman of the fairy mounds'. Banshees are thought to be otherworldly messengers who bring omens of death. They were initially believed to be tied with the five main families of Ireland, although this limitation extended with the progression of time. Typically described as young female figures, banshees are also thought to be capable of assuming any alternative animal form which is associated with witchcraft. Crucially, it is not the observation of a banshee which presents the danger but the banshee's baneful cry as they call home the souls of those for whom death waits.

Given his Irish roots, it is hardly surprising to find a tale of the banshee in the writings of Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu. So if you're feeling brave, 'The White Cat of Drumgunniol' proves faithful to the legend of the banshee and is a brilliant read!

Should inspiration strike and a bold idea beckons, a blood-curdling banshee account could prove most suitable for our current callout for Tales of Mystery, Suspense and Terror!

Websites links for further reading:

Spirits of Legend and Fantasy: Banshees

Searching For Ireland's Banshee

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This blog post was written in the spirit of the April 2014 A-Z Challenge whereby a post is written every day during the month of April (with the exception of Sunday). The theme of each post is meant to correspond with a letter of the alphabet in sequential order. Tomorrow's post will be on C. For details and to visit the A-Z Challenge website, click here.

Ambience and Artful Apostrophe

Intricately linked to setting, ambience draws in and prepares the reader for the story to come. Also known as mood or tone, it develops surroundings and characters and engages the senses. What can the protagonist see, feel, hear, smell and taste? In writing about the supernatural the sixth sense is often pulled in to play. Mention intuition, an odd coldness, a shiver up the spine and the mood is set. An unsettled feeling warns the reader to sit up and pay attention as something isn’t quite right. Ambience in a short story may be more difficult to accomplish than in a novel as time is minimal and brevity a must. On the other hand, once set, it may be somewhat easier to maintain the tone of a short story.

A number of tools are at the writer’s disposal for creating ambience. Dialogue, exposition, figurative language, specific events, a sense of place (an abandoned house, the churchyard, a desolate road), the use of light, weather (fog, a storm), time of day (twilight, closing time somewhere, the dead of night, midnight, the witching hour) can all imbue a story with an immediate mood. 

Consider the opening to The Tractate Middoth by M R James whereby a man visits a library at closing time. In a rush to secure a book, he requests the aid of a clerk. These first few facts instantly conjure up an image that any reader, bookworm or student can relate to. (Personally, it made me think of University of London’s Senate House library, particularly the sixth floor history stacks!) The scene is set. Near closing the time, the bells rung, the study carrels deserted, the lighting dim, the stacks desolate, and the dusty smell of old books somehow more potent in the dark vacant aisles than in the bright light of day. The reader is put on edge; the clerk must go back upstairs, alone. Something is going to happen. Atmosphere aptly created, the reader is drawn in, and so they read on.

Detailed descriptions can also create a particular feel to a ghost story but words need to remain concise to be effective. A few well-placed dark and foreboding references can cast just the right ominous pall over a tale. Likewise, the use of figurative language such as personification (shadows dancing, wind whispering, walls watching) or onomatopoeia (a rustle, a hiss, a murmur, a creaking door, a roaring fire) add further dimensions to mood. 

Character action and dialogue can also help shape ambience. Consider here the effect that apostrophe may have—and by this I do not mean that pesky piece of punctuation that has given rise to many a rant about possession, omission and greengrocer's foibles! No, I am referring to the other apostrophe. From the Greek (ἀποστροφή) meaning 'to turn away', this rhetorical apostrophe denotes the digression or breaking away from the audience/readers/other characters in order to address an absent third party, be they a person, quality or inanimate object. This device uses the vocative case and is often introduced by exclamations such as ‘O’ or ‘Ah!’ It may be used to address someone who isn’t there, the deceased, a spirit, the Heavens, Fate, Fortune, God or gods or something more abstract. Useful in providing insight into the thoughts and emotions of a character, it would be interesting to see this device used in some of the short story submissions to Tales of Mystery, Suspense and Terror Anthology! I would think it could nicely lend itself to the madness of a character or to a desperate tone of terror.

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This blog post was written in the spirit of the April 2014 A-Z Challenge whereby a post is written every day during the month of April (with the exception of Sunday). The theme of each post is meant to correspond with a letter of the alphabet in sequential order. Tomorrow's post will be on B. For details and to visit the A-Z Challenge website, click here.

True ghost stories

This blog is designed to act as a companion to our main website www.chuffedbuffbooks.com and will involve a weekly series of themed discussions to supplement our latest short-story call out for tales of mystery, suspense and terror inspired by, and in the style of, 19th century ghost stories. This is the fourth blog in the series.

The aim of these blogs is to facilitate a flow of ideas between readers and writers. So whether you’re a ghost story aficionado, a prospective author or merely curious, please have a read and share your comments! There will be a new blog posted each week throughout the submission window (1st February – 31st May 2014; further details regarding the terms and conditions for the callout can be located here). You can also follow the discussion or join in via twitter using #talesomst_CBB.

This week: True ghost stories

Are you a ghost-hunter, a cynical skeptic or a hopeful believer in ghosts? If the truth is out there, I want to hear about it!

This week I'm on a ghost hunt. What better inspiration for a spooky work of fiction than a real-life-I-swear-it's-true tale?

Do you have a true ghost story to offer, descriptions of encounters with the supernatural, or any occurrences which suggest contact from beyond? Perhaps a missing heirloom which mysteriously reappears in an obvious location after you know you've searched everywhere to locate it. Orbs which appear in your photographs. Instinct compelling you to change your plans at the last minute--which in hindsight saved you from disaster--instances of spiritual protection from guardian angels, the strong sensation that suddenly you're not alone and localized cold spots in allegedly haunted buildings...If so, I'd love to hear about it. Please share your story using the comments section located at the bottom of the blog.

As a youth, while my friends were reading about their favourite superhero, I was fascinated with the 'Ripley's believe it or not' comic books. I found the idea of ghostly encounters intriguing and hoped that one day I might see a spirit. I became fascinated with media portrayals of ghosts and the supernatural. I wrote a book report on 'The Amityville Horror' and 'Poltergeist', 'Ghostbusters' and 'The Exorcist' were some of my favourite movies. In my spare time, I played with Tarot cards and Ouija boards. I convinced myself that the dreamy state separating sleep from consciousness offered opportunity to transcend limitations of human sensation; offered a chance for spiritual exchange. But, alas, life isn't Hollywood and despite great hopes I have yet to personally observe a spiritual manifestation.

As an adult, I note that ghost stories and tales of the supernatural never seem to go out of fashion or lose their appeal. Every culture and society has their own legends and beliefs. This raises the question: Why does humanity seem to have such a fascination with ghosts and the supernatural? We examine this question further in the 'Ghostly Beliefs' post.

From experience, most people seem to have some spiritual story to tell or know someone who has had an experience which extends beyond simple explanation. The following is typical of such an account.

A friend of mine had been introduced to an alleged psychic. When she inquired as to why they did not charge to answer psychic enquiries, the response was that those who are truly gifted share what they experience when it is appropriate, not for remuneration, nor can they necessarily perform on demand. Next she passed her watch to the psychic to establish whether the psychic could establish any personal information about her. The psychic indicated that they sensed a problem with hearing, specifically in one ear. Afterward, it came to light that the watch had been a gift from a grandparent who was deaf in the ear identified as problematic by the psychic. Hardly a smoking gun for spiritual connection. Nonetheless, the fact this story was retained and recounted highlights the belief, or at least a kernel of hope, that perhaps there is more to life than meets the eye. Over the years, I've heard many similar accounts where some facet of the story seems to defy the probability of chance alone which proves a far more tantalizing explanation than merely discounting the occurrence as a fluke event. As a teenager, I recall occasions when answering the phone, both myself and some of my friends would be convinced that we had sensed who was calling and addressed the caller directly upon answering. (Obviously I'm dating myself a bit with this one as my story pre-dates call-display). Although none of us truly believed we'd developed psychic talent, it always provided fantastic conversation fodder for days after a successful 'guess', which curiously proved accurate on most occasions. Again, the common thread was always hope for an alternative explanation, implying there may be more to human experience than that which can be explained by our standard five senses alone.

As I grew older, my curiousity with the supernatural remained. I've visited the famous 'Chislehurst caves', disappointed that the Chislehurst challenge was discontinued long before my time. Subsequently, I worked in a haunted pub, excited by the prospect that seemingly all other members of staff had a story suggesting a ghostly encounter; still I observed no ghosts. Thus, despite best efforts to experience a real life haunting, I have yet to observe a compelling incident which would convince me that I have truly seen a ghost.

I, of course, remain a hopeful believer.

If you've ever had a spiritual encounter, experienced inexplicable phenomena, or seen a spirit, get in touch!

(Coming up: seances and Ouija boards.)

Inspiration and Ambience

This blog is designed to act as a companion to our main website www.chuffedbuffbooks.com and will involve a weekly series of themed discussions to supplement our latest short-story call out for tales of mystery, suspense and terror inspired by, and in the style of, 19th century ghost stories. This is the third blog in the series.

The aim of these blogs is to facilitate a flow of ideas between readers and writers. So whether you’re a ghost story aficionado, a prospective author or merely curious, please have a read and share your comments! There will be a new blog posted each week throughout the submission window (1st February – 31st May 2014; further details regarding the terms and conditions for the callout can be located here). You can also follow the discussion or join in via twitter using #talesomst_CBB.

This week our blog is all about inspiration and atmosphere and follows from our post last week where we noted that the story 'Schalken the Painter' by Sheridan Le Fanu was inspired by artwork by the Dutch genre and portrait painter Godfried Schalcken (1643-1706).

Readers: when you sit down to read a spooky tale; do you like to create a moody atmosphere to boost the chill? Do you read by candlelight listening to the sound of the winding howling outside your window? Or are you a more social creature; telling tales to friends and family around a campfire or a fireplace, sharing the anticipation and tension, and savouring the terror in the eyes of your listeners!

Authors: when you’re trying to put your spooky thoughts to paper, do you create an atmosphere to get in the mood?

I find Gregorian chant perfect background music for writing atmospheric passages. Although I also find the broody tones of Beethoven, Bach or Requiem masses similarly satisfying. I definitely prefer writing in a dimly lit room; either lit by a single light at my desk or by candlelight. Flickering shadows can be very inspirational.

I also find location spotting fertile ground for inspiration. Castles, cathedrals and graveyards all prove very helpful when composing a descriptive scene and offer ample opportunity for imaginative meanderings. Lastly, but a personal favourite muse, is an art gallery, especially one that offers late evening viewings.  Perhaps the viewing of historical images helps to bring the past closer? Certainly, I find that artistic imagery proves most helpful when attempting to detail an authentic perspective. And from an inspirational viewpoint, perhaps artwork is most beneficial due to limitations imposed by the perspective rather than clarity; sometimes it's less what is shown, but more what is excluded which compels the imagination. In which case, I find older is often better.

So please share your thoughts with us and tell us what inspires you! We hope you may have found this blog inspirational.

Join us next week when we will be discussing and searching for true ghost stories!

Which is your gold medal ghost story?

This blog is designed to act as a companion to our main website www.chuffedbuffbooks.com and will involve a weekly series of themed discussions to supplement our latest short-story call out for tales of mystery, suspense and terror inspired by, and in the style of, 19th century ghost stories. This is the second blog in the series.

The aim of these blogs is to facilitate a flow of ideas between readers and writers. So whether you’re a ghost story aficionado, a prospective author or merely curious, please have a read and share your comments! There will be a new blog posted each week throughout the submission window (1st February – 31st May 2014; further details regarding the terms and conditions for the callout can be located here). You can also follow the discussion or join in via twitter using #talesomst_CBB.

In honour of the commencement of the Sochi Olympics, this week our blog-post is suitably Olympic themed. There are hundreds of supernatural stories which have been written, but which one is your favourite? Which one is your personal gold medal winner? Which one really put the chill down your spine and made you rise from your seat to light another lamp?

As the options within this genre are so abundant, please limit your selections to stories by the main 19th century ghost story authors: M. R. James, Sheridan LeFanu or Edgar Allen Poe. Please let us know which is your favourite tale of ghoulish goodness, and why!

So to start things off, I thought I'd share my current favourite: 'Schalken the Painter' by Sheridan Le Fanu. I especially enjoy the way that Le Fanu draws the reader into this tale allowing the tension to slowly build as the story progresses. Though the writing style is descriptive, details remain limited to what is required to ensure clarity whilst allowing the readers imagination to consider horrors too dark to tell. This ensures a lasting impact when the developing tension finally reaches the climax. Terror in this tale is achieved without gore and when the story is complete, the reader is left with questions which can never be fully answered by the living. Truly a classic!

So join in and tell us which story you think is best. To offer time for reading and selection, we will aim to establish a ghost story podium by the end of the callout, May 31, to be detailed in our first blog post in June 2014.

Finally, the story 'Schalken the Painter' by Sheridan Le Fanu was inspired by art. This tale had been inspired by the atmospheric effect of artworks by the Dutch genre and portrait painter Godfried Schalcken (1643-1706).

Thus, following from this note, the theme for next week will be inspiration and ambience.

Authors: what props, if any, do you use for inspiration?
Readers: do you try to establish an ambience when settling in to read or share ghost stories?

Join us as we share our thoughts next week!

Readers, what tickles your dark side?

This blog is intended to act as a companion to our main website www.chuffedbuffbooks.com and will involve a series of themed discussions to supplement our latest short-story call out for tales of mystery, suspense and terror inspired by, and in the style of, 19th century ghost stories.

So whether you’re a ghost story aficionado, a prospective author or merely curious, please take a look and join in! There will be a new blog posted each week throughout the submission window (1st February – 31st May 2014; further details regarding the terms and conditions can be located here). You can also follow the discussion or join in via twitter using #talesomst_CBB.

To help launch this project, it seems appropriate to engage our prospective readers in our first post. For all those who love ghost stories and gothic fiction, this is your chance to give your suggestions about the ghost story you wish had been written or that you’d most want to read. I’ve always felt that the chilling potential of will-o’-the-wisp remain under represented in ghost story fiction. So what themes do you feel remain absent from the current literature? Share your thoughts to inspire our prospective authors and perhaps you will be suitably rewarded!

 

Join in, be intrigued or just sit back, relax and enjoy the discussion. The aim is to create a collection of chilling tales to intrigue, delight and terrify, and which we hope you’ll enjoy reading as much as we’ll enjoy putting together!

For our prospective authors: If you are seeking inspiration, bookmark this page and perhaps you may find just the thrilling seed that you were searching for!

P. Michaelson