Comedy vs Horror |
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Splinker
NYC Midnight Addict Joined: 03 Jan 2017 Location: New Jersey! Status: Offline Points: 921 |
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Posted: 05 Aug 2017 at 10:07am |
Taking flash fiction out of the picture, i think these two genres compliment each other, and many stories in either category can benifit with at least a little help from the other.
With that in mind, i think a horror /comedy category would be a welcome addition to the NYC contests. If you also have too much time on your hands, I'd like to know what you think. Edited by Splinker - 05 Aug 2017 at 10:07am |
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Splinker
https://1drv.ms/w/s!ArBspawnlI8yo1H2Ki5_xuZg-K0v?e=x2mixn |
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steph9289
NYC Midnight Black Belt Joined: 23 Jan 2016 Location: Brooklyn, NY Status: Offline Points: 8966 |
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I had a judge during the second round of Short Story that left this feedback on my Horror story: "I don't think you've nailed the tone. It reads more humor than horror."
Personally, I agree with you, in that humor and horror work together very well. Sometimes dark humor, for example, is absolutely horrifying. I was very upset with my judge's misinterpretation of the humor in my horror story.
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#amrevising
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De Chelonian Mobile
NYC Midnight Addict Joined: 28 Jan 2017 Location: Gordon GA Status: Offline Points: 655 |
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I entered a flash fiction contest last October (Halloween). The prompt for the contest was Horror/A Locksmith/A Pair of Dice. The judge said my story was too funny to be considered horror. In the judge's defense, she was probably right.
I tried to write an actual suspense this round and I hated every second of the writing. I would have been much happier writing comedy-suspense.
Edited by De Chelonian Mobile - 05 Aug 2017 at 1:06pm |
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nixie
NYC Midnight Black Belt Joined: 01 Aug 2015 Location: Seattle, WA Status: Offline Points: 9048 |
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Yyou are always free to introduce other elements, as long as you write primarily within your genre. I think De Chelonian's comment gives an excellent picture of why a formal category trying to genre-bend in that way would be difficult to define and judge.
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Suave
NYC Midnight Black Belt Joined: 25 Jan 2015 Location: Thailand Status: Online Points: 25027 |
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In my opinion, comedy can be complimented with horror quite well, a great way to lose a head is always fun. The other way around? I think you have to be very careful in a short piece or the comic relief can take over the spotlight.
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Suave
NYC Midnight Black Belt Joined: 25 Jan 2015 Location: Thailand Status: Online Points: 25027 |
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I think suspense/comedy would work very well. As long as there is the real sense of suspense, it can be as funny as you like. Edited by Suave - 06 Aug 2017 at 3:15am |
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De Chelonian Mobile
NYC Midnight Addict Joined: 28 Jan 2017 Location: Gordon GA Status: Offline Points: 655 |
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Humor works with every genre. (but it is hard to pull off with a few. Too much humor quickly turns Drama into Dark Comedy) The only issue is how it speaks to the judges. With humor being so subjective, there is always the risk of one or more of the judges not liking it. So it becomes a question of "Try and write to the judges" or "Write what I want to write". The more I experiment with the writing process, the more I lean toward the second. As writers, staying true to our 'voice' makes our writing stronger.
When it comes down to the original question of this thread, I think fewer genres would be better than more genres. The more specific the assigned genre becomes, the less room there is for creativity. However, I could be wrong about all of this.
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nixie
NYC Midnight Black Belt Joined: 01 Aug 2015 Location: Seattle, WA Status: Offline Points: 9048 |
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If you're wrong, i am right there with ya :)
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lisafox10800
NYC Midnight Black Belt Joined: 18 Jul 2016 Location: NJ Status: Offline Points: 9440 |
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I agree with DechelonianMobile- the more I do these things, the more inclined I am to write the things I want to write - even if it doesn't necessarily fit into a neat box. As writers, staying true to our 'voice' makes our writing stronger. Could not agree more. I actually wrote a dark comedy - comedy + horror for the final challenge in screenplay this year and really struggled with how to describe it, since "dark comedy" isn't technically a genre on the NYCM list. I was afraid to call it a "comedy" because if someone didn't laugh, then I'd failed. I went with fantasy/horror because "I don't know WTF this is" probably wouldn't have worked.... I think the tough part is just not knowing how open-minded your judges are. Some of them love mash-ups and really appreciate the different perspective. Some, not so much. It's really the luck of the draw.
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lisafoxiswriting.com
My short story collection, Core Truths, is now available wherever books are sold. |
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Splinker
NYC Midnight Addict Joined: 03 Jan 2017 Location: New Jersey! Status: Offline Points: 921 |
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I think last years winner used drama fantasy for their genre, so i am guessing it doesn't matter what you call it in an open round.
Edited by Splinker - 06 Aug 2017 at 4:26pm |
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Splinker
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