Short Horror Writing - The "Medias Res" Method - The Middle of Everything
When setting out to write a work of short horror, one popular method of spinning the story is to use the "medias res" methodology. Madias res is Latin for "The Middle of Everything" and essentially has you carrying out your narrative in the middle of the action - from the start to end. When crafting short horror stories, this can be an effective way to explode the drama immediately and commence the story with a deliberate image you want to convey.
Short stories really have to condense the plot into it's most essential elements, and unless you want your brief tale to turn into a full-blown novella, then composing your short horror story in medias res can enable you really hammer your fright with immediacy.
The following is an example of a story beginning and image, jumping right in with a medias res technique:
Miriam couldn't feel her hands or her feet anymore. When she tried to focus her vision on either of them, blurred darkness was all she could see. Slowly, she was able to focus her eyesight and when she looked around, the blackness was only interrupted by glowing embers and ash, floating throughout the air. She began to realize that her hands, feet and backside were firmly restrained by what seemed like a rubbery mist that prevented her from moving much more than her head.
Her consciousness was instantly filled with the horrific vision of what had been recently afflicted upon her - the savage abduction, beating and rape at the hands of that sickening creature. She could barely bring herself to recall it's image to the forefront of her mind, the ordeal was so repulsive. Then, far within the distant darkness, she could hear it coming once again. Miriam would never forget the chilling sound it made, slithering as it moved along slowly. The sounds were getting closer, louder...
With two paragraphs, the story was explained, the location was set, and the heroine and villain were aptly defined. The direction the story was taking was clearly presented to the reader and as the author, you could quickly set forth where you wanted to lead your short fiction. Of course the picture did help somewhat, but even without it, the reader immediately know who, what, where and how, for the most part.
You really don't have to wait for October to scare the hell out of your Steemit readers, just jump right in and place them in the middle of everything.
Awesome tips and example @vegascomic!
It's so true. When you need to condense the length of the piece, jump right in to the middle of the action. I personally like to start with compelling dialogue or an exclamation.
I've always been told that in workshops and college writing classes. Write it as short as you can. I agree somewhat, but not to the detriment of your story's narrative.