Voodoo

Voodoo is an ancient religion found in modern day. Terrifying yet fascinating, the rituals and magic of Voodoo are found in books and movies today. There are thousands of myths, rituals and beliefs to explore if you’re interested in Voodoo and want to incorporate it into your story.

New Orleans was the gateway for the religion brought to the new world by slaves in the 1800s. It is a religion of power, embraced by the powerless. Slave owners forbade the practice of Voodoo under penalty of death so the rituals and amulets were hidden, often behind the guise of Catholicism. Over the years, the two religions have become inextricably mixed.

Santería evolved in a similar manner; the combination of religions brought to the New World by slaves imported to the Caribbean and Christianity.

Marie Laveau was the original practitioner of Voodoo in New Orleans, a high priestess whose spells and amulets were sought by ladies of all social classes. Legends of Marie Laveau persist and her tomb is a curiosity to tourists and sacred site to voodoo practitioners. Marie Leveau’s best documented exploit involved the murder trial of a young Creole man, whose father sought her help, despite his skepticism. Marie placed several charms in the courtroom and when the boy was declared not guilty the father gifted Marie a house.

Voodoo dolls are a pop icon of the religion. Bocios were wooden totems that contained medicine and their owners would nail pegs into them when seeking favor from the gods. The idols were outlawed so slaves disguised them as rag dolls. The malevolent use of Voodoo dolls is considered a form of Bokor (Black) Voodoo, but most of the time Voodoo dolls are used to heal, find love or spiritual guidance.

Zombies in Voodoo are reincarnated corpses, brought to life and controlled by others. It is a fate feared above all others. Wade Davis wrote The Serpent and the Rainbow, recounting his visit to Haiti and investigation of a real life “zombification” case of Clairvius Narcisse. Davis discovered a poison in puffer fish that could simulate death, causing complete paralysis while victims remained conscious.

This might explain the cases of people declared dead, buried and then brought back to life. An Astral Zombie is a soul captured and enslaved to do master’s bidding.

Spirit possession is a miraculous moment of realization in the Voodoo religion, in which the spirits “ride” practitioners. Individuals lose all control of their body, surrendering to the spirits within.

Voodoo drums are used to summon the gods, deities who have a wide range of human traits from arrogance to compassion. Offerings are made to please the specific appetites of each deity. Sometimes the offerings are blood sacrifices, usually involving animals.

Today this practice is considered abhorrent and associated with Voodoo, witchcraft or demonic cults, but even the Bible is full of examples of blood sacrifices to God. Abel used a blood sacrifice and found favor with God and Abraham was asked to sacrifice his firstborn son to God.

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How to Write Horror Stories

How to Write a Story

True art reveals the artist, whether a painting or a book, the idea is just the beginning. As our DNA makes us individual so do the words we use to express our ideas. I collect ideas in my journal, jotting down my thoughts, feelings or moments of insight. Ideas are everywhere, waiting to be embraced and expressed.

Fictionalize an actual event. Take a real life issue and approach it from a different direction. Always ask “What if?” An article about a new medication may become the basis for a story with mutant humans. The human interest piece about a good samaritan may become the story of a con artist.

Combine elements of various stories. Unrelated stories will yield surprising results. Take elements of an adventure story and mix in romance, or sci fi mixed with suspense. Make a list of stories you like and consider the elements which make them stand out. For example:

A lion cub is orphaned when his father is killed by a traitorous uncle. He grows up to avenge his father and take his rightful place as leader of the pack.

A woman and man correspond and fall in love before ever meeting face to face.

A girl is transported to a magical land and finds her way home with the help of her new friends.

A team of researchers travel to other worlds and encounter various life forms, some hostile and others friendly.

By combining parts of these stories, I can create something new and different.

A researcher who has traveled to other worlds is willing to sacrifice her career for a man she has never met face to face.

A girl is orphaned when her father is killed by a witch and she is banished to a magical realm. She must enlist the help of new friends to return home.

Tell a familiar story from a unique perspective. Start with any story and consider how the story could be told from another perspective. Tell the story from the villain’s viewpoint or make a supporting character the star of the show.

Imagine Robin Hood told from the perspective of a Sheriff trying to bring an outlaw to justice or Cinderella told by a step sister who is a social outcast and jealous of Cindy’s popularity with the boys.

Graham Green, an accomplished author, attributes his success to writing at least 500 words daily, whether he felt like it or not. Ideas are easy, creating a story from an idea is art.

How to Write a Story

PR: wait… I: wait… L: wait… LD: wait… I: wait… wait… C: wait… SD: wait…

Find Ideas

Sometimes the hardest part of writing is getting started. Story ideas are every where; you just have to know where to look.  Of course, once you have any idea, you have to WRITE, but that’s another topic.  

To start, let me just offer a couple of suggestions for finding ideas:

1. Evening News – It would be impossible to create a fiction more disturbing than the true crime stories reported on the evening news. If you are fascinated with mystery, suspense or forensic and crime investigations, the best place to begin is real life.  The translation from fact to fiction is not literal, but you can take inspiration from the circumstances, the motivations and the aftermath.    

2.  The Classics – Consider fairy tales, legends, classic literature and rewrite them with a modern twist or from a new perspective. A terrific example of this is Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire.  Maguire transformed familiar characters by exposing them with a new perspective.      

3.  What If – Carry a journal to jot down all the “What Ifs” that occur during the day.   Whenever the struggle to start a story occurs, refer to your journal and explore a “What If” scenario.  Stephen King discusses this technique in his book, On Writing. 

 4.  Observations – Observe people around you, their body language, and their facial expressions. Take in the world, the texture, smells, and colors, employ all your senses and then describe all you observe.

These are ideas to start a story, but really the most important thing for writers is to WRITE.  The more you explore ideas and develop your voice, the more prepared you will be when that BIG IDEA comes your way.  Try a few of these starters, and see where they take you.