Why Do We Love Scary Stories?

October 13, 2023 | 5 min read

 

Happy Friday the 13th! It's the perfect day to delve into the spookiest genres. 👻

Why Do We Love Scary Stories?

A fascination with the dark and macabre has deep roots in human psychology and culture. At a very simple level, being scared can trigger an adrenaline rush, which is a visceral, exciting experience — enjoyable for many people.

Reading and writing horror also often serves as a form of emotional release, in which people can confront and process their own fears in a controlled and safe environment. In other words: we can experience danger from a safe distance. Through this experience, we also learn a little about ourselves: How do we react to fear? What does it feel like? How much can we take? Humans are naturally curious, so confronting the unknown and scary “what-ifs” through fiction is enticing.

To find out a little more, we spoke with two spooky authors in the Freewrite Fam about what makes scary stories so tempting to us mortals. We also discussed their writing processes and what's next on their journey into the horrific.

Without further ado, meet Briana Morgan and Connor Metcalf!

Spookier Than She Looks: Briana Morgan

Briana Morgan has more than a decade of experience scaring herself and others. She's also an active member of the Horror Writers Association. And she's spookier than she looks...

Who are some of your favorite horror authors?

Some of my literary influences include Shirley Jackson, Stephen King, Gemma Amor, Laurel Hightower, and Daphne du Maurier.
 
Why do you think people are drawn to scary themes?

Spooky stories allow us to explore the darker parts of life without risking harm. They provide a safe space for self-exploration, empathy, and growth. Plus, it’s thrilling to be scared (pun intended).

What does your writing life look like?

Until two weeks ago, I was a technical writer for the day job. Now, I’m a full-time horror author. I try to publish at least one book per year, which is mostly within my control because I’m self-published. While my writing is for publication, I write for myself first. If you don’t enjoy writing, then what’s the point?
 
Process wise, I write at least 2,000 words per day on my Traveler when working on a first draft. If I’m editing, I edit for an hour or two per day.


Tell us a bit about your books.

I’ve published eight books. They’re available everywhere in paperback and audiobook form, and ebook only on Amazon. My book The Tricker-Treater and Other Stories won a Godless 666 Award for Best Audiobook, and my latest, The Reyes Incident, has sold more than 16,000 copies to date.

Anyone who has read my work knows I love character-driven horror. I like a slow burn with personal stakes and flawed people you still root for.

And what are you working on now?

Now, I’m working on a new project, an adult horror novel about a reality TV show on a deserted island that goes horribly awry.

That sounds delightful. Or, not so delightful, really. But spooky. And sometimes that's delightful!

Briana Morgan has a BA in English and Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University. When not writing, Briana loves reading disturbing fiction, playing video games, and spending time with her new husband.

Learn more about Briana on her website, or follow her on Twitter, Instagram, or TikTok. Sign up for her newsletter at substack.com/@brianamorgan.

 

--

 

Embracing the Macabre: Connor Metcalf 

Connor Metcalf just finished his debut novel, a sprawling coming-of-age dark fantasy of 98,000 words, on his Freewrite. But what draws him to dark stories?

What genre do you write?

The book I just finished was a horror novel, but of the story’s own volition, became a dark fantasy. However, I'd like to think of the two genres as siblings. Tried and true horror novels didn't necessarily inspire me.

Who are some of your inspirations?

Without a college education, I am perhaps not the typical novelist. I never thrived in school. It wasn't the right environment for me to learn. Instead, my writing stems from reading — a lot of it. Bulgakov, Rushdie, Miller, King — they were my college professors, and they did better for me than any classroom ever could.

Mikhail Bulgakov's The Master and Margarita, Leigh Bardugo's Ninth House, and Gillian Flynn's Sharp Objects were all in mind while I was writing my last book — each having varying horror elements, from playful to grotesque.

Why do you think you are drawn to those themes?

God. I was terrified of everything as a child, but for some reason, I always begged my parents to take me to see horror movies. Of course, I would be completely distraught afterward — terrified to even sleep in my room.

I can't say the exact moment, but a switch went off at some point during adolescence. My fear had exited the building. I embraced the macabre and the horrendous and found it, quite frankly, so exciting. There really is nothing like it when horror is properly executed!

Tell us a bit about your writing life.

The ultimate goal is to be published, but there's also a deep-seated compulsion to write and a passionate love for the craft. Most recently, I’ve been writing all day. I start around 10 a.m., go until 4:30 p.m., take a break to work out, and then get in another session after dinner. I was utterly obsessed with my most recent project, which heavily influenced the long hours. We'll see if that changes for the next novel.

My most recent story landed in my lap from out of nowhere on the same day my Traveler arrived. Coincidence? I think not. I ran with it, and at 98,000 words, I'd say it was a successful venture!

Traveler is the only product I own of the Freewrite family, but after playing an instrumental role in pushing me to write my book, I'm considering upgrading with the Lemon Smart Typewriter. I deserve it, right?

What are you working on right now?

I'm in the process of editing a novel that I keep saying is finished but isn't technically complete. The story is finished; it’s just being buffed and polished. It's a dark fantasy novel that focuses on the coming-of-age journey of a closeted high school senior in Orange County, CA, set during the summer of 2003. The protagonist is the prime target of a malevolent woman who happens to be taking over his community.

Wow. We can't wait to read it!

Connor Metcalf lives and writes in L.A. He's found the process of writing his first book to be a profoundly rewarding experience, and he can't wait to continue his literary adventure. He's now in the trenches of the query-crafting process and looking toward his next project. Follow Connor on Instagram or LinkedIn.

Recommended articles

More recommended articles for you

October 03, 2024 5 min read

It’s easy to picture J.R.R. Tolkien sitting down and cranking out one fantasy masterpiece after another. After all, that’s how we read and experience his stories today. But in actuality, it took the writer 14 years and a very intensive writing process to complete the writings of Middle Earth we know and love today.

Let’s dig into four concepts that Tolkien relied upon to create his genre-defining world.

October 01, 2024 3 min read

We're just 10 weeks away from a major milestone: the 10th anniversary of Freewrite's launch on Kickstarter.  On December 10, 2014, we introduced the Smart Typewriter, then known as  "Hemingwrite," to the world.
How It Started
In September of 2014, co-founders Adam Leeb and Patrick Paul entered Hemingwrite into the “Insert Coin” hardware competition sponsored by Engadget. Described as a new digital consumer product for distraction-free writing composition, Hemingwrite aimed to deliver a singular focus on a productive writing experience. A decade later, that core mission remains unchanged.
Hemingwrite was one of 20 inventions competing that week, highlighting early-stage hardware startups from around the world that had not yet received funding or shipped to consumers.
"What the Kindle did for reading, we want to do for writing," said co-founder Patrick Paul at the time."We set out to deliver the same distraction-free writing experience of a typewriter with all of the added benefits of modern technology."
Co-founder Adam Leeb added,  "We combined all of the best aspects of the typewriter, theMoleskine, and the computer to create a modern classic."
Althoughthe Hemingwrite concept  didn’t win the competition,  the initial coverage by Engadget led to another press hit and then another and quickly it became a viral sensation around the world. The project was covered in everything from The Wall Street Journal to The Atlantic. Over 125,000 people came to the simple wordpress website at hemingwrite.com and over 8,000 anxiously input their email asking for updates on the project.
Adam and Patrick knew they had something special on their hands but weren’t sure if anyone was willing to pay for this idea or if it was simply interesting. On December 10, 2014 the Kickstarter campaign was launched and immediately the pledge dollars started rolling in. Within 20 hours of launch, the campaign had raised over $200,000! And just like that, the Hemingwrite distraction-free writing tool concept became destined for reality.
How It’s Going
Since that initial launch, we have developed Freewrite into a family of distraction-free writing tools with three distinct models, Smart Typewriter, Traveler, and Alpha. Each has their distinct personality, but the core value of maximizing writer productivity runs throughout. 
In 2020, The original Freewrite Smart Typewriter became part of the Science Museum, London’s permanent Printing & Writing Collection.
The name Hemingwrite was dropped in 2015 and then revived in 2021 with the Ernest Hemingway Special Edition Smart Typewriter in partnership with the Ernest Hemingway Estate. 
We’ve created Sprinter for distraction-free writing in any browser and WTF where thousands of people every week receive a writing prompt and participate in Writing Time Friday. 
The community's achievements over the past decade have been  astounding:
  • Freewrite users have created over 600,000 documents
  • Collectively,users have written more than 605 million words (equivalent to over 6,000 novels!)
It’s hard to believe that it’s already been 10 years but it also feels like we are just getting started.
To kick things off:
One Year Warranty: Now Standard
We are extending our warranty that covers manufacturer’s defects to a full year on all Freewrite devices. This means you can enjoy your Freewrite with even greater peace of mind, knowing that we've got you covered for an entire year. 

For more information, please visit our dedicated article on our new warranty policy here: Introducing Freewrite's New 1-Year Warranty: Our Commitment to You
Thank You
As we reflect on 10 years, we're filled with gratitude for the amazing writers who have made Freewrite an essential part of their process. Your passion has shaped our products and fueled our mission.  
Here's to the next decade of your writing success!
 
- The Freewrite Team
October 01, 2024 2 min read

As of October 1, 2024, we are extending our standard warranty that covers manufacturer’s defects to a full year on all Freewrite devices. This means you can enjoy your Freewrite with even greater peace of mind, knowing that we've got you covered for a full 12 months from the date of shipment. We’re even retroactively applying the warranty extension to purchases made this year.

Here is how our new 1-year warranty will work:
  • Beginning October 1, 2024, all new purchases now have a 12-month warranty standard from the shipment date.
  • All device purchases made in 2024 will now have 12-month warranty coverage from the shipment date.
    • For example, if your device shipped on March 1, 2024, your warranty would have expired on May 30, 2024, but will now expire on March 1, 2025.
  • If you purchased an Extended Warranty in addition to your device in 2024, you will receive both the new 12-month standard warranty coverage from the date of shipment, as well as the additional coverage period from your paid extended warranty.
    • For example, if your device shipped on March 1, 2024, with a 2-year Extended Warranty:
      • Your standard warranty now expires on March 1, 2025, instead of May 30, 2024.
      • Your 2-year Extended Warranty coverage will begin on March 1, 2025, and continue until March 1, 2027.



Your trust in our products is paramount to us, and this warranty extension reflects our dedication to your satisfaction and our confidence in the quality and reliability of our devices.

Thank you for choosing Freewrite; we look forward to serving you for many years to come. Write on!

 

- The Freewrite Team



Important Notes:

  • For devices purchased in 2023 or earlier, the original 90-day warranty applies, in addition to any paid Extended Warranty coverage.
  • If you purchased your device in 2023 or earlier, without an Extended Warranty, unfortunately, your warranty has now expired.
  • We are unable to offer refunds for prior out-of-warranty repairs.

 

Useful Links:

Official Freewrite Warranty Policy

Warranty Support Doc