Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

James Ryan

@jamesryan.bsky.social

1.1K followers 2.4K following 1.8K posts

Writer, critic, occasional toruble-maker; interested in-writes SF/F/H, history in general, entertainment/mass media issues and history

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

James Ryan @jamesryan.bsky.social · Nov 18

Just got the main page on the website for the novel set up, which is where info on how to buy the book when it comes out:
raginggail.wordpress.com/statues-to-s...

Statues to Silence

Most writers like to think they do pretty well it comes to writing, but nothing reinforces that belief like getting a book sold… Horror doesn’t get the respect it deserves. Yes, if you’re a fan, yo…

raginggail.wordpress.com

3 16

James Ryan @jamesryan.bsky.social · 4h

Today's #HorrorWritersChat had some GREAT questions; everyone who came in for that one had something interesting to say.

They're all worth looking for and reading, trust me...

1 3 12

James Ryan @jamesryan.bsky.social · 4h

#HorrorWritersChat

My latest, "Ivy, Lichens, and Wallflowers" is in the collection TOIL AND TROUBLE from DCL Publications:

books2read.com/u/bOYyEN

Cover for TOIL AND TROUBLE by DCL Publications, showing an attractive witch looking in her crystal ball at a handsome man. Cover notes that contents contain stories by Jennifer Patricia O'Keefe, Lynn Hubbard, James Ryan, Cindy Lewis Smith, Juan Christian, and Jae El Foster (who is also credited on the cover as the editor).

3 4

Reposted by James Ryan

Thea O'Ryan Files @theaoryanfiles.bsky.social · 5h

#HorrorWritersChat

I think what makes the supernature interesting is how it taps into our real fears, anxieties, doubts, regrets, and shames. There's an almost fairy-tale quality to supernatural horror where the monsters are often manifestations of the stuff that truly scares us most.

Eryn McCee @erynmccee.bsky.social · 5h

Q4.
Do hang around for the outro, in around 10 minutes.

Which is the easier route? Or the more satisfying?

#HorrorWritersChat

Q4
In your stories: is desperation scarier than the supernatural?

2 6 11

Reposted by James Ryan

Michael G. Williams 🏳️‍🌈 @mcmanlypants.bsky.social · 5h

I write characters constantly at risk in some meaningful, material way (financial, supernatural, etc.), in part because it's what I know and in part because people with nothing at stake do nothing noteworthy enough to drive a story. They stay home instead of saving the world.

#HorrorWritersChat

Eryn McCee @erynmccee.bsky.social · 5h

Q2. So many of you are diving in courageously. I salute you. Don't worry, now we go more abstract.
#HorrorWritersChat

Q2
How does scarcity or deprivation shape the worlds you build in your stories?

5 14

Reposted by James Ryan

Kathy Palm @kathleenpalm.bsky.social · 5h

That desperation is great character motivation. And I love character driven stories.
Throwing the supernatural in is just fun.
#HorrorWritersChat

Eryn McCee @erynmccee.bsky.social · 5h

Q4.
Do hang around for the outro, in around 10 minutes.

Which is the easier route? Or the more satisfying?

#HorrorWritersChat

2 7 16

Reposted by James Ryan

Gree_ @greethewriter.bsky.social · 5h

It CAN be scarier than the supernatural. When you're the root of a problem. And you have been laid bare in front of justice.

And the supernatural is hunting YOU now.

#HorrorWritersChat

Eryn McCee @erynmccee.bsky.social · 5h

Q4.
Do hang around for the outro, in around 10 minutes.

Which is the easier route? Or the more satisfying?

#HorrorWritersChat

1 6 19

Reposted by James Ryan

Kimberly Davis Basso @kdbwrites.bsky.social · 5h

People are always scarier than anything else & the anything else is usually just another way of saying people. My characters all seem so utterly…average? Normal? Readers have asked me what’s wrong with me, but I think that’s pretty standard for horror writers. Right? Right?!? Q4
#horrorwriterschat

Eryn McCee @erynmccee.bsky.social · 5h

Q4.
Do hang around for the outro, in around 10 minutes.

Which is the easier route? Or the more satisfying?

#HorrorWritersChat

8 16

Reposted by James Ryan

Viva La Vivian @vivalavivian.bsky.social · 5h

My horror's equal opportunity. You do bad, you feel bad. You do good, well, sometimes you still feel bad, but your character will be redeemed in one way or another. Good and evil exist and come in all sizes, which is why I feel it important to illustrate that.
#HorrorWriterschat

Eryn McCee @erynmccee.bsky.social · 5h

#HorrorWritersChat Q3.

Who do you scare? As a writer, it's our chance to bite back, perhaps.

Q3
Do you write horror that scares the poor, the wealthy or everyone equally?

10 15

Reposted by James Ryan

Mark Guyer (fiction) / Dustin Pinney (non-fiction) @markguyer.bsky.social · 5h

Scaring the reader isn't my main objective. I’d prefer to think of my writing as a warning. A warning to working people of the various ways the rich try to devour them. So, I guess I make the poor scared of the rich in a way that scares the rich? Maybe?

#HorrorWritersChat

Eryn McCee @erynmccee.bsky.social · 5h

#HorrorWritersChat Q3.

Who do you scare? As a writer, it's our chance to bite back, perhaps.

1 11 17

Reposted by James Ryan

Jez Conolly @jezconolly.bsky.social · 5h

#HorrorWritersChat

I don’t think there’s much point in writing anything expressly for the wealthy, however at some stage I’d quite like to write a story designed to make the wealthy scared of the poor. Because they should be.

Eryn McCee @erynmccee.bsky.social · 5h

#HorrorWritersChat Q3.

Who do you scare? As a writer, it's our chance to bite back, perhaps.

1 6 9

Reposted by James Ryan

A Local Cryptid @michelleheller.bsky.social · 5h

#HorrorWritersChat

I write popcorn horror, mostly. I'm looking to entertain and spook everyone that may enjoy my brand of weird. Sometimes my characters are well off because it's nice to live vicariously, lol. Other times it's more close to home. It depends on what I need for the story :B

Eryn McCee @erynmccee.bsky.social · 5h

#HorrorWritersChat Q3.

Who do you scare? As a writer, it's our chance to bite back, perhaps.

5 7

Reposted by James Ryan

Jacob Marsh - Author 🇨🇦 @jacobmarsh.bsky.social · 5h

#HorrorWritersChat Q2:

I often treat the supernatural like a resource. The people who have or control the phenomena have the power, and they hoard it like anything else. In my fantasy world, it gets worse because some creatures live unnaturally long, allowing them to consolidate that power.

Eryn McCee @erynmccee.bsky.social · 5h

Q2. So many of you are diving in courageously. I salute you. Don't worry, now we go more abstract.
#HorrorWritersChat

1 6 10

Reposted by James Ryan

Villimey Mist @villimeymist.bsky.social · 5h

Honestly, most of it comes from real life.

For example, one time I listened to a podcast talking about water depletion or Day Zero.

Living in Iceland, I'm lucky to have an abundance of fresh water but the thought terrified me and an idea for a short story leaked into my mind.

#HorrorWritersChat

Eryn McCee @erynmccee.bsky.social · 5h

Q2. So many of you are diving in courageously. I salute you. Don't worry, now we go more abstract.
#HorrorWritersChat

1 4 10

Reposted by James Ryan

E. D. Jones (he/him), author and weirdmaster of Write Sinister @sinister42.bsky.social · 5h

Everything I say or do should scare the wealthy. #horrorwriterschat.

No war but class war. www.iww.org

1 7 9

Reposted by James Ryan

Clover S. Laurel 🍀 @tea-and-mushrooms.bsky.social · 5h

I definitely scare my family! My Mommom once asked me if I can ever write anything happy 😂 I’m not sure if I’ve scared anyone else since people don’t leave reviews (I am begging!), but I know I have intrigued a few people with my twist endings and symbolism (they told me so).
#Horrorwriterschat

Eryn McCee @erynmccee.bsky.social · 5h

#HorrorWritersChat Q3.

Who do you scare? As a writer, it's our chance to bite back, perhaps.

1 8 12

Reposted by James Ryan

Mary Wyrd (she/her) @marywyrd.bsky.social · 5h

#HorrorWritersChat

All my worlds are versions of what we've had or could have again (with added Weird). For a majority of the population, that includes scarcity and deprivation.

Each member of the Contemporary Cosmic Coven came from some form of poverty and made sacrifices in order to leave it.

Eryn McCee @erynmccee.bsky.social · 5h

Q2. So many of you are diving in courageously. I salute you. Don't worry, now we go more abstract.
#HorrorWritersChat

7 11

Reposted by James Ryan

Mitch Miller ☆ 📼 @astramachina.bsky.social · 5h

A lot of my characters are often minimum wage workers and a lot of the times I like to carry that scarcity into more thematic elements, either by countering by giving them rich relationships, or making it SO much worse for them.

Makes for some interesting puzzle making.

#HorrorWritersChat

Eryn McCee @erynmccee.bsky.social · 5h

Q2. So many of you are diving in courageously. I salute you. Don't worry, now we go more abstract.
#HorrorWritersChat

4 7

Reposted by James Ryan

J.D. Buffington @jdbuffington.com · 5h

Q2. #HorrorWritersChat
My current WIP has a major element about scarcity, plenty, and gluttonous consumption. Someone tries to make a forever food that’s totally nutritious and grows in harsh conditions—they may have accidentally created a universe destroying god…but they did just want to help.

Eryn McCee @erynmccee.bsky.social · 5h

Q2. So many of you are diving in courageously. I salute you. Don't worry, now we go more abstract.
#HorrorWritersChat

2 4 8

Reposted by James Ryan

Trish Wilson @trishcwilson.bsky.social · 5h

#HorrorWritersChat

I grew up working class but was exposed to some very wealthy people and households. While I usually create working and middle class characters, I can go all White Lotus on them. I like to scare everyone.

Eryn McCee @erynmccee.bsky.social · 5h

#HorrorWritersChat Q3.

Who do you scare? As a writer, it's our chance to bite back, perhaps.

7 10

Reposted by James Ryan

HD Beird @thebeird.bsky.social · 5h

#HorrorWritersChat

Everyone's fucked

But the rich go first

Since they're the ones leading us into oblivion

1 9 13

Reposted by James Ryan

Tom of the Dead @calmtomb.bsky.social · 5h

Rich people have never not been the monsters in my stories (literal or otherwise), so I am probably not writing for them.

#HorrorWritersChat

Eryn McCee @erynmccee.bsky.social · 5h

#HorrorWritersChat Q3.

Who do you scare? As a writer, it's our chance to bite back, perhaps.

8 20

Reposted by James Ryan

Bert Piedmont's FAT MONSTER now available! @bertpiedmont.bsky.social · 5h

Wow, I never thought about my audience according to how much they make! So I guess everyone equally? Something new to think about. #horrorwriterschat

Eryn McCee @erynmccee.bsky.social · 5h

#HorrorWritersChat Q3.

Who do you scare? As a writer, it's our chance to bite back, perhaps.

1 6 12

Reposted by James Ryan

Rosé Black @roseblack2222.bsky.social · 5h

#HorrorWritersChat I'd say desperation is more depressing than scary, but yet I always felt the supernatural gives way to possibility as much as it does fear. I think the scariest thing would be refusing to adapt.

Eryn McCee @erynmccee.bsky.social · 5h

Q4.
Do hang around for the outro, in around 10 minutes.

Which is the easier route? Or the more satisfying?

#HorrorWritersChat

4 8

Reposted by James Ryan

Jude Deluca @judedeluca.bsky.social · 5h

When the world is closing in and threatening to drag you back to the place where you can be a living corpse, yes desperation can be more terrifying than

Eryn McCee @erynmccee.bsky.social · 5h

Q4.
Do hang around for the outro, in around 10 minutes.

Which is the easier route? Or the more satisfying?

#HorrorWritersChat

1 4 7

James Ryan @jamesryan.bsky.social · 5h

#HorrorWritersChat

Looking at my stuff the last few years, if anything the two have a symbiotic relationship; desperation tends to invite the supernatural to enter the picture, and supernatural messes make people do desperate things. You can't really have one without the other.

Eryn McCee @erynmccee.bsky.social · 5h

Q4.
Do hang around for the outro, in around 10 minutes.

Which is the easier route? Or the more satisfying?

#HorrorWritersChat

5 12