It is not
very often that a book finds you when you need it the most.
I have been
umming and ahhing about whether to ever write again. Veering between continuing
to self-publish, bothering with sending novels to agents or publishers anymore or,
far more crucially, sitting down and actually writing anything.
I was comforted
to discover that a writer I consider to be at the top of his game suffers very
similar self-doubt. His struggles with both the internal mechanisms of writing and
the external realities of getting the work made were painfully relatable. I was
struck particularly by his insights into where ideas come from and the
terrifying feeling of writer’s block which chimed with my own existential
crisis as a writer.
There is
much more to this book, however. It is stuffed with helpful musings on the
value of research, how to write dialogue and create character, on the connections
between horror and comedy, along with invigorating polemic on the state of the
industry both in the UK and the States. There are wonderfully reflective anecdotes
and thoughts on his own experience in working in TV and Film (including a
fascinating account of the creation and reception of Ghostwatch). The
work is also peppered with observations regarding influential writers and
directors that have had me scuttling to eBay to look for works that I have
missed.
These
essays, collected from Black Static over a 10 year period and placed in
this single volume, reveal an evolution of Volk‘s own character over time. I
love the confessional style of this collection; Volk’s voice at times crying
out in frustration or whispering helpful or hopeful nuggets of advice. Whilst
this is a book that encourages you to dip in and out, I found I could not stop
reading, pulled through it by his passion and sense of fun. Overall, it is his
love of horror and the realisation of its power that truly make their mark, making
me want to get back to my desk and start scribbling stuff again.
What have I
taken from this? I need to enjoy the moments in teaching, writing and family
life as they come. I need to welcome the highs and the lows as they are a part
of me and any potential stories I create. I need to read and watch more!
If you love
horror, are fascinated by the process of writing or just want to be thoroughly
entertained by a wonderfully honest screenwriter and author then read this.
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