Need some help (writing related)

[angryfan]

Guys, I'm debating trying something out, but need some assistance here, since I don't know if I can even make it work.

Been kicking around ideas for either a novel or collection of shorter works, that are in essence re-imagining on the supernatural. Was thinking of calling it American Folklore or something, and take new twists on various mythical creatures.

NOw, I know, it's been done to death as of late, which is why I wanted to do something different, so I'm openning up the floor to ideas.

Here's one example I'd beend debating. Taking vampirism and, rather than making them either all super-emo-heathrob or ghoulish mess, turn the whole thing into something like a disease.

Instead of "I need it to live" make it something akin to anemia or a severe metabolic overload that requires the intake of blood to keep the ailment in check. No fangs, no "sunlight is bad", and especially no "teh hawtzorz 'n glitterz".

Like I said, might work, might not, just looking for any ideas at all.

[Push R Truth]

I still like the idea of the Bigfoot Species being hippies that were sprayed by experimental chemicals during Anti-Government Riots.



The chemicals messed with their brains and made them take their "ideals" to the extreme. Like not shaving, living in the wild, letting go of material goods and smelling bad.



Is that the kinda thing you want to see?

[bob]

might get some ideas here

officialfan.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=offtopic&action=display&thread=181825

[angryfan]

May 5, 2009 10:34:26 GMT -5 Push R Truth said:

I still like the idea of the Bigfoot Species being hippies that were sprayed by experimental chemicals during Anti-Government Riots.



The chemicals messed with their brains and made them take their "ideals" to the extreme. Like not shaving, living in the wild, letting go of material goods and smelling bad.



Is that the kinda thing you want to see?

Actually yeah, that might work. I hadn't really delved into thet Bigfoot/Yet thing just yet, had been looking in other directions.

Figured I'd throw a male banshee in there somehow, given that lore says theyr'e all female but there HAS to be at least one, right?

[Bo Rida]

There's a show called Being Human over here that threw out most of the mythology (garlic, sunlight etc) and gave it more realistic grounding, it used supernatural conditions as symbolism for more human ailments.
Vampires are drug addicts, werewolves represented fighting/embracing your inner darkside and the ghost has self-esteem issues, maybe you could do the same for other creatures?

Or do you want more literal reasons?

[Randy Barber 4-Life]

So you're going to take well-known legends, turn the basic concept upside down and inside out, then write a story on the new concept? Sounds like something that could produce some very entertaining results.

I know nothing about the publishing industry so unfortunately I can't give you a "This idea is gold!" seal of approval but it sound interesting to me. And it sounds like a broad enough concept that you could format it in many different ways depending on what you want to do with it: an anthology book of short stories, a series of books, each focusing on one legend, or even short stories published in magazines.

Thumbs up from me, for whatever it's worth.

[angryfan]

May 5, 2009 11:12:49 GMT -5 Bo Rida said:

There's a show called Being Human over here that threw out most of the mythology (garlic, sunlight etc) and uses supernatural conditions as symbolism for more human ailments.
Vampires are drug addicts, werewolves represented fighting/embracing your inner darkside and the ghost has self-esteem issues, maybe you could do the same for other creatures?

Or do you want more literal reasons?

Somewhere in between. Like I said, taking Vampires and, rather than addiction, turn it into a severe vitamin defficiency/ailment kinda deal. Shape-shifting make it not a disease but mroe akin to the old Native American idea of the "spirit animal" wherein extreme emotional stressors or something (not Incredible Hulk-like, at least not to that degree) will force "the change" into something else.

Basically take some naturally occurring thing, put the old mythology paired up with it, and see how it works.

What's more, rather than go the "oh woe is me, I iz monster" route that so many seem to take, I'd like to have them, if not embrace it, than just see it as "normal" for them. I did, however, get the weird dream/visual of the "vampire" character taking blood from someone, but saying "I'm sorry, I need this more than you do". Not srue if it'd make sense, though.

[lemonyellowson]

how about ghost mutt?

[rrm15]

I really like your vampire idea. I would read it.