We spoke with Lauren McMenemy who has a developing fascination with folklore, the old ways, and our fast-changing relationship with the natural world; all of this sneaks into her writing, too. In the real world, Lauren is a creative coach with more than 20 years’ experience in journalism and marketing. She’s also a host with the London Writers Salon’s daily virtual writers' hour sessions.
According to Lauren, we are often fascinated by what we do not understand, and curiosity is a big part of the lure of horror and the supernatural. “We try to rationalize that shadow in the corner, or the mysterious light in the sky, but often we’re not satisfied by the rational explanation. We crave something more than what’s right in front of us,” the creative coach explained.
Moreover, “this fascination with the supernatural is a way to be curious about the big questions about life, death and what happens after. It can also provide an escapism from the drudgery - or the chaos, as in recent times! - of everyday life.”
Lauren argues that often, “we’re drawn to scary stories because it’s a way to experience fear in a controlled environment.” In this way, we can put the book down or turn the movie off if it gets too much. “It’s a cathartic way to explore that curiosity without putting ourselves into real and present danger. As Stephen King once said: ‘We make up horrors to help us cope with the real ones,’” she said.
When asked what it takes to create a good horror story from a professional writer’s perspective, Lauren said that horror as a genre encompasses a huge variety of stories. “When I say I write horror, I’m often greeted with a raised eyebrow - people assume I am obsessed with slasher movies and want to write the next installment of the Saw franchise, that I love a bit of gore. It’s far from the case; I’m more interested in exploring the quieter sides of horror, especially gothic and folk horror which takes its cues from folklore and traditions,” she explained.
Lauren argues that no matter the style of horror, though, some things remain true: “horror must tap into our fears.” She explained: “There must be a sense of dread, as well as elements of fear, surprise, suspense and mystery. A good horror story takes the familiar and turns it into something strange, sometimes grotesque, always uncanny.”
In addition, “there must also be a protagonist we care about, and we must feel empathy with characters in relatable situations, whose point of view reflects that of the audience. Consider the rise and fall of the story; you want to give the audience time to calm down from the last tense moment before you crank it up again.”
For those who’re wondering, Lauren assures that there does not have to be a huge amount of blood and guts at all. “In fact, sometimes the quiet horror grounded in the real world is much more unsettling.” There still has to be a monster of some kind, “that could be something otherworldly, something supernatural, something mythological, or it could be another human. Sometimes, humans are the real monsters.”
Since Lauren grew up in Australia in the 1980s, she said that Halloween was not really “a thing” for her. “I didn’t grow up trick or treating, nor getting dressed up and going to parties. But I always knew it was there, and I always felt something special in the air during spooky season,” she said.
In the last decade, Lauren started to indulge her curiosity of the occult and all things spooky. “I started to understand the importance of the date. For witches, it’s a ritual celebration called Samhain, and many consider it the witches' new year. It’s the time of year when the veil between worlds is at its thinnest, and we can talk more easily to those who have passed on. I really love this idea, and do have plans for my own marking of the date this year,” Lauren told Bored Panda via email.
In fact, Lauren wishes those of us with spooky leanings didn’t have to feel weird for the other 11 months of the year. “It might be a one-night spooky indulgence for many, but for some of us we celebrate Halloween all year round. Heck, my writing desk is covered in ghosts and monsters - even a raven!”
For anyone who has any interest or even just a sliver of curiosity in the supernatural, Lauren’s advice is to not try to push it away or think it makes you weird. “There is a huge community out there of people who understand the curiosity and are incredibly welcoming. Try a virtual course, or head to your local occult book store and ask for recommendations. It might not be for you, but at least you’ve followed that curiosity and discovered something new,” she said.
