#Writing #AmWriting #ScienceFiction #Thriller #Horror
The first line of any story is the most important sentence you’ll write.
The first page of the story is the most important page you’ll write.
The first chapter of the story is the most important chapter you’ll write.
John Carpenter’s THE THING, 1982
In 2013, coinciding with the release of my first novel, THE FURNACE, I wrote an essay for John Scalzi’s website on the Imposter Theme in Science Fiction. It’s a common plot element in the genre, and I encountered it repeatedly in my formative years. The novels INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS and THE PUPPET MASTERS feature the theme. John Carpenter’s THE THING had a massive impact on me when it was released, and THE FURNACE is actually an homage to it and the novella it was based on, WHO GOES THERE?
A few weeks back, I had the pleasure of participating in a radio program with host Gail Barker. I spoke about Horror/Science Fiction movies and how they inspired me to write. Movies like ALIEN and THE THING. In the 1980’s, during my most formative years developing my creativity, a wave of slasher films hit theaters. Parents hated them, but believe it or not, they taught me about the importance of emotion in all stories, regardless of genre.