Grump's Ground Rules for Mortals and other Non-Aggregates
"Hi Grump. I hope you're doing well these days.
I'm contacting to you because I've a growing concern about my writing. When I write horror I often include conspiracies, sometimes involving corporations or governments. When I started writing that just seemed like harmless, fun fiction. However, the events of the last couple of years show that some people take conspiracies seriously enough to commit acts of violence against others, in real life. I've had a few acquaintances unironically talk about the conspiracy theories they believe, and for the safety of my family I've distanced myself from them. With respect to my writing, my primary concern is whether my works could be contributing to the conspiracy mindset in some vulnerable readers. I certainly don't want that, so it has made writing horror more difficult for me. With the depth of your perspective on history and human behaviour, can you provide any advice for a struggling writer of horror?"
Signed,
Conspiratorially Concerned
Dear C.C.
Scrape that lichen off my stony bottom and call me a supermodel, another writing question, surprise, surprise. But unlike some other marginal questions sent my way, yours might be worth a moment of reflection and not just another forgotten stone chip on the quarry floor.
I’ve indeed experienced some truly horrific times. The Black Death that swept through Europe, the Spanish Inquisition, and the Small-Pox scourge through North America to mention a few. Disease and fear of the ‘other’ usually go hand in hand, whether by design or random circumstance. I have seen your juvenile and pathic race do unspeakable horrors to each other when scared or when they felt they could get away with it. There is something to be said for how fragile the veneer of civilization is with you people, I’m shocked you’ve lasted as long as you have. You’re so much weaker than good stone, pathic.
And while some humans have devolved to sadistic brutes when the reins on society have gone slack, I have also observed the finest ones in these times.
These tiny acts of rebellion that push back against the fear and hate that influence society are rarely shouted from the rooftops for worry of retaliation from the ‘torch and pitchfork’ crowd, but they’re there. And you know why? Because people thrust against the terror in their own fashion and inspire others to do so.
Now I haven’t read your stories, though I suspect my lazy author owns a copy of one of your short story collections on a shelf somewhere. But the fact that you’re distressed about how your words might be taken tells me a lot, so I’m going to make some assumptions. While you might tell tales of horror and the macabre, I’m presuming that you also sneak in lessons that influence and uplift the reader in some slight way. Maybe they don’t realize it at the time while reading, but I’m thinking these minor acts of insurrection or courage stew in the back of that flabby piece of meat you humans call a brain and take root.
As you know, words have power. Sometimes that power is straightforward and immediate, but more often than not, a whisper is more potent than a shout.
As I said, I have witnessed unspeakable things you humans have performed against each other, but I have also noticed tiny gestures unseen by most eyes that have meant more in the long run. A sympathetic word to someone in grief, sharing your blanket with another at night, or simply turning a blind eye as someone steals bread to feed a starving family costs you little, but produces the biggest change.
My advice? Protect yourself from the mobs, but use your words to inspire. You may never see how they’ll touch your readers, but trust someone with experience in the long view, it will be there.
Now bugger off, I’m feeling melancholy and desire some space to reflect on the old days, and I don’t desire companionship.
If YOU have a question for Grump, email peterjohnfoote@gmail.com with "Dear Grump" in the subject line.
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