Tricks of your trade.

[Horror_Writer]

Originally Posted by bwind22

Whoever said that lacked an imagination, in my opinion. There's plenty of new ideas out there, they just need to be thought of.

Jeepers Creepers, Idiocracy, Crank, Saw... They are starting to be copied already, but those were all pretty fresh ideas when they came out and those were all in the last few years.

Not sure who originally said that, but it is oft-quoted in writing circles.

Also, they say that all stories can be categorized as one of the following:

(1) Man against himself
(2) Man against man
(3) Man against nature

In this broad sense of course, you could say there have only been three stories and everything else are variations on one of these three themes. For whatever that's worth--probably not much.

The only one of the four you list that I have seen is "Saw" and I did not think it very original at all. Mostly because I wrote a novel in 1998 that is somewhat similar--a serial killer who captures people, usually using drugs, and then keeps them in his basement. He then plays games with them until he gets to the point where he has two people chained up and he makes them play against each other where the winner will be supposedly allowed to go free. In one game, each person is only allowed to eat body parts of the other. They take turns in choosing parts of the other person to eat.

And if I came up with something that similar, then I'm sure many others have too--they just never reached the exposure that the "Saw" movies have.

[bwind22]

Originally Posted by Horror_Writer

Not sure who originally said that, but it is oft-quoted in writing circles.

Also, they say that all stories can be categorized as one of the following:

(1) Man against himself
(2) Man against man
(3) Man against nature

In this broad sense of course, you could say there have only been three stories and everything else are variations on one of these three themes. For whatever that's worth--probably not much.

Hahaha. Yeah, all stories have words and characters too. I guess when people think in terms that vague and general, then yeah, it's probably all been done already.

The only one of the four you list that I have seen is "Saw" and I did not think it very original at all. Mostly because I wrote a novel in 1998 that is somewhat similar--a serial killer who captures people, usually using drugs, and then keeps them in his basement. He then plays games with them until he gets to the point where he has two people chained up and he makes them play against each other where the winner will be supposedly allowed to go free. In one game, each person is only allowed to eat body parts of the other. They take turns in choosing parts of the other person to eat.

And if I came up with something that similar, then I'm sure many others have too--they just never reached the exposure that the "Saw" movies have.

Is your book published? I'd probably check that out (after I finish The Rising & City of the Dead).

Anyways, I'm sure the concept has been thought up before, but it was never committed to film (to my knowledge) prior to Saw. While that would not make Saw a completely original story, it would still make it an original film. That's sorta what I was saying, but I guess I coulda phrased it better... There's plenty of good ideas and original concepts that have yet to see the big screen. Someone just needs to get those good, fresh ideas to put them on film instead of more remakes, sequels and/or hackjobs.

[Horror_Writer]

Originally Posted by bwind22

Anyways, I'm sure the concept has been thought up before, but it was never committed to film (to my knowledge) prior to Saw. While that would not make Saw a completely original story, it would still make it an original film. That's sorta what I was saying, but I guess I coulda phrased it better... There's plenty of good ideas and original concepts that have yet to see the big screen. Someone just needs to get those good, fresh ideas to put them on film instead of more remakes, sequels and/or hackjobs.

Agree completely.

No, the book I was talking about has not been published. It is so disturbing to me that I have only let two other people read it. I do not expect to ever try and publish it, at least not at this stage of my career.

[bwind22]

You could publish it yourself online or something & just put a discalimer at the start letting the reader know it's graphic & distubring.

[Horror_Writer]

Maybe someday. And/or publish it under a pen name.

It is quite graphic as you no doubt guessed. About a serial killer, written in first-person that details how he has so far killed 72 people and not yet been caught. I did the whole thing as if this guy had come to me to write his story and so I wrote it. There is a big note at the beginning about how I turned all this information over to the police and how they continue to investigate, etc. I also made up news articles at the beginning of some chapters that depict "real" events which appear to give credence to the killer's story. Some pretty good writing I think, just a little too past the line for me at this point. Plus I have two more novels written also that I want to publish first once my first book gets some decent sales numbers behind it. Speaking of which, I'm doing a 3-day book signing this weekend. Anyone in Michigan that will be near the Midland area can come see me at the Midland Mall March 9-11. :)

[bwind22]

Originally Posted by Horror_Writer

Maybe someday. And/or publish it under a pen name.

It is quite graphic as you no doubt guessed. About a serial killer, written in first-person that details how he has so far killed 72 people and not yet been caught. I did the whole thing as if this guy had come to me to write his story and so I wrote it. There is a big note at the beginning about how I turned all this information over to the police and how they continue to investigate, etc. I also made up news articles at the beginning of some chapters that depict "real" events which appear to give credence to the killer's story. Some pretty good writing I think, just a little too past the line for me at this point. Plus I have two more novels written also that I want to publish first once my first book gets some decent sales numbers behind it. Speaking of which, I'm doing a 3-day book signing this weekend. Anyone in Michigan that will be near the Midland area can come see me at the Midland Mall March 9-11. :)

I'm sure you've probably already mentioned it on this forum somewhere, but I either missed the post or forgot about it (See the marijuana legalization thread for possible reasons I may have forgotten.)... What's your current, published book called/about?

[missmacabre]

I apprentice at a salon to be a hairdresser and I thought of a few tricks of the trade.

First is that a good hairwash is essential. Washing hair right is no easy task, but clients wash their hair all the time so they think that if you can't do that right, you shouldn't be trusted to cut hair. Also, if done right, it relaxes a client so they don't get on your case about little things and bulids a good rapport.

Second is to let new clients have "free" products. If they come in for their first time to get their hair coloured and that costs $50, charge them $70 and give them $20 of "free" stuff. That way if they like the product they will come in again thinking they're getting a cheaper haircolour service and also buy shampoo etc.

Lastly, everyone can need to buy shampoo. There is shampoo for dry, oliy, colour treated, damaged, thick or thin hair... so telling a client they could use that shampoo to make their hair healthy will more than likely make them buy it. The money you make from selling products goes right back to the salon to buy haircolour, scissors etc.

I hope that's helpful to someone.