Mazes, Minotaur and . . . Roller Coasters? How to Write Horror Based on Folklore

 

I’m not a huge horror fan. I like books with atmosphere that sets your nerves on edge. I don’t even mind the jump scare. I know, I know. My college student will contradict that. My fight or flight instinct is well honed, and I will jump. But that’s to be expected with horror. I don't mind it although it annoys those around me.

What I don’t love is extensive gore. This is especially true when it is misogynistic. All the victims are women? And you’re doing what to them? Bye. I’m gone. But if the victims are evenly distributed and the monster doesn't go after just one demographic, I'm all in.  

One of the best horror novels I’ve recently read is HIDE by Kiersten White. Not only is she queen of the creeping feeling of dread, but she based the whole thing on a folktale. 

From here on out, this post is going to be a massive plot spoiler. You’ve been warned. No seriously. If this was a horror novel, there’d be one lone shoe laying on its side, maybe with a little nibble taken out of it.  This is a serious warning.  Plot Spoilers Ahead. 

I don’t know if White started with the story of the minotaur in the maze. Or maybe she wrote a draft of her novel and realized that there were similarities, and her story would be strengthened by playing them up. I have no clue. 

What I do know is that she didn’t follow the myth slavishly. The similarities include a minotaur at the center of a maze. This maze just happens to be a creepy amusement park built to channel victims to the monster. 

In the myth, there are seven victims served up at a time. In HIDE, there are fourteen. 

In the myth, the monster is defeated by one hero, Perseus. In HIDE, it takes a trio of characters to defeat the maze. They don’t defeat the monster but that’s okay. I don’t normally like open endings but this one really works. 

In addition to not following each and every point of the myth, White makes the story modern. It isn’t a single person feeding people to the monster, it is the upper crust of a small town. These people are the movers and shakers. They’ve gifted the world with high grade pharmaceuticals and tech, and if their success requires a sacrifice of the less-gifted and less-desirable members of society? Well, shouldn’t they be willing to give something of themselves for the good of all? 

Is it just me? I swear the hairs on the back of my neck just stood up. As if regular white privilege wasn’t scary enough, White has added to it. Additional contemporary touches include reality TV, influencers, plastic surgery, and religious zealotry. 

If you’ve read many Greek myths, you know that the characters are seldom very likable. Child sacrifice? No biggie. Rape, imprisonment and more. They’re all okay. Whether gods or heroes, the characters in Greek mythology are far from perfect. In fact, they sound like pretty good characters. A bit of good, a bit of bad, stir well and bake. 

What does all of this have to do with you, dear writers? This novel is a lesson on how to base your story on a traditional tale while still making it your very own story. So if you aren’t sure what to write, consider looking for inspiration among folktales, fables, and legends. 

Find one that draws you in and then redraw it in a modern setting. Or a historic setting. Or a fantasy setting. When you think that you’ve made your story unique, push it a little farther. Read the original tale again and consider the similarities with your story. 

Think about what the original tale said about the society that created it. How can you do the same? 

And when you get stuck, turn to page one of HIDE. It is definitely a lesson in how to do it right. 

--SueBE

Sue Bradford Edwards' is the author of 40 books for young readers.  To find out more about her writing, visit her site and blog, One Writer's Journey.

The next session of her new course, Pitching, Querying and Submitting Your Work will begin on July 10, 2023).  Coping with rejection is one of the topics she will cover in this course.

Sue is also the instructor for  Research: Prepping to Write Nonfiction for Children and Young Adults (next session begins July 10, 2023) and Writing Nonfiction for Children and Young Adults (next session begins July 10, 2023).