Over the weekend, I sent the premise of Nano to my CP, and she said that once again I've hit on something that freaks her out. So, I thought I'd take a moment to talk about what freaks me out and what might freak the rest of you out.
First off, the thought of losing my mental faculties totally freaks me out. I don't mean going insane--although that's scary enough in its own right--but losing my ability to think. This one has its roots in the time after my car accident when I actually did come close to losing that ability. Being unable to remember huge chunks of your past, and losing some basic skills (like how to multiply) can be freaky. My mother's best friend has Alzheimer's, and we talk about her slow deterioration into a completely different person. The thought of that scares the crap out of me.
Another thing that freaks me out is the thought of losing my personal liberties. Of course, being locked up would kill me. (I don't like small spaces.) But beyond that, the thought of the government taking away my individual rights, and me not having any ability to stop them, scares the bejeezus out of me. (This fear is what lays behind RTL, btw.)
I used to be freaked out by moths (long story), but after some intensive personal work, I got over most of that. Grasshoppers are another issue. Those things are just creepy. I can stand to be around them, until they touch me (or look like they're about to touch me). Then all bets are off. I blame this horror flick I watched when I was a kid about mutant grasshoppers from outer space. Can't recall the title or even the plot, but the image of millions of giant grasshoppers eating their way across the landscape still haunts me. (I won't even go into the trauma of watching the old version of The Fly, and the months... years... my siblings spent tormenting me with the high-pitched shriek of "Help me! Help me!" :shudder:)
Of the above, only the first two could work into storylines for me. Oh, I suppose I could write a creepy insect book, but that's not my style. I'm more into the psychological and philosophical freak-outs.
Tell me, what freaks you out? And if you write, do you use your fears to drive your books?
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Saturday Reading Wrap-up 12/21/24
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7 comments:
I'm with you on freaking out over the idea of loss of mental capabilities. Alzheimer's is and EVIL disease!
I'm claustrophobic and feel sick even watching a show where some poor slob is trying to squeeze through a tight space *shudder* When I write about a character experiencing fear, I usually think about myself in a tight space :)
People puking freaks me out. But I write great puking scenes. Go figure.
Yeah, those first two freak me out. Killer grasshoppers, not so much. Although if it actually happened, I'd be changing my tune on that one.
I'm afraid of us killing the Earth to tell you the truth. We haven't quite gotten to that point yet, but we could sometime in the future. Loss of all forests and species of creatures that live in those forests. Nothing but industry and steel buildings. That right there freaks me out. It's why my new apartment is now in a very tree-lined area with two parks nearby than before. I couldn't stand not having green.
I'm also afraid of doctors and needles. Oh, and killer clowns.
Things that freak me out: deep water, sharks, spiders, being buried alive, drowning.
Do I use these things? Not really, but I'm kind of about to in a book I have planned. I'm just going to ignore my fear and write.
Ugh, I hear you there, Wendy. Claustrophobia stinks.
I hate when they show people puking on TV, Zinnia, but I just think it's gross and unnecessary.
I used to be afraid of that, too, Jen, but then I found out the Earth's not in the terrible danger some people would have us think. Try junkscience.com.
Oooo, buried alive! That one freaks me out, too. :shudder:
HAHAHAHA!!!!!
In case you're wondering why I'm laughing, it's because I just found myself singing all the things we DON'T like to the tune of "My Favorite Things".
Left live in coffins,
and grasshoppers hopping,
small teeny spaces
and roaches a crawlin.
Planes falling down
and mice running round
These are a few of my real scary things...
Seriously though. Only some of those are for real (for me anyway). I can tolerate most bugs - but not roaches are centipedes. Roach loathing makes sense to me, but I don't get not liking centipedes. But I can't stand them.
ROFL!! You kill me, Janime. Now I'm going to have that song in my head all day... but what fun. =o) Oh, and FL has some of the worst roaches EVER. Makes me all oogie just thinking about them.
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