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Unknown Binding
First published January 23, 2012
'I choose weird stories because they suit my inclination best—one of my strongest and most persistent wishes being to achieve, momentarily, the illusion of some strange suspension or violation of the galling limitations of time, space, and natural law which for ever imprison us and frustrate our curiosity about the infinite cosmic spaces beyond the radius of our sight and analysis.'Then he proceeds to sort the different types of stories he wrote, their origins and his process of writing.
'(1) Prepare a synopsis or scenario of events in the order of their absolute occurrence—not the order of their narration.'...
'(2) Prepare a second synopsis or scenario of events—this one in order of narration (not actual occurrence), with ample fulness and detail, and with notes as to changing perspective, stresses, and climax.'...
'(3) Write out the story—rapidly, fluently, and not too critically—following the second or narrative-order synopsis.'...
'(4) Revise the entire text, paying attention to vocabulary, syntax, rhythm of prose, proportioning of parts, niceties of tone, grace and convincingness or transitions (scene to scene, slow and detailed action to rapid and sketchy time-covering action and vice versa… etc., etc., etc.), effectiveness of beginning, ending, climaxes, etc., dramatic suspense and interest, plausibility and atmosphere, and various other elements.'...
'(5) Prepare a neatly typed copy—not hesitating to add final revisory touches where they seem in order.'Next, he groups weird tales into 'two rough categories - those in which the marvel or horror concerns some condition or phenomenon, and those in which it concerns some action of persons in connexion with a bizarre condition or phenomenon.'
'That my results are successful may well be disputed—but...'Even if you are not a fan of his stories, even if you might think that there are better notes on writing out there today, you cannot simply forget how important he is for the genre.