HOW TO… — Write a horror novel

Become a ghost hunter: If you're going to write a scary story, you might as well experience some scary stuff (this doesn't include the ‘house of horrors' in your local amusement park). So pick up those Geiger counters, ghost traps and night vision cameras and head to the nearest deserted house with an anomalous reputation for being spooky. Yes, you have to go there only at in the night time. No, you can't take anyone along. The key to being a good writer is to experience things in isolation. Even if it's the last thing you will ever experience.

Research: To write a good scary story, you need to know well the ways of an apparition or ghost. Do some research, ask some people who have experienced the paranormal. Put in your own experiences and read some good horror stories. Stephen King is good. “The Exorcist” or “The Omen” is better. “Twilight”? Nah, that isn't really horror.

Good catchline: The best part of any horror novel is a catchline that's really creepy. Don't use clichés such as like ‘be afraid' or ‘it will leave you screaming' since you're can't be sure exactly why the book will leave the reader screaming. Instead, something on the lines of wordplay. Maybe ‘she looked in the mirror one last time' or something just as simple as ‘3 a.m.' will ould do. It just has to get the reader curious — Adding a bit of oozing goo on the cover or a scary face with only the white of the its eyes showing turned up isn't scary. It might just turn out to be hilarious.

The twins in the hallway: If you've ever watched “The Shining” (Stanley Kubrick's version of Stephen King's novel), you'd realise how scary the infamous ‘twins in the hallway' scene is. Try to imbibe some lessons from this scene, and infuse it in your book. They don't have to be twins who seem dead and... well, undead. You can get creative and maybe kill your protagonist, before bringing him back to life again. And, kill him again. And, bring him back. And… Oh, you know the drill!

No good ghosts: Always understand that a ghost in a horror novel has to be a bad ghost. He/she has to be scary, with a violent death and an unfinished business. But under no circumstances, pre- or post-climax must the evil turn good. No Casper-the-friendly-ghost's-long-lost-nauseatingly-happy cousin who is a do-gooder. Your ghost must destroy all good. He must appear in dark hallways, shift shapes into glowing orbs, photograph as glowing mist, stare sullenly from attic windows and scare the creepers out of anyone. Even you.

Light Hearted Music

The Bangalore School Of Music Chamber Orchestra concerts, when conducted by their very own Maestro, Narayanaswamy V. is an experience in itself. The man may look diminutive, but when he takes stage, every deft flick and stroke of his baton coupled with a caustic wit is a performance.

This time it was the Chamber Orchestra in full force presenting “Music of the Great Masters” at the Alliance Francaise, Bangalore. They opened the evening with a rendition of “God of Our Fathers” by the Brass And Chamber Orchestra.

This was followed by a ubiquitous classic of Mozart, “Divertimento No.3 in F”. A light hearted and pleasant piece, this one is split into three parts. First the Allegro that is more light and sprightly, followed by the Andante that is much slower and almost dissolves into your being and third the presto-rondo, which is faster and more energetic.

We were then treated to Two Elegiac Melodies, “Last Spring” and “Hearts Wind”. These were the two most serious pieces in the entire programme and they were dedicated to all the people who had been killed in acts of terror in the recent past. Last Spring had a melancholic feel to it. The violins wept and it was a befitting tribute. This piece was about a man who had a disease and his only wish was that he wanted to see his last spring. So when they plucked the strings in between the performance it signified the icy winter, and that transitions into melodious music again.

This was followed by “Serenade in E for Strings” by Edward Elgar. Divided into an Allegro, Andante and Allegro, this piece went from calm, to something that could totally be the sound track of Roman Holiday and graduated to a more sombre end.

Later, the Chamber Orchestra came together for a “Simple Symphony” by Benjamin Britten. Divided into four parts, this was comprised of a “Boisterous Bourree”, a “Playful Pizzicanto”, a “Sentimental Saraband” and closes with the “Frolicsome Finale”. Although this was primarily written for the piano, it was later adapted to suit a string quartet. The Maestro recommended that we close our eyes and let the music lift us away during “Sentimental Saraband”, he forgot to mention the goose bumps.

The evening closed with the Radetzky March by Johann Strauss who is also known as the Emperor Of Waltzes. The Radetzky March is in fact not a march at all, but instead was written for a dance. The Brass and Chamber Orchestra come back together for this final grand piece.