Thread: changing a not so major, but relevant ... thing

So, I've recently decided that I want to produce a more E - T rated set that I'm working on. Editing out a bit of violence and gore in what I'm working on now, and will go back and redo my previous work to be more kid friendly at a later date. "Keep Moving Forward!"

Any advice on mood setting to still hold my 'dark' and somewhat violent tone. I understand that great writers, and directors have for centuries produced work without gore, and utter violence that has been more electrifyingly striking and able to captivate tension. I would just rather not walk into the dark tunnel without a flash light on this one.

The mind often plays tricks on ourselves. Think of a child imagining the coat hanging in the closet is a monster. It's more the hint and shape than the specifics. Dark shadows, visions caught out of the corner of the eye, strange sounds, ect.

take this only as you need... I've never been a fan of slasher films. There are a few films that are just as terrifying without all the gore. The first one that springs to mind is Boogeyman. The audience feels the terror of the protagonist, but there is no gore, simply the fear of what could happen. Unfortunately the two sequels became slasher flicks. >

The point is, fear is a very real emotion that can easily be expressed without depictions of what will happen if you're caught by the monster. I'm sure you already have a mood set, considering the works you've competed. Just aim the camera away from the gore. Focus on the extreme emotional expressions of the characters.

Suggestion: think back to running through a haunted house when you were a kid. Consciously you may have known it was all fake, but in the dark, not know what was around the corner, your heart raced, your adrenaline had you on your toes, ready to run, maybe even lash out. And then someone brushed up against you from behind! It's all the same. Also remember, the readers own mind can be their worst enemy. You build the suspense and the hint of danger, they'll be covered up to their eyeballs with a blanket wondering when the monster will make a grab for the hero.

I've got kind of a start on the general-ness of it. Fear doesn't seem to hard of an emotion to portray. What's really getting to me is the difference between personalities as well as painting the picture of ongoing change in a character that is violent.

Like, ... saron. We all know he's an a$$ and evil and comparatively the devil. So, we all figure that him killing somebody is no big deal, but everytime he (indirectly) does it affects most of the characters in the lotr trillogy. Now, I'm kinda in gorilla glue with a particular character. The type you would call a 'noble savage'. She's ruthless, but has her morals. She won't torture and finds it wrong to prolong death. How do I make death seem more real; espeecially to kids without being like... 'they fell to the ground' 'they stopped breathing' 'she killed them'. Its an important character trait that she is both violent and moral, but. I want a younger audience to be able enjoy what I'm hoping to offer.

As another thought, I do feel very flexible on this trait as throughout what I'm working on now, would be underdeveloped throughout the entirety of the ms. Sooo... could I simply sacrifice including it now?

Specific details for an E rating is difficult. Even children understand death, to some degree at least. I have twin ten year olds and they know death well enough that when I play games with them, my son might start chanting 'die die die!' while playing, fighting something. My daughter won't but she already knows she killing things in the game. It's there. Unavoidable. You just leave out some of the more gruesome details. Blood is understood, and typically the direct link to death. If someone's bleeding, they might die. So, as an example...

The young warrior ducked under the assassin's blade, and thrust his sword out.

The assassin stood still. His hand was still poised. Looking down, he watched his life's blood spill to the dirt.

The warrior stepped back, just in case the assassin tried one more ploy. They were so full of tricks.

The assassin never looked back up. His body crumpled and fell into the pool of blood at his feet.

The mage and cleric recovered from their hiding places. "Well done warrior," the mage said. "He would have killed us all if not for you."

It doesn't have to be graphic. Simple descriptions work well in all genres and levels of reading. You have to trust that the reader will fill in some of the blanks in their own minds.