Smoose Entertainment

Thoughts on Writing - Cosmic Horror.

I’m currently working on a cosmic horror screenplay. It’s not a genre I ever really thought I’d get into, but once I delved into it, I found there are some real upsides to it, both as an audience member and as a writer.

I find that cosmic horror inherently brings higher stakes than other horror genres. Horror - in general - focuses on a protagonist against some evil or malicious force. In a slasher, that is generally a human killer, which is just a human, something or someone you can fight back against and defeat. In a supernatural horror, its a ghost, but typically there are rules, or exorcisms, or some supernatural methods that can be used to defeat said ghost. If you’re talking a possessed doll, well, it’s a doll. Punt that thing across the room.

But in cosmic horror, once you have an evil entity that’s been around before time began, that has existed and survived eons, whose very nature is beyond human comprehension. Well then, now you’re talking some high stakes worth watching.

Adam Smestad
- Stories about being human

Lessons from the Trenches - Set Your Tone Early.

While working on my latest screenplay, I find that it is flowing so well, and I wondered why is this one coming along so easily when the last screenplay I wrote was a struggle. And I think I landed on it - Tone.

In this script, I was able to find the tone and set it firmly in the story early on. This has made the story come so much easier - I have less debate about how the story should move forward, there are less questions as to what fits in the story and the mood, and overall things are coming more naturally and organically. In the previous script, where I was struggling, I had a difficult time really landing on a solid tone for the story.

So the lesson is - pick the story’s tone early and let it sit. You’ll thank yourself later.

- Adam Smestad
Stories about being human.

The Writing Process - Getting Back At It After a Long Interlude.

It’s been a few weeks since I was able to sit down and get back to work on this screenplay - I have been working on an unrelated film project that just wrapped. But now it is time to get back at it.

So how does a writer get back at it after a long time away? Same way you do it every day. You sit down, you read what you have so far, and pick up where you left off. The story will lead you where to go.

And how do I know this is a good story? Because I’m excited to get back at it.

- Adam Smestad
Stories about being human.