What makes me write about the dark side...

I write this to clarify certain aspects about writing – especially the variety of dark genres. Readers and critiques would always link a writers style with their personality and gauge their mental attitudes and persona. They feel that the writers who write dark fiction and poetry are the ones who are depressed or mentally unstable. They are considered to be negative and perhaps even given advice like “Why don't you write happy stuff?” or “You should look at the bright side of life” etc. I already have explained in an earlier post that I do not have a choice when I write. I simply write and place it in front of an audience. While I cannot speak on behalf of all writers who write in these genres, I can only state this for myself. I write stories and poetry and many articles what I trust do not come in any specific type of work. A story may be classified in a genre, but my job as a writer is to just write, while it is for the people to make that classification.

If you ask me why I write horror, dark or stories representing Gothic romance, my answers are simple. If you notice any story I have written, closely, there are all kinds of elements present in them. The dark side of whatever I write does not come out from within me per se all the time. It comes out of what I see from people around, read in the news or have experienced firsthand. It comes from all kinds of people. Insensitive people, greedy people, ruthless people, selfish people and so many other kinds. I see their actions, their words and the bad ways in which they handle a situation. I see their dark side, and how they comfortably veil it to satisfy themselves and others. This is all seen by me as a witness, and hence this flows into my stories. Well, I honestly think critics need to see the work and not try and gauge the writers personality per se. It makes way for faulty readership and judgment. The writer’s do quite some introspection for themselves I think (hence I guess are able to write). So now, whenever you read something dark and are beginning to gauge anything else besides the work - look within yourselves and answer this – is the darkness you read on paper because of something or someone you know; or yourself? Godspeed.