I’ve just invented a new literary genre – it’s called Rorroh.
It’s quite similar to Horror, but it’s very different in tone and consequence.
Here’s how it works: you take up a standard Horror story, but instead of reading it from start to finish so that it begins rather innocently, and then ends with a shocking or gruesome scene, you instead read the story (paragraph by paragraph) from finish to start.
In this way the story is perceived to begin with a horrifyingly cataclysmic scene, but then as the tale progresses, everything gets better and better until it finally reaches a point of calm, peace and innocence.
The following link to a post by published author G. Jefferies is particularly amenable to being read as Rorroh.
https://fictionisfood.wordpress.com/2016/07/09/an-absent-child-revisted
Indeed, it is the inspiration for my own post.
Yes, I like this idea. Doubles your reading audience, too, as those who insist on happy endings read it one way, horror lovers read it another way. Brilliant!
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You see – that’s exactly what I thought! π
Strangely enough, the author hasn’t replied to my comment – yet.
Kindness – Robert.
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Rob, Were you referring to author being me?? Your message on my post had me thinking it was someone else π€
Strangely enough…no, wait…I will add my comment as a separate one down below π
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I’m not sure which author you were referring to but I meant the one referenced at the bottom of my original post – G. Jefferies.
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Ahh….I am keen to see the other message that began with an expletive, while trying not to laugh too hard π
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As c’mon – you wouldn’t laugh at me would you?
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Not at all, I was laughing with you simply because it’s the sort of thing I’d do too !!!
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You’re a fine person to have around, Gary. Thanks for being such a good sport. π
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Life’s too short not to be my friend. I have decided to add you onto my WordPress list of bloggers. A quick find it list just as soon as I’ve worked out how to do it π±
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So long as I don’t get loads of Junk Mail. π
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Lol…no no no…that is one thing I too despise….this is a WordPress list that you can add specific URLs to. Helps you locate or see specified blogs if you don’t get emails or see them flash down the reader too fast…dead useful π
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Hahaha – gotcha. π
Actually, that sounds quite useful – when you figure out how to do it can you let me know? Cheers.
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I do believe I have….go to the reader and on the left column there is an ‘add lists’ button. In it you can add and name individual lists to whatever you want, then add the bloggers URL et voila….the reader will then let you call up a list and just display posts from bloggers on it or you can just hit the URL to go straight to their blog. Several lists with different topics and you can add bloggers into each category for quick reference…simples π
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That sounds really easy. One for the future for me, though. I’m only a quarter of the way to my target of 1,000 followers (before I start releasing my novels and start marketing) whereas you’re probably into the multi-thousands by now.
How do you persuade people to buy your books, by the way? π
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It is! Me and my following is still slim…only started in January….some 336 on FB author page, similar on Twitter and about 230 here. As for pursuading folk to buy my maybe books…errrr I’m still on the synopsis stage of the first out of the slush pile….publishing is like, eh? What? How? at the moment π€
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Never thought about a FB Author Page – I’ll have to have a look at that. I haven’t mastered the art of small posts either really so my Twitter is languishing. Doing better here I guess, but then I post every day, sometimes twice a day. It’s good – it keeps me disciplined. I suppose that I would like to do something with all these Writing Tips when I get enough of them. I see a lot of blogs where the posts could be collected into a book. It’s pretty easy to pull something like that together and put it up on Kindle Direct. I published one last year just to see how the process is, and it is really easy to do.
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I should up my post rate here as I need to stick to a game plan. At the moment I arrive at days with no clear vision beyond school runs. It leads to wafting about and procrastinating. I should, apparently, schedule thungs and plan ahead to create order. I see value in this approach now ! Did you know you can auto dump any possible here to several social media platforms? It happens as soon as the post is published here. Mine go direct to Twitter, FB and Google Plus
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Yes – I do that too, although I prefer to call it ‘sharing valuable content’ rather than ‘dumping’. π
Yeah, you should crack on. Whenever you see a message from me you should just reply ‘okay Rob’ and then go and then go and write a paragraph (at least) of your synopsis. You have my permission to do that. π
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I see your positive spin at work there….sharing valuable content it is π
It is decided that a synopsis continuation will be done this very day….more so because I’ve just asked my proofer to check it over….obviously this requires words to be able to do that….self imposed pressure…worth a try π
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You just gotta love a deadline – self-imposed or otherwise. π
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Very true…I tend to produce my best worst work under pressure π
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π How’s your synopsis going?
I wrote a post in your honour: https://levishedated.wordpress.com/2016/07/12/biological-warfare/
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It’s going….possibly into the bin, but it is started. One needs bones laid down from which things can develop….but a post…in my honour??? One wonders what I’ve done to serve this….obviously I know have to go and read it π
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Well okay – if it’s obvious that you must read post written in your honour, then this one was written with your particular situation in mind too: https://levishedated.wordpress.com/2016/07/13/philosophical-hedonism/
No, seriously – it was. π
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Does this make me a waking prompt π»
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This makes you an interesting muse.
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Or…just a muse π€
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I guess that interesting is in the eye of the beholder too. π
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You might be right….not for me to judge me though…that would be wrong and a bit naff π
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I guess. There’s a fine line between humility and slagging oneself off, though.
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Fair point…although I’m not getting into debates with my mirror anymore…I tend to lose so sticking to remaining humbly modest π
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I’m smiling a contented smile. You are alright and I am alright.
I just went to see the new Independence Day movie and thoroughly enjoyed it. Recommended, if you like that sort of ‘America Saves The World – Again’ thang. π
Are you from there or here – I forget.
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Alright is a good starting point. As long as the path remains the right side of that then all will be good and things will improve π
I may go see that one too…although I’m not a big on create some uber arch nemesis and then having a limp ‘oh we beat it’ get out of jail card. Mind you if it entertaining who cares π
I from here π
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You seem English, but I can’t find anything on your ‘About’ to say that you … oh, hold on – found this in the comments: “I come from England so have a slight advantage over some”. Hah! So you’re quite willing to tell pretty girls from the Phillipines (Kazia) where you’re from, but not a fellow Englishman?!
Man after my own heart. π
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Hey…I resemble that remark….or is it a case of if they ask I say π I thought you have guessed it during the Brexit discourse π
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If I tease you, it’s a measure of how much I trust you to be able to take it. π
Okay – I’m asking: which part of England are you in, Gary? π
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Something told me a while back you were a decent chap π
I’m in sweltering Bedford, well a village just outside it. Where abouts are you?
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I’m 157 miles up the A1 – a little place called York. And it is only just starting to cool down here. Actually, it’s lovely right now. I’ll go out a give the plants a spot of water later – from the water-butt.That’ll make ’em smile. π
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Ahh…my family is Yorkshire based, well was. Still have a cousin up there. Actually went to Leeds Uni too. Not been up that way in years though π€
We’ve got a breeze flowing now too. Best part of the day π
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You, me and my Nannan agree on that – best part of the day. π
I was born in Sheffield – I just moved here when I married.
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Now that is what I call a marketing ploy…one book written front to back and a second back to front to reach double the sales…brilliant π
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Yeah man! π
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And I think a picture of a kitten would be nice!
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Didn’t I already put one on another post? What – I have to do a kitten on every post now? π¦
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Ruh roh, maybe I meant Scooby Doo. That would be even better!
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Hmm. Let me have a think about that.
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Sorry, there wasn’t a deep, hidden meaning. I thought the kitten was a sweet symbol of returning to the moment of innocence but you’d already done a kitten. Then I saw how Rorroh reminded me of ruh roh, which was what Scooby said before everything hit the fan on the tv show when they were solving a mystery and it seemed to tie together…but maybe just in my head π
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Hahaha – sometimes a shallower meaning is much, much better. This is one of those occasions. π
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I like to think I’m the queen of shallow π
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If shallow is good then I’m sure you’ll be very happy during your reign.
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well, I don’t know if it’s good, but it is what it is. maybe it’s my mask?
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Shallow is your mask for deep?
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haha, shallow is my go to persona when I don’t want to be serious, I guess. and I had enough serious already : to
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Okay. I think I got it. You’re deep when you want to be and shallow when you don’t. That’s cool. π
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More like I’ve had lots of drama in my life years ago. Also, I’m not always good at holding my own in a big, deep discussion so I avoid them and maybe appear shallow?
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And there’s that phobia about being understood π
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Yeah – I noticed that. I actually don’t understand a sausage about you. I’m just trying to stereotype you so that I can stuff you in a box and forget about you. I’m only interested in things and people that are novel and unique. I fear them when they are a mystery and am compelled to probe into them so that I can lose my fear by gaining knowledge of how they tick.
Only some of this is true, but I imagine that much of it speaks to your deepest fears and insecurities. π
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Fear of not being good enough, that’s the deepest.
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Oh well, nothing to worry about then. π
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Thanks π
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π
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Plus – you have a phobia for being understood. π
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Probably true….
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π
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You always have interesting perspectives on everything!
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I can’t help it – my mind just works like that! I see something and my mind dives into it. Everything is a deep pool of wonder for me.
I think that you are similar to me – yes? π
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Yes. My mind has a tendency to take things apart, twist things around, dig for depth, search for truth, all in an effort to find authenticity. I’m always searching for the meaning in between the lines, Connecting the dots, putting pieces together, solving for ‘x’. I guess that why I’m drawn to like minded folks. I crave mental stimulation.
On the flip side, my brain can also take simple things and make them complicated for no damn reason!!! This can sometimes be annoying… π
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(smiling) Yeah, thinking-a-lot is a sword that cuts two ways – that is for sure. π Still, I wouldn’t have it any other way. I love the way you described that, by the way. π
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Thx π·
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π
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New ideas that leds to glory π
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I certainly hope so. I’d rather climb the ladder than come down it. π
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Haha ππ
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π
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Firstly, my fine friend, many thanks for linking my rambling backstory-cum-story-in-waiting to this intriguing new genre…my first thought was to create a short horror story specifically written back to front to meet the criteria…to wit an idea has indeed thrown itself forwards. π€
On second reading it seems there is also an element of hunting already written ones that might slot into this genre to maximise sales as per C.J. Hartwell above! I must now go read mine again back to front and ponder this more π
I am particularly intrigued by the gruesome opener where everyone is despatched in gore…to find them re-incarnated working backwards to the point where they enter a foreboding forest dappled in sunlight carrying a picnic basket…there is some comedic horror in this π±
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Shit!! It’s you!!!
Laughing so hard now! π
Just twigged that Gary and G. Jefferies are one and the same.
OMG, what a plonker! Me, that is!
Sigh. I’m going to take a shower now – just been working in the garden. π
Later – Robert.
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Too much garden sun obviously….however, it is such zany errata that make the day so much more fun…although in truth I was going to give that G. Jefferies chap a terrible review as part of the wheeze π
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You scoundrel, you! π
So, all this time I’ve been chatting to you like you’re a real human being when in fact you’re a World Famous Author! Who’d have thought it! π
I might even try reading one of your stories forwards now. π
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Certainly not me!! I’d like to think I’m world famous but until I get an agent the probability is somewhat difficult….besides…I seriously doubt fame would corrupt me….can’t abide this game lark π»
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Yeah, I think you will come through unscathed too. Hope you get an agent soon. π
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I have to create my synopsis first….this weeks challenge…scary…new to me type of WTF π±
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Hmm – I wish you huge amounts of luck with that then, Gary. Not that you’ll need it – I have total faith in you. π
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Thank you my friend…it one of those anxiety triggers…entering the Unknown, as it were…the bit an agent will judge on before reading anything….got to be the right write, as it were π€
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I suppose it’s a bit like a sales spiel – only a little more subtle. You’ll be fine – seriously.
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Exactly the same although they call it your pitch….I know, it’s just a case of setting aside a few hours to write the prototype….as opposed to finding things to avoid doing it π»
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Just keep asking yourself ‘if I read about this, would I want to buy it?’
And yeah – JUST DO IT! π
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That’s the book blurb….the synopsis is the full short reveal of story arc for an agent to get a full summary before they say ‘hey, I might actually read this one’ as opposed to chucking it in the bin…but you’re right….it has to be done!!! π»
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Oh, okay. But I reckon they are both sales documents to some extent. π°
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Quite right they are…one is to sell the manuscript to an agent and the other is to sell it to the world’s readers. Two things with pretty important punch so to speak.
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Yep. Now go and write them. π
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OK Rob π
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Wow, you are like the onion, layer after layer with inspiring ideas and never ending thoughts, its just amazing to read your posts, always.
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Thanks, Chitra – the cheque will be in the post by the end of the week. π
How’s your weekend going?
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Ha ha…well I don’t mean to butter you up. I have come across motivation of self esteem, confidence and so forth. But have never come across motivation ofvthe creative side…… that in itself is creative!! Most of your articles are about stirring the creative mind of all, it’s so nice you are doing this….
My weekend has been good so far. Hope you had a restful weekend. Have a great week ahead. π
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Ah, Chitra – your words stir a veritable smorgasbord of emotion in me. On the one hand I feel my ego quicken and rise until it becomes a hard, pulsating thing, and yet on the other hand I feel the gentle touch of humility – calming and sweet, stroking my brow and urging me towards serene reflection. Such is the power of words to feed the beast or calm the heart. Ego against humility – it’s an intense tussle …
Looking forward to a good week, Chitra – thanks for that. Hope it’s good for you too. π
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Ah yes, the power of words!! well, there you go, you just inspired the title for my next poem!! I had written one on words, but was just thinking of a tittle, there you go again inspiring!! well you do deserve to gloat and float a bit, I think that is healthy too in limited quantities!!
Well, hoping to have a good, but busy week!!
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Now you’re being not just kind, but uber-kind. π
I’ll try to keep my ego in check. Small doses.
Enjoy your week – busy or not – Robert.
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Thank you. Its refreshing whether chatting with you or reading your posts!! Enjoy your week..
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π
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Finally I did finish my posts and also used your quote on the ( https://levishedated.wordpress.com/2016/07/26/sunshine-award/)
here is my post https://chitra2016.wordpress.com/2016/08/01/weapon-from-the-heart/
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Heading on over to your place now! π
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you are most welcome π
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Very typical of you! π Great idea! Would love to see how this turns out! So, all that is not well, ends well. π
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Well, who doesn’t love a happy ending? π
It kind of always bugged me that Horror does not tend to end happy. But then – that’s part of the horror of it I guess. π
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