Paige's Pages: Writing About Vampires

Well, I can’t say that I know a lot about writing about vampires as I have never written a vampire story. I will try my best though. Here is what I’ve learned when it comes to reading about vampires though.

 

Stick to the legends. What I like about vampires is that they have their various strengths—but they also have their weaknesses. Here’s a list of the knowledge I’ve accumulated from reading the various stories: the drink blood (obviously), they can’t go out into sunlight, they can’t go into a home without being invited, garlic, salt, and holy water are weaknesses (The Vampire Diaries added vervain, but I’m not sure if it’s real), they are super strong and fast, they sleep in coffins, they are eternal, their emotions are heightened, you can kill them with stakes, and werewolves seem to hate them.

 

Dracula also has a problem crossing running water, but I think he’s a wimp. Do what you want with these legends. Some you can keep, some you can eliminate, but I personally think all of them are way cool and that they shouldn’t be messed with. Now, I know everyone hates Twilight, but believe it or not, I don’t hate it completely. One thing I did not like in that story though, is how Meyer made the vampires sparkle instead of burn. It really didn’t make sense to me. I could go on to justify how I don’t think Meyer is a horrible author, but that would be beside the point. I’ll rant on Wednesday, when I get to talk about books!

 

If you don’t get your legends/facts straight, then the story doesn’t feel real. A vampire that doesn’t drink blood is like a zombie that doesn’t eat brains. A vampire that doesn’t burn in the sun is like a werewolf without the full moon.

 

That doesn’t mean I don’t encourage originality though. Sometimes the myths are lame like the running water one. I don’t really like the coffins or the garlic and salt (holy water’s pretty cool though). I know us writers have God Complexes, but sometimes you have to keep the hand out. I may be tempting to make vampires sparkle instead of burn if it’s easier for you, but you have to embrace character weaknesses. It makes them more interesting. ;-)

 

Of course, the same goes for all stories, not just vampire stories.