Let's Write Horror: Showing the Process

1. Intro and Course Information: Hi there and welcome to Let's Write Horror Showing the Process. In this course, I will teach different ways to approach writing horror and horror elements by recording myself writing short horror stories. In these, you'll see a firsthand look at my techniques, methods, and fumbles as I try to write something scary. After that, there's a video where I do a self interview on how I approach writing fear in the story I wrote and what I can do for the final version. Finally, I will give a live reading of my polished work during video engagement. I want my audience to watch, listen, or write further stories, study our techniques, and think about what you can use for your own writing. For every creative course I make, I aim to encourage critical thinking of what I show, self reflection of your own creative processes and the improvement of them. The last part comes with a final project, which is to do your own self interview. From a list of questions I have provided, I expect them to be written, but if you want to do them in other formats, that's fine too. I want to try this way of teaching because I've noticed a pattern with myself. Basically, I'll consume some media like a book show or video game. I'll get inspired from it and try to create something, but then I'll freeze up. I get stuck in procrastinate. I don't know what to do next and I become indecisive, or I'm not sure if I'm doing things the right or better ways, I end up tired, frustrated, and I give up. The worst part is when I drag myself into finishing a project, only to take one look at it and feel no sense of discovery, joy or accomplishment from it. There's too much focus on the result and not the process behind it, really. You can only explain so much about creative writing. You can explain every little technique until the cows come home. But you can't explain away the process. You can only do the process. I'm sure you see where I'm going with this yield show over, tell, ideally folks will learn more and way better by us showing horror writing, just discussing some tropes and topics about it. In this course, you get to see some ways that we utilize them. Look at us, diss around, have fun, Explore the raw, intimate anxieties we so desperately try to keep hidden from the world. Won't that be fun? And even better, you guys will get to do that for your final project. But seriously, think about it like this. Watching us do what we do can be a great reminder. Not to pressure ourselves with a mountain of expectations we all not so secretly do to ourselves and shrug off some of that anxiety at it to the moon yo. This is made to be a complimentary course for the more traditional courses that discuss the theories and topics of writing a short horror story. For disclaimer, I want to state that this course will contain mature topics and is aimed at an older audience. There will be disturbing, tragic, and uncomfortable subject matter. I also swear viewer discretion is advised. Now open up your favorite notebook or writing app I'm using, workana from my series. Let's Write horror. 2. Story One - Writing The Beginning: Okay, let's see. I want to write a horror story. What could be my prompt? I was thinking Ocean Gate. Yeah. You know, I'm going to do it because like what is so scary with Ocean Gate? Why is that something I've been looking at a lot because I have been watching a lot of shows about not just Ocean Gate, but like the Titanic and other shipwrecks. And it's like what's the big deal here? And I think for me, the big thing, fear factor behind it, that honestly just keeps me looking for new stuff to watch. It's like this is something that is so obviously doomed to fail And it gets in. And it's terrifying when you think about it. I'm thinking I want to write a story that covers that idea. I want to write a story about something that is clearly set up to fail. And it's like it just gets ignored and then it fails. Yeah, let's do that. Okay. If you do this, you'll, you'll be famous. She said, let's see. So if you do this, you'll be famous She said, And we're over here like well Well, it wasn't the fame that interested me. Lark interested me. Nope. It was the escape now. Escaping from what? The escape from a life where I didn't know when I could forward my next meal. It was in no way buck. I used to, interested are okay, let's see if you do this, you'll be famous. She said, well, it wasn't the fame that interested me. It was the escape, the escape from a life where I didn't know when I could afford my next meal. It was the realization of how much of a novelty of a novelty that surviving the tunnels. M surviving the shoot, what could I call it? Ocean gate. Ocean gate OG sea fence. There we go. It was realization of how much of a novelty that surviving the sea fence, that sea fence bucket. Sea fence tunnels, that name sucks, but I'm going to go with it now. It was realization of how much of a novelty that surviving the sea fence tunnels was. I wasn't thinking about returning Brinkley. I wasn't thinking about returning. All I did was to da was trip over the fence to the tunnels. Let's see. ****. All I did was trip over the fence to the tunnels. Now wait. ****. Frankly, I wasn't thinking about returning. All I did was trip over the fence, the tunnels ledge. All I did was trip over the fence, around the tunnels ledge and survived. What was it? 40 something hours in it, hours below. I discovered I discovered some dead guy's remains. It turns out that was actually. And it turns out that dead guy was a bit of a big deal for my town, a bit of a big deal for my town. They want me to accompany some experts going down there. Okay, I think I got a good start here. Like we got the motive. Let's see, this is a tie in. If you do this, you'll be famous. She said, okay, who's you? And she not my mother. I know my cousin, my folder exed on the phone. There you go. Older cousin exclaimed on the phone, There you go. Why would our protagonist be famous? Because not only did our protagonist survive what was supposed to be like 40 something hours in a dangerous situation, but discovered some dead guy's remains who was also apparently trapped in a pocket that actually, I don't know, boosted the tourism or something. Well, it's certainly added more to the history. Let's see. And now they want me to accompany some experts going down there. Let's oh boy, let's see. I hung up. After a quick goodbye, I got into the gear. Let's see, zipping up my one piece. Let's see zipping up by one piece and fastening. Zipping up by one piece and fastening my, what was it fastening my streps, since the tunnels opening wasn't that big, that big, we had to, what do you call that thing? Let's see. Shimmy down C, grapple down whatever. We had to use rapples and slowly lower ourselves down. Just correct that they re go oh boy. As I fastened mine together. No, wait, the coat was a little big. A little big. And what else? The coat was a little big and damn it. Okay. The coat was a little big. Let's see, coat being big. What else was a little big. Oh, and let's see. A little hot and a little hot, even in even in the morning, even in the summer's morning. First, the expert first, let's see, what do you call it? I'll just say the main expert. The main expert and his assistant were lowered. Then I really want to set the setting for it. So let's see if I can get a little bit descriptive here, shall we? Let's see. After only a few feet, the light from outside, from above darkened. The light from above almost vanished. As I turned my head to look below, I could only see. I could only hear. No wait, I could only see little specks. I could only see little specks. No, I could only see two little specks of light. From the flashlights, from the experts flash lights, my flashing of water and rock echoed echoed around me. The clashing of water and rock echoed around me. As I continued to descend, there was a period where where even let's see, where I couldn't, where I couldn't even see my own hands, my, my own gloves gripping onto. Let's see, There was a period where I couldn't even see my own gloves gripping onto the what was it. And there we go, gripping onto the rope. Forgot that for a second. So let's see, we're descending down. Let's see, I felt a tug below me and and a chuckle not as fast as when you fell in the expert, Mr. Let's see, No, Norman, let's go with Norman, the expert. Mr. Norman said, let's see, not as fast as when you fell in. The expert, Mr. Norman said said with a smile from under his green mustache. Nope. Nope. Nope. Not really. First person I tried joking back, let's see. As my feet touched eroded rock. Any more flashlights? Any more flashlights? Let's see. Nope. Nope. We responded. That's all we got. Nope. Nope. Just the two? Nope. Just the two? Yeah. And even with those two, there wasn't much to see? There wasn't much to see. Yeah. And even with those two, there wasn't much to see. Break time. Okay. I'm back and I'm just going to read over what I got so far. Work on a few things, fix things up a little. Let's see if you do this, you'll be famous. My older cousin exclaimed on the phone, Well, it wasn't the fame that interested me. It was the escape, the escape from a life where I didn't know when I could afford my next meal. Let's change that up. It was escape from a life where I was living paycheck to paycheck. It was realization of how much of a novelty that surviving. I still don't like that name but I can't think of anything else n trench and yeah, I can't think of anything else. Okay, so it wasn't fame that interesting me. It was the escape escape from a life where I was living, we barely living. Paycheck to paycheck. Yeah. See, I'm making a bit of a deal with that sentence because I really want to think about my character's motivations with this. For them, we frankly, because they're poor, this is more of an act of desperation on their part. They're going back into dangerous situation because they're being promised things like fame and fortune. Let's see, what else could I add to that and see the escape from a life. It was the realization of how much a novelty that surviving the sea fence tunnels was. It was the check they promised that I could put into my savings. Now wait, that I could put into the bank and finally have a savings. Let's see. Let's see. Well, it wasn't the fine that interested me. It was the escape, the escape from a life where I barely was living paycheck to paycheck. The realization of how, oh wait, I don't have a gun in there, whatever it was. Realization of how much of a novelty that surviving the sea fence tunnels was. It the they promised me when I could that I could put into the bank and finally have a savings savings account actually. And that is spelled wrong. At least here in Canada it's spelled wrong. Okay. Frankly, I wasn't thinking about returning and thinking about returning to the tunnels, thinking about returning down there. All I did was trip over the fence around the tunnels ledge one evening. No. Wait, I could add that later. And survived 40 something hours below Also, I discovered some dead guys remains. And it turns out that dead guy was a bit of a big deal in my town. Now they want me to accompany an expert going down there. I hung the phone after a quick goodbye and got into the gear, zipping up my one piece and fastening my straps since the tunnels wasn't that big, since the tunnel wasn't that big, we had to use grapples and slowly lower ourselves down. The coat was a little big and a little hot, even in the summer's morning and warm. How about, let's see, even in the summer's morning, the main expert and his assistant were lowered than me. Then the then the camera person, camera. There we go. Let's see, Only a few feet, the light from above vanished. As I turned my head to look below, I could only see two little specks of light from the experts flashlights. The clashing water rock echoed around me. As I continued to descend, there was a period of time where I couldn't even see my own glove scripping onto the rope. I felt the tug below me and a chuckle. Let's see. Not as fast as when he fell in, huh? The expert, Mr. Norman said with a smile from his gray mustache. With a smile from under his gray mustache? Nope. Not really. I tried joking back as my feet touched a eroded rock. Any more flashlights? Nope. He responded. Just the two. Oh, and plenty of these and plenty of these. He took out a camera, now, another camera and stand from his duffel bag and set it up. And began setting. And began setting it up, yeah. And even with those two lights, let's see. No, wait. Mm. Nope. He responded. Just the two. Oh, oh, and plenty of these. He took out another camera and stanned from his duffel bag and began setting them up. It's got to be them, plural. So, I'm talking about two things. What else? 3. Story One - Writing The Descent: Ooh, ooh. What if I could do this? I jumped at a tug below me and heard a chuckle. There we go. Yeah, I got to get in those jump scares, even with writing. You can do it. I'm a sucker for them. I'm not going to lie. Now, let's see, No, he responded, no, not really. I tried joking back as my feet touched erroded rocket. How about shoot, touch to erroded rock. Any more flashlights? Nope, he responded just the two and plenty of these. He took out another camera and stand from his duffel bag and began set whose and began setting them up. Are they even going to capture anything? Oh, oh yeah. Oh, yeah, said the camera man. Said the camera woman. Because we are 21st century. Okay. We are progressive like that. Let's see, I know we put the camera something. There you go. Camera woman. Oh, yeah, said the camera woman. They have night vision. They have night vision. We could actually use them. Use them a flashlights. As flashlights, that's somehow wrong. Okay. When she said that wait A said it also maybe a new paragraph when she that I know answered, There you go And that has to be a See when she said that my heart sank. Okay. When she said that my heart sank, something about what she said just really K the main character. Why is that? Let's get into it, shall let's. When she said that my heart sank, we shouldn't be doing that. We shouldn't be doing that. That's that's how I ended up here in the first place. In the first place, everyone stares to look at you. No, I can wear that better. Not everyone stares to look at you. But more like suddenly all eyes were on me. There we go. Suddenly all eyes were on me. Suddenly, all and cameras were on me. Yeah. Because it's like cameras shoved in your face. Anxiety inducing. There you go. We shouldn't be doing that. That's how I ended up here in the first place. Suddenly all eyes and cameras were on me. Let's see, my body. Tell us more. Tell us more. The camera woman stepped closer to me, to me. Her camera just a few feet from me? No, from my face. There you go. I forced myself to take a deep breath. Deep breath on my on my nerves and repeat what I've said all weekend. Okay? I don't know what you've heard, but let's see. But I tripped and fell and fell when I was taking a walk Friday on Friday morning, when I was taking a walk on Friday morning. And that needs to be a cap the lies. There you go. Wait. No, not morning but like Yeah. Yeah, let's do a morning on early Friday morning. Yeah, it was too early for the sun to rise. I used the night vision app on my camera. No, not camera on my phone to see to see. Well, it didn't do me any good because I tripped. Because I went and tripped. Because I went and tripped. And then what happened? Let's see, I'm looking around. Let's see, the tunnel. Now. Looking around the tunnel now I notice all the eroded and jagged rocks around us. I take another gulp of salty air and continue. It was high tide. So I was very lucky. Let's see. So I was very lucky. I only had water to fall into. As we can see. Well, let's see. As we can see, it's currently low tide and there's a lot of sharp fraction on this. Oh, another thing. Get rid of distractions. Let's see. Okay, I don't know what you've heard, but I tripped and fell. When I was taking a walk on Friday morning, it was too early for the sun to rise, so I used my night vision app on my phone to see, Well, it didn't do me any good because I went and tripped. I'm looking around the tunnel now and I notice all the eroded and jagged rocks around us. I take another gulp of salty air and continue. It was high tide, so I was very lucky I only had water to fall into. As we can see, it's currently low tide and there's a lot of sharp rocks around us. Where was the spot you okay. I'm thinking of the name for the dead guy now the name Fender comes to mind. For what? Something old. Something old. Something old you found the remains of? Yeah. Let's go with Fentora. Let's call the tunnels or where are you escape? Escape, blah, blah, blah. Checked see fence, tunnel, Okay, for tunnels. For tunnels. There you go. Where you found the remains of. He needs like a first name. There you go. Perfect. Beautiful. I love you. Take a picture of a put you on the frame. A beautiful kid. A beautiful oh boy. Losing my voice now. Okay. Where was the spot you found the remains of Russell? Can you show us? Can you show us? Can you show us? Let's see. Asked the now what was his name? ****. Let's see. Camel woman. Mr. Norman asked, asked Mr. Norman. Actually, wait, ****, wouldn't he be a Dr. Because he's got like some doctorate and change it to Dr. There you go, Dr. Norman. Let's see. Asked Dr. Norman as he stepped as he and his assistant Andrew stepped into the There you assistant Andrew stepped into the shot. Let's see. Okay. What would I do if someone was asking me to show them something? I guess I look around. I always said I'm looking around. Let's see. Let's see. My gaze turns from, let's see, spot to no gain. My gaze turns upwards. That sounds weird though. ****. Where was the spot you found the remains of Russell Fentor? Can you show us? I looked upwards. Looked upwards and saw what I thought was the opening of the Who was it? I looked upwards and saw what I thought was the opening of the no, I looked upwards and saw what I thought was the opening of the crevice. On the crevice I swam into that day. Up there, I think. Let's see up there, I think. Let's see up there. That large crack? Yeah, let's see. The water was was up to that height, so I was able to reach it. The water was up to that height, so I was able to reach it. Let's see, I squeezed in and kind of fell asleep. I got a small chuckle from the group. You fell asleep. You fell asleep. You fell asleep. Let's see, you fell asleep. Andrew spoke up in a cave and with cold, wet clothes. I mean. Yeah, Pretty much. Let's see, I trickled back. I answered with a small laugh of my own. I guess it was pretty ridiculous. Let's see, anyway, anyway, I guess it was pretty ridiculous. Yeah, I mean, yeah, pretty much. I woke up, I woke up, and let's see, I woke up and I woke up. And let's see, the tide was lower. There were rocks under me. And I couldn't just jump down, jump down. Let's see, the tunnel. Let's see. The tunnel had some light since it was daytime. And I walked up and I walked, let's see. And I now it was more like crawled. Really wasn't that big and I crawled through it. I thought there could be an opening. What I found instead was a dead person at a dead end. And it really freaked me out, you know. And I really freaked me out, you know. Everyone nodded, everyone nodded. The water continued to splash at the rocks a few feet from me below me. I want to add a bit of more description somewhere. Let's see. Well, it's pretty it's pretty dark. Ashley Wait, that's a little weird, isn't it? Because it's like let's see, I woke up and the tide was lower, so there were rocks under me and I couldn't just jump down the tunnel had some light Since it was daytime. Since it was daytime, but it's like, isn't it daytime right now? Hmm, yep. There's a little plot hole. ****. Let's see. Flashy of water, rock echoed around me. Mm, yeah. Maybe not make it as dark. I turned my head to look below. Let's see. The light from above me dimmed. As I turned my head to look below, I could only see, I could see two little specks of light from the experts flash lights. There sets. That's weird to spell. Let's see, The clashing of water, rock echoed around me. As I continued to descend, there was a period where I couldn't even see my gloves gripping onto the rope. Oh, I know. Before my eyes adjusted to the lower light, there was a period where I couldn't even see my own glimpse gripping onto the road. I jumped at a tunk below me and heard a chuckle, blah, blah, blah. Okay. Back to back to the main part. I mean. Yeah, pretty much. I answered with a small laugh of my own. I guess it was pretty ridiculous. I woke up and the tide was lower, so there were rocks under me and I couldn't just jump down. The tunnel had some light. Since it was daytime and I crawled through it, I thought there could be an opening. What I found instead was a dead person at a dead end. And it really freaked me out, you know. Everyone nodded. The water continued to splash at the rocks a few feet below me. Let's see, I'm starting to think what's going to happen. What's going to be the big horrifying discovery? Huh? Guess I didn't really think of that. I think I'll end it here. Well, maybe. Mm, okay, what's going to be the big horrifying thing? Mm, I guess maybe the big horrifying thing or the big irony could be that, that maybe this young person ends up back in the crevice. Oh, that'd be kind of funny. How the hell is that going to happen? 4. Story One - Rewriting The Work: All right, I took another break. I feel like the story is getting a bit long. I don't know, there's not enough build up. And I like it when I can have a little bit of irony in there. Let's see where I can do that. Let's see if you do this, you'll be famous. Well, I guess another thing I like is the idea of the idea of wish gone horribly right. Let's see, At the start there's like this little line, you'll be famous. But the main character isn't really interested in the fame. It's more of the money they could get because they're pretty much lower class. I like to keep that part. I like to keep the part where this person is invested in a situation only because it's, it's just a means to an end. The thing however, is that this situation is maybe very dangerous. They risk in their life, I guess to go with my main aspect of inspiration, things like Ocean Gate, and not even just that, just the whole concept of people in power, not really being trustworthy. I'm going to see if I can just bring that whole general concept more into the forefront. Let's see, you'll be famous. It wasn't the fame that interested me. It was the check they promised me. Frankly, I wasn't thinking of returning down there. All I did was trip over the fence around the Tong's ledge and survived 40 something hours below. Also, I discovered some dead guy's remains. And it turns out the dead guy was a bit of a big deal in my town. Now they want me to accompany some experts going down there. Okay, I think I'll keep that too. Let's see. Oh, I can take a bit of this out here. After hanging up the phone, I got into the gear happen up my one piece and fastened in my straps. Let's see, the tunnel wasn't that big. We had to use grapples and slowly lower ourselves down a little big and warm even in the summer's morning. Well, it wasn't a coat. It was one piece. I'll just say the suit, the main expert and his assistant were lower than me than the camera one. Instead, the assistant, I'm going to be like a rock climber, The historian. Let's see the, well, let's see. The rock climber, the expert rock climber and the historian were lowered than me, than the camera woman. Let's see, after only a few feet, the light from above dimmed. Let's see. Okay, I like what I did here with the description, but I definitely need to rewrite it. I kind of want to do something different. There are only a few feet. The light, the light from above dimmed. As I turned to look below, I noticed all the jagged the jagged edges of the eroded rocks. Just a few meters. Let's see. Let's see. I noticed all the jagged edges around the eroded rocks. I was slowly coming down the eroded rocks. I was slowly scaling down from How about I noticed all the jagged edges of the eroded rocks. I was of the erodic rocks. I was there we go. For just a few meters away from me. Yeah, I like that. Let's see. Lay above me dimmed. As I turned to look below, I noticed all the jagged edges of the eroded rocks that were just a few metres away from me. How about instead of eroded? I take that out. Let's see, what else? After a few feet, the lights from above dimmed. As I turned to look below, I noticed all the jagged edges of the rocks that were just a few meters away from me. I gulped and held the harness tighter no tighter. And held the harness tighter tighter. Trying not to think how, trying not to think how it was really the only thing keeping me alive right now. Oh boy, Yeah, I just tried to focus and slowly being lowered down and immediately jumped. He jumped at a tug below me and a chuckle. And a chuckle. Yeah, that's a little better. I think here I was trying to play on the idea of the darkness because people are all afraid of the darkness. I like the idea of kind of getting into the peril more of it with the jagged edges of the rocks. So let's see, Actually, I'm going to rewrite that because I'm seeing two paragraphs start with after. Oh, I know when, when I was called over to the entrance, let's see, I did was trip and found myself around the town's ledge, survive 40 something hours below. Now they want me to accompany some experts down there to show them where I found the dead guy. There we go. A little more descriptive. Let's see. When I was called to the entrance, I said good my goodbye and hung up my phone. So I just thought of something. When people go into tunnels, they're probably thinking that the tunnel is horizontal, but it's not. I'm imagining it as more like vertical, like you have to actually like put yourself in a harness and lower yourself down to the floor of the tunnel. I got to see where I can actually put that description in there. Let's see, I got into my gear being up my 1 Ft and functioning fastening straps of my harness since the tunnel. Now actually I can here since the tunnel, a 40 foot entrance below a vertical entrance. Since the tunnel had a vertical entrance, we had to use grapples and slowly lower ourselves down. I don't know if they actually have to use grapples. I'm just like we had to slowly lower ourselves down. We were slowly lower down. Slowly lowered down. The suit was a little big and warm even in the summer's morning. The expert rock climber and the historian were lowered than me. Then the camera wan. After only a few feet, the light from above died. As I turned to look below, noticed all the jagged edges, tried to just try to focus on slowly being lowered down. Immediately jumped at a tug below me, at a chuckle. Not so fast. As well as when you fell in. Huh, let's see. Maybe instead of the historian, like I imagined it would be the rock climber, what the hell should I name him anyway? Norman sounds a little weird actually for a first name. I don't know why, I just don't like it. Let's see. Not Jeff. Yeah, Rockefeller. Ooh, ah ****. Let's go with Jeff Norman. No, no, I want to do something cool. What is something a glam rock climber would want? Glam rock. Oh my God, yeah. Oh boy, Glam rock rock. Glam rock something? Glam rock. Good. There you go. Gregory Glam Rock, the rock climber, Gregory Glam Rock said with a smile from under his grain mustache, from under his cap. Let's put it something like from under his orange cap. There you go. I think we know where I got inspiration from this name from. Am I right? Anyway, let's see. Gregory Glam Rock said with a smile from under his orange cap. No, not really. I tried joking back as my boots touched eroded rock. Any more flashlights? Nope. He responded just the two. Oh, and plenty of these. He took out another camera and stand and began saying them up. Yeah, I'm going to rewrite this, Let's see. Maybe something like, oh, we'll be fine with just two. Oh, we'll be fine with just the two. Oh, we'll be fine with just the two. Hey, we'll be fine with just the two. How about three? Oh, we'll be fine with just the three. Let's see, He waved his own his own in front of me and pointed to the one on my belt. Now wait, let's see. He waved his own in front of me. Let's see. Yeah, we just The 23. Counting your own. There you go. Three count in your own, Let's see. Capture anything. Yeah, that's it's not really going to do anything. Three counting in your own. We'll be fine. We'll be using our phones to then. That's where the protagonists ask, are they even going to capture anything. Then the camera woman's like, oh yeah, answered the camera woman who, who just finished her descent. They have night vision so we could actually use them as flashlights. When she said that, my heart sank. We shouldn't be doing that. That's how I ended up here in the first place. Suddenly all eyes and cameras were on me and my body froze. Tell us more. The camera woman stepped closer to me. Her camera just a few feet from my face. Forced myself to take a deep breath, call my nerves. Okay. I don't know what you've heard, but I tripped and fell when I was taking a walk on Friday morning. Let's see, from what you've heard. Let's see, on Friday morning, it was too early for the sun to rise, so I used my night vision app on my phone to help to see. Actually, instead of the night vision, well, let's see. Yeah, now I'll use that. I used my night vision app on my phone to see. Well, it didn't do me any good because I went and tripped. I'm looking around the tunnel now and I noticed all the eroded and jagged rocks around us. Well, I already mentioned that There yeah, maybe I could do more like let's see, I try looking at anything but the people gawking at me. I try looking around at anything. At anything but the people. Oh, wait, no. Past tense. Tried looking around at anything but the people at me. At me. But could only see the waves of let's see. I can only see the waves of the sea right by us and the jagged rocks around us with the light, the light from above dancing around with the light from above shining. But the light from above shining faintly on it, on them. Okay, Let's read that again. I tried looking around at anything but the people gawking at me, but it could only see the waves of the sea right by us and the jagged rocks surrounding us, like surrounding us with the light from above shining faint on them. I take another gulp of salty air and continue. It was high tide. I was very lucky I only had water to fall into. As we can see, it's currently low tide and there's a lot of sharp rocks around us. Where was the spot you found the remains of Russell Fenter? Can you show us as Dr. Norman as he and his assistant Andrew stepped into the shop? Yeah. No, not doing that. See where was the spot you found. Actually, I think I'll keep Dr. Norman as the historian, historian. 5. Story One - Writing The Climax: Stepped into the shot. Let's see. I stepped back on to almost bump into, only to almost bump into Gregory. To Gregory? Was he in the shot all this time? Was he right beside me all this time? Was he right beside me all this time? He was staring into the camera. Now, actually, screw that. Was he right beside me all this time? I looked upwards and saw what I thought was the opening of the crevice I swam into that day up there, I think that large crack, the water was up to that height, so I was able to reach it. I squeezed in and kind of fell asleep. I got a small chuckle from the group. You fell asleep. Gregory spoke up in a cave with cold wet clothes. I mean. Yeah. Pretty much inserted with a small laugh of my own. I guess it was pretty ridiculous. I woke up and the tide was lower, so there were rocks under me and I couldn't just jump down. The tunnel had some light since it was daytime and I crawled through it. I thought there could be an opening. Eventually, I thought there could be an opening somewhere. What I found instead was a dead person at a dead end. It really freaked me out, you know. Everyone nodded. The water continued to splash at the rocks a few feet below us. Well said. Well, well, Gregory chimed in. That's where I come in and stepped between me and the camera. That's where I come in. He started talking about you started now actually, wait. I like the idea of adding what his dialogue could be. Let's see. He guided the camera woman to his duffel bag. Ashly. No, he didn't. He knelt down and opened his duffel bag. Let's see. Let's see. Now he knelt down, opened his duffel bag, and started taking out his lies. Now, this gear is the same gear I did my first trek up Mount was it again? Mount Everest. There we go. Now this gear is the same gear I did my first track Mount Everest. Let's see, just last year. Last year, we're going to now this gear, the same gear I did my first track, Mount Everest last year. We're going to use it to up to that crevice, let's see, up to that crevasse, Find the body. Let's see. Find the body. And find the body. What do we want you to climb up to that crevice and find the body? Let's get to it. Yeah, let's see. So yeah, they're getting to it. Yeah, let's see. Let's see, let's see. Now that they're going to climb y, and I think now I actually have to look up how that is supposed to actually go. Who, let's see, began making his way up, way up the eroded, let's see. Grabbing, grabbing the eroded parts of grabbing the eroded parts of the no onto cracks and other parts of the wall of the rocks to get up to the large crevasse. Okay, he began making his way up, grabbing onto cracks in other parts of the rocks to get up to the large crevasse. It was about 30 or so feed. It was about 30 or so feet up. And took him a few minutes. Let's see, when he got to the crevice, he said a few extra lines, he said a few extra words to the camera. He said a few extra words to the camera. Let's see, No, I kind of want to add a little more there. Let's see. He was about 30 or so feet up. And took him a few minutes and took him a few minutes. Let's see me, the Historian, and actually wait, did I name the historian? Yes, I did. Mr. Dr. Norman. Dr. Norman and the camera woman watched him. What do you mean grab? No snatch? No. Watched him slowly ascend. Let's see, When he got to the crevice, he said a few extra words to the camera before lodging. I don't really know what you call those things. Let's see. Oh, I know before. Uh, ****, what do you call it? When he got to the crevice, he said a few extra words to the camera before. I don't know how to put it. He sets the rope up there. Before he sets the rope up, the rest of us can ascend. Can get up there too. Good enough. Now let's see. Let's see. One by 11 by one. Let's see the camera woman. Now let's see. And so all the rest of us first went the camera woman, then the historian, and finally me. A loud wave hit my ears. I looked over. To see what was it? Let's see. And I looked over to see the water to see that the water has risen a bit, a few inches. Let's see. I looked over to see that the water has risen a few inches. Hey guys guys, when I got up, let's see. When I got up to the to the crevice, I interrupted I interrupted Gregory's to the camera interrupted. I interrupted Gregory's explanation to the camera guys. The water is starting to rise. The water is starting to rise a bit. Is starting to rise. Let's see. Maybe we should do this another day day. It won't be too long. It won't be too long. Oh, we could hurry it up. Oh, we could hurry it up, suggested Dr. Norman. It won't take too long. Hey, it won't take too long. Oh, it won't take too long. Assured Gregory I got to do, assured Greg, it won't take too long. Assured Gregory, Now wait. No. I got something better now. It's going to rain tonight. There's going to be rain tonight. There's going to be rain tonight. There's going to be rain tonight. Okay. There's going to be rain tonight. These guys are all Oh, we could hurry it up, suggested Dr. Norman and Gregory's. Like, oh, it won't take too long now. There's going to be rain tonight. The water is already rising. The water is rising. See, there's going to be rain tonight. Also, I had Dan, what is it? Let's see. Okay, Ready guys. When I got up to the crevice, I interrupted Gregory's explanation to the camera. The water is starting to rise. Maybe we should do this another day. We could hurry it up, suggested Dr. Norman. It won't take too long, assured Gregory. Now there's going to be rain tonight. Let's see what else. I know there was something else I was thinking up. Oh, yeah. That's why I remember also, I remember it was a bit of a walk. That it was a bit of a walk there. I remember that it was a bit of a walk. I remember that it took me a while that it was a bit of a walk, of a walk to where I found the guy. Also, I remember that it was a bit of a walk to where I found the guy. Like dude, it was a bit of a walk. So by the time we get there, by the time we get there, the water might be, the water might be to, the water might be too high. The water might be too high. I'm sorry, Remember that it was a bit of a walk to where I found the guy. By the time we get there, the water might be too high. Mm. Let's see. By the time we get there, the water might be too high. Oh, it'll be fine. It'll be fine. It will be fine. Okay. The rock climber, It'll be fine. The rock climber did a thing. Yeah, the rock climber said aloud, Oh my God. Oh, I know the rock climbers words echo was the rock climbers words were allowed enough to echo, to echo through the small tunnel. The rock climbers words were loud enough to echo through the small tunnel cutting through the silence. Cutting through the dead silence. Cutting through the dead silence. Now, what is our protagonist going to do? We're loud enough to echo through the small tunnel. Oh boy, What is our protagonist to do? Shoot. You know what? I think I'm going to make the protagonist be smart. Let me see if I can do that. Come on, show, show us where again, show us where the remains for. Show us where, So wait, no. Come on, Show us where the remains of Russell lies. And I'm going to have the protagonist actually be smart. No, no, no, no. You say no, I'm not going to. No, no, I say, because let's base it standing up for yourself is in a way pretty scary in its own right. I mean, come on. No, I say all eyes and cameras a strike me again. Yeah. And all eyes and cameras strike me again. I'm not sure if maybe strike me again is the best word, but I'm going to go with it for now. Okay. No. I say and all eyes and cameras strike me again. Oh boy, No. I say in all eyes and cameras strike me again. We can be quick. We can be quick. We can be quick. We can be quick. We can be quick. We can be quick. Let's see. We can be quick. Not assured we can be quick. We can be quick. I'm just going to go with said said Dr. Norman. We can be quick said Dr. Gesturing to the end to the darkness. Gesturing to the darkness of the tunnel. Let's see what else No, I say in all eyes and cameras strike. Strike me again. Strike on me. Stay on me. I don't know. I'll do that later. Okay. Let's see. We can be quick, said Dr. Norman, gesturing to the darkness of the tunnel. It's okay if you're scared. It's okay if you're scared, let's see. And that's going to be the camera one woman bark, the camera woman, it's okay if you're scared the camera woman. The camera woman, let's see, her hand on my shoulder. It's okay if you're scared. The camera woman placed her hand on my shoulder. It's okay if you're scared. But let's see. Gregory is here and let's see, it's okay if you're scared. The camera woman placed her hand on my shoulder. Let's see. But Gregory is here and hey, it's okay if you're scared and we'll get through this and we'll get through this, we'll get through this. It's okay if you're scared. Gently spoke gently There, I feel like I need a speaking phrase. Spoke gently and placed her hand on my shoulder. But Gregory is here and we'll get through this. Oh my God. I got to say, I don't know about you people, but when I say no to something and it's like people are just trying to debate me. Like you go from scared to infuriated in 3.3 seconds. Well, I do. 6. Story One - Writing The Ending: I'm going to leave. I'm going to leave if you guys want to stay. If you guys want to stay if you guys want to stay, then then I remember finding him straight down. Straight down the tunnel. Yeah, I'm going to if you guys want to stay Then I remember finding him straight down the tunnel. Straight down the tunnel, let's see. Like there were no turns or anything. Then I remember finding him straight down the tunnel. It was and it was just one way and it was straight down the tunnel like it was just one way. Okay. Oh, I want something in between there. And placed her hand on my shoulder. You push her hand off. You push your hand off. You push your hand off. Let's see. You push your hand off. Let's see. Okay? Anger, We got to get some anger in this. You push your hand off and speak. You push your hand off and you push your hand off. Shoot. What position are they in? They're probably like on their knees or like sitting down and stuff. You push your hand off and grab the rope. I know. How about grab you? Snatch the rope behind you. You snatch the rope that's still fastened to you, to you. I'm going to leave. No, actually, how about we do this stead? Instead of just going with I'm going to you actually say, we actually share the story because you want to say what happened to this young person, right? What do I even have? See I looked up as star up there. I think that large crack. It was high tide currently, low tide, lot of sharp rocks around us. Okay. Because I went and tripped you. Push your hand off and snatch the rope. Let's see what happened to him during his trip. Let's see, I was stuck down here for two days almost. Let's see, Yeah, let's go for two days. Two days, I was dehydrated. Let's see, I was stuck down here for two days. I was dehydrated. I had scratches, scratches, a couple got infected, infected when I was found and I thought I was going to die, that I was actually going to die. The only reason I survived was because I I tried jumping in, jumping back into the water at high tide, at high tide, and was lucky enough to and was lucky enough that there were people around. I could scream for help. That I could call out for help. That I could call out for help. There we go. That I could call out for help. Yeah. That I could call out for help. Let's see. Everyone was silent for a brief second. Everyone was silent. For now let's go. Everyone was silent for a few seconds. Everyone was silent for a few seconds, but I couldn't notice that. I couldn't. Oh, I know. I know. Let's see. Everyone's gaze was no. I know everyone was frozen. Everyone was frozen. As I finished. As I finished, my heart, my heart hammering. No, my heart beat, my heart beats hammering into my ear drops. I almost felt woozy. Now, I started to feel a bit woozy. Started to feel a bit woozy. Let's see, I started to feel woozy. Why couldn't they get it? Why couldn't they just get it? Get it? We're in danger, I'm going to leave who I know have a little stuttering in there. I'm going to leave if you guys want to stay. Then then I remember finding him then I remember finding him straight down the tunnel. It was just one way. Okay. Let's see. Yep. No hesitation here, folks. Time to piece out. Okay. I'm going to leave if you guys want to stay then then I remember finding him straight down the tunnel. It was just one way. Okay. Oh, good luck. Good luck. Good luck. Just good luck. Good luck. Let's see. Let's see. I didn't try. I didn't listen to whatever else they had to say. I didn't listen to whatever else they had to say. I didn't listen to whatever else they had to say. I took the rope and slowly shimmy down. Shimmed. How do you say shimmed? Buck down. Okay. What can I say? There? Shim. There you go. Shimmy. There you go. Okay. I didn't listen to whatever else they had to say. I took that rope and shimmy down. Well, no, not shimmied and leaped down. The water splashed, let's see, the water splashed at the rocks. As I fastened myself from the crevices, rope broke and a refastened myself to the entrances rope there and refastened myself to the entrances rope, I called out, I called up and waved until someone saw me, and I was slowly hoisted up it up. Let's see, we stood 50 feet up, feet up to the surface. I told them what happened. I had to once again have a camera shoved into my face. I once again, I had to once again have a camera shoved into my face, and quickly told them. And quickly told them that. I and quickly told them what happened, and quickly told them what happened. Then I got into my car, into my car and peeled out of there and peeled out of there. Let's see, our protagonist actually got out of a situation. People were warning them. They were warning the people. The people didn't listen. What was the first lines? Because this is the part where I get to add some irony. Let's see if you do this, you'll be famous. We, he famous? I'm going to say not really. When I got home, I called my cousin again. Well, well, she said when they discover the bodies. Well, let's see. No, when they discover the body down there. Well, when they discover the body down there, you won't get to be famous. And she was right, and she was right about all but one but one thing. And she was right about all but one thing. And she was right about all but one thing though. About all but one thing though. No, wait, did I forget something? Yes, I did. When they discovered the body down there, you won't get to be famous. After three days, they didn't find one body but two. Yeah, they didn't find one body but two. Who was the second body? Let's see, Gregory Glam Rock, let's see famous rock climber. Why can't you just make it one word? Yeah, Gregory Glam rock, famous rock climber. Let's see, Try to get out. Try to get out, but lost his life. But lost his life when his equipment didn't work. Let's see, after three days they didn't find one body but two Gregory Glam, rock famous rock climber, tried to get out but lost his life when his climbing equipment didn't work. Let's see of the previs the historian was also trying to descend from the, he was also trying to descend from the, what was it from the crevice at the same time and, and lost his life. And lost his life too. And let's see, the historian was also trying to descend from the. Wait, I had a thing. Mr. Norman. Mr. Norman or wasn't Dr. Dr. Norman was also trying to descend from the crevice at the same time. At the same time, tried to get out, but lost his life when his equipment didn't work. Dr. Norman was also trying to descend from the crevice at the same time, but lost, but also fell and broke his neck. Only the camera woman, only the camera woman survived. And that's because she waited until high tide, high tide, to jump in, to jump into the water. Avoiding the rocks at low tide, let's see. Avoiding the rocks at low tide and call for help. Let's see. Well, she said when they discovered the body down there, you won't get to be famous. And she was right about all but one thing though. After three days they didn't find one body but two. Gregory Glam, rock famous rock climber, tried to get out of the crevice but lost his life when his equipment didn't work. Dr. Norman was also trying to descend from the crevice at the same time, but also fell and broke his neck. Let's see what else I feel like I could add something else there. Oh, I know. Let's see. Gregory Martin, famous rock climber. Famous rock climber under the, let's see, what do you call, I don't want to call a stage name but more like famous name under the Nick Lamb rock. Let's try to get out of the crevice but lost his life when his equipment didn't work. Dr. Norman was also trying to descend from the crevice at the same time, but also fell and broke his neck. Only the camera woman survived and that's because she waited until high tide to jump into the water, avoiding the cracks at low tide, and was able to call for help. I feel like I need a bit of something to wind down. I like the idea now. I personally like the idea of ending things here. I like how it is, but I know from before that I have gotten criticisms on my writing before about my endings can be a little bit abrupt and I feel like I need something else to wind things down. I also like to think that maybe by now people are a bit interested in the protagonist. I think that maybe I could write a little thing for them. Let's see when they discover. See. Well, she said when they discovered the body down there, you won't get to be famous. And she was right about all but one thing though, After three days, they didn't find one body but two. Gregory Martin, famous rock climber under the nickname Glam Rock tried to get out of the crevice but lost his life when his equipment didn't work. Dr. Norman was also trying to descend from the crevice at the same time, but also fell and broke his neck. Only the camera woman survived and that's because she waited until high tide to jump into the water avoiding the rocks at low tide, and was able to call for help. I pretty much I pretty much faded into obscurity. I pretty much faded into obscurity. Never got another interview. Never got an extra some extra pay. Let's see. Oh, wait. Actually, I think they could have gotten some pay. Well, no, they probably didn't. Never got never got that extra pay. According to the contract. The the waiver I signed, no contract I signed. I was only going to get paid well, to get compensation if I made the three day expedition. If I made the three day expedition, since because I left, because I left, I couldn't do that. I pretty much voided the contract. Voided the contract. Boy geez, how about making a shirt that says I got into this Not disaster. I could survive this terrible ordeal and all I got was this ****** T shirt. That's what I imagine the protagonist wearing at the end of this, because I left voided the contract. But hey, I'd rather keep, I'd rather keep my life than lose it. That's not the best one liner. I want something witty, but hey, I'd rather keep my life than lose it. I mean, it does a job, I suppose. I pretty much faded into obscurity. Never got another interview, never got that extra pay. According to the contract I signed, I was only going to get going. I was only going to get compensation if I made the three day expedition. Because I left. I pretty much avoided that contract. But I'd rather keep my life than lose it. Yeah, I guess that's it. I'm probably going to fix it up and make it a little more shiny. Shiny. Next video where you guys are going to hear the final story. Thanks again. 7. Story One - Self-Interview Project: All right people, it is now time to do the self interview. Now again, you guys, for your own project, you only have to do about three to six of these. But for me, I'm going to choose to do all six because I got a little something to say for each one, and I hope that it can help you guys learn better without further ado. How do you generally approach horror? Honestly, I don't typically approach horror. I'm more of a comedian at heart. In fact, when I come across something scary, my first instinct is just to mock the **** out of it and make it non scary. But to take it seriously, especially for this story, I guess I generally approach horror on just grounded ideas. For me, the idea of, let's say drowning is so much scarier than coming across Uuh. Because it's honestly just more likely to happen. Like I live by the sea, my chances of drowning are some other water related death is actually pretty high as an example, An inspiration you use for writing horror. All right, let's see. When I was writing this story, I know that I was doing a lot of Ocean Gate, like before this, I was doing a lot of research on Ocean Gate and the Titanic and other types of, I guess what you would call incompetent based problems or tragedies. Another inspiration I found myself recalling was this old show I used to watch as a kid. It was called Freaky Stories. It was like you had these little puppets in a diner setting, like a blue cockroach. Another one was like a green humanoid creature. And they would tell these stories about people getting into these really freaky or sometimes creepy situations. Now some of them they're like supernatural, but other times it was more just like people coming across some really weird stuff. Like, for example, there's this one story about this housekeeper. She would always rifle through people's things at the hotel she was working at when she had to clean their rooms. One day she found this new foreign hair spray. And it was the end of the day, she was a little ragged, so she sprayed her hair with it. Now, not thinking too much about it. While she was cleaning up the room, however, the patron came in and he was a bald guy just like that. Her hair immediately hardened into like cement and then just broke off on her head. That's one of the stories that just stuck with me and it's like it's nothing that's even supernatural. It's actually relatively grounded, But it was still really freaky. I was actually scared of using hair sprays for a while after that, not going to lie. I think another thing I used in general for writing Homer, another inspiration, a more modern one, would be the game Fears to Phantom. That's supposed to be a collection of Homer stories that were inspired by people's actual scary stories. Things like break ins, stalkers, murder attempts. I always found those really terrifying. Especially when it's like some mechanics in the game. Are things where you actually have to hold your breath because there's some recording mechanic If you or too loud during some segments, the person that's coming after you like we'll actually hear you and find your hiding place of the player. I thought that was so terrifying. At least one subject you gravitate towards. Well, as I said already, I definitely gravitate for this story specifically, it was the dangers of incompetency. I know I've been using the fear of incompetency, but I think the danger of incompetency is much closer to what I'm trying to get to. Let's see anyway, dangers of incompetency. It's, it's just all these little human errors that just pile up on each other. It's like these mistakes on their own, they're actually fixable. But it's like people, for some reason or another, are just going to choose not to do it, not to deal with those things, and they pile up. I guess for me, that is definitely one subject I find I gravitate towards when it comes to like delving into more. Serious stories, or at least the few times that I do delve into more serious stories, name at least one expectation you have of yourself or your work when you write something scary. I guess my expectation when I wrote this story, when I write any other story, a horror story, is that for me, it's just to explore fear itself. I'm not really thinking about terrifying people or boggling their mind with the unknown. I just want to think of something I'm afraid of or fear I have. And just explore that. That's what the story is about. I like to think because of that, I can keep my expectations relatively low and have fun. How do you deal with your anxieties when right, in horror? Well, as I said, I usually deal with my anxieties by making jokes out of them. I like me some dark comedy. If I can do that, I don't know. It feels like things don't always seem so bad. But then there's times where I can't do that. I have to take things serious. When I do that, I try to just sit with my anxieties because it's like if I'm feeling anxious over something that's meaningful, that's important, that means something. Maybe instead of running away or mocking it, or some other way of deflecting it, maybe I can just sit with it, let it tell its story. I don't really know if I made sense there, but I guess that's the best way I can put it. What's the technique you use to write a story, either horror specific or for general writing? One of the main techniques I was using was to write what I fear. But I think another technique I'd like to focus on would be that I keep trying to ask myself questions. I keep trying to remind myself what is important, what is meaningful. I just try to keep answering that whatever answer I come up with, I write it down of. I always remind myself that what I'm doing is just a rough draft. It doesn't have to be polished at the start. I can be rough. I let myself be rough. Say I just write whatever I really want to. I don't always get to write everything I want to, but I get to put some things in there. And I'd say that even if my story isn't knock your pants off, terrifying or like really digging deep into the psychological essence of fear with people, I still had fun for me, that's what's really important. Thanks for listening and good luck on your projects, okay? 8. Story One - The Final Result: If you do this, you'll be famous. My older cousin exclaimed on the phone. Well, it wasn't the fame that interested me. It was the escape, the escape from a life where I was barely living. Paycheck to paycheck. It was realization of how much of a novelty that surviving the Tajik tunnels was. It was the check they promised that I could put into the bank and finally have a savings account. Yeah, I really wasn't thinking about returning down there. All I did was trip over the broken fence around the tunnels ledge, found a dry tunnel inside and survived 40 something hours. Also, I discovered some dead guys remains and it turns out that it might be a dead guy. That was a bit of a big deal in my town. Now, they want me to accompany a team going down there to show them where I found the dead guy. Yeah, I was surprised when I parked there. Aside from my car, there was only two other cars with foreign license plates and a news van from the city. I expected maybe a small press conference or something. Anyway, there are a few people around the tunnels entrance. I said goodbye to my cousin and hung up my phone before meandering my way over to the small group of people, the gear, and fastened the straps of my harness around my red jeans. Since the tunnel had about a 40 foot vertical entrance, we were going to be lowered down. They gave me a brief explanation on how to use the harness, and I fumbled my way around copying what they showed me. The expert rock climber and the historian were lowered first, then me and then the camera woman. After only a few feet, the light from above dimmed. As I looked around, I noticed all the jagged edges of the rocks that were just a few meters away from me. I curled a little around the rope and held it tighter. Try not to think how it was the only thing keeping me alive right now. As I descended the darkness, I took deep breaths and just tried to focus on slowly being lowered down. And immediately jumped at a tug below me and a chuckle. Not as fast as when you fell in, huh? The rock climber, Gary Mountain, said with a smile from under his orange cap. I thought I had longer to go, but the tunnels floor was just under my feet. I guess my anxiety was Showing what with the hole. Avoiding looking down part and not noticing when I was already at the bottom? Nope, not really. I tried joking back as my boots touched eroded rock. Any flashlights? Oh, we'll be fine with just our phones. He waved his zone in front of me. This needs to be filmed. My phone can do that and be a flashlight. There's not a lot of light down here. Are they even going to capture anything? Oh, yes, answered the young camera woman who just finished her descent. They have night vision so we can use them to see down here. When she said that, my heart sank. We shouldn't be doing that. That's how I ended up here in the first place. Suddenly all eyes and cameras were on me. Oh, tell us more. The camera woman stepped closer to me holding her camera up a few feet from my face. I forced myself to take a deep breath, calm my nerves, and repeat what I've said at another interview. Okay. I don't know what you've heard, but I tripped and fell. When I was taking a walk on Friday morning, it was too early for the sun to rise, so I used the Night Vision app on my phone to see. It didn't do me any good because I went and slid on some wet rocks by the fence. I tried looking around at anything but the people gawking at me, but could only make out the dark waves of the sea lapping at the underground shore right by us and the jagged rocks surrounding us. But the lights from the phones shining in faintly on them. I took another gulp of salty air and continued. It was high tide, so I was very lucky that I only had water to fall into. As we can see, it's currently low tide and there's a lot of sharp rocks around us. I cleared my throat and scratched the back of my head. Where was the spot you found the remains of the skeleton? Can you show us? Dr. The historian stepped into the shot. I stepped back only to almost bump into Gary. Let me see. I walked a bit away from the eager staring and took out my phone. Turned on the flashlight setting and looked upwards, finding the opening of the crevice I swam into that day. I could tell because I could make up the bloody handprint I left by the side of the crack due to the cuts I had on my hands up there, that large crack. The water was up to that height, so I was able to reach it. I squeezed in and fell asleep. I got a small chuckle from the group. You fell asleep. Gary spoke up in a cave and with cold, wet clothes? Yeah. Pretty much. I answered with a nervous laugh of my own, trying not to look at the phones in the camera. I guess it was pretty dumb. Anyway, I woke up in, the tide was lower, so there were rocks under me and I couldn't just jump down. The crack was actually an opening into a small tunnel. I thought that there could be an opening somewhere. So I used my phone to help me crawl through. What I found instead was a dead person at a dead end. And it really freaked me out, you know. Everyone nodded. The water continued to splash at the rocks a few feet below us. Was there anything about the skeleton clothing items? Dr. Norman stuck closer and I took an instinctive step back. I remember one of those big feathery hats it had that you see in those historical movies. Also, there was a tree root over its arms. It had to have been there for a while. Well, Gary chimed in and stepped between me and the camera. That's where I come in. He knelt down, opened his duffel bag, and started taking out his supplies. Now, this gear is the same gear I used during my first trek up Mount Everest. I made just last year. We're going to use it to climb up to that crevice and find the remains. Let's get to it. He began making his way up, grabbing onto cracks and other parts of the rocks, to get up to the large crevice. It was about 30 feet or so up and took him a while. Me, Dr. Norman, and the camerawoman watched him slowly ascend up the wall. When he got to the crevice, he spent a few minutes talking to the camera about rock climbing before he set the rope up so the rest of us could get up there too. First went the camera woman, then the historian, and finally me. A loud wave hit my ears, and I looked over to see that the water had already risen a few inches. It wasn't up to our level of rock yet, but the tide was coming in quickly over here. Hey guys got up to the crevice. I interrupted Gary's explanation to the camera. The water is starting to rise. I think we're too late for today. Maybe we could do this another day. Maybe we should do this another day. Oh, we could hurry it up, suggested Dr. Norman Wincing, as his older knees dug into the rock and dirt uncomfortably. It won't take too long, assured Gary. Now there's going to be rain tonight. Also, I remember that I had to crawl a long time to where I found that guy. By the time we get there, the water might be too high to get out. It'll be fine. The rock climbers words were loud enough to echo through the cramped tunnel cutting through the darkness. Now come on, Show us where the remains of the famed Russell enter lies. No, all eyes and camera sized me again, we can be quick, said Dr. Norman, gesturing to the unending hole of the tunnel. It's okay if you're scared. The camera woman spoke gently and leaned over to place her hand on my shoulder. But Gary Mountain is here and we'll get through this. Her words made me sick. I pushed her hand off and snatched the rope that was still fastened to my harness. I was stuck down here for two days. I was dehydrated, hungry. I had cuts all over me. A couple were even infected when I was found, and I thought I was actually going to die. The only reason I survived was because I was dehydrated, cuckoo enough to jump back into the water at high tide. And was lucky enough that I heard a dog barking above and called out for help. Everyone gaped at me. When I finished, and my heart beat hammered into my ear drums, I started to feel a bit woozy. Why couldn't they see it? We're in danger, I'm going to leave. If you guys want to stay then then I remember finding him straight down the tunnel. It was just one way. Okay, good luck. I didn't listen to whatever else they had to say. I took the rope and leaped down. The water splashed at the rocks. As I unfastened myself from the crevices rope and refastened myself to the entrances rope, I called up and waved until someone saw me, and I was slowly hoisted up to the surface. The second I touched driving ground, I ripped off the harms, leaped into my car and peeled out of there. When I got home, I called my cousin again. Well, she said, when they discovered the body down there, you won't get famous. She was right about all but one thing though, After three days, they didn't find one body but two. Gary Martin, famous rock climber under the nickname Gary Mountain, trying to get out of the crevice at the next low tide, but fell and lost his life when the ropes pull mount slipped out, probably from the tunnels moisture. Dr. Norman was also trying to descend from the crevice at the same time and also fell and died from a head injury. Only the camera woman survived and that's because she waited until high tide to jump into the water and was able to call up for help. I was pretty much forgotten. Never got another interview. Never got that extra pay. According to the contract I signed, I was only going to get compensation if I made the three day expedition. Because I left, I was pretty much voiding the contract. About three months later, I was invited to another expedition. It was going to be for up to a week and they would even pay me. Even if I left halfway through, I took it. The plan was that this new team took the time to build floating rafts and ladders by the crevice for when the tide came in. Then me and the others were lower down at low tide, climbed up the ladder and would crawl through the tunnel to explore. It took about two days of training with the harness and the ropes. One day of exploring the tunnel's entrance, where I pointed out the crevice, and another three days of building and testing the rafts before we made the official trip on a clear day. It still felt claustrophobic as all hell, but not as bad as the first time. The walk felt longer due to a team member setting up the portable lamps and lunch break. But we made it at the dead end was the dead man himself, skeleton and moldy leather lighted by our lamps. Now that we found the old corpse, we slowly made our way back to the end. The tide had risen some, but the rafts held. They asked me if I could join them for the official filming, but I declined three times in. There was more than enough. Later that year, they streamed the episode online. I got my favorite drink and chips and watched it that evening. I was never a history bo, it was definitely something new for me. Perhaps the most interesting thing was about this. Russell Fentor was an explorer in the 1750s who vanished and was one of this county's biggest mysteries. The corpse I found was confirmed to be his, and he likely died from injuries and starvation after getting trapped down there probably fell like yours, Truly. Unlike me though, he was looking for the remains of some ship that also disappeared around the area. I guess he was looking to get his name in the history books some way or another. Well, I'm happier to wash away into obscurity than with the tide.