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From "Ethereal Nightmares: The Second Sleep"
Hey everyone! 👋
This month, we’re doing things a little differently. We’ll be discussing The Muse by Callum Gracey—a haunting tale that blends Halloween traditions with an unsettling look at creativity and ambition.
If you haven’t read it yet, check out the attached PDF and join the discussion! For those who have, let’s dive in.
🔎 Discussion & Prompts
🕯️ Atmosphere & Setting
The story opens with Dad carefully crafting the perfect Halloween ambiance—candles, pumpkins, and a storm raging outside. How does this atmosphere affect the tension in the story? Do you think it sets the tone for what’s to come?
✍️ The Writer’s Struggle
Dad is both proud of his writing and deeply insecure about it. What do you make of his relationship with his craft? How does his self-doubt shape the events of the story?
💀 The Cost of Ambition
The story explores the cost of ambition and what one might sacrifice for success. What do you think the author is saying about ambition, particularly through the idea of a “writer who sells his soul”?
👻 The Supernatural Element
There’s a chilling shift when Dad starts to read his own story. Do you think the horror in this tale is purely supernatural, or is there a deeper message about the writing process itself?
❓ Final Thoughts
What was your overall reaction to the story? Did the ending feel satisfying, or did it leave you with more questions?
Let’s discuss! Drop your thoughts below. ⬇️
The scene plays well - suitable for a short film. I can imagine the scene shifting from the dad sharing his narrative to the writer of the tale desperately searching for inspiration. I find that there is a psychological aspect to this horror that may not dive into the paranormal. For the images found in The Muse are associated with pain and can consume an unhealthy mind. Further, the concept of a "writer selling his soul" is a competitive trope to the social question: what is the price of fame? People want to succeed in their field, yet there's a difference in loving the art and desiring monetary profit. Perhaps the latter is what drives the Dad to risk it all. I will say the ending was unexpected but delightful in a morbid way.