{"id":9125,"date":"2024-11-11T14:20:20","date_gmt":"2024-11-11T19:20:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/degfhkjgfjhf.inkitt.com\/?p=9125"},"modified":"2024-11-19T14:44:44","modified_gmt":"2024-11-19T19:44:44","slug":"famous-horror-properties-in-the-public-domain-ripe-for-retelling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/writersblog-backend.inkitt.com\/famous-horror-properties-in-the-public-domain-ripe-for-retelling\/","title":{"rendered":"The Public Domain Horror Stories You Can Retell"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n
People love a good horror story<\/strong> – and Inkitt<\/a><\/strong> has a lot to offer<\/a>!<\/strong> Indeed, there is no shortage of horror novels and films<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n However, an underutilized resource aspiring horror authors may want to consider is horror classics. And that doesn\u2019t just mean the often-adapted characters of Dracula and Frankenstein\u2019s monster.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Yes, Dracula and Frankenstein\u2019s monster will always make for fun retellings, but is there anything else <\/strong>to chew on?\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Yes. Yes, there is\u2014four words: public domain horror stories<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n When a story is in the public domain, it means the copyright on the story\/property has expired and effectively belongs to nobody\u2026or everybody, depending on how you view it.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Anything in the public domain is fair game. Whether you want to \u201cborrow<\/em>\u201d a character or reboot an entire story, you can play with these horror properties to your heart\u2019s delight.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n So, if you\u2019re an aspiring horror author looking for inspiration, we have some suggestions for you.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Public domain horror stories are classic horror tales that were published before 1923<\/strong> (in many cases) and have now fallen out of copyright, making them freely accessible for public use, reproduction, and adaptation. These stories come from authors whose works have defined the horror genre, often creating the foundation for modern horror themes, characters, and archetypes. Because they\u2019re in the public domain, these stories can be shared, adapted, and reimagined without restriction.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n An iconic vision of the secret villain lurking in every human heart, this short story has been retold as a (failed)<\/strong> television series, a gothic musical production, and a few pop songs.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Its beauty lies in its brevity. Once you grasp the roots, you can plant them anywhere.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n What could you grow in your original world, modern city, or wilderness ranger station with this potion?<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n This story, considered one of the scariest ever by H.P. Lovecraft<\/strong> and Stephen King<\/strong>, is ripe for a modern retelling. While it didn\u2019t personally give me chills, it did inspire Stephen King\u2019s novella N<\/em><\/strong>.<\/em>, which certainly did. The plot centers on two aristocrats experimenting on a homeless woman\u2019s brain, connecting her to the divine where she encounters the god Pan and gives birth to a demigod.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n This demigod, a powerful woman, eventually wreaks vengeance on men like those who harmed her mother.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Ironically, the two men who caused all this are the story\u2019s \u201cheroes<\/em>,\u201d as they ultimately confront and destroy the demigod\u2014resolving a crisis of their own making.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n But this story has potential. There are so many gaps to fill and questions to answer. Somebody, please retell this. There is an excellent retelling to be found here, especially from the perspective of one of the barely realized characters<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n This collection features early American horror, sci-fi, and mythic stories connected by a mysterious play, The King in Yellow<\/em>, which supposedly drives its readers insane.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Robert Chambers and his fellow writers often referenced each other’s works, building a shared world of strange mythology.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The King in Yellow<\/em> also ties into H.P. Lovecraft\u2019s Cthulhu Mythos<\/strong>, especially with the ancient being Hastur, who has his own lore across different stories. This layered, interconnected world offers a deep dive into dark, surreal themes. Interestingly, The King in Yellow<\/em> also inspired elements in season one of True Detective<\/em>..\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The quintessential gothic romance, Udolpho<\/em> is all grand landscapes, family tragedies, plots over inheritance, and brooding castles.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n There\u2019s a little romance there, too, but it was first published in the late 1700s<\/strong>, and a heroine couldn\u2019t conceivably fight for her rights and will unless she did so in the name of another love interest, so\u2026<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Whether you want a darker take on love or to explore the battle of wills sans any romance, the story is open to reinterpretation, updates, and twists.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n This popular musical, known widely through Andrew Lloyd Webbe<\/strong>r and Tim Rice’s adaptation, is based on a much darker book that’s now in the public domain. The original story includes elements like explosives, a hallucinatory desert-like room, and a higher body count, creating a more violent and intense version than the stage production. With these vivid and intense scenes, it\u2019s a story ripe for reimagining. Susan Kay\u2019s Phantom<\/em> has already explored one fresh take, but there\u2019s still plenty of room for other unique adaptations.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Retelling this story from the public domain is a great idea because it offers aspiring writers the chance to put their own spin on an already captivating tale.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n By exploring the story’s darker elements or focusing on different characters, writers can create a version that feels fresh and modern, so you will keep your readers intrigued. Plus, fans of the musical and the original book would likely be drawn to a new take that combines familiar themes with new, exciting twists.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The Picture of Dorian Gray<\/em> is an underappreciated classic in gothic literature. Although Dorian Gray<\/strong> has shown up in a few adaptations and as a side character in works like The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen<\/em> and Penny Dreadful<\/em>, he\u2019s never truly broken through as a standalone icon. This is surprising, given that the story dives deep into themes of art, ego, and the consequences of immoral choices. Wilde\u2019s take on these ideas is both darkly clever and compelling, making it rich material for reimagining.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n This story lets you modernize its themes and make them relevant for today\u2019s readers. Exploring Dorian\u2019s complex character and his struggles with vanity and morality in a contemporary setting would give new insights into familiar themes.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Plus, readers are likely to be intrigued by a fresh look at a character whose story is timeless yet still feels under-explored.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Another gothic romance, it has ghosts, gloomy mansions, and a haunting atmosphere<\/strong> channeled directly from the Northern English Yorkshire moors in which it is set.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n I hated it the first time I read it. It holds the unique distinction of being the only book to make me so angry that I hurled it across the room.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n However,\u00a0 I confess to enjoying it much more now as an adult.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n You probably had to read this in high school or college, and your mileage may have varied. Its potential for retelling is real. The themes it addresses haven\u2019t changed: racism, classicism, and the profoundly personal barbs that hook couples together even when they marry other people. And ghosts\u2026oh yes.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Sounds like a recipe for horror to me.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Public domain horror stories are special because they\u2019re the original tales that helped create the horror genre<\/strong> we know today. They have the classic monsters and themes\u2014vampires, werewolves, mad scientists\u2014that we still love, but in their original, raw form. Retelling these stories lets you bring a fresh take to familiar, timeless ideas<\/strong>, exploring the same fears and moral questions in a way that speaks to today\u2019s readers.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n What\u2019s great about adapting these old horror stories is that they have an authentic, eerie style that\u2019s tough to find in modern horror. By reimagining them, you get to mix that classic creepiness with your own new twists, keeping the charm of the original while giving readers something surprising and fresh. It\u2019s a perfect way to connect readers to the roots of horror while adding your own unique spin.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Are you ready to write something scary? Maybe you\u2019ve played with a public domain property before. Get on it! There are so many lesser-known, public-domain horror stories to read and repurpose!\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Share your ideas and tips for other writers in the comments below!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Do you have a topic you would like us to cover? A suggestion for the next big feature? Share your brilliance! Turn your idea into the next sensation! Let us know<\/strong><\/a>, and join us on Discord!<\/strong><\/a> \ud83d\ude42\u00a0<\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" People love a good horror story – and Inkitt has a lot to offer! Indeed, there is no shortage of horror novels and films.\u00a0 However, an underutilized resource aspiring horror authors may want to consider is horror classics. And that doesn\u2019t just mean the often-adapted characters of Dracula and Frankenstein\u2019s monster.\u00a0 Yes, Dracula and Frankenstein\u2019s<\/p>\nWhat Does It Mean For a Story to Be in the Public Domain?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Public domain horror stories<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
How to re-use stories from Public Domain<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\r\n
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde <\/em>by Robert Louis Stevenson<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
The Great God Pan<\/em> by Arthur Machen<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Why is This Ripe for Retelling?\u00a0<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\r\n
The King in Yellow<\/em> by Robert Chambers<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
The Mysteries of Udolpho<\/em> by Ann Radcliffe<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
The Phantom of the Opera <\/em>by Gaston Leroux\u00a0<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Why It\u2019s a Good Idea to Use This Story<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
The Picture of Dorian Grey <\/em>by Oscar Wilde<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Reasons to Choose This Book<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Wuthering Heights <\/em>by Emily Bront\u00eb<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Why Horror Stories?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Get Your Scare On!\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
We\u2019re Open to Feedback! \ud83d\udde3\ufe0f\ud83d\udce2<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n