H. P. Lovecraft’s Notebook

It is always interesting to see how a writer writes, especially a writer as weird as the seminal cosmic horror writer H. P. Lovecraft. Wired magazine gives a glimpse of Lovecraft’s thought process by publishing the typed notes from his commonplace book (a notebook collecting various thoughts, notes, and story ideas). Here are the first few notes from 1923:

99 Salem story—the cottage of an aged witch—wherein after her death are found sundry terrible things.

100 Subterranean region beneath placid New England village, inhabited by (living or extinct) creatures of prehistoric antiquity and strangeness.

101 Hideous secret society—widespread—horrible rites in caverns under familiar scenes—one’s own neighbour may belong. [x]

102 Corpse in room performs some act—prompted by discussion in its presence. Tears up or hides will, etc.

103 Sealed room—or at least no lamp allowed there. Shadow on wall. [x]

104 Old sea tavern now far inland from made land. Strange occurrences—sound of lapping of waves—

105 Vampire visits man in ancestral abode—is his own father.

106 A thing that sat on a sleeper’s chest. Gone in morning, but something left behind.

107 Wall paper cracks off in sinister shape—man dies of fright. [x] [Rats in Walls]

Click here to read the whole thing.

Lincoln Michel keeps a personal blog at lincolnmichel.com and tweets @TheLincoln. His work appears or is forthcoming in Tin House, Oxford American, The Believer, NOON, Bookforum, and elsewhere. He is ...read more