Do you want to learn how to write death and darkness? Are you writing horror? Themes of the underworld? Fantasy and science fiction? Or just want to find an effective way of killing off a character that will shock readers?
Death is a part of life. Just as there are beginnings, there must also be an end. And as humans, we have always been fascinated by what comes after death. We’ve built mythology and belief around the mystery of death, that thing we all must face.
October is the season of death. It’s the season of Samhain, the final harvest. The last crops are sown, livestock is butchered, and the world gets darker and colder. It’s the perfect season to address the mystery of death and as writers, writing death and darkness can enhance your writing.
In this blog, we’ll explore death and darkness through the lens of mythology, symbolism, and theme. We’ll learn how to enrich your world-building and ground your characters in the universal cycle of life and death. So let’s get ready to embrace Memento mori.
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Writing Death and Darkness and the Symbolism of Samhain
As we follow the wheel of the year in our seasonal living and nature spirituality, we come upon the final harvest. Lughnasadh celebrated the first harvest, a time of plenty and abundance. It was the bread harvest, when crops were at their peak, in August. It celebrated the light season. My articles about the bread harvest and Autumn living and seasonal myths of Autumn talk more about the first two harvests.
Mabon, the second harvest, was the harvest of fruit, a time for thanksgiving and gratitude. It was the autumn equinox, the time when the day and the night were equal. And a time when we prepared for the coming darkness.
Samhain is the final harvest. The darkness has arrived. The days are shorter, and the chill air signifies that winter is near. The leaves have fallen, and the fields are fallow.
Nature itself becomes a metaphor for death in your writing. Dark times make for lighter times because in nature, darkness is temporary and the sun will be reborn at the winter solstice.
The Three Festivals of the Harvest Season
- Lughnasadh: Early August: the first harvest of grains and early crops.
- Mabon: Autumn Equinox, September: the second harvest of fruits and vegetables.
- Samhain: Late October: the final harvest, when what remains is gathered and the fields are cleared. The slaughter of animals fattened up for the season.
Memento mori: Embracing Mortality in Storytelling
The Latin phrase “memento mori” means “remember you must die.” Throughout history, artists and writers have used skulls, withered flowers, and crumbling ruins as reminders of mortality. The phrase became especially poignant during the time of the Black Death in 14th-century Europe, when art expressions like the Dance Macabre became popular. Dance Macabre art like posters and wall art can inspire your writing.
For writers, memento mori is about understanding how their characters perceive death. Do they fear it? Do they welcome it? How does it shape their choices?
Consider these factors to add emotional depth to your writing:
- Is death a constant threat in your character’s life? Do they live in a dystopian world where survival is a struggle?
- Are they fighting to save someone else from death?
- Is there an afterlife in your world? How tangible is it?
It’s not morbid to cover death in your writings. As humans, we are all mortal; it’s a fact of life. But if we see it as nature sees it- as a cycle of life, death, and rebirth.
The Underworld in Mythology and Writing Death and Darkness
Mythology, religion and philosophy all seek to explain life after death. Very few spiritual beliefs believe in nothingness. The afterlife is a source of hope and comfort. That even though we are all mortal, there could be something beyond death.
The mysterious realm of death is the source of spirits, hauntings, and supernatural entities, which can spawn imagination. You can check out my World Mythology Pinterest Board for global myths all around the world.
Greek Hades and Persephone
Hades rules the land of the dead. In Greek mythology, we see Persephone descend into the underworld to become the Queen of the underworld. As she joins her husband in the realm of death, the earth becomes barren. But she returns in the spring, bringing spring blooms. This is a myth that incorporates the belief in death being temporary and part of nature’s cycle. My articles about Demeter and Persephone go into more depth about these two goddesses.
The Greeks also believed in Elysium and the fields of Asphodel. These were places where virtuous souls went after death. And Tartarus, where the wicked went. This provides an incentive for good and virtue in life, comforting for those who live to be good, honorable, and courageous.
Celtic Otherworld Inspiration for Writing Death and Darkness
In Celtic lore, the dead travel to Annwn or Tír na nÓg, realms of eternal youth and beauty. These aren’t places of punishment; they are liminal spaces of mystery and magic. They reinforce the idea that death is not something to be feared.
Norse Hel and the Roots of Yggdrasil
Helheim is ruled by Hel and is the destination for most souls in Norse mythology. But for those who are warriors, who die in battle, they go to the glorious afterlife in Valhalla and join Odin’s halls or Folkvangr ruled by Freya.
The dead rest under the roots of Yggdrasil, the world tree. They become part of the cosmic cycle of life. The Norse believed that death is part of the balance of existence.
Other Cultural Underworlds to Explore When Writing Death and Darkness
- Egyptian Duat: The dead journey through trials to reach the Field of Reeds. They are judged by Osiris.
- Aztec Mictlán: A multi-layered realm where souls travel for years to find peace.
- Japanese Yomi: A shadowy land where the dead gradually forget the world of the living.
Each of these myths can inspire you to build your own underworld. It can be a realm shaped by the beliefs, fears, and hopes of your fictional cultures. This book, Myths of the Underworld, by Lindsay Christinee can be a valuable resource.
How to Write Darker Themes with Sensitivity and Depth
Writing death and darkness can be impactful if you know how to reach your audience. It can also be emotionally heavy. Depending on the genre you are writing, you can learn how hard to apply it. It’s about finding a balance that will keep readers engaged without overwhelming them. Check out my creative writing techniques Pinterest board for tips about the writing craft.
Balancing Darkness with Light in Writing Death and Darkness
Balance the darkness with a little light. Include moments of love, beauty, or wonder. What is your character living for? What are they willing to die for?
Writing Death and Darkness Using Emotion Instead of Shock
Decide how graphic death should be. If you are writing horror or grimdark, gruesome is a given. But when death is emotional, tone down the graphic aspect. Show the silent funeral, an empty chair, and how the character’s death inspires others. My articles about Mary Sues and Astrology for character development can help you understand how to develop a character’s emotions and personality. This book on writing dark stories can help.
Here are a few subgenres where death is impactful:
- Grimdark: Death is frequent, brutal, and unsentimental. Example: He died because someone wanted what he had.
- Dystopian/apocalypse: Huge death tolls, survival is a struggle, dystopian society using people as scapegoats or for propaganda. Example: He died because society considered him a disruption, a rebellious figure. Now he’s a martyr for the cause. OR He died trying to save as many from the disaster as he could.
- Science fiction: Capture the idea of someone willing to risk their life for the progress of a society. The risks associated with traveling to new planets. Example: He died on the soil of another world, helping to create the foundations of a future society.
- Epic Fantasy: Fallen heroes killed in battle. Example: When he fell in battle, the men rallied to his cause and defeated the dark lord once and for all.
- Romance: Death is deeply emotional. It separates lovers. Handle it carefully and with sensitivity. Example: His absence would haunt her forever. She wore his ring around her neck to remind her of him.
Exploring Grief When Writing Death and Darkness
When writing death and darkness, you should also consider grief. How a character handles grief can define their character growth. It can force them to change, inspire them, push them to grow. Show readers who a character’s death inspires other characters, how it reshapes their relationships, views, and goals. This can give your character’s death meaning and purpose. This book on emotions in writing can help.
Transforming and Creation When Writing Death and Darkness
Samhain and the final harvest is an acceptance of nature’s truth. In nature, things must sometimes die in order for other things to live. The lion must kill a zebra in order to survive.
But the husks of the last harvest feed the soil. When the lions die, their bodies decay and give life to the soil. And the zebra feeds on the grass that feeds on the lion’s body.
October is the season to remember this cycle in your writing and in your everyday life. Show your readers how death can spark new life. Think of old agricultural societies. They must kill the pig they raised all year long. It may bring them sadness, but that pig will nourish them through the winter, and new piglets will be born in the spring.
Practical Writing Exercises for Exploring Death and Darkness
These are some exercises to help you explore death and darkness in your writing. They will help you convey to your readers the emotional impact of death:
- Write a dialogue: From the perspective of a soul who has died. Have him confront death, the Grim Reaper. Or have him meet with Hades and Persephone and have him ask them questions about death and the great beyond.
- Haunting: Write a short story from the perspective of a ghost who walks the earth unseen.
- Write a scene: from the perspective of those left behind. Focus only on sensory details, emotions, and metaphors.
- Seasonal ritual: Every October, make time for the dead. Remember those you lost in the past year, or in previous years. Walk through a cemetery, visit a battlefield monument or a museum. Host a dumb supper.
Exercises like this can not only help your journey of writing death and darkness, it can also deepen your own understanding of death.
Spirituality, Death, and Darkness
The mythology surrounding death is often what defines a religion. As humans, we want to believe that if we follow a righteous path, no matter how hard our struggles in life are, we will be rewarded in death. And we want to believe that good will always triumph over evil. This is often the premise of underworld mythology. The spirits of good people being rewarded with eternity in Elysium while evil people are punished and condemned to become tortured souls in Hades, or doomed to roam the earth as spirits or undead fiends.
Honoring the Final Harvest and Writing Death and Darkness
Samhain marks the final harvest. It marks the start of the dark half of the year. But this darkness doesn’t have to be feared.
As you explore writing death and darkness, remember that death is a transformation. Life and death are part of nature’s seasonal cycle. Myth and folklore help us understand the nature of death and bring us comfort. And they help to reinforce our values.
Have confidence in writing death and darkness. Your words can bring your readers comfort.
Let me know in the comments how death plays a role in your writing. And join my Facebook group and my newsletter if you want to share your thoughts more.
