I’ve seen these creative writing tips going around for a while now, and while they’re not actually composed by Edgar Allan Poe, they’re still likely to give you some good ideas if you are working on anything a little dark or crazy.
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Employ an unreliable narrator, preferably one who doesn’t know he is insane and has no recollection of such events as digging into a grave to rip out the teeth of his recently departed lover.
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Include a beautiful woman with raven locks and porcelain skin, preferably quite young, and let her die tragically of some unknown ailment.
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Use grandiloquent words, such as heretofore, forthwith, and nevermore. A little Latin will also enhance the text.
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Do not shy away from such grotesqueries as inebriation, imprisonment, insanity, and men costumed as orangutans being burned to death.
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When in doubt, bury someone alive.
Perfect advice for composing your own Poe-inspired poem, short story, or novel

photo credit: kevindooley