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Real Horrors [1]

Fiction [2]
1.15.25

In the film Nightbitch, an adaptation of Rachel Yoder’s 2021 novel [3] of the same name directed by Marielle Heller, a new mother contends with the growing feeling of being trapped in domestic caretaking, having left her job and put aside her pursuits as a visual artist in order to stay at home and take care of her small toddler. With her husband away for work, the repetitiveness, exhaustion, and difficulties of motherhood take a surreal turn, as her instincts begin to manifest in canine form. Write a short story that begins similarly with the acknowledgment of an element of horror in something very mundane and common, perhaps an aspect of a relationship, a job, or milestone that isn’t often depicted in gory detail or a negative light. You might find that adding a touch of fantasy or dark comedy will help illuminate your perspective.


Source URL:https://www.pw.org/content/real_horrors

Links
[1] https://www.pw.org/content/real_horrors [2] https://www.pw.org/genre/fiction [3] https://www.pw.org/content/nightbitch_trailer