Dancing with Shadows: Embracing Your Inner Demons in Storytelling
“The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown.” — H.P. Lovecraft
Do you have Inner Demons? There’s this perpetual myth about creativity—that it’s born from light, joy, and inspiration. However, ask any writer, ask any artist, ask any musician, and they’ll all say one thing: from darkness comes some of the most powerful art. Not coloured “negative”, at least in storytelling—anger and fear and sadness and, yes, even shame.
Dark Matter’s writing taught me a certain something: that the only truly compelling characters are those tussling with their shadow selves. Take Joshua Carpenter: he is not your archetype hero but a boy haunted by questions he cannot answer and fears he cannot silence. He steps into the darkness, not because he is brave, but because he is desperate.
Then there is Zivah, Joshua’s mother. Her fear isn’t just of the darkness but of losing her son to it. Yet, her fear becomes a driving force: it shapes her, strengthens her, and makes her choices hit harder.
But darkness isn’t just about fear; it’s about vulnerability. It’s about facing those parts of yourself that you would rather keep hidden. As writers, we have to let our characters walk into those dark places. We have to let them trip up, fall, and make choices they will regret. Because that’s where their humanity shines brightest.
Dark Matter does this in spades. Characters like Beris, flickering in and out of reality, really capture that duality. He’s sarcastic and witty, sure, but beneath the sharp tongue is something more—loneliness, uncertainty, and maybe even a flicker of guilt. Beris exists in the shadows, not just literally but emotionally. He’s a great example of how embracing darkness can create a character that feels alive and complex.
But here’s the thing: writing darkness doesn’t have to be about romanticising it. It’s about exploring it with honesty and vulnerability. It’s about asking hard questions and being brave enough to sit with uncomfortable answers.
Take Father Bussi, another important character in Dark Matter. He is a man of faith, but at the same time, he struggles with his inner demons. His inner conflict isn’t just about good versus evil; it is about whether he is strong enough to face the truth, even if that means it will shatter everything he has ever believed.
These are the stories that resonate with us, not because they are bleak but because they are real. They remind one that darkness is not something to be feared; it’s something to be understood.
Whether you’re a writer who finds your own shadows the richest material to mine, or a reader who feels drawn to the stories that raise uncomfortable questions, remember this: the darkness isn’t the enemy. Sometimes, it’s the guide.
The next time you’re fearing to write or create any “too dark” scene, remind yourself: within the shadows, there are whispers. And they are those worth listening to.
If you like stories of characters wrestling with their darker selves and where the truth is never black and white, then Dark Matter is the book for you. Sign up now for exclusive updates, discounts, and early access!
Published by Star Lore Publishing