Midnight Pals: The Philosophy of Composition (Patreon)

Tim Waggoner: so I’m compiling some advice on writing horrorPoe: oh excellent! As it just so happensPoe: I actually have a whole theory about thatPoe: a whole philosophy of compositionPoe: I call it The Philosophy of Composition Waggoner: interestingWaggoner: tell me about thisWaggoner: philosophy of compositionPoe: ok so the important thing to know is that the most poetical thing is the death of a beautiful woman Poe: the most poetical thing is the death of a beautiful woman Poe: god it’s just so tragic!Poe: to lose a beautiful womanBarker: oh look the straights are at it againPatricia Highsmith: no no let him cook

Poe: see, writers like to talk about artistic intuition Poe: that’s bunkPoe: writing is methodical and analytical, not spontaneous Poe: let me tell you something that authors don’t want you to knowWaggoner: oh nice, some real dirt!

Poe: see, writers positively shudder at letting the public take a peep behind the scenes... at the fully matured fancies discarded in despair... at the cautious selections and rejectionsKing: edgar, no!King: oh my god, he’s giving away all our secrets!!King: the absolute mad man!!!

King: edgar, are youKing: are you being serious? Or are you joking?Poe: you mean you can’t tell?King: edgar I amKing: look edgar it’s just that sometimesKing: sometimesKing: goshdarn it I’m gonna say itKing: sometimes edgar you’re known to be wry

Barker: so that’s your method?Poe: that is my methodBarker: hmm that’s funny cuz I heard that modern scholars can’t decide if that’s actually your method or you’re being satiricalPoe:Poe: I thoughtPoe: I dunnoPoe: I thought I was being pretty clear