I have had somewhat of an obsession with the writings of subreddit /NoSleep. If you know are an avid reader of this subreddit you already know how fascinating the stories can be. For the most part the stories are basically horror or thriller-horror with fantastic twists in the plot that you didn’t see coming. The genius is that the OP or original poster has approximately 600 odd words to:
a) drag you into their world
b) tell and engrossing story
c) scare you and/or creep you the heck out

That isn’t easy so OPs tend to extend the story, releasing their 600 word intro then updates each in 600 word blocks. The great thing is that a rule of the subreddit is that all stories are to be treated as true and everyone commenting is to remain a believer and comment as one (unbelievers are removed).

I aim to absorb as much of the best of /NoSleep by way of reading the monthly contest winner which I wait patiently for each month yet I absolutely dislike watching horror movies. I can’t stand being force-fed jump-scares or gory imagery. I don’t want to be made to be scared like that and yet I really like reading /NoSleep and I am not sure why.

This week has been sort of slow so I decided to grab something hot from the pages of /NoSleep to grab my attention. I found upon this:

http://www.reddit.com/r/nosleep/comments/2jxke8/room_733/

Written by Reddit user The_Dalek_Emperor it’s a story about two good friends and a haunted room in a college dorm, any more than that and I might spoil the fun. Haunted room stories are not exactly uncommon however I love the pacing, great characters and the fact that the OP wrote the entire story throwing character limits to the wind. You find yourself at the end breathless and feeling for the characters, though it’s a long ride to the bottom I enjoyed every word.

One of the first stories I read that convinced me that I had found a new home for satisfying some scary itches was about Netflix and being able to watch your friends:

http://www.reddit.com/r/nosleep/comments/2aj1t2/ive_been_watching_my_friends_on_netflix/

I don’t know what it was exactly about this 4 part post that made it so engrossing it made me feel part of the action like I was right there. The gist of this one is the title, if that isn’t freaky I think you and I should stop talking.

Really though to make your life easier so you can get all the best stuff in one place checkout:

http://www.reddit.com/r/nosleep/wiki/contest_winners

I am finding that increasingly I would start a story reading it like I was narrating it, half in my head and half audibly like I was simulating an audiobook and it has recently re-ignited a desire to do voice work. A long time ago when I had an agent I went for voice coaching sessions in Crows Nest (north of Sydney) and I found I had an innate talent for complicated medical words in what seems like a voice sample for a corporate release. Other than that I was not that good especially with sensual radio commercials for jewellery. I think it’s time to dust off the old voicebox and give it another try again, possibly for the No Sleep Podcast, wish me luck.