Line #69 SoYouWantTo/WriteAVampireNovel


1	VampireFiction has been around since the 18th century and for good reason. The vampire can be a metaphor for many things -- sexual awakening or [[HaveYouTriedNotBeingAMonster homosexuality]], [[TheVirus disease]], or even certain ethnicities. And down the years, the vampire has only gotten more popular, leading to even more interpretations.
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3	Take for example these two quotes.
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5	-->''"The figure turns half round, and the light falls upon its face. It is perfectly white -- perfectly bloodless. The eyes look like polished tin; the lips are drawn back, and the principal feature next to those dreadful eyes is the teeth -- the fearful looking teeth -- projecting like those of some wild animal, hideously, glaringly white, and fang-like. It approaches the bed with a strange, gliding movement. It clashes together the long nails that literally appear to hang from the finger ends. No sound comes from its lips. Is she going mad -- that young and beautiful girl exposed to so much terror? She has drawn up all her limbs; she cannot even now say help."''
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7	-->''"I vividly remembered the flat black color of his eyes the last time he'd glared at me - the color was striking against the background of his pale skin and his auburn hair. Today, his eyes were a completely different color: a strange ocher, darker than butterscotch, but with the same golden tone. I didn't understand how that could be, unless he was lying for some reason about the contacts. Or maybe Forks was making me crazy in the literal sense of the word."''
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9	The first is from ''Literature/VarneyTheVampire'', published in 1845 by James Malcolm Rymer, while the second is from ''Literature/TheTwilightSaga'' published in 2005 by Creator/StephenieMeyer. Both use PurpleProse, but in very different contexts. Back in 1845, the "vampyre" that Rymer was describing was ugly, monstrous, yet still had a sexual element to it. The scene where Varney drains a woman in her bedroom is written almost as if it's rape. ''Twilight'', on the other hand, uses PurpleProse in its effort to show how beautiful vampires are and how they sparkle.
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11	If you want to write a novel about vampires (or just one vampire), then follow these simple (or not-so-simple) instructions. (And don't forget to drop by [[SoYouWantTo/WriteAStory So You Want To Write A Story]] for basic advice that covers all genres).
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13	See, also, [[http://unitedfederationofcharles.blogspot.com/2016/06/ten-tips-for-writing-vampire-novel.html TEN TIPS TO WRITING A VAMPIRE NOVEL]].
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15
16	!'''Necessary Tropes'''
17	Before you start your novel.
18	* OurVampiresAreDifferent: If you're going to write about a vampire/vampires, first you must establish their behavior, weaknesses, abilities, physical makeup, and limits pertaining to them. This will prevent such [[ContinuitySnarl continuity snarls]] as your vampire saying that weakness to garlic thing is a complete myth in Chapter One and having him burn his mouth on garlic pizza in Chapter Five (with the obvious exception being if it's rather ''[[SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome hot]]'' garlic pizza). This is for you, the author, to remember-- not necessarily the reader. So you do not have to spell everything out all at once or at all. However, once a vampire "rule" is established, avoid contradicting that aspect of the vampire.
19	* Be GenreSavvy: Decide ''which'' [[ShowGenres genre]] your vampire novel will be. The first vampire novels (''Literature/VarneyTheVampire'' included) were almost exclusively GothicHorror, but nowadays you can add vampires into almost any genre. The most popular are the [[MayflyDecemberRomance vampire romance]] and the [[VampireDetectiveSeries vampire detective]] genres (well, technically subgenres). Don't be afraid to branch out, however, mixing vampires with different genres is always fun. Make a Vampire RomanticComedy (it worked with [[Film/ShaunOfTheDead zombies]]) or a Vampire [[SpyFiction Spy Novel]].
20	** Be sure, however, to know the genre you're writing in well. If it's romance, study RomanceNovelPlots or [[SoYouWantTo/WriteALoveStory So You Want To Write A Love Story]]. If it's a mystery, read some MysteryFiction. If you're going for a straight up vampire horror novel, the classics are always a must. There's a reason ''{{Dracula}}'' is so well remembered.
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22	!'''Choices, Choices'''
23	Now that you've decided what kind of vampire novel you're going to write, here are some things to consider.
24	* [[Analysis/SpeculativeFiction Is it Sci-Fi or Fantasy]]? Depending on what kind of vampires you're writing about, your novel could fall on either side of the spectrum. If you try to [[DoingInTheWizard explain vampirism]] as a disease or a separate species, it would more than likely fall into the science fiction area. If your vampires don't eat blood, but rather LifeEnergy, they could teeter over the brink and become [[Series/StargateAtlantis the Wraith]]. Some [[ScienceFantasy blurring of the line]] is possible; if they were once human and became a separate species through a divine curse rather than through a virus or mutation. On the other hand, you can make your novel HeroicFantasy, with all the tropes associated with it. The GothicHorror genre, however, can drift back and forth - the vampire is never really explained beyond being a myth, but besides that, the rest is based around reality (making most gothic horrors take place in [[CrapsackWorld Crapsack Worlds]]).
25	** Overall, it is recommended you take the supernatural route, as the vampire is a creature rooted in folklore and scientifically explaining the phenomenon should only be done if you are feeling very ambitious.
26	* CharacterAlignment: Now you have to figure out what alignment your vampires are. Are they a race of AlwaysChaoticEvil? Or a pack of mindless bloodthirsty beasts which are basically zombies in all but name? If you want to have a heroic vampire, however, that could fall into the pit of a FriendlyNeighborhoodVampire. If, on the other hand, all vampires are ChaoticGood and merely misunderstood, that could fall into the pit of...well, bad writing. Only the best of writers can pull off making years and years of evil vampires be "misunderstood."
27	* AbnormalAmmo / DepletedPhlebotinumShells: Maybe your vampires can only be hurt with silver, or garlic, or some other {{Phlebotinum}}. And, if you've got heavily-armed, knowledgable vampire hunters, they'll want to use such ammunition.
28	* YourVampiresSuck: How does your vampire feel about the depictions of other vampires in movies and literature? It's usually easy to make an amusing scene where he lambasts them for being painfully inaccurate, but this has now become so common it might actually be a good idea to try subverting it, by having the Vampire be a fan of vampire literature, for all its inaccuracies. If you really want to throw this trope out the window, [[FictionAsCoverUp have him be a writer of vampire fiction]].
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30	!'''Pitfalls'''
31	They're full of [[{{Pun}} spikes]]. Seriously.
32	* PlanetOfHats: Do NOT make all vampires a cross between a corrupt politician and Caligula. While it is perfectly fine, even traditional, to have the vampire as a bad guy, a group of vampires who act too much alike tends to be silly. If you insist on making all vampires evil, at least make sure they are evil differently. One of the positive traits of much maligned ''Literature/{{Twilight}}'' is that the vampire characters are treated much the same way as the human characters, with the same array of motivations and character traits. They range from the peaceful, vegetarian Cullen family, to the feral nomads, to the power hungry, sophisticated, amoral Volturi, and everything in between.
33	* PurpleProse: Back in the days of GothicHorror, purple prose was all the rage. However, gothic horror slowly faded out of favor and so did a certain reddish writing. Only the best writers can now pull it off and they almost always do it as parody. Those that don't tend to fall into the Pit of Gosh Look How Pretty My Vampires Are. Take this line from ''Literature/{{Twilight}}'' for instance: ''"His hair was dripping wet, disheveled -- even so, he looked like he'd just finished shooting a commercial for hair gel."'' At this point, it doesn't matter how cool your story is, it will be too hard to slog through it.
34	** (On the other hand, ''Literature/{{Twilight}}'' did end up earning millions and millions of dollars, so if you think you can get away with it, and have enough references of beautiful men to make up for it, go for it. We should warn you though: most can't.)
35	* CharacterizationTropes: You've thought up a grand plot and great vampires, but there's something missing: personality. Without personality, characters are cardboard cutouts, so it doesn't matter how well-written your plot is. Make sure to add variety with your characters' personalities and study other characters to see what works and what doesn't. Which brings us to:
36	* The Ubiquitous MarySue: Please don't make your vampires completely and utterly perfect. There is a way to make your vampires not MadeOfPlasticine, but not [[NighInvulnerable insanely overpowerful]]. This goes for the way your characters act, as well: if your vampires consider themselves perfect, that's fine. If ''other'' (non-vampire) characters consider them perfect as well, that's where it goes wrong.
37	** Also, if your vampires do interact extensively with humans, do not make them prefer one human over all the others for some ambiguous reason (i.e., "there was just something ''different'' about her") this makes it dangerously easy to stumble into MarySue territory (as countless fanfictions will prove.) Just because your story is fiction and some of your characters are supernatural beings does not mean that the intrapersonal dynamics between them do not have to be believable.
38	* Related to the above, do not put overemphasis on the sexual prowess or appeal of vampires unless you are writing porn. Simply because they are undead blood-drinkers does not make them [[VampiresAreSexGods sex gods]]. Although this ''can'' be the case for characters with fetishes towards necrophilia and RealLife vampirism; it can nonetheless ruin the plot if it gets out of hand by inserting too much wish-fulfillment. This is not to say you cannot have a sexy vampire character; but avoid making the character sexy ''because'' the character is a vampire.
39	* The VegetarianVampire, while not an inherently bad trope, can be quite annoying. One of the main drawbacks to being a vampire is the need for human blood. Easily substituting the need with animal blood or unused blood from hospitals makes the vampire condition less of a curse and more of an easily handled problem. If the issue comes up, have some significant drawbacks to these methods or an explanation why the substitutes would not suffice the need to prey on humans. Related; if your vampire absorbs life energy/chi/psychic energy instead of blood, doing so should harm the victim.
40	* VampireVords: Use zem only vor parody, never vor zerious viction.
41	* The Broody Vampire who constantly angsts about his undead bloodlust and curses [[WhoWantsToLiveForever his endless immortality]] at every opportunity has been done. A lot. To the point where it's really, ''really'' annoying. Not that being a vampire might not suck -- particularly if you're someone who doesn't want to live forever while everyone you love ages and dies and doesn't like the thought of killing other people in order to survive -- but it's a very easy and potentially lazy crutch for angst, conflict and drama; the perpetually tormented vampire constantly {{Wangst}}ing on about something or other has swiftly moved into the realm of cliche. Some existential angst is fine (and indeed is, at this point, expected to some degree), just don't lay it on too thick or linger on it too long.
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43	!'''Potential Subversions'''
44	Tropes are made to be broken.
45	* The ByronicHero: Vampires practically invented this trope, starting with Polidori's "The Vampyre" which was actually based on Creator/LordByron. Because of that, it's been done to death. Instead, why not make your vampire a ScienceHero (he fights other vampires with the power of [[ForScience SCIENCE]]!) or an AdventurerArchaeologist? If your vampire is the villain, make him a CorruptCorporateExecutive or a Heroic Sociopath.
46	* Also, try deconstructing the typical heroines of vampire romance stories. Dangerous men may be attractive, but if your vampires are man-eating inhuman monsters it'd take a pretty fucked up woman to actually love one. Try making her a female version of TheRenfield.
47	* Consider also deconstructing or subverting the traditional weaknesses -- and traditional strengths -- of vampires. This has obviously been done with weaknesses -- the traditional weaknesses to garlic and crosses in particular have been commonly played with and subverted -- but consider other elements of the vampire mythos and how they can be played with. For example, guns; it's generally accepted that a vampire is immune to gunfire, and certainly won't be killed by bullets. This doesn't, however, necessarily mean that they are immune to the ''damage'' that being shot with a firearm can do to a human body, living or dead.
48	* How about averting the typical cliches that vampires have to be brooding or AxCrazy and writing about a cheery eccentric vampire that doesn't understand that his/her [[VampireVords Transylvanian accent]] makes them stand out.
49	* It may be interesting to do something of a double subversion and look up some of the older more obscure depictions of vampires in folklore and base the vampires in your story on those (for example: giving them lesser known weaknesses, such as an obsession with numbers or the inability to cross moving water.)
50	** Since vampires seem to have been depicted with fewer and fewer weaknesses as time has gone by, it would be kind of refreshing to see a modern vampire story that featured vampires with some of the older more traditional weaknesses. That being said, be careful to not give them too many weaknesses, otherwise they might end up becoming less scary, especially if they are weaknesses that [[KryptoniteIsEverywhere can be found everywhere]] and easily exploited.
51	* Where does vampirism come from? Is it made by a DealWithTheDevil? A trait [[TouchedByVorlons gifted by]] [[EldritchAbomination alien creatures]]? Or a [[TheVirus manmade virus]] originally [[HumansAreTheRealMonsters designed to be a bioweapon]]?
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53	!'''Writers' Lounge'''
54
55	!!'''Suggested Themes and Aesops'''
56	If you positively, absolutely must learn something.[[note]]No, seriously, this category covers a lot more than the Western Union postcard. Don't discount its usefulness :)[[/note]]
57	* Vampire literature in the past often dealt with the dangers of the forbidden, but there are plenty of themes nowadays that could work, perhaps something to do with DarkIsNotEvil. However, beware the FantasticAesop and the SpaceWhaleAesop, both dangers when working in speculative fiction.
58	* If you're planning on using a [[FriendlyNeighborhoodVampires Heroic Vampire]], you've got a classic on your hands: the tug-of-war between the willpower and the appetites, as vividly portrayed by the vampire's internal struggle. The overwhelming desire for blood versus the fear of hurting those you love (or even innocent humans in general). And the fear that once you give in and drink, you might not be able to stop yourself. How far will you go to prevent that from happening?
59	** A Christian author might get even more mileage out of this theme by using it as a picture of the "old sin nature" that prompts us to do evil even when we don't want to. Could even [[AsTheGoodBookSays quote]] [[Literature/TheBible the Apostle Paul]] ("the evil I do not wish to do, that I do... who will deliver me from this body of death?").
60	* Similarly, you could develop the themes of humanity, heroism, and repentance: If a vampire tries to do good in the world, is that enough, or not enough, to make him a good person? Firstly, is it any way to make up for past misdeeds? Secondly, is a vampire by nature evil and incapable of being looked on as a "human"? (Again, certain religious teachings (regeneration, repentance, forgiveness) could easily be brought out through these motifs, but they're equally as powerful in a more mundane aspect.)
61	** For a look at both these issues in play, try ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'', especially with the character arc of Spike. Overall it's a very interesting and mostly satisfying evolution with a few thematic fumbles. To wit: The show claims that Spike, lacking a soul, can't be a good guy... but then he shows off all the traits of the hero, including love, selflessness, and sacrifice. His ultimate act of "irredeemable evil" turns out to be, oddly, something very mundane that any human might have done[[note]]actually, if you're going to claim he hasn't a moral compass to guide him, he's ''less'' culpable for the act than a human would be... but such a claim flies in the face of evidence[[/note]]. And finally, a lifetime of evil deeds can be forgiven once you've gotten your soul back... well, that's a huge topic in and of itself. That show didn't suffer for lack of weighty material.
62	* One of the most common criticisms of vampire/human love stories is that they imply necrophilia, so why not just take that and run with it? Write a story in which a vampire human relationship is used as a metaphor for mankind's psychological relationship with death.
63	** Of course this concept would need to be written with the necessary subtlety, dealing with death in a mature, nuanced way, not a melodramatic, over the top, teenage-goth-girl-going-through-her-"edgy"-phase way.
64	** Or, if you wanted to go a braver more controversial route, you could just go ahead and make your human/vampire relationship a metaphor for necrophilia itself and use the story as a means of exploring the psychological and philosophical basis of that disorder.
65	* Historically, writers have made good use of vampirism as an allegory for disease and/or sexual deviancy (playing on the fact that both sex and vampirism involve an exchange of fluids) but, if an author is to use these themes, he/she must do so with great care; if they are made too overt or are not adjusted with regard to modern sensibilities, they will only make your story seem painfully cliche and outdated.
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67
68	!!'''Potential Motifs'''
69	Because ArcWords are awesome!
70	* The color [[color:red:red]] is almost ubiquitous in vampire fiction, mainly having to do with a vampires need for blood. These displays of red can range from the obvious (roses) to something unique (perhaps a character literally wears rose-tinted glasses).
71	** Bram Stoker's ''Literature/{{Dracula}}'' featured the repeated imagery of red against white -- red blood against white shirts and white fangs, the wolves' "lolling red tongues and sharp white teeth", red prick marks against the white flesh of the heroine where Dracula had bitten her, et cetera.
72	* Traditional Gothic settings (crumbling old castles, overgrown cemeteries, deep dark {{Uberwald}}ian forests) and imagery were once par for the course in vampire literature, but have been out of use among authors for so long that audiences might actually enjoy seeing them again as long as the stories taking place in them are original and engaging.
73	** Vampires owning nightclubs is beginning to become its own cliche; use it if you must, but don't make it center stage for the story.
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75
76	!!'''Suggested Plots'''
77	And not the kind for graves.
78	* A [[VampireDetectiveSeries vampire detective]] novel... in a GenteelInterbellumSetting.
79	* A vampire [[SpyFiction spy]] novel that parodies both vampire and James Bond clichés.
80	* Combine the recent oversexualization of vampires with the idea of vampirism as TheVirus & do a vampire story based on the disturbing phenomenon of [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bug_chaser Bug Chasing]].
81	* Non-satire comedy
82	* Strip away the glamorization and make vampirism actually seem like a disease or a disability, the whole eternal youth thing can still be there, but add some other more gruesome physical symptoms that would make the audience really contemplate rather or not it would be worth it (can you say BodyHorror ?)
83	** The primary flaw in most modern depictions of vampires is that there doesn't seem to be any down side to being a vampire or, if there is, it's very easily averted.
84	* A historical vampire that doesn't take place in Europe. Maybe use themes and legends from other countries to build off your story. What would a Native American vampire be like?
85	** If you ''must'' have vampires who are superior to humans, why not write a story about vampires ruling the world and keeping humans as cattle?
86	** If you're going to write vampire historical fiction, forgo the overdone Victiorian England and Translyvania setting and go for times and locations not usually seen in the genre. 1950's United States, vampires during the French Revolution, ancient Egyptian vampires - there are a lot of times and places left untouched by vampire writers.
87	* What would a world look like where vampires and humans lived in harmony? How would the intricacies of this system work? Throw in FantasticRacism and, if you're feeling ambitious, try writing a MalignedMixedMarriage. [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything The audience will get your message without you having to state it.]]
88	* If your protagonist is a vampire, how about making your vampire character appear vulnerable instead of an invincible death machine by toying around with the idea of vampires no longer being considered the top of the supernatural food chain and explore the idea of a much more dangerous supernatural monster is lurking in the shadows.
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92	!'''Departments'''
93
94	!!'''Set Designer / Location Scout'''
95	* If you're going for the classic GothicHorror, nothing is better than a HauntedCastle in {{Uberwald}}. If you're going for a more modern feel, try a HauntedHeadquarters or a HellHotel.
96
97	!!'''Props Department'''
98	* Against vampires, [[GunsAndGunplayTropes guns]] are almost certainly [[ImmuneToBullets useless]]. Instead, why not try some [[ArrowsOnFire flaming arrows]] - almost all vampires hate [[KillItWithFire fire]]. If, however, it's a vampire that needs arming, there's nothing more badass than a [[FlamingSword sword]] or [[KatanasAreJustBetter katana]].
99	* If your vampire is susceptible to the average vampire [[WeaksauceWeakness weakness]], than vampire hunters should always carry a [[CreepyCrosses cross]] and some holy water. If not, there's always [[ICallItVera Mr. Pointy]].
100	* However, if conventional guns are useless, why not try some unusual ones? DepletedPhlebotinumShells made from wood or church crosses are one option; the humble, mundane Dragonbreath shotgun shell is another. And if a vampire fights other vampires, SuperStrength may help them to wield very high-caliber weaponry that surpasses the vampires' immunity [[WhenAllYouHaveIsAHammer by virtue of its sheer power and loud bang]].
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102	!!'''Costume Designer'''
103	* Female characters in GothicHorror almost always have GorgeousPeriodDress, though the female vampire may go for the OfCorsetsSexy effect (which transcends time period). Male vampires, on the other hand, often only require a BadassLongcoat and CoolShades, though ones in gothic horror might spring for a BlackCloak.
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105	!!'''Casting Director'''
106	* If it's a vampire [[RomanticVampireBoy romance]], try using BeastAndBeauty. If you want to use a BigScrewedUpFamily, make your vampires into TheClan (just be careful that they don't evolve into a TangledFamilyTree). If it's a vampire detective story, on the other hand, try WeHelpTheHelpless.
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108	!!'''Stunt Department'''
109	* This all depends on what genre you're writing in. Your vampire may have ImplausibleFencingPowers (complete with SwordSparks) or you could have the BigBad's lair with NoOSHACompliance. On the other side, your vampire may be facing the wrong end of TorchesAndPitchforks.
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111	----
112	!'''Extra Credit'''
113
114	!!'''The Greats'''
115	[[AC:Anime and Manga]]
116	* The Badass Vampire Action Hero: ''Manga/{{Hellsing}}'' has the absolute perfect example in Alucard. To a lesser degree, same with Seras.
117	* Literature/VampireHunterD is one of the greats in both anime and vampire fiction in general.
118	* ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'''s [[BigBad Dio Brando]] is an incredible example of a villainous vampire; not only is he physically powerful and charismatic, he's also relentless in the pursuit of his foes the Joestar family. In addition, he's also a great example of how to make a vampire without being angsty or brooding and instead being brash and proud.
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120	[[AC:{{Film}}]]
121	* ''Film/{{Nosferatu}}: A Symphony of Horror'', a German silent film where the vampire (Count Orlok because they couldn't get the rights to Dracula) is reinvented as a monstrous rat-like creature, who has spawned [[LooksLikeOrlok a host of imitators]]. Definitely a must see.
122	* The 1931 ''Film/{{Dracula\|1931}}'' with Bela Lugosi. See it just for his accent.
123	* ''Film/HorrorOfDracula'', the 1958 Hammer Horror production starring Creator/ChristopherLee as Dracula and Creator/PeterCushing as Van Helsing.
124	* ''Film/BramStokersDracula'', Francis Ford Coppola's reinterpretation of the novel, with [[Theatre/RosencrantzAndGuildensternAreDead Gary Oldman]] as Dracula and [[Film/TheSilenceOfTheLambs Anthony Hopkins]] as Van Helsing.
125	* ''Film/DraculaDeadAndLovingIt'', a Creator/MelBrooks film parodying everything about Dracula (and more!). Just don't ask for an enema.
126	* Great inspiration if you're throwing out ''all'' the old rules: ''Film/NearDark''. Road movie vampires, without fancy manors ''or'' manners. Brawlin', grubby white trash vampires, yet they're still badass and sexy. Vampires ''who shoot guns at humans''. How much louder can you yell "Screw Tradition!" than that?
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128	[[AC:{{Literature}}]]
129	* Bram Stoker's ''Literature/{{Dracula}}'', which is practically responsible for the current popularity of vampires. It's been adapted many, many times over the years in many different ways (see film).
130	* The LesbianVampire: Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu's ''Literature/{{Carmilla}}'' back in 1872 invented this trope and it's been used quite often since.
131	* ''Literature/TheVampireCountess'', ''Literature/{{Knightshade}} (The Vampire Brothers)'', and ''Literature/VampireCity'', by French author Paul Feval. A [[InNameOnly not-quite-trilogy]] of vampire novels that predate ''Dracula'' by about thirty years, and an excellent exercise in [[OurVampiresAreDifferent how weird vampires can be.]] Available in English from [[http://www.blackcoatpress.com/ Black Coat Press.]]
132	* Brian Lumley's ''Literature/{{Necroscope}}'' series, and Creator/KimNewman's ''Literature/DraculaChaChaCha'', both of which take the vampire novel and fuse them with the spy genres. The former creating a truly horrifying, nightmarish, vision of the Cold War, and the latter playing every Suave James Bond cliché for every inch of mileage it can get.
133	* Speaking of Creator/KimNewman, his ''Literature/AnnoDracula'' series -- essentially taking the premise that the heroes in Bram Stoker's original failed to stop Dracula -- is well worth a look.
134	* The ''Literature/NightWatchSeries'' does not necessarily center around vampires, but does deal with them at length in some very innovative ways.
135	* ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles''' short story ''Backup'' is narrated from the perspective of a [[VampiresAreSexGods White Court]] vampire, and provides interesting fodder for authors who want to portray their vampires as [[GreyAndGreyMorality morally conflicted]]. In particular, it does not depict vampires as [[BlackAndWhiteMorality either]] tragically misunderstood victims ''or'' AlwaysChaoticEvil monsters, and provides a {{Deconstruction}} of VampiresAreSexGods.
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137	[[AC:LiveActionTV]]
138	* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' and ''Series/{{Angel}}''. Out of all works involving vampires, second only to ''Dracula'' in terms of cultural significance. An absolute must-see if most of your vampires are going to be evil.
139	* ''Series/TrueBlood'': This show manages to combine a lot of stereotypical vampire characterizations with some more unconventional ones all with a unique (if some what convoluted) sociological and political subtext.
140	** Also, there's plenty of eye candy to be had for both genders.
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142	[[AC:{{Tabletop Games}}]]
143	* ''TabletopGame/VampireTheMasquerade'' is noted for being a minor TropeCodifier for vampire fiction in the TheNineties and helping the popularity of vampires soar during the era of the 90's and early 2000's (although Creator/AnneRice's novels did the lion's share of the work). It is also known for taking nearly every vampire trope and legend out there and fitting them together via the existence of vampire clans. Also, the TropeNamer AND TropeCodifier for GothicPunk, a good setting aesthetic for vampire fiction.
144
145	!!'''The Epic Fails'''
146	[[AC:{{Film}}]]
147	* Only watch ''Film/VanHelsing'' if you want [[SoBadItsGood entertainment]], not a good study in vampire lore.
148
149	[[AC:{{Literature}}]]
150	* Laurell K. Hamilton's ''Literature/AnitaBlake'' series. The first book is actually a pretty decent vampire detective story, which did interesting things with the 'vampires have come out' idea years before Series/TrueBlood. It's only [[JumpedTheShark later]] (in ''Narcissus in Chains'') that the series descends into bad vampire porn.
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152
153	!!'''Proceed with Caution'''
154	[[AC:{{Film}}]]
155	* ''Film/TheLostBoys'' is, to some, another vampire great, having pretty much set the ground rules for modern vampires as leather-wearing bad boys. But be warned -- [[UnintentionalPeriodPiece it's pure Eighties]].
156	* ''Film/FromDuskTillDawn'': There's a lot of [[BrokenBase YMMV]] goin' on in that one.
157
158	[[AC:{{Literature}}]]
159	* ''Literature/TheVampireChronicles'' novels by Creator/AnneRice. The first book was popular enough to get [[Film/InterviewWithTheVampire made into a movie]] and later a [[Series/InterviewWithTheVampire2022 TV series]], and the first three novels were even well-received by literary critics, but starting with the fourth book, ''The Tale of the Body Thief'', Anne decided to [[ProtectionFromEditors stop using an editor]]. The results were... less than stellar.
160	** These books were either the best the modern vampire genre had to offer or the beginning of the end for the genre (or both) depending on who you ask, either way they are the TropeNamer (or at least TropeCodifier) for a lot of vampire tropes and played a substantial role in shaping what would eventually become what most people regard as the modern vampire mythos.
161	* ''Literature/{{Twilight}}'': Although it has a massive fan base, it is listed here for the so-called 'vampires' not being like ''any'' traditional folklore myths save for the need of blood and immortality. To cement the point, the author herself even admitted to having not done any research on the subject of vampires. It also for numerous reasons has a vehement {{Hatedom}}, although we don't really need to go into the specifics; it's very much a 'love-it-or-hate-it' property, and should be taken on those merits.
162	** These books are either the worst the modern vampire genre has to offer, or the greatest love story of our generation, depending on who you ask, but only ask if you are willing to listen to someone talk about the books for at least an hour straight as both the {{Fandom}} and the {{Hatedom}} are equally passionate and vocal.
163	* ''Literature/TheSookieStackhouseMysteries'': These books are a little heavy on the camp and you can tell that the author has read a lot of romance novels but if you're a fan of both those things, or have at least a moderate tolerance for them, the stories can be quite entertaining and engrossing.

Context SoYouWantTo / WriteAVampireNovel