Gothic-Style Writing Advice

[An_Alias]

Hello!
I'm looking for advice/resources on gothic literature and writing styles that have the old English purple prose feel. I've not written in this style before and wanted to see if anyone with experience had tip/tricks for it. I've also never written romance, so notes on how that functions within the genre would also be appreciated because I (generally) hate reading romance unless there's at least a lot of horror on top of it.

EX: Are there any good 1800's dictionary/slang resources for writing in particular?

I've read up on the style a little:
"Saint Death's Daughter" C.S.E. Cooney
"What Moves the Dead" T. Kingfisher
"Slew Foot" Brom
"Jane Eyre" Charlotte Brontë (currently still reading, it's a mammoth)

If you have a writing project of the same style/genre you can link it for reference! I'll link mine as well for reference, but this isn't for promos.

Read Lover's Complaint | Tapas Web Novels

[TheYaoiEmpire]

I don't have any links but I have personal experience as this is my Forte.

You need to paint a picture with what you write, for example, describe a place as if you were standing in it. But make it pretty make it dreary but make dreary be the most beautiful thing in the world to your character. It is the eternal resting place of your character's joys, loves and sorrows, as the ravens fly overhead, singing their mournful lament to days buried under the depths of your character's very soul

[An_Alias]

Haha! Yes for sure! That part is going to take practice, so I’ll have to boldly trudge on and do it poorly while I get the hang of it.

Do you have a favorite author or novel recommendation (other than Edgar Allen Poe, Hemingway, or Mary Shelly)?

[TheYaoiEmpire]

Anne Rice, I never read Mary Shelly or Hemmingway.

Anne Rice was a genius, Lestat is my literary inspiration

I recommend Interview With The Vampire, Queen Of The Damned and Memnoch The Devil.

You don't get more gothic than vampires and demons

[cherrystark]

I would recommend learning about the style and essential elements of gothic romances over writing purple prose. In general, most modern readers are turned off by purple prose.

Gothic style writing is hard because people often assume that if it's gothic, it must be "goth". They are two VERY different styles of writing. For example, in Jane Eyre, she has a vivid imagination. Coupled with her lack of connection and bleak environment, the wife is a scary demon. A goth story would make the wife a demon. In Northanger Abbey, the FMC literally invents the mystery in her head. It alludes to supernatural forces but doesn't explicitly stay it.

[TheYaoiEmpire]

This is golden, a true eye for the essence of the macabre

[An_Alias]

I agree, I never planned on going full purple prose (the page long sentences in Jane Eyre drive me insane) I like how in depth the descriptive language gets though.

“Saint Death’s Daughter”’s approach to the writing style is more my speed. It still has the romantic descriptions and the diction of the 1800’s, but it’s not overwhelming. More of a neo-purple prose? Donno if theres a different term that would fit better. Thats the part I want to emulate! That book is my guiding compass on it.

Do you know of any specific resources for genre structures? All I usually find is the hero’s journey outline references haha