Editing Goosebumps (section)

==Inspiration and themes==
According to the documentary ''Tales from the Crypt: From Comic Books to Television'', R.L. Stine said that he remembered reading the popular/infamous ''[[Tales from the Crypt (comics)|Tales from the Crypt]]'' comic books when he was young and credited as one of his inspirations. Books and characters in the series were inspired by books and films. For example, the character [[Slappy the Dummy]] was inspired by the literary classic ''[[The Adventures of Pinocchio]]''.<ref name="inspiration">{{Cite web |last=Stine |first=R. L. |title=Where Do You Get Your Ideas? |publisher=[[Scholastic Corporation|Scholastic]] |url=http://www.scholastic.ca/goosebumps/books/stine/ideas.htm |access-date=December 30, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927215801/http://www.scholastic.ca/goosebumps/books/stine/ideas.htm |archive-date=September 27, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Some of Stine's ideas for the books also came from real life; Stine got the idea for the book ''[[The Haunted Mask]]'' after his son, Matt, had a [[Halloween]] mask he had trouble getting off.<ref name="idea">{{cite news|last=Israeli |first=Tali |title=Author enjoys entertaining young readers |work=News Transcript |url=http://nt.gmnews.com/news/2006-05-24/Front_Page/069.html |access-date=December 30, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419005746/http://nt.gmnews.com/news/2006-05-24/Front_Page/069.html |archive-date=April 19, 2012 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Stine also uses his childhood fears to help him write his books. The author said, "Luckily, I have a great memory. As I write a story, I can remember what it feels like to be afraid and panicky".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rif.org/kids/readingplanet/bookzone/stine2.htm |title=R.L. Stine – Part II |publisher=[[Reading Is Fundamental]] |access-date=August 17, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130806085531/http://www.rif.org/kids/readingplanet/bookzone/stine2.htm |archive-date=August 6, 2013 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Stine states he often thinks of a title to a novel first, then lets the title lead him to a story.<ref name="NPR">{{cite news |last=Neary |first=Lynn |title=Goosebumps And Guffaws In Stine's 'HorrorLand' |publisher=[[NPR]] |date=October 31, 2008 |url=https://www.npr.org/2008/10/31/96332083/goosebumps-and-guffaws-in-stines-horrorland |access-date=November 26, 2010 }}</ref>

Two common themes in the series are children triumphing over evil and children facing horrid or frightening situations and using their own [[wit]] and imagination to escape them.<ref name="common themes">{{cite news |last=Orndorff |first=Amy |title=He's Baaaack... |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=April 27, 2008 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/25/AR2008042500923.html |access-date=September 2, 2013 }}</ref> Stine does not attempt to incorporate moral lessons into his novels, and says his books are "strictly reading motivation".<ref>{{cite news |last=Aberbach |first=Katie |title=Invasion of the Books |work=[[Express (Washington, D.C. newspaper)|Express]] |date=September 20, 2012 |url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/express/wp/2012/09/20/invasion-of-the-books/ |access-date=March 16, 2014 }}</ref>