A Writer’s Workshop of Horror

Writers Workshop of Horror

Editor: Knost, Michael
Format: Trade Paperback
Type: Novel
Page Count: 258pp.
Pub. Date: August 2009
Publisher: Woodland Press

Writers Workshop of Horror is a collection of articles/interviews by/with some of the biggest names in the horror and dark fiction genres, focusing on improving specific elements of writing. It focuses solely on honing the craft of writing. You won’t find anything in these pages on marketing, promotions, or submission tips. That’s another book for another time. What you will find is solid advice — from professionals of every publishing level — on how to improve your writing.

Although this project is centered on writing horror and/or dark fiction, the principles and advice inside this book will transcend all genres and all forms of writing. It doesn’t matter if you write romance, science fiction, western, mysteries, fantasy, or memoirs, you will benefit from the information, ultimately improving your craft by bringing polished elements of horror, fear, anxiety, or dread to your work when needed.

Here’s to creating better nightmares.

Table of Contents:

• Once Upon a Scary Time: Creating Effective Beginnings by Elizabeth Massie
• Middles: The Meat of the Matter by Michael Laimo
• The Grand Finale by J.G. Gonzalez
• Connecting the DOTS by Gary A. Braunbeck
• And Horror the Soul of the Plot by Tim Waggoner
• What’s The Point and Who’s On First: Character POV by Scott Nicholson
• “We don’t get too many strangers around here . . . .” Or: Using Dialogue to Tell Your Story by Thomas F. Monteleone
• A Claustrophobic Locked in an Isolated Room: The Power of Setting and Description in Horror Fiction by G. Cameron Fuller
• “The Hardest Three” Tone, Style, and Voice by Rick Hautala
• Stripping Away the Mask: Scene and Structure in Horror Fiction by Michael A. Arnzen
• Fight And Action Scenes In Horror by Jonathan Maberry
• Exploring Personal Themes by Tom Piccirilli
• New Fiction Blend: History, Fantasy, Horror by Mort Castle
• Adding Humor to Your Horror by Jeff Strand
• Cross Reading by Joe R. Lansdale
• Time, and How to Make It by Brian Keene
• A Face by Any Other Name by Deborah LeBlanc
• The Height of Fear by Ramsey Campbell
• The Aha! Moment by Michael Knost
• Be a Conformist: A Guide to Manuscript Formatting by Jason Sizemore
• CUT! Or, Why Writing Horror Screenplays is REALLY Scary by Lisa Morton
• It’s All About the Series: An Interview with F. Paul Wilson by Gary Frank
• It’s All About the Work: An Interview with Tom Piccirilli by Tim Deal
• It’s All About the Craft: An Interview with Ramsey Campbell by Michael Knost
• It’s All Part of the Fun: An Interview with Clive Barker by Lucy A. Snyder
• The Agnotology of Horror; or, Lies the Internet Told You by Jack M. Haringa
• How Stephen King’s Writing Advice Broke My Heart and Smashed My Dreams by Robert N. Lee
• Top Ten Things an Editor/Publisher Hates To See by Brian Yount