Great Resources on How to Write Horror

Advice and guidance for horror writers from horror writers

You’ll get something from all of these whether you’re just starting out, an experienced horror writer, or somewhere in between.

Listed in no particular order – they all have something to offer – check out these resources for horror writers.

Writing in the Dark – Tim Waggoner

Tim Waggoner is an award-winning, prolific writer of horror fiction. The Writing in the Dark book comes from the blog of the same name that he started in 2011 and still writes today.

Writing in the Dark is particularly good for beginner horror writers and covers things like how to construct monsters and how to generate original horror ideas and storylines. It also includes general writing advice, such as character arcs, clichés, how to use suspense, and how to market your work.

Waggoner has also published two further books in the series (Writing in the Dark Workbook and Let Me Tell You a Story) and also has a YouTube channel full of writing tips and advice.

On Writing Horror – Horror Writers Association

On Writing Horror: A Handbook by the Horror Writers Association has exclusive information and guidance from 58 of the biggest names in horror writing to give you the inspiration you need to start scaring and exciting readers and editors.

Learn from the best with comprehensive instructions. For example:

The art of crafting visceral violence, from Jack Ketchum
Why horror classics like Dracula, The Exorcist, and Hell House are as scary as ever, from Robert Weinberg
Tips for avoiding one of the biggest death knells in horror writing predictable clichés from Ramsey Campbell
How to use character and setting to stretch the limits of credibility, from Mort Castle

Unlock the mysteries surrounding classic horror traditions, revel in the art and craft of writing horror, and find out exactly where the genre is going next.

Also check out the Horror Writers Association’s YouTube channel.

Shadows & Ink – Joe Mynhardt

Shadows & Ink: Mastering the Art of Horror Writing and Publishing is a movement that goes beyond just a book. It includes a podcast and Heartbeat community for horror authors. Shadows & Ink is about finding your voice, embracing your calling as a horror writer, and crafting stories that not only entertain but resonate with the deepest fears and fascinations of your readers.

This book:

talks about the intricate layers that form the foundation of horror writing. From the history and sub-genres of horror to the key elements that make a story genuinely terrifying.
delves into advanced techniques like Red Herrings, Chekhov’s Gun, Foreshadowing, and the art of the MacGuffin. Explore the nuances of crafting an unreliable narrator, mastering plotting devices, and the effective use of Jump Scares in literature.
guides you through the art of character development, creating multi-dimensional characters that resonate with readers. Learn how to build tension-filled settings and atmospheres, and master the use of descriptions and metaphors to paint a vivid picture of terror.
addresses the writer’s life, discussing the ups and downs of being an author and provides practical advice on establishing a writing foundation, branding, marketing, and promotion. Learn the ins and outs of social media, book launches, time management, and building a support system.

This book is not just about writing. It’s about creating a career in the horror genre. It discusses ethical considerations, responsible storytelling, and healthy writing habits. Shadows & Ink is your companion in the journey of writing horror, offering a blend of practical advice, inspirational guidance, and industry insights.

Shadows & Ink, Volume 2, scheduled for release on 19 April 2024, delves deeper into the craft of horror writing, with a deep dive into topics of setting, atmosphere, writing descriptions, dialogue, and developing a unique author voice. Volume 2 will also emphasize the importance of health and wellness and mental health for authors, offering insights and practical advice to nurture your creativity while maintaining well-being.

The Art of Fear – James Colton

In The Art of Fear: How to Write Scary Ghost Stories that Terrify Your Readers, author James Colton shares everything he’s learned from over a decade of writing ghost stories, including:

The Principles of Terror: Discover the basic qualities that make something scary and learn how to apply the unknown, uncanniness, subtlety, and more to your writing.
The Ghost Story Process: Crack the secrets of idea generation to craft a story that is both original and terrifying and understand the structure of a ghost story for maximum fright impact.
Creepy Case Studies: Study examples from novels, short stories, and films and dive deep into one of the author’s own ghost stories to see how it all works in practice.
Practical Exercises: Stretch your creativity and train your spooky skills with specially crafted writing assignments and put together everything you’ve learned to write your own scary ghost story.

Writers Workshop of Horror – Michael Knost

Writers Workshop of Horror, edited by Michael Knost, focuses solely on honing the craft of writing.

It includes solid advice, from professionals of every publishing level, on how to improve one’s writing skills.

The volume includes contributions from nationally-known authors and storytellers, many Bram Stoker Award® winners.

Contributors to this work include: Clive Barker, Joe R. Lansdale, F. Paul Wilson, Ramsey Campbell, Thomas F. Monteleone, Deborah LeBlanc, Gary A. Braunbeck, Brian Keene, Elizabeth Massie, Tom Piccirilli, Jonathan Maberry, Tim Waggoner, Mort Castle, G. Cameron Fuller, Rick Hautala, Scott Nicholson, Michael A. Arnzen, J.F. Gonzalez, Michael Laimo, Lucy A. Snyder, Jeff Strand, Lisa Morton, Jack Haringa, Gary Frank, Jason Sizemore, Robert N. Lee, Tim Deal, Brian Yount, Brian J. Hatcher, and others.

Writing Monsters – Philip Athans

Writing Monsters: How to Craft Believably Terrifying Creatures to Enhance Your Horror, Fantasy, and Science Fiction uses classic examples from books, films, and the world around us to explore what makes monsters memorable and terrifying.

You’ll learn what monsters can (and should) represent in your story and how to create monsters from the ground up.

Writing Monsters includes:

In-depth discussions of where monsters come from, what they symbolize, and how to best portray them in fiction.
Informative overviews of famous monsters, archetypes, and legendary creatures.
A Monster Creation Form to help you create your monster from scratch.
An annotated version of H.P. Lovecraft’s chilling story “The Unnamable”.

Writing Poetry in the Dark – Stephanie M. Wytovich

Writing Poetry in the Dark, edited by Stephanie M. Wytovich, brings together some of the most successful contemporary genre poets to discuss topics related to creating dark and fantastical poetry.

While there are countless books available for the aspiring poet, there is a lack of resources specifically for and on speculative poetry, and with the market thriving, publishers who previously did not put out poetry are now adding it to their catalogs, requesting it for their anthologies, and seeking it for their magazines. Given these factors, it seemed like the perfect time to put together a guide for dark poets that addresses some of the unique challenges they face, such as creating monsters out of white space, writing the hybrid poem, or subverting folklore in the retelling of a classic tale.

Included in Writing Poetry in the Dark are recommendations on how to bring fear to the page, write from the wound, let violence loose, channel the weird, and tackle the dark side of daily life.

There are also practical suggestions for exploring different poetic forms and topics ranging from building worlds, writing from different points of view, and exploring gender and sexuality on the page.

This book will bring something different to every speculative writer who is interested in exploring poetry with a genre twist, and it is our hope that this book will help poetry itself continue to evolve, grow, and redefine itself in the market for many years to come.

The Scary Movie Writer’s Guide – Seth M Sherwood

The Scary Movie Writer’s Guide is a 100+ page step-by-step workbook that guides you to plan, plot, and write your own horror screenplay.

It takes you through the entire process, starting with generating ideas and forming work habits, all the way through the process of making a detailed outline.

Cook up plots, find themes, play with subgenres, decide on point of view and style, cook up characters and monsters.

There are prompts, tests, charts, log forms, and dozens of worksheets to fill out in between breakdowns of everything that goes into constructing a horror movie from scratch.

The book is full of spooky illustrations to keep you inspired while you read.

It’s designed to be written in, photocopied, folded up, and have pages ripped out – whatever it takes to get your ideas out of your head and into a script.

Worksheets for the book are available for free from the website.

You can also buy an infographic poster of Sherwood’s Monster Taxonomy from the website.

The Scream Writer's Handbook – Thomas Fenton

The Scream Writer’s Handbook: How to Write a Terrifying Screenplay in 10 Bloody Steps shares a proven process for developing story ideas, characters, dialogue, and scenes that terrify the reader on the page, and on the screen.

You’ll learn the powerful Rule of Three, how to establish meaningful genre mythos with Rules of the World, and how to build your own Arsenal of Horror to craft a terrifying screenplay.

Fenton shares words of wisdom from his professional perspective as a successful Hollywood horror screenwriter actively working in the business.

Insightful written coaching and exercises inform and guide you through each step of the creation process – from vetting your idea all the way through managing feedback and preparing a completed draft.