1. “”supernatural horror in literature” by h.p. love
Regardless of what you think of h.p. Lovecraft’s personal views, her 1927 essay is a comprehensive historical analysis of early horror fiction. it is in the public domain and freely available online. at 30,000 words, it’s a long haul, but it’s well worth reading. Lovecraft guides us through the development of the gothic novel, Edgar Allen Poe’s influence on the genre, the strange tradition in American literature, and the masters of the genre during her lifetime. For a more British take on the same subject, try checking out Horror: A Literary History by scholar Xavier Aldana Reyes.
2. the classics
You can’t build a house without a solid foundation. every trope, every cliché, and every monster has an origin story from which they developed and grew over time. if you only read new horror novels and short stories from the last few decades, you are limiting yourself and stunting your development. Get acquainted with the masters: William Hope Hodgson, Shirley Jackson, Algernon Blackwood, Arthur Machen, Daphne Du Maurier. the old guard has a lot to teach us.
You are reading: Books on writing horror
3. craft trials
character development, dialogue, grammar, point of view: these are the basic elements of what we do. The internet is a great resource for improving your writing. I highly recommend starting with Craig Clevenger’s five articles titled Notes on the Craft. Richard Thomas’s Storyville column often focuses specifically on horror and dark fiction with tons of sage advice on how to write in the genre. For Offline Sources, On Writing Horror: A Horror Writers Association Handbook is full of essays by modern masters on how to write horror effectively.
4. the modern classics
See Also: Living Science Books – Simply Charlotte Mason
Not all definitive horror novels were written by a dead guy using a gas lamp and a pen. There are tons of must-read classics from the last few decades that should be on his reading list, as well as Clive Barker, Anne Rice, Stephen King. It’s also not enough to say you’ve seen Rosemary’s Baby, The Exorcist, and The Shining. or even modern movies like the ring, let me in and the woman in black. all of these movies are based on successful novels. get away from the screen and read the damn books! here is an excellent list of the 50 best horror novels to get you started.
5. other genres
repeat with me: “if I only read horror, I will never grow as a horror writer.” make sure you read outside your comfort zone at least one out of every three books you devour. thrillers, romance novels, sci-fi, westerns – read them all. challenge yourself to draw a positive lesson from every book you read, even the ones you hate. It could be as simple as writing down an effective metaphor that you liked or a powerful image that sticks with you. Nonfiction and poetry can also provide inspiration and lyricism that will add depth to your writing.
6. “on writing” and “dance macabre” by stephen king
Stephen King is known as the master of horror fiction. danse macabre is his 1981 nonfiction analysis of horror fiction and modern society. On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft, published in 2000, is his memoir and advice guide for aspiring writers. read them both.
7. “writing 21st century fiction” by donald maass
See Also: The Hollow Earth Theory Isnt So Funny Anymore | WIRED
I recommend this book to writers more than any other. is a practical guide to developing your fiction. Each chapter ends with a long list of helpful questions to ask yourself as you work on your manuscript. print them out and refer to them whenever you feel stuck.
8. anatomy and forensic medicine
While horror can often be cerebral and understated, it often involves people being ripped apart by monsters. You need to know how to accurately describe physical and gory injuries in order to write horror effectively. As your career progresses, you’ll find yourself asking questions like how far blood will splatter from a severed head or how long it takes for a corpse to decompose. find good reference books or websites on both forensics and anatomy. I write a regular column on these topics and highly recommend Forensic Analysis: A Writer’s Guide as an excellent reference guide.
9. the best of collections
Even if you just want to write novels, the annual collections of short horror fiction provide an up-to-date survey of the best in the genre. the best dark fantasy of the year & horror and ellen datlow’s best horror of the year should be the purchases you make every twelve months. You may not enjoy every story you read, but each one has an important lesson to teach. ask yourself: why is this story considered one of the best? what makes it so good? How can I incorporate this type of writing into my own work? Richard Thomas has also written a great column on why these collections are important.
10. the work of your friends
Be sure to offer the beta version of your friends’ work. By reading progressive drafts of other people’s work, you learn to develop and edit your own. in turn, they will return the favor and help edit your work. If you don’t have a circle of friends who write about horror, visit litreactor’s writers’ workshop or take an online course to meet new people. The only thing as satisfying as seeing your work published is seeing your friend’s work in print knowing that you played a small role in helping them figure it all out.