How to Write Horror Fiction

It's hard to find many book on writing horror. I had to buy this used but if you can find it I recommend purchasing it. The book takes you from ideas to monsters. I found the book helpful especially listing the mistakes beginners make. The chapter on fleshing out ideas was extremely useful.

Who better to teach the unintiated how to write genre fiction than the man who wrote the novel "Logan's Run"? This book is over a decade old, and a little dated here and there. Nolan covers basic mistakes made by horror writers- from indestructible villains to too many monsters to finding a happy medium between splatterpunk and mystery.Nolan even takes the reader by the hand and guides them through a breakdown of his own short story, "The Pool." He also provides small bios of Stephen King, Anne Rice, and other successful horror writers, proving the point that these icons also had to get their starts somewhere. Nolan's best advice to the aspiring horror writer? READ, and read often. And do not read just horror, broaden your horizons to other genres and poetry, so all of your output does not end up reading like the Dean R. Koontz novel you just finished.Nolan also puts incredible appendices in here, listing suggested anthologies to seek out, and perhaps he should add his own book to the list. This is very inspiring, without treating the reader like a five year old who must be led from idea to manuscript layout. Nolan stresses individuality, and the reader will appreciate that. I highly recommend this guide, which is short and can be finished in one sitting.

When I look for a book on writing I look for a really fast past book and fact pact books. On a scale of 1 to 10 I give this a 9. When I would give most of the books I have read a 3! This book is so loaded that I recommend reading at least sections of this book no matter what type of writing you are into, but if you are Horror writer I consider this a must have. It is so full of tips, facts, and inspirations on writing. Even though I said there are good sections for every writer in there I really don't think these strays off the topic of horror much at all, maybe even none. I think this is probably the second best book I have added to my collection on writing. The first is probably Self Editing for Fiction Writers if you don't have that I would check that one out. That probably gets a 10 on speed and packed facts. Unfortunately this book is out of print, but I would urge you don't let them stop you from buying this book used!

It's a shame to see that this book is no longer in print. For specialty horror-fictionists this title gives a reader all the tools needed to disect any horror novel or screenplay. I've grown up under the influence of "Logan's Run," (which Nolan penned) and consider this prolific author's advice to be definitive. What a gem it is! **Sincerely, Christopher Cochran