- Credits
- Sites for Writers
- Books for Writers
- Other Things
I've found these sites useful along my writing journey, and hope you might as well.
Writing Groups
Horror Writers Association - the international association for horror writers
Queensland Writers Centre - an association for QLD writers
Market Research
Australian Writer's Marketplace (requires membership)
Formatting Guidelines
TweetWhat a Horror Writer is Supposed to Know
On Writing Horror, released by the Horror Writers Association and edited by Mort Castle, has proven to be a useful guide as I attempt to get my own imaginings into some sort of coherent, and hopefully, publishable, form. Of particular interest is the contribution from Robert Weinberg, in which he presents, "... a checklist of twenty-one books that anyone who wants to write horror should read." (pg 18). While I might not necessarily agree with every recommenation on the list, I've found that working my way through the list has not only helped me discover some great fiction that I likely would otherwise have missed out on, but has also made me think a lot more about what I'm writing, and how I'm writing it.
So here, I'm presenting Weinberg's list and adding my own thoughts on each title as I encounter it, in the hope that it encourages others to expand their knowledge of the genre.
1. Frankenstein, Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley
An obvious classic which has be told and retold many times. If you've never read the original you're missing out - nothing you've ever seen in movies or other mediums captures the essence of Shelley's original story. For mine, an essential read (along with Dracula, below, and in my opinion, The War of the Worlds, by H. G. Wells) for anyone interested in the foundations of the genre.
2. Dracula, Bram Stoker
One of my all time favourites, not because it has the classic horror "bad guy", but because the excellent characterisations make this probably one of the earliest examples of portraying a character as an anti-hero. I felt for Dracula, and any story that can make you feel - particularly for the "bad guy" - is one that's going to be memorable long after the last page is turned.
3. The Ghost Pirates, William Hope Hodgson
What I admired about this was Hodgson's ability to capture, and portray, the fear his characters experienced. The language used, though quite thick and at times difficult to work through, works because it lends credibility to the classic seafaring ghost story.
4. The Collected Ghost Stories of M. R. James
5. Burn, Witch, Burn!, A. Merritt
6. To Walk the Night, William Sloane
7. The Dunwich Horror and Others, H. P. Lovecraft
It's Lovecraft - and whether you love him or hate him there's no questioning his ability to create tales of horror, particularly creature horror.
8. Fear, L. Ron Hubbard
If you can bear in mind that this in written in a style that was quite appropriate for its time, this is quite a good example of how a writer can push the limits of a readers imagination, and have them question what's real, and what's madness. The twist at the end, though good for the story, was revealed a bit too matter-of-factly for me.
9. Darker Than You Think, Jack Williamson
Touted by Weinberg as, "... the definitive werewolf novel." (pg 20), I didn't have an appreciation for this at all. For starters the "gumshoe-crime-pulp-fiction" style didn't sit well for me as a reader, but that aside, the story itself, while certainly an original and creative portrayal of the legend, just didn't hold my interest. Read it and make up your own mind, but for werewolves, I'd point towards Moon Dance by S. P. Somtow and The Werewolves of London by Brian Stableford.
10. Conjure Wife, Fritz Leiber
11. I Am Legend, Richard Matheson
12. Rosemary's Baby, Ira Levin
13. Richard Matheson: Collected Stories Vol I, II & III
14. Hell House, Richard Matheson
15. The October Country, Ray Bradbury
16. Something Wicked This Way Comes, Ray Bradbury
17. The Exorcist, William Peter Blatty
Not hard to see why in the 70's this was considered, "The most terrifying book of all time." A great example of how incorporating factual information can not only make a story seem plausible, but get the reader thinking about the story long after the last page is turned. Not sure if it would pass by today's editors without at least a rewrite request citing, "Show, don't tell!" and "Too many adverbs!"
18. Falling Angel, William Hjortsberg
19. Salem's Lot, Stephen King
One of the first King books I ever read, and a key element of my love affair with all things horror. A great example of how to take a classic idea and put an original spin on it (at least at the time it was written). If you like vampire stories this should be on your "must read" list.
20. The Stand, Stephen King
Still one of my favourite King books, and for me a great example of the "epic" horror story. This demonstrates that a horror story can be more than a linear start-to-finish tale, and is the sort of book you'll get more out of ever time to re-read it. For mine, I would also put Swan Song by Robert R MacCammon up with this one.
21. Watchers, Dean Koontz
The first Koontz book I read, and the catalyst for me owning over a dozen of them. One of the best creature horror books there is, and a great example of how establishing atmosphere and a sense of caring for characters can make a book almost impossible to put down. In my opinion Koontz's best work.
