Product Description

Revised and expanded, the second edition of "On Writing Horror" will appeal to the readers who made the first edition the standard reference in the field, as well as new writers seeking authoritative instruction and inspiration on writing and selling horror. Featuring new and classic advice from some of the best names in the field, this guide covers horror traditions, the art and craft of writing horror, and where the genre is going next.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #123109 in Books
• Published on: 2007-02-25
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 272 pages

About the Author
The Horror Writers of America is a worldwide organization of writers and publishing professionals dedicated to promoting the horror genre. Formed in the late 1980s, it is the oldest and most respected organization celebrating the writers who revel in bringing sleepless nights to readers.

Customer Reviews

For writers of all fiction
Despite the title, 'On Writing Horror,' like many instructional guides, offers advice on fiction in general on topics such as characterisation and speech tags. Of course, it leans toward horror, but there lies a doubt. What is horror and is the label a useful one? What recurs in the chapters of the forty-odd contributors here is an emphasis on 'good fiction' first in which an element of darkness, uncertainty and the macabre can thrive. Most importantly, it is an entertaining book, as most of the contributors possess wit.

It's an American book, the Horror Writers Association being based in the US, with the result that a handful of chapters on topics such as workshops and local conventions are of little use unless you live there. These chapters are, however, the exception rather than the rule. I hadn't previously heard of most of the contributors, but the ones I had include Joyce Carol Oates, Ramsay Campbell, Jack Ketchum (who should be renamed Ketchup) and Harlan Ellison (his interview, in which he calls the value of horror as a genre into question, is one of the highlights). The transcript of a Stephen King award acceptance speech also appears, though it's of limited value.

Perhaps the lines that stick most in my mind come from critic Douglas E. Winter: 'Horror is not a genre. It is an emotion,' and 'it can be found in all great literature.' If you want advice on writing any kind of fiction, this is an illuminating read.

Text far too small
A good read for authors who don't mind serious eye strain trying to read the very tiny text. If your eyesight is excellent, you'll still need a magnifier, but if your eyesight is poor then avoid this book.

Interesting...but not exceptional
An interesting book. Each chapter is penned by a different author and covers the topics you would expect to see in an 'on writing' book. HWA are American and so as with another reviewer I agree that the sections on workshops are a little unhelpful.

Another good book in this line is Stephen King's On Writing On Writing that is part autobipgraphy and part advice.