Horror 101: The Way Forward – a comprehensive overview of the Horror fiction genre and career opportunities available to established and aspiring authors.
Horror 101: The Way Forward – a comprehensive overview of the Horror fiction genre and career opportunities available to established and aspiring authors.
Have you ever wanted to be a horror writer? Perhaps you have already realized that dream and you’re looking to expand your repertoire. Writing comic books sounds nice, right? Or how about screenplays? Maybe you just want to see what goes on behind the scenes in the horror genre or a writer's life.
That’s what Horror 101: The Way Forward is all about. It’s not your average On Writing guide that covers active vs. passive and other writing tips, Horror 101 focuses on the career of a horror writer. It covers not only insights into the horror genre, but the people who successfully make a living from it.
Covering aspects such as movies, comics, short stories, ghost-writing, audiobooks, editing, publishing, self-publishing, blogging, writer’s block, YA horror, reviewing, dark poetry, networking, collaborations, eBooks, podcasts, conventions, series, formatting, web serials, artwork, social media, agents, and career advice from seasoned professionals and up-and-coming talents, Horror 101 is just what you need to kick your career into high gear.
Horror 101: The Way Forward is more focused on the career options available to authors. But don’t fret, this book is loaded with career tips and behind-the-scene stories on how your favourite authors broke into their respective fields.
Professional Reviews
Horror 101- Class is in session...
As another wannabe horror writer who always appreciates advice from the pros, Crystal Lake Publishing's Horror 101:The Way Forward was hard to resist. Joe Mynhardt has collected a slew of invaluable advice from some of the biggest names in horror as well as some of the new blood that is surely on their way to becoming well respected horror authors.
I am old enough to be of the classic On Writing Horror school, so much of the advice in here is simply hammered home again, but with updated views and fresh voices. Jack Ketchum, Graham Masterson, and Edward Lee begin the parade of great advice with their own beliefs on the horror genre. Ramsey Campbell gives some great advice on avoiding whats been done before, Steve Rasnic Tem gives a dozen solid tips on making a career, and Rocky Wood invites us to the Horror Writers Association. These well respected, and well known authors give solid advice that is fresh to hear again in their respective voices.
Writing has changed so much since the above mentioned classic that there needed to be something new to answer questions by writers, like me, who are realizing how vital the digital age is to a successful writing career. I am one of those writers who has no problem getting through a draft or two, but I get to the editing part and... oh look a butterfly is dancing around the garden outside my window... I can address my problems as a writer, but I am still fairly new to Facebook and the digital age. After years of telling myself how ridiculous Facebook and Twitter is, I have come to realize how vital it can be if used correctly. Many of the newer authors in this book have been active in the digital age for some time and I have picked up vital advice from authors I was somewhat familiar with, like Shane McKenzie, Michael Arnzen, Lucy Snyder,Tim Waggoner, and Scott Nicholson.
I was also more than pleasantly surprised by the advice from authors like Jasper Bark, Weston Ochse, Blaze McRob, and a few others whose writing was so good for this anthology of advice, that I will surely be looking forward to reading more from them and have already added many of them to my mental list of authors to check out.
As a struggling wannabe writer, I have to applaud and thank Joe Mynhardt, not only for his great advice within the pages of his anthology, but for taking the time to put this book together. The time he must have spent talking to these authors, putting it all together, and editing it must have been exhausting and I'm sure he cussed himself out for beginning such a detailed and extensive project. At the end, he has created a classic that any writer, not just us horror junkies, can call upon for advice and inspiration.
Thanks Joe!
Witty and enlightening
Unlike many books that tell you how to write, how to get famous writing, or how to make the book you've written a bestseller, Horror 101 takes a look at the business of horror lit, and may even help you find your place within it. This is a strong collection of essays by writers that horror fans have surely read, and some they may not have. They offer advice and stories from their own experience on a diverse range of topics related to working in horror fiction. These include ways to brand yourself and develop a following, and also include novel-adjacent topics like editing, short stories, screenwriting, graphic novels, and more. Some of the stuff was not specific to my situation, but was still enjoyable to read thanks to the wit and enthusiasm of the contributors. I got this one for only 99 cents, which is a steal. Anyone who is, or wants to be working with horror lit should pick it up.
Excellent Resource for Genre Writers
The world of publishing is more than a little bewildering these days, with new options for publishing and a greater need than ever for writers to know how to market their work and promote themselves. Although this book is a mixed bag, the info that is helpful in this volume far outweighs the fluff, and is worth much more than the price of the book. If you're just starting out as a writer you NEED to read this book. If you're a pro with sales under your belt or are self-publishing your work, you'll find resources in here to increase your sales and fan base. There's great practical advice on the act of writing, being a writer (acting professionally), how and where to promote yourself, etc. from writers of books and movies, from veterans and fairly new success stories, from reviewers and editors. No matter what level you're on as a writer, you'll learn something worth learning.
Writers' Tricks of the Trade is like the appetizer table at a writers' buffet, filled with tips, techniques and tricks. Written in easy-to-read prose. Available in paperback, eBook and Kindle from multiple sellers
Writers' Tricks of the Trade is like the appetizer table at a writers' buffet, filled with tips, techniques and tricks. Written in easy-to-read prose. Available in paperback, eBook and Kindle from multiple sellers
