First published 2010
Gary Braunbeck won the 2010 Stoker Award for this exploration of horror writing craft. The International Horror Guild award winner draws lessons from movies, books, and real world brutality to teach storytelling fundamentals. Braunbeck examines how stories take shape and why some succeed while others fail. He pulls examples from Rob Zombie films, police violence, screenwriter William Goldman, and human suffering to illustrate his points. The book blends autobiography with analysis as Braunbeck shares his own writing journey alongside technical instruction. He warns readers that actual events can match fiction for cruelty and darkness. The author uses these harsh realities as teaching tools for new horror writers. Braunbeck combines practical advice with personal reflection to create a guide that offers both technical knowledge and emotional insight for writers seeking to master the horror genre.
Genres: autobiography, horror, writing, non-fiction, academic
Vibes: dark, emotional, thought-provoking
Tropes: autobiography, craft-guide, personal-reflection
330 pages · Paperback · Apex Pubns
Content warnings: graphic-violence