Shadows to Stories

By Blake Holloway

In Holloway's Shadows to Stories, you'll discover how to craft spine-chilling tales with integrity and break free from tired tropes and predictability.

This brief yet comprehensive guide offers valuable insights into character development, thematic depth, and the creation of complex monsters and terrifying scenarios. Whether you're a novice writer or a seasoned scribe, Holloway provides practical advice and inspiration to elevate your horror storytelling. Plus, explore a curated list of resources to further hone your craft.

If you're ready to move beyond haunted mansions and boogeymen (unless that's your thing, then you'll just be better at it), Shadows to Stories is the essential guide.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Blake Holloway
• Release date: Jun 24, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224748150

Book preview

Shadows to Stories

A Writer’s Guide to Horror

by Blake Holloway

CHAPTERS

INTRODUCTION: MOTIVATION 3

GOAL SETTING 3

YOUR (ACTUAL) ROUTINE 5

CHAPTER 1:  HOW DO I WRITE? 8

PLOT: ARCS AND TWISTS 8

CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT 11

EXAMPLE: BETH AND THE PHANTOMS 12

SETTING THE SCENE 13

CHAPTER 2: WHAT SCARES YOU? 15

TYPES OF FEAR: WHAT’S YOUR MONSTER MADE OF? 15

ENHANCING THE FEAR: SUSPENSE 16

ENHANCING THE FEAR: SENSATION 16

CHAPTER 3: THE HORRORS 19

WHO’S YOUR MONSTER? 19

UHM... WHY’S YOUR MONSTER? 22

CONCLUSION: A SUMMARY 24

FURTHER WRITING RESOURCES 25

READING LIST 25

ONLINE FORUMS 25

PROMPTLY, PLEASE! 26

INTRODUCTION: MOTIVATION

Let’s begin at the beginning. Not the beginning of the story, but the beginning of your writing process. You are a horror author, whether old or young, and you want to hear another side of the story — but like all skills, we have to talk about the foundations before we talk about the mutations.

Authors have squabbled for decades over whether pantsing or plotting is the appropriate method for writing a novel. The true answer is: whatever works for you, but either way, a little bit of plotting is necessary.

I know, I know. I am a pantser, too, and that probably made the rest of you cringe. I work best with a blank page and lots of time because the concept of creating rules for my story is one that confines me. If someone tells me to do something I’m already doing, I’m going to suddenly hate doing it — even if that someone is myself. Maybe you’re the same, or maybe you enjoy the thrill of being set free; maybe it’s the time-crunch of spewing out your ideas before they leave your brain forever.

But we can argue that having a clear goal for your story is a form of plotting. This differs from writer to writer, and you may not be able to take this advice — or, really, any advice in this guide. That’s just how the cookie crumbles. (Or, since this is about horror, how the flesh falls off?) Regardless, it can be eye-opening to see how other people handle their craft and in what ways you may change your own routine, even if that change is completely avoiding whatever seeming nonsense you just read about!

The important word there is routine. Well, two words, maybe three: (opt. your) writing routine. Let’s talk about the crucial parts of this routine and how you can formulate them