Books for Writing Horror

On Writing Horror from the Horror Writer's Association is one of the best books regarding horror writing I've read in years. However, most book's on writing have lots of good advice that can be applied to horror writing specifically and in general.

Overall, if it's a good technique or idea in any other genre, it's a good idea to crossover and use in horror.

Suspense, intrigue, plot, mystery, characterization, drama, all of these are things which are basically universal to all writing genres.

The most useful books of all are Strunk & White's, a good dictionary, and a good thesaurus. Everything else is gravy.

i will second On Writing Horror.

the hwa also has several very good essays online which did not make it into my edition of OWH and are worth a look.

That said, for the most part writing is writing--there is something to be said for foreshadowing and setting the scene and things that is unique in horror but most of the rules really are the same as for other genres....

still, OWH and the freebie essays are more than worth a look

Third.

Thirding Fourthing On Writing Horror--I find new things to love and take note of every time I look at it. It's really wonderful.

Also thirding Greg and quicklime's points about good writing being the same no matter what genre you're in.

That said, I'd also like to add Philip Athans's Guide to Writing Fantasy and Science Fiction. Sure, it's not quite the same, and depending on what sub-genre of horror you're in, might not apply to your world, but I do highly recommend the chapter on monsters.

And lastly, Stephen King's Danse Macabre. It's basically an overview of some of the most successful works of horror in literature, film, television and radio, and he breaks down a lot of them into what works and why. It's a great read, and very informative.

Piccirilli also wrote a short book on writing, I haven't read it and can't say much on it then, but I have seen a few short essays by him and it was enough to agree with and/or like most of what he had to say, so that might not be a bad option as well.

I've also enjoyed "Write Good Or Die" from Scott Nicholson, "Story Engineering" from Larry Brooks, and "Nail Your Novel" from Roz Morris. Alexandra Sokoloff's blog has some excellent writing tips & tricks as well.

And don't forget our own James D. MacDonald's mammoth thread "Learn Writing With Uncle Jim" right here on AW. Uncle Jim's a wonderful resource and extraordinarily open to questions and discussion - all for free.

Then, of course, there's J.A. Konrath's "A Newby's Guide To Writing" with a lot of information about self-publishing there (don't believe all the hype there or over at Dean Wesley Smith's blog either - self-publishing is a hard slog and not the way to immediate fame and fortune).

H.P Lovecraft wrote a short essay on writing horror stories. Here is a link-
http://www.hplovecraft.com/writings/texts/essays/nwwf.asp

There's Stephen King's On Writing. Which, more or less, is just about writing in general. It's what I use... But I write fantasy horror/ bizzarro fantasy...

Stanley Wiater has a great book of snippets of interviews he conducted with a great many of leading (and I mean really leading, not trailing) horror writers. It's called Dark Dreamers on Writing in its present Kindle incarnation. It had a different title in paperback, in which you can still find it in used copies on Amazon though it is long out of print. Comments are grouped as to subject, but many hit several subjects at once so could really fit into any number of categories. Some last a few lines, some go for a page or two in paperback. If you have a kindle, the kindle price is quite cheap on this one. It's something I wanted to keep and browse through forever, and I felt bad losing my paperback in a move, so was happy to see it so cheap on the kindle.

I found this book very interesting and a thoughtful reading experience, since its thoughts come from the perspectives of so many accomplished craftsmen.

I think most people who want books on writing should pick up a book on grammar and punctuation, personally.

Re How Not To, there's a book out that I downloaded a sample of but haven't read yet called "How Not to Write a Novel." Sounds interesting!

Right now I'm reading Plot and Structure by James Scott Bell. I don't think good horror can do without good plotting.

HOW NOT TO WRITE A NOVEL is pretty darned good, but it doesn't relate specifically to horror. It's more generalized, more a collection of pointers from editors of mistakes other writers have made in the past when subbing stuff. THE FIRST FIVE PAGES is a lot like that too, but deals more with what editors do and do not want to see in the first 5 pages of a sub. It too does not deal specifically with horror.

I've been having a few laughs reading a new one though, 500 Things To Know or something like that (I'll have to go look up the actualy title). It's irreverent, funny, and does have a section that relates specifically to horror.

Scott Nicholson has a couple kindle freebies up today -- Write Good or Die is one, I think, and The Indie Journey is another. Actually he has probably 20 books up for free today.

I've been enjoying reading "The Indie Journey."

For understanding horror, Stephen King's Danse Macabre. It covers all forms of horror, books, TV, movies, and really gets into the why and what.

Jamesaritchie said:

For understanding horror, Stephen King's Danse Macabre. It covers all forms of horror, books, TV, movies, and really gets into the why and what.

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Yep. That's an oldie but goodie.

I've recently picked up On Writing Horror and it seems pretty interesting. Lot's of cool info even withought the focus on Horror Fiction.

I just picked up "To Each Their Darkness" by Gary A. Braunbeck for my Kindle

From the Apex Publications website:

2010 Stoker Award Winner for Superior Achievement in Nonfiction
Explore the world of writing horror from a Bram Stoker and International Horror Guild award-winning author's point of view. Gary Braunbeck uses film, fiction and life experience to elucidate the finer points of storytelling, both in and out of genre. This part-autobiographical, always analytical book looks at how stories develop and what makes them work--or not work--when they're told.
Be warned: reality is as brutal as fiction. Rob Zombie, police shootings, William Goldman and human misery are all teachers to the horror neophyte, and Braunbeck uses their lessons to make To Each Their Darkness a whirlwind of horror and hope for the aspiring writer.

Blurbs:

• "When Gary Braunbeck writes about writing he richly knows whereof he speaks, and you who are new to the game would do well to listen. When he writes about the darkness in his own life he's harrowing. He does both in this book, intertwining them eloquently. And his clarion call -- "go for broke -- just don't go for the easy out" -- should be heard, understood and absorbed by writers everywhere."
  --Jack Ketchum , author of The Girl Next Door and Off Season
• "Gary A. Braunbeck is, quite simply, one of the best storytellers working in this genre -- or any other. His brooding, poetic prose reaches a deeper level, and impacts both the characters and the reader. Well worth the emotional investment. Braunbeck knows what scares us -- and what hurts us too. And it hurts so good..."
  –-Bram Stoker Award-winner Brian Keene, author of The Rising, City of the Dead, and The Conqueror Worms

Reviews:

• "This isn't just a how-to manual for writers or an opportunity to swap stories with a fellow horror geek. It's also a harrowing journey through the life and soul of the writer."
  --Shroud Magazine, Anton Cancre

Thanks, Cletus. I had no idea Braunbeck had one out. I'll be checking into it.

DDoc said:

H.P Lovecraft wrote a short essay on writing horror stories. Here is a link-
http://www.hplovecraft.com/writings/texts/essays/nwwf.asp

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Fantastic!

I'll second King's On Writing. There's quite a bit of interesting "bio" bits in it too.