About Horror: The Study and Craft

by L. Marie Wood

Writer and professor, Lisa Wood, offers a comprehensive deep dive into the study of horror fiction. With importance placed on knowing the history of the genre and how integral to storytelling research is, this textbook will serve as a referenceable guide for anyone interested in writing in the horror genre.

Genres: Nonfiction

152 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 3, 2022

About the author

L. Marie Wood is an award-winning author and screenwriter. She is the recipient of the Golden Stake Award for her novel The Promise Keeper, as well as the Harold L. Brown Award for her screenplay Home Party. Her short story, "The Ever After" is part of the Bram Stoker Award Finalist anthology Sycorax's Daughters. Wood was recognized in The Mammoth Book of Best New Horror, Vol. 15 and as one of the 100+ Black Women in Horror Fiction. Wood holds an MFA in Speculative Fiction from Southern New Hampshire University and serves as the Director of Curricula for the Diverse Writers and Artists of Speculative Fiction (DWASF.org). She is also the Director of the horror track for MultiverseCon.

Visit lmariewood.com to learn more.

Reviews

[Tyler Mackey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Much like the other reviews, I think it's important to note that this is more of a collection of practical writing advice modules than an exploration of horror writing specifically. While there is a sparknotes-d survey of horror sub-genres, a dash of history, and some time spent on trying to define genre by convention, I personally find this the weakest part of the book not because of the author's ability - honestly she has a lot of great things to say, I rarely found anything to challenge and I learned a few different things along the way - but because there's so little depth to the points beyond making them so as to make the reader aware they exist. Bringing up a discussion of technique only to never follow up on it because that is not the point is my main disappointment with a book literally called On Horror, because the whole reason I bought the book was apparently a tangent.

Still though, did at least lead me towards considering buying her actual novels, so probably still a win as a marketing tool? 2/5 because I'm not sure exactly what this book is supposed to be, because it's going in two different major directions and a few other minor ones. Just feels weird because I'm not usually in a position to give a low rating without some major issue I have with a piece, though I guess a pervasive confusion could be a major issue in and of itself? Probably a fitting end for this book, suitably inconclusive but hopefully helpful to somebody.

[Stephen Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

A comprehensive overview

About Horror is a really thorough overview of the general craft of creating a story, but with the crafting of a horror story its focus. The book is structured as lots of short chapters, which makes it both a quick and easily digestible read. I liked how easy it was to dip in and out, the format offering the reader a good chance to mull over the previous chapter.

While the book is aimed more at beginner to intermediate writers, there’s enough meat on the bones to make it interesting for more experienced writers, too. I always find it nice to re-establish some basic tenets of craft - the mind can wander or get lazy sometimes! - and this was really useful in reaffirming those basics.

Overall, an informative and thorough read.

[Bridgette]

This is best suited for new writers, as the craft advice is generalized for all writing, not specific to horror writing.

[T.J. Tranchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid introduction to the horror genre and how to write it. Perfect for new writers but engaging enough for seasoned writers.