In this Intro to Horror Writing course, learners will explore the foundational craft elements necessary to create fiction and poetry intended to frighten, unsettle, and shock readers. We will delve into how to evoke profound dread and fear by applying classical techniques—from Gothic atmosphere to modern psychological terror—across short stories, flash fiction, poetry, and novel concepts.

Topics will include developing engaging characters whose vulnerabilities invite horror, using setting and mood to build inescapable atmosphere, and mastering plot and pacing to construct relentless suspense. Students will also learn how to employ literary techniques unique to horror, such as the strategic use of point of view for paranoia, the deployment of monster logic in speculative works, and the power of theme to examine real-world anxieties.

Through practical exercises, multi-format writing prompts, and the analysis of masterful works by authors ranging from Poe to contemporary voices, participants will gain the tools and confidence to write fearlessly across all lengths, unlocking their creative potential in the most chilling of genres.