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The Easy Way to Write Horror That Sells Kindle Edition
- LanguageEnglish
- Publication dateNovember 30, 2013
- File size1032 KB
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Product details
- ASIN : B00GX2B29M
- Publisher : R&R Books Film Music; 3rd edition (November 30, 2013)
- Publication date : November 30, 2013
- Language : English
- File size : 1032 KB
- Text-to-Speech : Enabled
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Not Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Print length : 103 pages
- Best Sellers Rank: #1,376,897 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #416 in Education Reference
- #1,608 in Writing Skill Reference (Kindle Store)
- #3,948 in Writing Skill Reference (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

Visit Rob's website to receive a free copy of his #1 bestseller, The Easy Way to Write a Novel, as a gift for subscribing to his Academy. Go here: https://rob-parnell-writing-academy.thinkific.com/
Rob Parnell has been writing since he was five years old. He writes every day without fail - it's a compulsion - and he still hasn't run out of things to say...
His preferred genre is the thriller - sometimes with a supernatural edge - in which he writes short stories, graphic novels, screenplays, and adult thrillers.
In between fiction projects, Rob has written over 40 nonfiction self-help titles and has been published all over the world for the last fifteen years. Also a musician and composer, singer, media producer and budding movie maker, Rob is ecstatically happy to be married to Robyn Opie Parnell, his savior, and the popular bestselling children's author.
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book insightful and helpful for crafting their own horror stories. They appreciate the author's personal perspective on the state of horror writing today. The book is simple to follow and distills the main features of the genre into easy-to-understand sections. Overall, customers describe it as a fun read that provides valuable resources.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the book provides specific insights for crafting their own stories. They appreciate the author's personal insight on the state of horror writing today. The book is compelling, providing a concise overview of the genre and essential writing tips. Readers find the information delivered in a very readable way and consider it an invaluable review on writing horror and dark fantasy.
"This is the perfect book for aspiring horror writers. It’s much more than that though. The insight Shared in this book comes from experience...." Read more
"...of them are awful, but more and more, there are ones that can write very decent work. The Bible is, after all, a very bloody book...." Read more
"...I found it to be compelling and full of resources that I didn't think about before putting pen to paper...." Read more
"There are some goodies here about the horror genre. It’s always nice to see inside another writer’s process and what makes them tick." Read more
Customers find the book easy to follow and understand. They appreciate how it explains the main features of horror in simple terms.
"...The essence of the horror genre is distilled into several in easy shots. I’d say the sawtooth approach is the gem...." Read more
"I like it is easy and fun to read is not a deep writing about the topic by you can read in one night." Read more
"Enjoyed this read. Simple to follow and spaces out main features of horror story writing really well. I'd highly recommend this book." Read more
"Simple, valuable advice, and priceless insight..." Read more
Customers find the book enjoyable to read.
"Awesome read, the author gives his personal insight on the state of horror writing today...." Read more
"I like it is easy and fun to read is not a deep writing about the topic by you can read in one night." Read more
"Enjoyed this read. Simple to follow and spaces out main features of horror story writing really well. I'd highly recommend this book." Read more
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on February 5, 2021This is the perfect book for aspiring horror writers. It’s much more than that though. The insight Shared in this book comes from experience. Rob Parnell gives advice that is useful not just for writers of the horror genre, but writing in general. He is genuinely interested in making readers good writers.
I loved this book.
- Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2024As a writer of romantic dark fantasy with a body count, I found Rob Parnell’s little book to be an invaluable review on writing horror and dark fantasy and I still learned a lot. For the beginning writer, the information will be even more valuable especially the opening chapters on the philosophy of writing horror.
I must admit though, I found the author’s statement that Christians cannot write horror to be laughable. There are a lot of Christian authors doing very well in the horror genre and, yes, some of them are awful, but more and more, there are ones that can write very decent work. The Bible is, after all, a very bloody book.
I would encourage the author to read Mike Duran’s best selling book on Christian horror. I believe he might change his mind.
- Reviewed in the United States on June 21, 2014I am no expert when it comes to creative writing, but when it comes to writing and being a professional, I know what it takes to make it in the world of marketing. I've been a marketing writer for a long time now, so I know when I've been had. This book is a solid solution for those that aren't sure how to write horror and more importantly what sells. I found it to be compelling and full of resources that I didn't think about before putting pen to paper. Hopefully one of my stories will get picked up as I've amended them in the framework of this book .
- Reviewed in the United States on April 18, 2020There are some goodies here about the horror genre. It’s always nice to see inside another writer’s process and what makes them tick.
- Reviewed in the United States on September 23, 2017Found this book to be very helpful and informative. The information was delivered in a very readable way. I've read other books on writing and on writing horror, but none delivered their information as well as this book.
- Reviewed in the United States on August 22, 2019Many insights are gained in a short period of time by reading this work. The essence of the horror genre is distilled into several in easy shots. I’d say the sawtooth approach is the gem. Nice anecdotes about Stephen King too.
- Reviewed in the United States on April 16, 2015New writers buy a lot of writing books. Most are not worth the money, but this one truly is, especially (but not only) if you're a horror writer. I could tell you why, but you should get it and find out for yourself.
- Reviewed in the United States on August 14, 2021Rob Parnell’s writing advice is solid. This book is full of practical information and advice for aspiring writers. Unfortunately…
He basically ruins the book with pretentious anti-religious bigotry.
Parnell categorizes men and women of faith, especially Christians, as insane and deserving of contempt. And he then adds that anyone offended by that shouldn’t write fiction. His rationale: “Fiction requires a more enlightened, objective and rational mindset.”
Really?
So, I guess only non-Christian fiction writers are “enlightened, objective, and rational” and only non-Christians can put out quality fiction?
Wow. Just wow.
Tell that to J.R.R. Tolkien or C.S. Lewis.
There are countless authors (both now and in history) who are (or were) men or women of faith. Sometimes deep faith.
And many of them have been (and are) wildly successful.
Ironically, Parnell makes the claim in this very book that money demonstrates talent. Literary critics aside, Parnell argues that if a writer sells books, that writer is successful and talented. Period.
To a great extent, I agree. And Parnell does a great job defending Stephen King’s bona fides on those grounds.
Well, if Parnell’s argument is correct, then his bigoted assertion that Christian authors shouldn’t even ATTEMPT to write fiction because they are inherently unqualified to do so is all the more astounding for its blatant defiance of reality.
That is, unless he’s going to argue that writers like Brandon Sanderson, Frank Peretti, and Ted Dekker (to name just a few) are not successful and are too religious to be deemed worthy to write fiction.
If Rob Parnell doesn’t want to believe in God or the Bible, that’s his prerogative. I am a big believer in religious freedom and the freedom of conscience. And if he wants to write a book on the subject of why he doesn’t hold to religious beliefs, so be it. I also believe in the freedom of speech.
But when I read a book on writing, I want to learn about writing. I don’t want to be subjected to the writer’s contemptuous, baseless, and incoherent bigotry.
Top reviews from other countries
- Carlo GarciaReviewed in Mexico on September 2, 2022
3.0 out of 5 stars Good for beginners, but...
This book is fine for any beginner horror writer, however, the book constantly assumes it has the last word on "how and why" anything horror (and even tries to give you some moral advice as well!) when it usually is more complex than what the author claims.
Writing and enjoying Horror is a highly subjective experience and while the author does say this, he usually does just before or after writing about how his way somehow creates superior horror.
This is not new of course, he is not the only one that does this when giving writing advice (or any type of advice), but he tends to hammer it down more often than most, quite convinced of the superiority of his ways.
So, to conclude, this is a good book for a beginner horror writer, it does have some sound advice, but beware that there are a lot of personal, heavily biased opinions in this book about a wide range of topics, and if you are young or unexperienced in general you may get the wrong idea about how writing is done or why.
- JCReviewed in Canada on April 27, 2020
5.0 out of 5 stars Short but valuable
Seems like a great jumping off point to tell you what you need to do to get going. Instantly shuts down lots of the excuses for not getting writing done. Very good overall.
-
Mauricio R B CamposReviewed in Brazil on July 13, 2015
5.0 out of 5 stars Aprendendo com o mestre
Me ajudou na elaboração do livro que estou escrevendo, dá dicas e informações importantes para o autor iniciante. Recomendo este e outros livros do autor.
- Amazon CustomerReviewed in the United Kingdom on April 12, 2014
5.0 out of 5 stars Parnell gets to the nitty gritty
I know that I am in safe hands when I get a book by Rob Parnell. He knows what he is talkling about. He's been there and done that and writes about it in clear and logical prose. There is no extra material here: just the straight facts. Very helpful and supportive.