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The Easy Way to Write Horror That Sells Kindle Edition

4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 101 ratings

Newly updated. Whatever your area of preference: short stories, novels, film and/or TV, there is an ever hungry need for thrillers and dramas using supernatural themes and settings. In short, horror fiction. All you have to do is to understand the conventions associated with this most prestigious of genres. Now, don't go thinking in cliches. Horror is not just Stephen King and Slasher movies! Horror and Dark Fantasy fiction also encompasses the likes of Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, the Matrix series, and TV shows like Buffy, Charmed, Fringe, Bates Motel and The Walking Dead. Of course there are the classics to aspire to: Edgar Allen Poe, Lovecraft, MR James, and more modern writers like Peter Straub, Clive Barker, Graham Masterton, James Herbert. Stephen King describes Thomas Harris (Silence of the Lambs), James Patterson and Patricia Cornwell as closet horror writers too! All of the above writers know - and have profited - from the notion that scaring the pants off your reader not only makes you successful, it keeps readers coming back for more! Good horror is sophisticated. More and more writers, like Joe Hill and Jack Ketchum, are winding up in the literary section of your local bookshop or library. No longer is horror marginalized. It's increasingly seen as respectable and justifiably good writing. So, believe me, it's more than possible to make a very good living from writing horror and dark fantasy! Do you want success as a horror writer? And get to grips with a genre that will benefit all of your writing. Here’s what the book covers: * How to build suspense * How to create believable characters * How to come up with original and compelling ideas * How to create convincing monsters and psychological enemies * How to sustain a series of stories / books / movies * And much more! Part One: A thorough analysis of the horror genre from its origins to its place in the modern world. We will examine the various forms of storytelling in the past and in the present, identifying the roots of the genre and how certain functional characteristics have been carried over into the modern diversity of horror / suspense / mystery / thriller and crime genres. Part Two: Creating our own stories. We establish the parameters and the requirements of character, the horror conventions and ways to stretch the envelope. The emphasis is on creating strong durable protagonists with believable agendas at credible odds with the antagonist / monster / psychological threat. Part Three: The importance of setting, environment and the psychological landscape. We discuss the various ways in which authors use setting as 'the third character' - and how to create our own living, breathing locations. We also examine mood, tone and factors like theme, purpose and the overall feel of your supernatural stories in this context. Part Four: Plotting. How to take a rough story idea from inspiration to a full blown template for a novel. The importance of planning and organization. How to easily construct plots using the various forms of writing software available and other tried and true methods - card file systems, cut and paste etc. We also study pace, building suspense, tension and examine the fear factor. Part Five: The writing. How to sustain motivation and enthusiasm for your writing project and ensure it is written until it's finished. Procrastination, time and self-doubt are the writer's natural enemies. We deal with these issues head on - and head them off! We study time management and self-support systems in detail to help us get past any slumps, writers blocks or personal health issues. This lesson will help turn you into a writing machine! Part Six: What to do with your novel / short story / screenplay after the writing. I'll show you how to construct a career path and a strategy for success.

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
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 101 ratings

About the author

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Rob Parnell
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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

4.1 out of 5 stars
101 global ratings

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Customers 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.

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15 customers mention "Insight"15 positive0 negative

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

5 customers mention "Ease of use"5 positive0 negative

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

3 customers mention "Readability"3 positive0 negative

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

  • Reviewed in the United States on February 5, 2021
    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. 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, 2024
    As 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, 2014
    I 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 .
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on April 18, 2020
    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.
  • Reviewed in the United States on September 23, 2017
    Found 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.
    3 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on August 22, 2019
    Many 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, 2015
    New 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, 2021
    Rob 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.
    9 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Carlo Garcia
    3.0 out of 5 stars Good for beginners, but...
    Reviewed in Mexico on September 2, 2022
    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.
  • JC
    5.0 out of 5 stars Short but valuable
    Reviewed in Canada on April 27, 2020
    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 Campos
    5.0 out of 5 stars Aprendendo com o mestre
    Reviewed in Brazil on July 13, 2015
    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 Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Parnell gets to the nitty gritty
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 12, 2014
    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.

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