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Tim Waggoner

Writing in the Dark Kindle Edition

by Tim Waggoner (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

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WINNER OF THE 2020 BRAM STOKER AWARD FOR NON-FICTIONIn this comprehensive textbook devoted to the craft of writing horror fiction, award-winning author Tim Waggoner draws on thirty years' experience as a writer and teacher. Writing in the Dark offers advice, guidance, and insights on how to compose horror stories and novels that are original, frightening, entertaining, and well-written.

Waggoner covers a wide range of topics, among them why horror matters, building viable monsters, generating ideas and plotlines, how to stylize narratives in compelling ways, the physiology of fear, the art of suspense, avoiding clichés, marketing your horror writing, and much more. Each chapter includes tips from some of the best horror professionals working today, such as Joe Hill, Ellen Datlow, Joe R. Lansdale, Maurice Broaddus, Yvette Tan, Thomas Ligotti, Jonathan Maberry, Edward Lee, and John Shirley. There are also appendices with critical reflections, pointers on the writing process, ideas for characters and story arcs, and material for further research.

Writing in the Dark derives from Waggoner's longtime blog of the same name. Suitable for classroom use, intensive study, and bedside reading, this essential manual will appeal to new authors at the beginning of their career as well as veterans of the horror genre who want to brush up on their technique.

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280 pages
Language

English
Publication date

September 16, 2020
File size

2781 KB
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"I was part of one of Tim's writing workshops moreyears ago than I care to acknowledge. Soon after completing it, I began to sellprofessionally. Coincidence? I think not!" --Dave Creek, author of 40science fiction and mystery short stories and 14 books

"I still refer to handwritten notes I scribbled down asfast as I could during one of Tim's horror-writing classes. Absolutely incisiveinsights and practical know-how." --Tom Leveen, Bram Stoker finalist andauthor of Hellworld

"As soon as I heard Waggoner was creating a book onwriting craft, I knew I was buying it. His insights are gold." --JayWilburn, author of the Maidens of Zombie Kingdom trilogy

"For some years now, Tim Waggoner's Writing in the Darkhas been my go-to blog for sensible, actionable, sustainable tips for writers.Scarily good advice." --Lee Murray, author of The Path of Ra series

"As a true newbie, I really didn't know much about thewriting world. Tim was my HWA mentor in 2017. During our four months together,he critiqued three of my short stories and the beginnings of a novel. Hisadvice was always on point with an eye toward pacing and story arc (myweaknesses). His advice is straightforward without being either condescendingor cruel. Since working with Tim, I've had three short stories published (oneat professional rates) and have drafted and revised my novel." --ValerieB. Williams, writer of dark fiction and two-time survivor of Borderlands BootCamp

"Tim's writing advice and lessons are simple,straightforward and always actionable. I must admit to having cribbed some ofhis approaches in my own classroom from time to time and, as all teachers know,theft is the best compliment we can give." --Anthony Klancar, High SchoolEnglish Teacher

"Tim helped me find the writer in me. He encouraged meto appreciate and trust my voice to tell my stories." --Patti Balster,Student

"When I engage with Tim Waggoner's writing advice, Ican be sure it will be useful and practical. While realistic and sobering, hisadvice does so in a way that isn't discouraging or downbeat. It gives me arenewed sense of hope and new ideas to try that I hadn't consideredbefore." --Eva V. Roslin, Librarian

About the Author

Critically acclaimed author Tim Waggoner has published over fifty novels and seven collections of short stories. He writes original dark fantasy and horror, as well as media tie-ins, and his articles on writing have appeared in numerous publications. He's a three-time winner of the Bram Stoker Award, has won the HWA's Mentor of the Year Award, and been a multiple finalist for the Shirley Jackson Award and the Scribe Award. In addition, his fiction has received numerous Honorable Mentions in volumes of Best Horror of the Year, and he's had several stories selected for inclusion in volumes of Year's Best Hardcore Horror. He's also a full-time tenured professor who teaches creative writing and composition at Sinclair College in Dayton, Ohio. --This text refers to the paperback edition.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08GCZ6GK9
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Dog Star Books (September 16, 2020)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 16, 2020
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 2781 KB
Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Print length ‏ : ‎ 280 pages
Lending ‏ : ‎ Enabled

Best Sellers Rank: #133,235 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
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Tim Waggoner
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Tim Waggoner’s first novel came out in 2001, and he’s published close to fifty novels and seven collections of short stories since. He writes original fantasy and horror, as well as media tie-ins. His novels include Like Death, considered a modern classic in the genre, and the popular Nekropolis series of urban fantasy novels. He’s written tie-in fiction for Supernatural, Alien, Grimm, the X-Files, Doctor Who, A Nightmare on Elm Street, and Transformers, among others. His articles on writing have appeared in Writer’s Digest, Writer’s Journal, and Writer’s Workshop of Horror. He’s won the Bram Stoker Award and been a finalist for the Shirley Jackson Award, the Scribe Award, and the Splatterpunk Award. In addition to writing, Tim is also a full-time tenured professor who teaches creative writing and composition at Sinclair College.
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El Sol

A must-read for all horror writers

Reviewed in the United States on October 24, 2020

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If I had the pleasure of teaching a horror-bent creative writing course, then Writing in the Dark would serve as the class text. Despite going into this book as a language arts instructor with a decent grasp of what makes effective fiction work, Tim Waggoner completely took me to school on what makes effective *horror* fiction work. I haven’t made this many underlinings and annotations in a book since college. Writing in the Dark serves as a goldmine for new writers motivated to take their horror fiction to the next level, and perhaps even the most experienced horror authors could learn a few tricks by reading this book. And while soaking up Waggoner’s sage wisdom is worth purchasing this title alone, he does not limit his advice to one perspective—he pulls in suggestions from dozens of accomplished writers in the field, numerous voices that only strengthen his ideas through echoing the themes of his lessons. Writing in the Dark is a must-read for anyone wishing to achieve success in the horror genre.

5 people found this helpful

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Sean Seebach

A New Companion For Your Creative Journey

Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2021

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I say companion because unlike other books regarding the craft, Writing In The Dark is as casual as it gets. And that's important because I've read many books about authorship which feel so pretentious you gotta wonder if their author's intention was to disuade rather than encourage. Here though, the approach is relaxed yet informative, entertaining and engaging, inviting the reader to return as often as they like. A much welcomed difference.

With Writing In The Dark, Tim Waggoner has provided the world a permanent writing workshop, one that can be infinitely referenced and reexamined throughout every stage of a writer's career, even if said career is yet to be or already established.

"We need to take our writing as far as we can in the time that we have, and in the end that has to be enough, because that's all we're going to get." If that statement speaks to you, then Writing In The Dark deserves to be in your hands.

3 people found this helpful

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Shrader Thomas

An amazing, entertaining read for anyone, not just for novelists!

Reviewed in the United States on October 4, 2020

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This book is not only incredibly informative but it is wildly entertaining. Even if you’re just looking for some insight into the horror world as a layperson, not as an author, WRITING IN THE DARK really delivers!

Tim Waggoner is an amazing author of truly terrifying and deeply heart-felt stories. His novels and short stories really cut to the quick. But, more than just a novelist, Tim is a teacher. He disperses his wisdom on his website, which so many of us hungrily devour. Now, Tim has distilled his wisdom and years of expertise into this amazing text book. As a horror filmmaker, I jumped at the chance to peek inside Tim’s mind, to get some insights into the ins and outs of writing truly masterful horror. It’s a cliche to say “he wrote the book on” how to write horror, but he really did. And it’s right here, for all to see.

This is a book that anyone can enjoy, but as a text book on horror, it is essential reading.

3 people found this helpful

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Lee Allen Howard

The Best of How-to-Write Horror

Reviewed in the United States on February 10, 2021

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I've read a ton of how-to-write-fiction books including a number of texts on writing horror, but Tim Waggoner's WRITING IN THE DARK is the best of them all.

It opens with an intro by Tom Monteleone of Borderlands fame demonstrating why Waggoner is qualified to write the book. He's a prolific writer of both horror and media tie-ins. In the preface, Waggoner reveals why he writes horror. We're of roughly the same age, and his journey in many ways mirrors mine. (It's great to meet a new member of the Horror Family. Weirdos unite!)

He progresses through chapters such as "Why Horror Matters" and "Things Unknown" and turns a corner with "Everything You Know Is Wrong." He covers various subgenres of horror, generating unique ideas for stories, and building one-of-a-kind monsters. I especially enjoyed the chapters "The Horror Hero's Journey" (Poor Bastard's Descent into Hell) and the importance of including an emotional core relayed through immersive POV.

Every chapter is insightful, helpful, and entertaining. Each ends with exercises to enable eager writers to implement what they've just learned as well as three or four "voices from the shadows"--accomplished horror writers--who discuss what makes good horror and best advice for beginning writers.

Waggoner teaches college-level writing, so you're getting a college course in a book. I love to study, so I consider it a textbook that's also a tasty morsel of how-to darkness.

My review is actually 4.6 stars. The book lost a few tenths because the type is so small. As I read through, I was hoping for a workbook that expanded the exercises. Well, Guide Dog Books recently announced a companion workbook IS coming, so I'm excited about that. I'll be buying it, too, when it comes out. But I hope the type is a little bigger for those like me over 50.

I can't recommend this text highly enough. Whether you're a beginning, intermediate, or advanced horror writer, you'll get something useful to take your writing to the next horrific level.

2 people found this helpful

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Rob Cornell

A Breath of Fresh Freakin' Air

Reviewed in the United States on May 16, 2021

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I have a degree in creative writing and have read countless books on the craft of fiction. These days, it's hard to find a writing manual that does more than say the same thing I've read in every other book only differently. But this book? Not only is it a fantastic and thorough guide to writing horror, it's a great book on crafting genre fiction in general. If you have even a passing interest in horror or dark suspense, you MUST read this.

Waggoner is a college writing instructor and it shows. He has a knack for describing writing technique with a specificity that's often hard to find from writers who are not also trained educators. But Waggoner, unlike many, also practices the dark art he preaches. His fiction is top notch. I don't buy the whole, "Those who can, do; those who can't, teach." But I'm always pleased when I find a writing teacher who also rocks the page in their fiction. And Waggoner definitely qualifies.

I don't write a lot of book reviews, and only bother to do so when I read something I think is really special. So there ya go.

2 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

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writerchris

Excellent read for Horror Writers

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 12, 2020

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Best book on writing horror I have read. Tim dissects and analyses what horror is and differentiates between Dread, Horror, Shock and Disgust. He explains that horror is about people not monsters and shows you how to construct a monster and how to use it.
At the end of every chapter he asks 2 questions of published horror authors: 'What makes good horror/dark fantasy/suspense? And What's the best advice you can give a beginning writer of horror/dark fantasy/suspense? And with 20 chapters and 3 or 4 author answers per chapter that is a lot of wisdom.
This is going to be a seminal work for horror writers in the future; an excellent read.

One person found this helpful

Stephen Howard

An easy-to-read guide

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 8, 2021

Verified Purchase

Writing in the Dark is an excellent how-to guide on writing horror fiction, but it also provides a great framework for writing across any genre. The advice is given in accessible language and the book equips you with all the tools a budding writer (or an experienced writer) could need. And the input from a wide range of names from the horror community was a really interesting and valuable touch.

Steph Ellis

Mine of Information for every Horror Writer

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 11, 2020

Verified Purchase

A great handbook to dip in and out of with plenty of exercises to stretch your writer's mind.

Marcelo Augusto Galvão

Um dos melhores livros sobre escrita de terror

Reviewed in Brazil on June 25, 2021

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Sendo escritor em vários gêneros literários, sempre procuro ler livros de escrita criativa para melhorar meus textos. Enquanto existem dezenas de obras desse tipo, a maioria traz pouca coisa de útil: na melhor das hipóteses, é algo requentado de livros anteriores e melhores. No caso da ficção de terror, a situação é ainda pior, com pouquíssimo material que vale uma leitura.

Felizmente, WRITING IN THE DARK, de Tim Waggoner, não se encaixa nesse tipo. Waggoner é um autor veterano e premiado de contos, novelas e romances de terror (além de professor de escrita criativa) e que usa toda a sua experiência para guiar o leitor (e provável escritor) na tarefa de escrever um bom texto, analisando desde o motivo de se escrever terror, como evitar clichês, técnicas literárias etc. Além disso, cada capítulo traz exercícios para ajudar a desenvolver a escrita, assim como também duas perguntas feitas a autores e editores da área: 1) o que faz uma boa história de horror/suspense/dark fantasy e 2) qual é o melhor conselho que você pode dar a um escritor iniciante. As respostas tão diversas se transformam em dicas valiosas aos leitores.

WRITING IN THE DARK é um verdadeiro curso de como escrever uma boa história de terror, tanto para os que estão começando quanto para os que já tem algum certo tempo de estrada, como é o meu caso.

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geneve flynn

A wonderful conversation with a writer who's been in the business and really knows his stuff.

Reviewed in Australia on October 12, 2020

Verified Purchase

Writing in the Dark by Tim Waggoner was a treat to read. Each section is rich with industry knowledge and practical suggestions. The writing style is conversational and down-to-earth; reading Writing in the Dark felt like kicking back with a friend (albeit a very knowledgeable and seasoned, professional author friend) and chatting about all things horror. I was a little bummed when I reached the final page and the conversation had to end.