A review by arnzen
Writing in the Dark by Tim Waggoner
5.0
Tim Waggoner's WRITING IN THE DARK is an instant classic in the small canon of "how to books" specifically directed at that special breed of authors known as horror writers, and with it, Waggoner becomes something of a Damon Knight for those working exclusively on the dark side.
WRITING IN THE DARK is, well, ENLIGHTENING. It doesn't just suggest ways to improve the scariness of your fiction, it also offers loads of advice on how to cultivate the horror author's worldview -- our manner of perceiving the darkness of the universe and translating it into entertainment...with a purpose. Waggoner -- who has published dozens and dozens of genre books and stories over the past thirty years, from lauded short fiction and memorable novels to niche media tie-in books -- writes with so much experience that the wisdom comes beaming through. And not only is it filled with smarts, it is delivered in the calm, guiding voice of an experienced writing teacher, as well. Waggoner has won awards for his mentoring and teaching of writers, and so it comes as no surprise to me that the "how-to" advice is crystal clear, backed with plenty of examples to illustrate the lessons he delivers and also laced with plenty of reasons and evidence to support his claims.
Finally, the book celebrates horror as not only a worldview and a craft but as a COMMUNITY and this comes through strongly in the way his book integrates the thoughts of many other writers, with interviews sampling the dark and sometimes twisted thoughts of many peers in the genre (including myself). Given the way that many educational programs (like English majors at colleges) have a history of disparaging popular fiction, genre authors have long had to study as fans and learn from each other as colleagues alone and Waggoner pays this forward with distinction in this book. I will be shelving this book right next to the great On Writing Horror (from Mort Castle and the Horror Writers Association) and the how-to books of JN Williamson I studied when I was getting started. I will certainly be using this guide when I teach Horror Fiction Writing in the future. If you are looking to learn more, whether as a newbie trying to learn how to get started, or a seasoned writer looking to refine and celebrate what you do, I recommend you get it and read it swiftly. Try some of the prompts and exercises, follow his advice, and please publish the results!
WRITING IN THE DARK is, well, ENLIGHTENING. It doesn't just suggest ways to improve the scariness of your fiction, it also offers loads of advice on how to cultivate the horror author's worldview -- our manner of perceiving the darkness of the universe and translating it into entertainment...with a purpose. Waggoner -- who has published dozens and dozens of genre books and stories over the past thirty years, from lauded short fiction and memorable novels to niche media tie-in books -- writes with so much experience that the wisdom comes beaming through. And not only is it filled with smarts, it is delivered in the calm, guiding voice of an experienced writing teacher, as well. Waggoner has won awards for his mentoring and teaching of writers, and so it comes as no surprise to me that the "how-to" advice is crystal clear, backed with plenty of examples to illustrate the lessons he delivers and also laced with plenty of reasons and evidence to support his claims.
Finally, the book celebrates horror as not only a worldview and a craft but as a COMMUNITY and this comes through strongly in the way his book integrates the thoughts of many other writers, with interviews sampling the dark and sometimes twisted thoughts of many peers in the genre (including myself). Given the way that many educational programs (like English majors at colleges) have a history of disparaging popular fiction, genre authors have long had to study as fans and learn from each other as colleagues alone and Waggoner pays this forward with distinction in this book. I will be shelving this book right next to the great On Writing Horror (from Mort Castle and the Horror Writers Association) and the how-to books of JN Williamson I studied when I was getting started. I will certainly be using this guide when I teach Horror Fiction Writing in the future. If you are looking to learn more, whether as a newbie trying to learn how to get started, or a seasoned writer looking to refine and celebrate what you do, I recommend you get it and read it swiftly. Try some of the prompts and exercises, follow his advice, and please publish the results!