Although not all of this book is applicable to what I am trying to do, I still found the bulk of it both informative and interesting. The overall amicable tone in which most of it is written also helped to continue to foster interest. I'd recommend this to anyone looking to write within the horror genre - while the whole book may not be helpful, I would defy anyone to say that at least one chapter in there didn't give them at least one new idea. ( )

Excellent writing reference book. A lot of interesting viewpoints on a huge variety of horror subjects. ( )

I found a number of articles in this book useful for style and expression. It has reinforced the notion that the best way to settle into writing a genre is to be aware of what has come before. I have become aware of just how little I know about the horror genre even though I've been reading in it for nearly 30 years. The latter sections on publication etc are 10 years out of date now so I didn't pay them much attention, although the general market research premise is valid. Overall, it was nice to see so many people writing in the genre get together for this publication and it really illustrates that horror is not so much of an odd ball thing to write. ( )

Important advice you won't get from a writing class on how to tap in to what scares you, how to get it on the page, and how to get it published. All from experts in the field...successful horror writers. In my opinion, invaluable. ( )

Not just for horror enthusiasts - a lot of tips and tricks in this book can be used for any genre. ( )

FYI Review - This book contains the following contributions:
Foreword: The HWA: A Shockingly Brief and Informal History of the Horror Writers Association by Stanley Wiater
Editor's Introduction by Mort Castle

Part One: Horror, Literature, and Horror Literature
-The Madness of Art by Joyce Carol Oates
-Acceptance Speech: The 2003 National Book Award for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters by Stephen King
-Why We Write Horror by Michael McCarty

Part Two: An Education in Horror
-What You Are Meant to Know: 21 Horror Classics by Robert Weinberg
-Avoiding What's Been Done to Death by Ramsey Campbell
-Workshops of Horror (and Seminars and Conferences) by Tom Monteleone
-Degrees of Dread by Michael A. Arnzen

Part Three: Developing Horror Concepts
-A World of Dark and Disturbing Ideas by J.N. Williamson
-Mirror, Mirror by Wayne Allen Sallee
-Going There: Strategies for the Things That Scare You by Michael Marano
-Honest Lies and Darker Truths: History and Horror Fiction by Richard Gilliam

Part Four: Horror Crafting
-Such Horrible People by Tina Jens
-A Hand on the Shoulder by Joe R. Lansdale
-Eerie Events and Horrible Happenings: Plotting Short Horror Fiction by Nicholas Kaufman
-Reality and the Waking Nightmare: Setting and Character in Horror Fiction by Mort Castle
-"He Said?" She Asked: Some Thoughts About Dialogue by David Morrell
-Keep It Moving, Maniacs: Writing Action Scenes in Horror Fiction by Jay R. Bonansinga
-The Dark Enchantment of Style by Bruce Holland Rogers

Part Five: Horror, Art, Innovation, Excellence
-Innovation in Horror by Jeanne Cavelos
-Depth of Field: Horror and Literary Fiction by Nick Mamatas
-Splat Goes the Hero: Visceral Horror by Jack Ketchum
-Darkness Absolute: The Standards of Excellence in Horror Fiction by Douglas E. Winter
-On Horror: A Conversation With Harlan Ellison and Richard Gilliam by ?

Part Six: Tradition and Modern Times
-No More Silver Mirrors: The Monster in Our Times by Karen E. Taylor
-Fresh Blood From Old Wounds: The Alchemist Meets the Biochemist by Joseph Curtin
-More Simply Human by Tracy Knight
-The Possibility of the Impossible by Tom Piccirilli
-Archetypes and Fearful Allure: Writing Erotic Horror by Nancy Kilpatrick
-Take a Scalpel to Those Tropes by W.D. Gagliani
-That Spectred Isle: Tradition, Sensibility, and Delivery or Ghosts? What Ghosts? By Steven Savile
-New Horrors: A Roundtable Discussion of Horror Today and Tomorrow by Joe Nassise

Part Seven: Genre and Subgenre
-Writing for the New Pulps: Horror Theme Anthologies by John Maclay
-Freaks and Fiddles, Banjos and Beasts: Writing Redneck Horror by Weston Ochse
-Youth Gone Wild by Le Thomas
-Writing Horror Comic Books-And Graphic Novels by Davaid Campiti
-Acts of Madness: Writing Horror for the Stage by Lisa Morton
-Fear Spins Off: The Tie-In Novel Comes Into Its Own by Yvonne Navarro
-The Play's the Thing on the Doorstep: Writing Video and Roleplaying Games by Richard E. Dansky
-Now Fear This: Writing Horror for Audio Theater by Scott Hickey and Bob Madia
-Good Characters and Cool Kills: Writing the Horror Screenplay by Brendan Deneen

Part Eight: Horror Business: Selling, Marketing, Promoting
-Dark Fluidity: Online Research and Marketing Resources by Judi Rohrig
-The Small Press: Filling Shelves with Rare Books by John Everson
-Sharing the Creeps: Marketing Short Horror Fiction, version 2.0 by Edo van Belkom
-For Love or Money: Six Marketing Myths by Bev Vincent

Afterword
-Quiet Lies the Locust Tells by Harlan Ellison

If you want to write horror, this is the book you need. ( )

If you want to write it, you must have this book as a reference! ( )