Writing the Horror Novel

Instructor: Robert Kent
Date: Saturday, June 17
Time: 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Location: IWC
Cost: $75 nonmembers, $48 members, $42 student members/teacher members/senior members/military members/librarian members

Author and film director Clive Barker says, “Horror fiction shows us that the control we believe we have is purely illusory, and that every moment we teeter on chaos and oblivion.” Do you like scary stories? Do you want to hold your readers frozen in heart-pounding suspense until they can turn the page and either breathe again… or scream? Robert Kent, author of All Together Now: A Zombie Story and other tales of terror, will share some of the most common tricks of the trade. He’ll discuss popular plotting strategies, effective characterization techniques (for people as well as monsters),  establishing credibility in a genre about the incredible, and many other spine-tingling subjects. Most stories could benefit from incorporating a little romance, but ALL stories could benefit from incorporating elements of horror. Whatever your preferred genre, expect to gain a deeper appreciation for horror’s place in fiction to improve your own writing and reading.