A good book for those looking to take up creative horror writing.

Following in the footsteps of Horror 101 and their Writers On Writing series, Crystal Lake Publishing release another fascinating peek at the mechanics of horror writing. If you're like me, you'll head straight for your favourite author's contribution, which means I was able to spend a happy half-hour—possibly more—flicking back and forth through my copy of Ramsey Campbell's 'Holding The Light' whilst enjoying his very detailed notes entitled 'The Process Of A Tale'.I'd already come across the C...

Read through these individual pieces on the art in writing horror and on writing in general and not necessarily in order. I went back through several times, wanting to reread most of these shorts. Thoroughly rich in it's content and so honest, you cannot help but fall in love with the authors within this work. The bonus of bonuses: a free link to send a list of other works, free, (I couldn't believe these were free--they were incredible extras--is included in the opening of the anthology. Love t...

Where Nightmares Come From, The Art of Storytelling in the Horror Genre, was received free from Crystal Lake Publishing via HorrorAddicts.com in return for an honest review.As a writer gradually developing her craft I am always open to hearing and reading the views of those at the top of their game, those who have ‘made it’. Like most, I think we approach such articles in the hope that we’ll discover the magic ingredient, the key that turns a novel in the drawer into a published piece of work. I...

A collection of in-depth interviews and articles about the art of storytelling in horror from Joe R. Lansdale (Hap & Leonard series), Clive Barker (Books of Blood), John Connolly (‪Charlie Parker‬ series), Ramsey Campbell, Stephen King (IT), Christopher Golden (Ararat), Charlaine Harris (Midnight, Texas), Jonathan Maberry (Joe Ledger series), Kevin J. Anderson (Tales of Dune), Craig Engler (Z Nation), and many more.This is such an interesting read with lots of detail on a fascinating subject.I g...

I WANT TO MEMORIZE THIS BOOK. I was given an ARC e-copy of Where Nightmares Come From in exchange for an honest review -- I found that less than halfway through reading the e-copy, I knew I had to have a paper copy for my shelf. Though I mention some of the authors that contributed to this book, there are many more—and even beyond those named in the Table of Contents, this book unfolds like an origami for many of the authors direct you to other sources, other authors, directors, stories, films,

“Where Nightmares Come From” is an indispensable guidebook for those of us who are creators in the field of horror. There's a wide range of expertise here, not just from novelists and short story authors but from filmmakers, screenwriters, and authors of non-fiction articles in the field. There are practical articles on collaborating with others, writing media tie-ins, and other topics. Several of the essays walk us through the step-by-step process of writing a story. As a fairly new writer in t...

This is a must-read collection of essays for anyone who:• wants to write horror literature or scripts (or entertainment in various forms)• wants industry insights that would otherwise take decades of trial/error to learn• is a connoisseur of horror who wants richer perspective on how creators workAll the essays are well-done. There is plenty to learn from the ones focused on script-writing, even if you're more interested in horror fiction like me. So do read them. However, based on my tastes and...

This is a great read, regardless if you're a writer or reader/reviewer.

A friend of mine is a screenwriter and every now and again I'll ask him a question on the mechanics of storytelling, some detail on plot or character development. Invariably we get to a point in the conversation where he becomes a bit exasperated with my questions and says (or shouts), "It's not math!' What he means by this is that the creative process, by its very nature, is not something anyone totally understands, including those who've had the most success in their fields. The distinction be...

A lot of writing "how-to" books can be very dry to read so a lot of beginning writers tend to shy away from them. This isn't a "how-to" collection. Exactly. It's a how-to, how-not-to, and just general solid advice from a lot of leading names in the field. It also does not confine itself to simply the mechanics of writing. There is a lot of great advice about the different medias available in the horror genre right now. Really, for all of the difficulties beginning writers think they have right n...

For constant readers, “Where Nightmares Come From“, is an entertaining behind the scenes journey into the world of writing, For horror fans, this collection of essays and interviews is a rare glimpse into the minds of the genre’s best. (While at it, answering the age old question “Where do you get your ideas?” For aspiring authors, this new release from Crystal Lake, truly is a comprehensive look at “The Art of Storytelling in the Horror Genre”. Delving into their inspirations, approach and tech...

This is a book by horror writers and editors on how to write horror. It is chock full of good advice; which means it is too rich to digest at one go. I read about 70% of it, before I got indigestion of the intellect. Ideally, one should keep it at the bedside, and read it in small installments, like medicinal doses.I found out one thing: the only thing all writers and editors agree on, is the fact that to become a writer, one has to write. There is no short-cut to hard work.Quotes I liked:You ha...

Review coming in January Issue of Indie Picks Magazine and on the blog

All kinds of information on being a writer, whether it's horror or not. Some of it is good, some not as good, but most of it is interesting and gives an insider's account of the business. It covers everything from novels, to short stories, to screenplays. An inexpensive how-to book on craft.

Review: WHERE NIGHTMARES COME FROM , edited by Joe Mynhardt and Eugene JohnsonI 've enjoyed and benefited from Crystal Lake Publishing's Writers on Writing Series, and am happy to find the brand-new volume WHERE NIGHTMARES COME FROM: THE ART OF STORYTELLING IN THE HORROR GENRE. In 28 articles, including some interviews, 31 authors bring their various and sundry viewpoints, and perhaps better yet, their wisdom, to a volume that I recommend to read and to keep as a reference guide. As a sometime w...

Great anecdotes and advice from horror and fantasy writers, directory's, publishers etc. Some were better than others but my main issue was that many chapters (especially the Stephen King/Richard Chizmar interview) felt too short. It is a great treat to see how these creators think about storytelling and I would have loved to hear even more.

Where exactly do horror writers (or any writer for that matter) get their ideas from ? This should be shelved away with such cliché questions in the line of : • How do you know how to act and how to react ? - The questions we ask actors• How did you know how to take that photograph ? – The questions we ask a photographer • How did you create this catchy tune ? – The questions we ask a musician etc..What a lot of people who ask this question forget is the tremendous amounts of back breaking hard

An interesting and often insightful resource, with both Barker and Campbell delivering some real gems about high quality vs. high yield writing.

As an avid reader of all things horror, I have always had an interest in where authors get their ideas, how do they just sit at a keyboard and write. These and many more questions are answered. With interviews and articles each chapter has an authors insight on where nightmare come from.In every chapter I learnt something new and in something cases even found some new authors to read or films to watch. One chapter I was really interested in was Urban Lore and the Rise of the Creepypasta by Mich...