Featured Post
How to Build Unease Without Jump Scares
Horror isn’t about shouting. It’s about whispers. What haunts readers most is not what they see, but what they think they see—or what they realize is wrong, slowly. In this post, we’ll go beyond clichés and jump scares to dig into craft methods actual horror authors use, and I’ll show you how I used them in Salt & Bone and The Death of Me.
All Posts
Writing Cliffhangers That Feel Earned, Not Cheap
A cliffhanger stops the narrative at a point of maximum tension. When done well, it…
Horror/Thriller Focus: Escalation Without Losing Believability
Horror and thriller writers face a specific problem: readers need to feel increasing dread without…
Midpoint Reversals: The Secret Weapon
The midpoint feels like the middle of the book. It functions like a detonation. When…
Three-Act Structure vs. Organic Storytelling
Three-act structure provides clarity and pacing. Organic storytelling creates authentic character moments. The best stories…
Avoiding the “As You Know” Exposition Trap
The worst dialogue sounds like characters reading Wikipedia entries about their own lives to each…
YA Focus: School Settings That Feel Real, Not Generic
School settings in YA fiction walk a fine line—too vague and they feel like a…
Using Seasonal & Cultural Details to Ground a Scene
The best scenes feel like they exist in a specific moment. Not just any autumn—this…
Worldbuilding Through Character Action
Learn how to build immersive story worlds through character action, not narration. Practical worldbuilding techniques…
Crafting Authentic Teen Voices
Craft believable teen voices by focusing on emotional truth, not stereotypes. Learn how YA characters…
Writing Flawed Protagonists Readers Still Root For
Learn how to write flawed protagonists readers can’t walk away from. Explore examples from Morrison,…
How Much Backstory is Too Much?
Backstory gives stories depth—but too much can drown them. Learn how to balance history and…
Avoiding Cardboard Cutout Characters
Side characters make or break believability. They anchor worlds, test protagonists, and remind readers that…
Trigger Warnings in Dark Fiction
Horror doesn’t owe its audience comfort—but it does owe them clarity. Trigger warnings aren’t about…
Handling Gore & Disturbing Content Responsibly
Horror isn’t just about what we show—it’s about why we show it. In this Behind…
Common Horror Tropes That Still Work
Readers know when they’re being led toward a familiar beat—the mirror scare, the creepy child,…
The Role of Silence and Stillness in Horror
In horror, silence isn’t empty—it’s charged. Stillness doesn’t calm—it tightens the wire. This post explores…
How to Build Unease Without Jump Scares
Horror is more than jump scares. Learn how to build lasting unease through atmosphere, silence,…