How to Write Horror Fiction (Genre Writing Series);

The aspiring horror writer would do well to sink his fangs into this book before the next full moon: this guide is a ghoulish romp through the work of today's masters of the macabre (including Nolan), full of useful suggestions designed to punch up one's writing to a salable level. In his chatty manner, Nolan manages to cover all the neophyte's questions on effective prose technique, but what makes this book different from the usual nuts-and-botts writing guide is the inclusion, in its entirety, of his own short short story, "The Pool." Here, the tale is painstakingly dissected for a discussion of its components, with the author illustrating his reasoning behind each step as he works towards a unified vision of sheer terror. The powerful clarity of this example provides an invaluable teaching tool, one that offers the newcomer real insight on the elements of good fiction. Nolan also stresses the importance of drawing from the well-spring of one's own experience, both as an idea source and to lend plausibility to writing. Above all, he encourages would-be Stephen Kings to learn by action, to begin by submitting work to small press periodicals while honing their skills. By way of inspiration, he adds short bios of successful authors who struggled early, yet prevailed to become the genre's giants. Despite all this cheer-leading, Nolan's simple approach lends credence to his expansive claim that horror fiction is both a perfectible and profitable craft.