Terrifying Short Stories

Writing Horror: Crafting Fear That Lingers

Students will creep into the origins of horror writing and learn how to exploit human fear to terrify readers. We will explore the dreadful abyss of ghosts, monsters, witches, vampires, werewolves, and psychological horror with curated weekly readings that will give you nightmares. At the end of six weeks, students will complete a draft of an original terrifying short story using techniques to torment readers through a sleepless night. This course is not for the faint of heart.

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Course Outline

Lesson 1: The Origins of Horror and the Science of Fear

Types of horror stories (ghosts, monsters, vampires, werewolves, psychological, sci-fi)
The science of fear and how writers use it
Basics of horror short story structure
Brainstorming story ideas and outlining a horror story

Lesson 2: Classic horror stories, gothic, ghosts, and the supernatural

Edgar Allan Poe and Gothic horror
Spooky settings and atmosphere
Supernatural elements: ghosts, demons, and paranormal beings
Building tension and using the unexpected

Lesson 3: Folklore, fairy tales, and myths in horror

Folk tales, mythology, and classic horror tropes
Using ancient tales to inspire modern horror
Incorporating familiar horror tropes effectively
Cultivate feedback techniques and explore reading work out loud

Lesson 4: Monsters!

Classic monsters and when to reveal them
Comedy and horror as close cousins
Diagnose ways to use the unexpected in horror writing

Lesson 5: Body, Survival, and Serial Killer Horror

Slasher and survival horror
Writing gore with purpose—story-driven vs. gratuitous
Ethical considerations in graphic horror

Lesson 6: Cosmic and Psychological Horror

Cosmic horror, aliens, and the unknown
P. Lovecraft’s influence on the genre
Psychological horror and the fear of madness
Shirley Jackson and character-driven suspense

Learner Outcomes

After this class, participants will be able to:

Analyze and apply core horror writing techniques
Develop an original horror short story
Recognize elements of horror literature's historical and thematic foundations

Course Schedule

Type	Date	Time	Location
Online (Instructor-led)	Sep 16, 2025 to Oct 21, 2025	7:00PM - 9:00PM	Zoom