Where Nightmares Come From: The Art of Storytelling in the Horror Genre (Dream Weaver)

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 between an art and a science applies here, and it's easy to see on which side of the divide all fiction falls (but especially horror, with its taproot of primordial fears as deep as our history on this planet as painfully sentient-but-unfortunately-very-edible prey and predator). This is good news inasmuch as it means that magic is real, or at least that some processes remain inexplicable and total mysteries, even to those who've grappled most successfully with them. It's bad news if you're looking for a "How-To" book that will give one a formula for creating works of horror. There is no blueprint, no template, no paint-by-numbers system, or if there is, the Syfy Channel has exclusive rights to that Rube Goldberg machine and you don't want what it's pumping out (unless you want the ignominious stain of having your name on the credits to MegaZombieSharkRaptor Part XVIII) ."Where Nightmares Come From" hits the sweet spot inasmuch as it makes no outlandish claims or promises about revealing some secret method for creating horror, though the advice, ruminations, stories, and philosophies on offer here from some of the best practitioners in the field are likely to get the upstart artist's creative juices flowing, and to perhaps rekindle the flame for those who've been deterred by the hard lot of being an independent filmmaker, writer, or multimedia artist.It's hard to single out specific essays for praise, since the offerings in the book are so diverse and each has something to recommend it, but if my neck were on the butcher's block I'd say that Ramsey Campbell's mini-workshop on writing and revising a story is worth the cover price alone. Other standouts include Stephanie Wytovich's very personal and heartwarming story about how her parents nurtured her toward the unusual vocation of horror poetess (a true rara avis in a field where a lot of people are motivated by only the most mercenary and short-term goals, like Return on Investment for a slasher flick), as well as Michael Paul Gonzalez's " Pixelated Shadows," a look into a subculture of something called Creepypasta, which is the digital version of ghost stories told around the campfire, but for kids who've had their synapses rerouted by the internet (and may not know how to build a fire without first consulting Google)."Nightmares" is nowhere near the most exhaustive examination of the genre of horror or the industry, but for a relatively short work it is incredible rich, and quite the resource. Recommended.

I just finished this collection of essays and interviews on writing, and it did not disappoint. There are essays on writing method, what makes horror, deciding the format that best fits your story, using language to bring stories alive, where ideas come from, and so much more. There are interviews with top authors in our genre which serve to shed light on the process of collaboration, and other interviews with editors that put together some of the best anthologies around. There is even a simulated roundtable discussion among writers and directors of some excellent work.Each piece in this book shows another aspect or angle on writing. Want to explore writing for movies and books, but don't know what is right for you? Choosing the Right Medium for Your Story and Yourself, by Taylor Grant, is the perfect place to start. You'll find yourself weighing pros and cons about each medium that you may never have thought of before.Perhaps you want to know how a television series can come about? Read about Z Nation in How Syfy's Hit Undead Show Came to Life, by Craig Engler. What started out as a Syfy original movie saw great success, going on to become a hit television show. What creative decisions were made to change the format? What is a story engine? Read about the process.Perhaps you love Stephen King and Richard Chizmar's new book, Gwendy's Button Box (which I really enjoyed). There is an excellent interview with them in this book. How did the story come about? How did the two authors blend their styles so seamlessly?There is a short interview with Charlaine Harris, in which she discusses storytelling. There is an article on life imitating art, where nightmares come from, creating short stories, putting together an anthology, trusting in your publisher, writing horror-based media tie-ins, and even a great article on creepypasta. In short, there is a little of everything.I believe this book has something for everyone. The writing is superb. The selection of contributors is top-grade. I learned more than I expected, and I plan on reading it again in the near future. This is a great gift idea for the writer in your life. Christmas time is coming soon.

An excellent book for all writers and readers interested in the mechanics of the craft told by established professionals. Inside is a treasure trove of articles sharing experiences and explaining the various processes when writing horror short stories, novels, poetry, and screenplays. I especially enjoyed "Pixelated Shadows" by Michael Paul Gonzalez, "The Story of a Story" by Mort Castle, "Where Nightmares Come From" by Paul Moore (his real life account of Earl is chilling), and Craig Engler's "Z Nation: How Syfy's Hit Undead Show Came to Life" as I'm a big Z Nation fan. With that said, every article is time well spent and fun to read.Here are two other books that a writer might find helpful: How to Write Horror Fiction by William F. Nolan and How Not to Write a Screenplay by Denny Martin Flinn.Highly recommended.

I write a lot of reviews and also write pulp fiction.I do not accept free books or money, in exchange fora review. Very seldom do I give 5 stars, for reasons youcan probably figure out.Ok, that's out of the way. I did give, Where Nightmares Come From, 5 stars, becauseof the cover to cover, word after word of outstanding offthe charts information it contains.It reminded me of being at a 2 day, the time it took meto read the book, Writers Conference.The, Who's Who, of names that came in to give a "class"or an interview, was well worth the price of admission (thebook). In case you were wondering if I am still rooted in reality. The topics cover a wide range of issues writers, or soon to bewriters, would or should be interested in. Write, Rewrite, Read, and repeat, are words you will see quiteoften.And, above all, Have Fun.....

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 Michael Paul Gonzalez. Learning about the origins of Creepypasta had me intrigued and when I have some spare time I will google some just to take a read. Throughout this chapter I was waiting for the one character that my kids would not shut up about and that was Slenderman . Reading about him showed what an big impact his stories had on people.Reading how Ramsey Campbell edited his story made the words come to life and it was a fine example on how a change of word here or there really made the story. It felt you were leaning over his shoulder reading and watching the words as he wrote.Each author’s chapter had a friendly tone to them and not once was there an element of talking down. Each and everyone wanted to share their knowledge which in some cases spanned years. I attend many book events where I sit in on interviews and panels and this book felt like I was at one of these event but it was a lot cheaper.Whether you have that burning desire to write a story or have been writing for years this book will suit a vast amount of people. But it does not stop with novels, there is a lot of media where horror plays a big part and if you fancy yourself as a screen writer or an author of graphic novels than you will also find some useful tips.

Perfect for any horror genre interest combine with creativity tips /inspiration.

Fantastic collection of essays on the craft of writing. These stem beyond the beginning phase of writing, going really into depth. Excellent!

Great read for understanding the publishing industry

Cool book