Introduction to Writing Horror Stories

María Fernanda Ampuero starts off by telling you about her journey through the world of fiction, from the very first fairy tales she read and legends from her home country, to the publication of her first fiction book, Cockfight. She also talks about authors and filmmakers who have worked in horror and to whom she owes her fascination with the genre.

Now it's time to pinpoint the "material" that's going to act as the trigger for your story: an anecdote, a memory, a piece of news, an event, a real fear, or a troubling object. Your choice forms the structure in which tension is going to build as you go deeper into the writing process. Decide on the narrative voice and the verb tense that best suits your story.

María goes on to explain how to carve out the atmosphere, the different situations, and those jarring moments that make the reader want to cover their eyes, but peek through their fingers at the same time. Learn how to trust your reader, which is essential in all genres, not just in horror, and cultivate authenticity so they can put themselves in the protagonist's shoes.

Your teacher shares the different habits, practices, and strategies that you have to develop if you want to seriously dedicate yourself to writing in the future. Finally, she answers some of the most important questions for all amateur writers: how to get published, how to get your work noticed, and the moment when your story becomes a book.