About this course
The videos included in this course are recordings of a live class. The instructor is not available for questions or feedback at this time.
Vampires — werewolves — shape-shifting tentacle aliens — five-hundred-foot dinosaurs with radioactive breath... So much of horror revolves around monsters. And while it's fine to just have something scary that wants to kill you, the best monsters MEAN something. They have stuff to say about the things we fear. If you want to write memorable horror, meaningful monsters make a huge difference.
In this class, I'll explore some iconic monsters of the page and the screen, discuss what real-world fears they connect with, and share tips and tricks for bringing your own gnarly creatures to vivid life for readers, leaving ample time for Q&A and discussion of the scary citizens of your own stories.
Topics Covered
- Horror writing
- Character
- Theme
- Politics
- Symbolism
Student Takeaways
- Learn what makes classic monsters work
- Create bold and original non-human villains (and heroes) (and anti-heroes)
- Take your horror writing game to the next level
Duration of Class
50 minutes
Course Curriculum
About Sam J Miller
Sam J. Miller's (he/him) books have been called "must reads" and "bests of the year" by USA Today, Entertainment Weekly, NPR, and O: The Oprah Magazine, among others. He is the Nebula-Award-winning author of Blackfish City, which has been translated into six languages and won the hopefully-soon-to-be-renamed John W. Campbell Memorial Award. Sam’s short stories have been nominated for the World Fantasy, Theodore Sturgeon, and Locus Awards, and reprinted in dozens of anthologies. He's also the last in a long line of butchers. He lives in New York City and at samjmiller.com.
