ONLINE - Writing Horror: Fear, Atmosphere, and the Unsettling Story
8 Weeks | Tuesdays | Begins September 22, 2026
5pm-7pm PT | 6pm-8pm MT | 7pm-9pm CT | 8pm-10pm ET | 9pm-11pm AT
Instructor: Alexandria Brown
AWCS Members: $340.00
Non-Members: $450.00
This course explores the craft of horror, focusing on atmosphere, tension, and emotional impact. We’ll look at how fear is built on the page through setting, character, point of view, and what is shown or withheld from the reader. The emphasis is on creating sustained unease and meaning, rather than relying only on shock or gore. Through discussion, examples, and short writing exercises, writers will develop stronger tools for shaping effective horror and dark fiction.
This class takes place online using Zoom.
Alexandria (Alex) Brown is the CEO and Publisher of Rising Action Publishing and has over fifteen years of experience in marketing and creative writing. She holds a Bachelor of Communications in Public Relations, an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Gloucestershire, and is currently a Creative Writing PhD candidate at the University of Gloucestershire, where her research focuses on complex PTSD, trauma, and how we craft stories that help people feel less alone. She is the author of two traditionally published nonfiction essay collection books and has worked closely with authors on memoir and personal narrative projects, including titles that have become USA Today bestsellers. Her teaching and editorial approach is practical, craft-focused, and grounded in the belief that strong storytelling and emotional honesty can coexist on the page.
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