Tyler Paterson is a three-time Pushcart Prize nominee, holds an MFA in Fiction Writing from the University of New Hampshire, and is a graduate of Second City Chicago. His work has appeared in over 80 publications worldwide including The Saturday Evening Post, The Forge Literary Magazine, The Delhousie Review, Brilliant Flash Fiction, and Fresh Ink. A semi-finalist in the Aura Estra short story contest, his work has also received notable accolades from Lycan Valley, North 2 South Press, and Lumberloft. He spends most nights yelling for his cat to ‘Get down from there!’ Tyler has led writing classes for people of all ages from University students, to local communities, to remote learners. His goal is to build the confidence in writers, give them the tools to build the stories they yearn to tell, and support them along their journey. A number of past students have gone on to get their work published.
3 places remaining
Step Into the World of Modern Horror Writing: Unleash Your Dark Imagination
Are you ready to explore the art of fear and tension through storytelling? Our online Modern Horror Writing Class offers the perfect opportunity for aspiring and developing writers to discover their unique voice, master the craft of suspense, and create stories that haunt, thrill, and captivate.
Personalized Guidance from Devoted Tutors
Our accomplished instructors stand ready to offer tailored feedback on a weekly basis. By submitting your work for review, you’ll gain invaluable insights and guidance to enhance your writing.
Global Accessibility & Everlasting Access to Class Materials
Our classes are accessible to aspiring writers worldwide. Moreover, you’ll enjoy lifetime access to all class materials once the class concludes, affording you the opportunity to revisit lessons whenever a refresher is needed.
High Demand & Early Enrollment
Due to the significant demand for our Intermediate Creative Writing Class, we strongly advise early registration to secure your spot. Don’t miss this chance to refine your writing skills and unlock your storytelling potential.
An Overview of the Class
This six-week online class provides a dynamic and adaptable learning experience tailored to accommodate even the busiest of schedules. With no fixed class times, you can progress through weekly text-based modules at your own pace, dedicating 2-3 hours each week to cultivate your writing prowess.
Each week, you will delve into new subjects, exploring more intricate forms of creative writing. Through engaging exercises, you will enhance your fiction writing and broaden your storytelling toolkit.
What to Anticipate Week by Week:
Week 1: The Opening
Perhaps one of the most important moments in any work of horror is the opening scene. How do we hook an audience into our world of terror and hint at everything to come? This week’s lesson will give you the tools to kick off your story in a perfectly terrifying way. Modern horror revolves around human suffering – both physical AND mental – and less about blood and gore. Use this idea to build your opening/world/characters.
Week 2: Clever ways to put your reader on edge
How do you tread the line between a reader wanting to put down your story, while also keep reading your story? A lot of it has to do with the way you use your setting and characters. This week will look at ways to build tension, use minimalist techniques, and bring out an atmosphere that drips with atmos-FEAR. As Ursula K. LeGuin famously said “Don’t resolve one conflict without first introducing another.”
Week 3: When something not scary becomes scary (and how to do it)
Clever writers know that taking something normal (a coffee cup, a dog, a toy) and endowing it with new properties is a great way to unsettle our readers. Why is the coffee cup levitating? Why is the dog walking backwards in slow motion? Why is the toy suddenly speaking a different language? Taking the every day and twisting it
Week 4: The art and philosophy of the Slasher (and “final girl”)
Archetypes like the scholar, the jock, and the jester exist in most classic slasher films, so how do we take those standards and spin newer, more nuanced tales? Most slashers seek to punish the young for being young, but we’re in a new place that requires a deeper dive. Add a slasher that represents a cultural mindset and we have the recipe for a really compelling horror story. Then, if we ask, “How is the final girl MORE like the slasher than any other character?” we discover deeper truths for our readers to eat up.
Week 5: Creature Feature
Why do we love creatures from folklore, from Lovecraft, from nature? More times than not, these creatures are the embodiment of a larger idea or fear. Most of the time, that fear is a cultural fear. Taking the pulse of our modern world, we will develop new and terrifying monsters/creatures that wreak havoc on our characters
Week 6: The Power of the Ghost Story
Who doesn’t love a good ghost story? They tap into a fundamental questions we often don’t speak aloud…What happens when we die? The ghost story at its core is a cautionary tale. The ghost in the woods, the vengeful spirit of the scorned lover, the apparitions with grave warnings – beneath it all is usually a story that’s even darker and more terrifying than the haunting itself. This week will help you build a proper ghost story by understanding how the backstory IS the story.
Come Join Us
Embark on a horror writing journey that will ignite your imagination and awaken your darker creativity. Register now for our Modern Horror Writing Course and start turning your haunting ideas into stories that chill, captivate, and linger long after the last page.