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How to Write Tales of Horror, Fantasy and Science Fiction | 
 enlarge | Creator: J. N. Williamson
Publisher: Writers Digest Books
Category: Book
List Price: $14.99
Buy Used: $0.32
You Save: $14.67 (98%)
New (9) Used (32) Collectible (1) from $0.32
Rating:  6 reviews
Sales Rank: 176534
Media: Paperback
Edition: Reprint
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.7
ISBN: 0898794838
Dewey Decimal Number: 808.3876
EAN: 9780898794830
ASIN: 0898794838
Publication Date: July 1991
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews: Read 1 more reviews...
 MEDIOCRE ANTHOLOGY December 27, 2008
James B. Johnson (HUDSON, FL United States)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This book suffers from the same problem most how-to-write books have: It doesnt teach you much in the way of how to improve your writing or much about the philosophy of fear. It doesnt provide a target or the means to hit a bulls-eye.
I've said this before: Editors buy what they personally like OR they buy from writers with a proven track record (regardless of how they feel about it). People know what they like AND you cant argue with success.
And the editor felt compelled to include a whining feminist who lectures writers about sexist stereotypes, etc. I have no idea why NOW doesnt screen every story and book and attach their union label to the writing they approve. My guess is they just like to whine.
The bottomline is: This effort is pretty much like every other impotent and flaccid how to write manual.
 Kind of general... August 15, 2004
Michael Valdivielso (Alexandria, VA)
11 out of 15 found this review helpful
The book is the edited work of 26 writers, teachers and editors. The chapters are small, the details slim, the subjects bounce all over the place, and many of the rules and advice could be used by mystery or military writers. It was just too weak, telling me nothing that I couldn't guess at. If you want a solid piece of work about sci-fi/fantasy get the how-to-write books by Orson Scott Card. If you want just fantasy there are world building books by Gary Gygax. And if you want to learn about horror go to Stephen King. Go with the books that have the vision of one author, from the first page to the last.
 The parts that are good are excellent February 11, 2002
Blake Petit (Ama, Louisiana United States)
8 out of 8 found this review helpful
This wonderful book is easily the most helpful thing I've ever read for the horror author. In essence, it is a collection of essays from various writers about writing speculative fiction and dark fantasy, with chapters by the likes of Ray Bradbury, Robert Bloch and Charles Grant. Much of the lessons do apply to Sci-Fi/Fantasy as well, although if that's your concentration I would recommend Orson Scott Card's "How to Write Science Fiction" before this.The book is a brisk read right up until the chapter on the psychology of horror fiction which, frankly, reads like it was written by a psychologist. It was boring, tedious and felt very out of place among so many good essays. The only other problem is the chapter at the end that supposedly helps you get published. While I'm sure it was quite helpful at the time it was written (in the mid-1980s), many of the publications it lists are now defunct and many of the practices have changed. It's not a bad section, it is simply past its time. Regardless, for those who want to learn how to write horror from those who have done it, this book is well worth reading.
More for the fantasy/horror writer than the SF writer January 24, 2000
J. Hunter Johnson (Centerville, OH USA)
6 out of 11 found this review helpful
Science fiction gets the short shrift in this treatment, and the essays that do address science fiction in particular are too superficial. The tone of the other essays I read before returning the book is more self-congratulatory than helpful.
 The best how-to book ever written February 6, 1999
8 out of 14 found this review helpful
This is the best how-to book ever written. I got this book for Christmas back in 1989. I've read the chapter on how to write sword and sorcery fantasy many times. I highly recommend it to all aspiring authors. I want to tell those who are just starting out not to give up. However, if you're still unpublished ten years after you should have been, then consider it.
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