3505 - Terrifying Short Stories
Course Description
Students will creep into the origins of horror writing and learn how to exploit human fear to terrify readers. We will explore the dreadful abyss of ghosts, monsters, witches, vampires, werewolves, and psychological horror with curated weekly readings that will give you nightmares. At the end of six weeks, students will complete a draft of an original terrifying short story using techniques to torment readers through a sleepless night. This course is not for the faint of heart.
Course Outline
Lesson 1. The Origins of Horror and the Science of Fear
- Describe different types of horror stories, including vampires, ghosts, werewolves, monsters, psychological thrillers, and sci-fi horror.
- Explain the science of fear and how writers use it to create suspense.
- Define the elements and structure of a short story within the horror genre.
Lesson 2. Gothic Horror and Folklore
- Explore elements of Gothic horror, ancient folktales, mythology, Grimm’s Fairy Tales, and folklore.
- Create a basic outline to organize key parts of a short horror story.
- Use beat sheets and story summaries to shape the flow of a short story.
Lesson 3. Ghost Stories and Supernatural Horror
- Examine supernatural elements in horror, such as ghosts, demons, and other paranormal beings.
- Use the unexpected in horror writing to scare the reader.
- Compare the relationship between horror and comedy and how they overlap.
Lesson 4. Psychological Horror
- Identify themes of madness, fear, and the subconscious.
- Examine the mental and emotional states of characters in horror.
- Analyze key works by Shirley Jackson and her influence on the genre.
Lesson 5. Body, Survival, and Serial Killer Horror
- Explore the slasher genre and its use of graphic violence, blood, and gore.
- Discuss survival horror and how characters attempt to escape deadly threats or killers.
- Discuss ethical boundaries in writing gore—what serves the story vs. what’s gratuitous
Lesson 6. Cosmic Horror
- Examine themes of aliens and malevolent cosmic forces.
- Use the unknown universe to create fear.
- Analyze the works of H.P. Lovecraft and his impact on cosmic horror.
Learner Outcomes
After completing this class, participants will be able to:
- Analyze and apply core horror writing techniques
- Develop an original horror short story
- Recognize elements of horror literature's historical and thematic foundations