If Hell is What You Want is my debut collection of horror stories. Many of them were originally posted to NoSleep and they’ve been rewritten. Good portion are originals or stories from other anthologies.

This butler advises dear sir/ma'am to check the /r/NosleepIndex/wiki/index for the compilation of the most popular nosleep series/multi-part posts and /r/NosleepIndex/wiki/archive for the archive of the best nosleep single stories. Do note however that these are not in chronological order.

The closest thing to chronological one can get is the wayback machine archive for /r/nosleep, and even that is inadequate for dear sir/ma'am's purposes as it is quite incomplete. Here is the link.

Yeah, I find a lot of King's advice to be not-so-great advice.
It's good advice if you want to write like Stephen King, but poor advice if you want to develop your own voice.
I like to contrast Stephen King and Neil Gaiman - both phenomenal writers, but Gaiman breaks pretty much every convention that King suggests in his On Writing book.

That's really weird. Normally, people ask for your permission so they can narrate the story for you.

As far as good narrators, if you go on YouTube and type in "Creepypasta", you'll find some of the top narrators reading scary stories. You'll find a lot of people like to add music in the background, do a bit of voice acting with the characters in the story, or some people just like to read it straight through without any fussing around. It's up to you and how you wanna do it.

You'll need a decent microphone, a spot where you can get minimal background noise and where the sound waves won't reverberate back into the microphone, and a program with which to record with. The cheap and easy option is Audacity since it's free and relatively easy to use. Plus, there are tons of YouTube video tutorials showing you how to use the programs hands on. It does have its limitations but for just messing around and making some narrations, it does the job.

The first of my novellas based on my award winning series is out now & i’ll be doing 5 more from the “year 1” collection, the 2nd is out in about 5 weeks :) available in paperback & kindle on all Amazon sites, just linked UK as that’s my home Amazon!

The Last Sin Eater

So my new publishing venture is an anthology! It's my very first. It's called KNOTS is available in paperback or ebook format through Amazon and other book sellers. This is incredibly exciting for me. I put so much hard work into this collection.

All the stories in this book have been published previously online. However, they have all been updated or revised. The collections also includes amazing illustrations from Lefthanded Lenya.

If you do purchase the book, be a dear and leave a review!

Writers on Writing: An Author's Guide is a free book on Amazon with some pretty decent advice from Jack Ketchum and several authors from the modern horror genre. Best of all, it's perma-free. There is some decent advice in there and in the subsequent entries into the series of author guides by the same name.

Essential authors in the horror genre? Depends on what your tastes lean toward. Obviously, Stephen King and H.P. Lovecraft. I don't think much explanation is needed for them. Clive Barker excels at dark paranormal and sexual themes. Jack Ketchum writes extreme horror with blood, guts, and cannibalism well. Paul Tremblay is one of the rising stars in the genre. His books focus on teetering at the edge of the paranormal and non-paranormal leaving the reader to their own conclusions. Brian Keene is a pulp writer and does monsters well. Joe R. Lansdale is a genre unto himself. He writes a lot of paranormal dark fiction.

Also, I suggest watching something like "Twilight Zone" which contains elements of science fiction, horror, and fantasy which don't rely on blood and guts, present themselves with themes still relevant today, and episodes are written by some of the masters of the craft.

I do have a couple of questions for you. What level of schooling is this for? High school? College? Also, is this horror writing club approved? Maybe you have the coolest teachers ever but horror typically contains themes and subject matters which often leave people uncomfortable and/or border on the edge of appropriateness. This typically isn't stuff schools like to indulge their students in.

Search for the NoSleep story "The Promises We Make in December" -- you will see, if you've not read it already, a stellar piece of writing that is one of the best on this sub. Is it scary in the conventional sense? Nope. Does it have a lot to teach you about constructing a story that sinks its hooks into you and won't let go? Yup.

Also, if you've not read it yet, borrow Stephen King's "On Writing" from the library or get a used copy. It is one of the best things I've ever read about the craft of writing. Period. And read his short stories, the old ones in "Night Shift" and such. Because many of them are not scary, per se, but they sure are full of creep and full of lessons on how to construct a story that keeps the reader reading.

Not sure if this is quite what you're looking for, but it's what popped into my head. Best wishes!

Starting now is good!

Pick up Stephen King's On Writing and read it like it's your job. But don't let that be the beginning.

Start writing now! Post stories. You'll learn best by reading and writing, so get the writing going!

Don't let any negativity prevent you from improving. Every new story is a lesson.

On Writing is an amazing read just for the stories King tells about his experience writing. The style tips are like a bonus.

With further regard to description overkill, take a short trip over to /r/shittynosleep. Not only is it an entertaining place, but it has some harsh truths hidden in it.

You know what theme crosses a vast swath of the stories over there? Hyper-realistic Blood. Read through enough of NoSleep and you can see where that parody comes from.

Pinhead from Hellraiser. Kinky dude, latex and leather, and he drops some of the best lines in horror, what's not to like?

T-1000 from Terminator. Robert Patrick nailed the cold and calculating killing machine made of liquid metal. He can alter his appearance, make piercing weapons from his own body, and he's basically indestructible.

Apparently, I only watched 90's movies. Here's one that is rarely ever mentioned probably since it isn't good but it holds a special place in my heart...

The Trickster from [Brainscan](http://villains.wikia.com/wiki/Trickster_(Brainscan). This is basically a NoSleep story turned into a movie.

Lord Voldemort from Harry Potter. He was cartoonishly evil. Dolores Umbridge was seriously way more terrifying to me.

And how can any favorite villains list be complete without mentioning Annie Wilkes from Stephen King's Misery.

Cross posting is merely posting again, but in another subreddit. Since you have already posted here you could do it as another text post or link right back to this thread by submitting it as a link.

If you want more exposure also consider http://storybundle.com/contact they sell drm free books in bundles, for around a year now.

This is such a cool idea! If you're having trouble finding commissions, or if you're looking for that professional editor, I highly recommend checking out reedsy.com. It's a freelance service that focuses specifically on author resources and you can find some great illustrators/editors there for reasonable prices. I found my illustrator and cover designer there and they've been phenomenal to work with.

The contents of the story seem to have been removed by the author, and only a period (.) was left in place. Here is the link nonetheless, dear sir/ma'am:

> Title: I hope my sister dies soon.

> Author: [deleted]

edit: This butler found a copy of the story on Wattpad:

> Title: I hope my sister dies soon

> Author: jennyage17

^(Note: For future story queries, please post to /r/nosleepfinder. Have a nice day!)

I'm not a social media guru by any means, but I've found that incorporating visuals into my posts tends to lead to the most engagement. So for stuff like plugging a new story, or hyping an upcoming book release, or sharing news and events, I create some sort of graphic (usually using canva.com) to accompany my text post. People appreciate the visuals and it's fun to think about your media presence in a way that goes beyond just words.

Instagram is where I get the most interactions, and you're welcome to check out my account if you'd like for some examples: @ davidfarrow5734

Lifehacker recently posted a list of other sites to stream TV.

ShoutFactoryTV includes some Twilight Zone, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, and a bunch of classic horror movies, as well as MST3K!

Sure! Here's the original story. I actually changed it into a longer story that is more similar to this and called "The Chrysalis" that appears in this anthology too

Tony published Spire in paperback.

Spire on Amazon

Psst.

When you're sharing a book link, make sure to cut it off after the ASIN or dp number like this: https://www.amazon.com/Last-Tower-Elias-Witherow/dp/1949759040

Everything after that is tracking info. If Amazon ever links you with purchases, they'll often delete any reviews from them because they think they're biased.

Also congrats!

u/PoloniumPoisoning gave a lovely shoutout to "13 Days of Christmas" (we also both wrote about the same universe and I promise that we're different people).

I just wanted to mention that it's now a 26-author book on Amazon!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1093647760?pf_rd_p=76bd99fd-409f-46a4-9ff6-b66b5703e95b&pf_rd_r=69YGY47501XJEXFJYBKR

This is Shawn Coyne's Story Grid system, which he actually uses to edit stories. I highly recommend the book, which taught me a lot about writing and editing in general (and I'm pretty well learned in this area, having a degree in screenwriting). There's also a story grid podcast that's pretty interesting.

Link to the book: https://smile.amazon.com/Story-Grid-What-Good-Editors/dp/1936891352/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1536954605&sr=8-1&keywords=story+grid

Then read Bird by Bird!

Once complete, take a deep breath. Let it out.

Do your thing and never stop.

I remember being creative and drawing a ton as a teen. Some of my stuff sucked and some was solid.

There was an amount of frustration. I wanted to create epic things and I simply wasn't capable of it at the time.

Experience and adventures in life will help you expand as a person and as a creator. Some of it will take time. It's all a journey.

There's not much mystery to it, really.

First, I'll recommend Stephen King's On Writing. That book changed my life.

As for myself, when the idea pops into my head, I'll pursue it and write down whatever cool shit pops into my head. Interesting deaths, plot twists, bits of dialogue, good opening and closing lines- all of it goes into my notebook.

Then, when I've got the themes and general outline of the story in my brain, I sit down, put myself into the character's shoes, and write down whatever detail they happen to notice in terms that they themselves would use.

You'd be amazed at how often they'll spot things you would miss.

I'm in the same boat, but with one novel and a few short stories.

Do you think that artistic maturity is something we can help build up in ourselves? Or is it something that comes gradually and without our trying, almost like growing up? I've been reading, "On Writing" by Stephen King, "Bird by bird" by Anne Lamott, and then short stories and novels by as many skilled writers as I can find the time for. Also trying to write short stories here and hope that I gradually improve. I think it's helping, but it's difficult to say.

Writing skill sometimes seems like a set of really tall stairs as opposed to a ramp you gradually walk up.

Finally decided to set some new ones up (my previous accounts intended for writing somehow turned into personal ones), so I'll be adding everybody!

Tumblr
Twitter

Try it! You can find a bunch on itch.io. Most really encourage even complete beginners who have never even tried making games before. The point is just to release something, no matter if it's good or even done.

I have several years of experience with programming but always get hung up on games for whatever reason.

Not a dumb question. Very good one actually.

I'm not expert in this so you'll probably want to do your own research or consult with someone who knows more about this.

If I'm reading correctly Version 4.0 has an international component to it that might interest you to read.

As /u/the_itch said, there is really stopping anyone from violating Creative Commons licensing anyway. However, it may help with the process of filing a DMCA Takedown Notice since as the original author you are enforcing your own license agreement.

The first one is a campfire story, often called The Jigsaw Puzzle.

edit: This version doesn't end the same way as the version in the oh-so-spooky Tales From the Midnight Hour. That version ended with the puzzle showing the girl and a face at the widow behind her. My 10 yr old mind went far worse places than the end of the story I linked to.

This is a good book on making a living as a horror writer and some of the nitty/gritty industry stuff.

https://www.amazon.com/End-Road-Brian-Keene-ebook/dp/B087NF6YZD/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=the+end+of+the+road+Brian+keene&qid=1610425443&sr=8-3

Basically, the author isn't super rich but he gets by well enough in a low cost of living state. The industry has changed out from under him and he came up with other ways to get by and is still doing that.

Does this ring any bells? It may not be the exact book, because there are several with a similar title and I couldn't find an index to be sure. It may point you right though.

Great American Ghost Stories (America Ghost Series) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1558531467/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_P4w4Fb2V25MNN

I wish I could write series. I feel like they're the "heart" of NoSleep. But I'm total absolute garbage at writing series. My few series that are okay are really just 3000ish word standalones broken into a few parts.

Reading, though? My favorite thing to do is read long series from NoSleep... in book form so I can read them offline and don't have to worry about hunting down various parts. I bought both u/GasStationJack's book (click here) and u/fainting--goat's book (click here) without reading much or any of the nosleep posts beforehand, and both were immensely enjoyed by me!

Paperback is available! It should show up on amazon in the next few days, but if you need it now it's for sale here as well.

Well, it's the first one in a book of novellas and short stories, but if you're curious, you can read the first two chapters of it (plus one of the little wraparound blurbs in between the longer stories) in the Amazon 'look inside' preview - https://www.amazon.com/Tripping-Over-Twilight-T-W-Grim-ebook/dp/B00OBQSS8U

Edit: forgot that someone narrated it on YouTube, you don’t gotta read shit - https://www.youtube.com/shared?ci=Y1eRMV-5O7s

Nooo. :O No one's trumping everyone! Everyone is happy for everyone's successes! They're all equally awesome and valuable.

Yes, it's on Amazon! :D

I’m glad to hear. Like I said, I removed the majority of my stuff from Reddit for publication. I have all of my stuff (plus 3 never before released) pieces available in a collection on Amazon.

What do you mean by accuracy? If you have a narrator with a faulty memory so they’re not telling the “objective” story with pin point journalistic accuracy but you capture a real person going through some crazy stuff that’s definitely great for nosleep.

If you’re telling a story in 3rd person omniscient narrator, unless the it’s deliberately confusing, it should be more clear. Also the genre matters too. If you’re going historical fiction accuracy of the setting matters. Even in nosleep it does bother me if the monster/ghost/etc has no consistency to itself and does the Lost show thing where the author seems to be throwing in cool /spooky /intriguing stuff without tying it together.

I know the list of rules stories have gotten popular but I’ve only read a few of them that tie it together and make you understand where they come from. There has been some nice fluff reading that I’ve enjoyed and it definitely works for the short story format. It sets up the premise and plot really fast and I definitely enjoyed a few.

There was that one story where a war vet buys a house in the country side with a neighbor that warns him about different lights and ghosts and the naked bear man. That was super well written technique wise and you felt a connection with the narrator. The narrator didn’t know where the rules came from so we didn’t either. So you don’t need to explain every detail, especially in horror.

But there was one story by u/ByfelsDisciple that managed to make the rules make sense that brought the story the next level good.

https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B08685GZ3B/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_93wgFb2EK91CX

Here's mine, which I put an excessive amount of work into despite the meager monetary rewards. Thank you for making it a little less inefficient :) Something Other: A Collection of Horror Stories.

Also check out Travis Liebert's Things Undone!

(AUTHORS: If this whole paperback business sounds cool but you don't want to deal with all the manuscript-formatting, cover-generating, amazon-posting, ad-tweaking stuff, MESSAGE ME! The indie press I co-own is looking for Nosleep authors!)

Geoff, you're amazing. "The Black Suit" was so immersive, I felt like I was there with the characters, living it out (which is ironic given the twist at the end, LOL). Such an inventive twist on the haunted objects/artifacts theme! The characters truly came to life. You do such great work. I really hope more people discover you and your work! If anyone is interested, Geoff has an amazing collection of his tales available on Amazon, which you can find here.

oh wow you beat me to it--I love Bird by Bird. I took a creative writing class at a summer camp that introduced me to it and I immediately went out and bought my own copy. it may be time to reread it~

I honestly just use the default for most programs unless I have to write something serious, then I couple that with The Elements of Style.

Have you considered outlining? I'm reading Bird by Bird right now and they included a really cool short story outline that I may use in the future. Here's an article about it that you may find helpful: https://daretobebetternow.wordpress.com/2015/08/27/abdce-formula-to-write-a-great-short-story/

I read On Writing some time ago, and it's awesome that you're reading Bird by Bird. I'm just now reading that.

I personally believe that any artist can grow and mature with time with the proper input. I've started reading more classic literature, and am working on my input; watching more documentaries, classics of cinema, continuing to travel and experiencing as many events as I can.

I recently became a certified SCUBA diver, and I just hiked up a volcano and spent the night on top. The hike was rough. It reminded me of the Appalachian Trail through Georgia. The top was inspiring, and even though it was cold, I tried to spend as much time outside of our shelter before the sun fully set. I watched the lights closely appear in the villages at the base, and I soaked it all in, sponging the inspiration.

I just finished up three projects and they're at editors now. Which is exciting. In between big endeavors like that, I'm trying to reset myself by working on the input. Hopefully it's working. It feels like it is. I feel like I'm a little more mature, creatively than I was a year ago.

I think those books I mentioned will be able to come out of me in the next 5-10 years. Until then, I'll work on lesser projects. I may surprise myself and find the lesser things to make a bigger splash than I think.

I think I might be parroting Stephen King here but I remember his On Writing book talking about going out into the world and enjoying yourself because the more experience you have the more knowledgeable you'll be for the creative process and characters.

If I'm writing a story with a particular setting in mind, I like to go there and get a feel for it so I can write it out better.

> ry

Well, Malcom Gladwell definitely didn't invent the rule. But I would argue that it is a rather solid benchmark for a normal person to become what we often consider to be an above normal person.

You are definitely right, that once we actual use neuroscience and start to get smart about the concept of mastery that we can gain much more in a shorter period of time, but that wasn't the point I was trying to make.

I would encourage you to read Stephen King's On Writing to see an excellent example of a writer who was considered sub par becoming what many would consider to be a literary great. He wasn't born a great writer, but he loved writing and he made that a daily ritual of his life.

He submitted his work dozens and hundreds of times before getting published. Many writers do. Most writers do.

In fact, it currently takes roughly ten years for a writer these days to make enough self-publishing to quit their job. I can cite the examples, but it seems rather consistent. Sure, there are the outliers who hit it off, but a lot of it is simply work.

So, posting to Nosleep can help a writer become better. The upvotes tell us when we do a good job with something or at least when the story is well received. That's instant feedback on effort. Not easy to come by in any other publication endeavor.

Sticking to it all is a good way to improve as a writer. Most people who put themselves through that much effort don't get shittier at the projects they are throwing themselves into. They usually improve.

PS - don't worry, there's always a downvoter here or there ;)

I don't take it too personally. Maybe that's their thing, eh? Let them have their thing.

I might have said I'd read it and that it's a help book. I wouldn't give it a thumbs up though to someone seeking to improve specifically on horror writing, just because there's only maybe one chapter that really is devoted to strictly horror writing (the chapter by Jack Ketchum on "not looking away" is the only one I really felt anything learned from).

Now, King has an "On Writing" book that is supposed to be superb, and I highly recommend it. Maybe there was some confusion or crossed lines there, since both books have very similar titles.

But hey, it's great if it helped you get writing. Like I said, it's fine as a generic "how to write" book, since it covers the basics of writing. I just find it underwhelming as a book on writing horror.

I definitely don't write these concerning the craft. If you'd like to improve your abilities as a writer, I would encourage everyone to read Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott or On Writing by Stephen King.

If you want to be literary and a legend among them, you may also want to be discovered in your lifetime. That's the purpose behind these posts.

Many of the literary greats that we now revere never lived to see their fame. We live in an age where a little work can change that for all of us. I'm pretty obsessed with stuff like this, so I'm simply sharing my experiences instead of hoarding the information and giggling to myself every time I discover something else amazing.

Paraphrasing from On Writing and Danse Macbre:

1 Read - Carrie something to read with you and read everywhere.

2 Write - Write every day. Just do IT.

Bonus points if you find all the Stephen King references.

Are you asking how to teach writing natural-flowing dialog, or are you asking how to write dialog like when to use "said", when to add adverbs, etc? The two are really different things. To teach kids how to write a natural flowing dialog, I'd suggest maybe group them into threes or fours, have them decide on a topic and then talk about it, and afterward each of them write a piece of dialog using their discussion. They can incorporate actions and emotions and what not.

As for teaching them how to properly write a piece that includes dialog, there's a number of texts like The Elements of Style that teaches proper form.

Alternately, you could have them individually pick a book or story that they like that has dialog in it and copy a portion of dialog from that source, then have them write a new dialog using the same characters talking about something that interests the kid. You know, like Peeta and Katniss argue over a bad Pokemon trade or something.

I was agreeing with you. I sure live up to this flair.

I was just saying for the OPs sake that if he doesn't has access to it right now that a lot of the actual tips on writing can be found for free pretty much anywhere on the internet. The beauty of On Writing is King's method of telling his own story and weaving it into writing tips.

My coworker made me try Blindscape, which is a somewhat interactive app/story. It's really well made (considering all you see is a black screen). It's like listening to a NoSleep story. Pretty cool.

Thanks u/Born-Beach I really appreciate that! And my sincere gratitude for reading the book and giving a review for the back cover, it means a lot! Crooked Antlers was a barn burner too, if anybody is looking for a short story collection to read!

UK link for us fans:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Escape-Asylum-Jordan-Grupe-ebook/dp/B0BNNGR35D/ref=mp_s_a_1_6?crid=1ROUI1R1V7P07&keywords=escape+from+asylum&qid=1670250610&sprefix=Escape+from+the+asy%2Caps%2C128&sr=8-6

Congratulations!

You could check out one of my books: “The Other Side” and “Damned Whispers” Both collections of stories I originally wrote on NoSleep

I just joined a facebook group dedicated to Nosleep authors who have always been on the podcast and they have lists. I can get you the link if you use facebook.

My book is just a few days old so it is not listed anywhere yet.

https://www.amazon.com/Nope-Game-other-horror-stories/dp/B0B754GHBX

I haven't written any stories for NoSleep in a LONG time, but I can definitely say I'm fascinated by mythology and folklore too. I've done some research lately, to try to find authors with compilations from different parts of the world. There's a lot to dig through, hehe.
My plan is also to go through some classic epic stuff. I've recently read Beowulf (Tolkien translation) and I'm looking for a good version of Gilgamesh (the N. K. Sandar translation seems legit), then also the Finnish epic Kalevala.

Anyways, one author I stumbled across a few years ago is M. R. James. I got this omnibus off of Amazon. It's not folklore, just regular old ghost stories, hehe.

https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Ghost-Stories-M-James/dp/1509827722

The style of Jesse Bullington's books are also great, definitely worth to check out.

I think it's because the link is to the US site. Here's one that should work for Canada: A to Z of Horror: Flash Fiction Collection https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0B3STN79L/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_FGQX9E9VTJH48VRZMJCP

Here's my 14-story collection. Just came out this week!

He hasnt written anything in a while but Magrath by Justin Tuts or u/Ipatusaur is one of my favorites to come out of the community in the past several years https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B083M7718X/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_52H1Y8N7ACYFMRA6FD2X

I turned my first nosleep series into a novel titled Beneath the Asylum which is available on Amazon. If you wanted to check it out I would be thrilled!

It's inspired by my time working as a security guard in a notoriously haunted 150 year old mental hospital in my hometown - at least the beginning is - it turns into supernatural horror with a bit of dark twisted comedy as well!

That’s was my story “The Nuclear Incident on Bumblebee Lane”. I’ve since deleted it from NoSleep but it is available to listen on the NoSleep Podcast, Season 8, Episode 3. Or if you’d like to read it, it is in my collection of stories called If Hell is What You Want or if you want, I can DM you a copy via Google Sheets.

The boy keeps getting more and more in love with the snow and less and less interested in giving a shit about people and life. The 1966 film is online here. It's only like 20 minutes long, probably less, but it's really unsettling somehow.

Also! On a related note, the 13th Humble Indie Bundle is out now! While there are some AMAZING games on this list, there's also Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs!

To get it, merely go here and pay more than the average ($6.82 USD currently) and you'll get everything except for the Shadowrun. I didn't put this in the main post because it's not free, but it's cheap and for a good cause!

Thanks for the mention! The book is available here: https://www.amazon.com/Rules-Road-C-B-Jones-ebook/dp/B099Q3283V and had a recent price drop on the ebook.

When it comes to background images, the best examples I've seen are never still images. The single candle style is certainly overdone, but it's a great example of having something that feel more 'alive' than a single picture.

A slideshow won't have the same effect, so that's not a good alternative. Dynamic backgrounds are a little better, and might be a good start.

Free stock footage might be a great place to start if you know how to edit video. Simple loops of footage with a little editing can look perfect for horror narrations. Take this footage for example. With some darker colors and some shading edits, it could look menacing, or at least unsettling. This footage of the woods can similarly be easily edited to make it the perfect accompanying image for a story.

It may requiring putting some real time into learning how to use complex video editing software, but it's worth it if you want to take your channel seriously. People will appreciate the effort.

And like other people said, you'll need to invest in better audio recording equipment if you want to make something that's pleasant to listen to. Not to dogpile on you or anything, but it's the single most important part of making narration videos. If you can't listen to it, why bother looking at it, right?

Another thing you might want to work on is your delivery of the stories you're narrating. The best narrators don't ever sound like they're reading something; they always sound like they're telling their own story. The art of storytelling is a difficult one, even harder when you're telling someone else's story as a narrator, trying to make their words sound like your own.

It's not easy to learn, but I wish you the best of luck.

I'm glad this post brought you back into the fold in some capacity. I feel as if it'll do the same for me as well since I haven't really been doing much within NoSleep for a while. I've been a bit more busy being the only real active moderator over on /r/ShortScaryStories but I pop in over here every once in a while to see what's going on.

As far as /u/1000Vultures, he's gone on to publish a novel called Bad Man. It's published by Random House, one of the biggest publishers in the game so that's a huge success story.

This is about encouraging writing output and challenging yourself to do something a little different. I think it would be a fun exercise for anyone who wants to try it out with me, but it's not going to be for everyone. As for the 500 word limit, I only found out earlier today that NoSleep now has that limit, which I think is a mistake as it stifles creativity. That's for another discussion, however. If I write anything under the 500 word limit while doing this I'll simply post it to my Wattpad page where I tend to get more reads anyway. Anyone else can do the same and link them from here so people can read them. It's just a bit of fun :)

Also worth noting is their abuse policy: https://www.cloudflare.com/abuse/

Per their policy, although they cannot remove content from a site for you, if the DMCA is reviewed and agreed, they will disable their access to the CloudFlare's services as well as their existing accounts.

It's time consuming for sure, but for extra exposure it could be worth it for you to edit together the video. I use natural readers for the ones I don't narrate, but if you monetize be sure to purchase the commercial version.

mIRC isn't bad. I used it for years before I started to dabble in linux. Then I was using xchat (have to pay for windows) and finally irssi.

Before post edit: Looks like xchat dropped the paywall for windows! Xchat

There's plenty of great ones out there. Velox has released a few recently with some amazing nosleep authors. Also here's a quick shameless plug for my collection No Sleep Tonight free with Kindle unlimited!

I like the parallel between the plot and also letting go of a loved one. Obviously the other two stories are brilliant, but it says a lot that even your least upvoted story is such a gem.

Also, your book is awesome.

u/Scott_Savino published an LGBTQIA+ horror anthology called Black Rainbow and u/deathbyproxy (A NoSleep Mod) edited it. Maybe if you hit them up they might be able to help you get permission from the authors to do some narrations?

​

https://www.amazon.com/Black-Rainbow-Scott-Savino-ebook/dp/B07W7S42HJ/ref=sr_1_18?dchild=1&keywords=black+rainbow&qid=1607964861&sr=8-18

See if you can track down the prologue of the novel, The Secret History by Donna Tartt. Read it. If that doesn't fit the bill, I'm not sure what will. You can read that 2 page prologue on Amazon through the "look inside" button. https://www.amazon.com/Secret-History-Donna-Tartt/dp/1400031702/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=the+secret+history&qid=1576799362&sr=8-2

Also try Lunar Park by Bret Easton Ellis.

Here you go: https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Exit-Your-Body-Strange-ebook/dp/B07D1Q4CC7/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

I believe all of C.K. Walker’s stories are published in his 3 volumes of stories, which are available ok Amazon, this is volume one: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OACJJEC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_QZw3Eb1RRCGSA

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07W7S42HJ/ref=cm_sw_r_apa_i_d7n1EbVGX43Z7

Amazon UK link to Black Rainbow a horror anthology comprised entirely of LGBTQIA authors with the aim of showcasing LGBTQIA characters.

Brain child of your very own u/Scott_Savino and edited by your very own Mod u/deathbyproxy.

Various other autho

Hi, if you've not read my stuff, you can find it on my profile or personal subreddit, which it the same as my username! also, heres a link to the collection i published on amazon, if you have kindle unlimited its free to read if you prefer that! happy reading :)

Strange Occurrences by NJ Jones

Hiya! You can find my stories on my profile or in my personal subreddit!! please check them out :) oh and also, i just published the collection, Strange Occurrences, on amazon if you have kindle unlimited its free to read, if you prefer that (shameless self plug) thanks for asking, read on friends <3

Bookinistika isn't just pirating nosleep stories.My book, only legitimately available on amazon, is now mysteriously available on Bookinistika too. If you've published anything, consider checking to see if Bookinistika has stolen it.

The app has been published for the first story I've published this way:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.asfarley.themannequinsatvelmasbridalboutique

It will go on sale (free) starting from May 15th for one week. It has 4 high-quality hand illustrations with a slightly 'interactive' feel.

No problem. :-) Say, if you're looking to do some research that'll give you some new insight into writing and the horror genre, I'd recommend the books 'On Writing' and 'Danse Macabre'. They're Stephen King's nonfiction works, the first on the craft and the second on the genre itself.

May want to snag a newer edition on Danse, since he's done some revision over the years.

Have to agree there. Especially when he's what I consider to be a writer's writer: someone who enjoys the act of writing more than any other aspect of the craft.

He's definitely not known for his solid story structures, or his ability to tie plots together nicely with epic endings. Many of his books are more about the journey. I'm actually more of a fan of his novellas and short stories. I think it's not surprising that many of his shorter work has been made into films.

Anyways, yeah, I take his ideas about plot with a grain of salt. Ideally, this is just the first book about the craft that folks pick up and afterwards they read Bird by Bird; because it's amazing.

Hey, I know this isn't really a forum for critiques, but I figured I'd add a few things.

It's not a bad story. There's some formatting and grammar stuff, though. A lot of that will just be improved the more you write. Once you find your voice it gets better. I used to really be just awful. I'm totally not a pro, but I am leaps ahead of where I used to be.

You change tenses, which is a thing I do a lot, too. What I do when I'm writing is I'll finish the first draft - which in itself is an accomplishment for any beginning writer. Then I'll go back and decide if I want it all in present or past tense, and what point of view to write from. And I'll make sure it all makes sense.

Some advice a lot of people give is to write the first draft and then set it down for a few days. Hemingway used to let his stuff sit for weeks before he returned to it.

Besides that, you're just starting out. As long as you continue to be critical of your own stuff and attempt to be objective with everything, you'll improve.

Some books to read to help you out are two of Stephen King's books. He wrote one called On Writing and another called Dance Macrabe (sp?). On Writing is an awesome book and it helped me to realize some things. The other book is about the horror genre and is a cool place to start.

Good luck and congrats on finishing your first story! There are many ways to learn how to write. If you spend enough time learning the craft you'll realize there is a ton of advice out there. There are a ton of ways to go about learning. Everyone finds their own way.

It took me about six years of consistent effort to get to where I feel comfortable sharing my stuff. And that was after all those academic college essays we all push ourselves through.

The biggest help for me was reading On Writing by Stephen King, and by also just writing. Keep at it and you'll surprise yourself. The greatest gift a writer can have is the ability to have objective opinions of their own stuff.

Very nicely put! As an aside, I love Stephen King and now I want to revisit On Writing. :)

I like the suggestion of universal descriptors (and you should totally work it into a story somehow). I still need to learn the balance between too much information and too little. I'll find myself writing and a few pages in I go, "Wait, no action has started yet, I shouldn't need this much set-up for a short story". And then it's all back to the drawing board to be rewritten less bland.

Sealed In by Jacqueline Druga was a pretty good one IMO. It's about a hybrid virus known as Ebolapox breaking out in the midwest. Scary thing is that it's an actual experiment from during the cold war.

Also, check out Isolation Ward by Joshua Spanogle. This one isn't about a big scale breakout, but more of the CDC preventing one. Still, it's one of my favorite medical thrillers (and a big inspiration for my writing); so I would definitely suggest it.

Thanks, I appreciate that! Currently, the only place that specific story is available is in my book found here

And one of my personal favorites is probably my story "What I Saw Beneath the Riptide" which can be found on NoSleep

Hi Leo, my girlfriend enjoys writing/reading horror fiction and would be up for the fan swap. She reached #32 on Amazon top 100 free horror yesterday. Her book, The Demon Black, is free today too if you're interested. Also, if you want to pm me about the fan swap please do.

Here's the Amazon link-https://www.amazon.co.uk/Demon-Black-Robert-Jones-ebook/dp/B01ELRCUY6/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

Also, Light Boxes by Shane Jones.

Edit: /r/lifeofnorman - it's not horror, but start at top of all time and go from there. You won't be able to stop. And then write something for /r/secretsofnorman. I totally remembered just now that I created that to put those two stories somewhere. Oops.

I'm a little late to the party, but you can pick up a really good bruise kit at a costume shop. I have this, and it's insanely easy to make really realistic bruises with it even if you've never tried before.

"Let the Old Dreams Die" http://www.amazon.com/Let-Dreams-John-Ajvide-Lindqvist/dp/0312620535/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1449028825&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=let+the+old+dreams+die

Collection of scary/creepy/weird/lovecraftian short stories.

Just a quick sidenote, have you read Room. I mean, it's right up your alley to be honest. It happens in childhood and, fair warning, it isn't occult horror, it's everyday horror if that makes sense.

But I am with you, stories taking place in childhood would be so much fun. I have many memories of the weird and outright scary when I was young but for it only to be something I didn't understand because I had the brain of a Winnie The Pooh book. Yet if that scary thing was real, how could I get help? I would be a child trying to fight something beyond my power and strength.

Then again, I also like stories where it is something bad happening to the child but the child can't really figure out that it's bad. I like that because the reader is both simulateously going "you idiot kid! Can't you see what is happening to you?!" yet also going; "What the fuck? What if something like that happened to me?".

Good point, /u/GobiusIndustries.

The paperback version is available for sale now on Amazon and the Kindle version should be available soon!

buy the novel

I have been coming out of a long depression. I have also recently entered into a friends with benefits deal with a friend I care about. About to go up and see her in 2 weeks. We're all excited and giggle-y. It's kind of awesome really.

Been reading &quot;Under This Beautiful Dome&quot; lately. Pretty good so far. As for writing, I've been toying with a few fragments of scenes that pop into my head. So far nothing good enough to expand on and make a full story out of it, but it might happen sooner or later. Sometimes I wonder if coming out of my depression and finding a new confidence I didn't know I had in me might actually be sapping my ability to find the fear. Don't think that's the case though. It seems to just change the types of things that chill me. Now I just have to work out how to try and translate that into words.

WHAT?!?!?!

An opportunity for shameless plugs?!

Do you like Mr CreepyPasta?! Cause, heck gee by golly I do!

Here's his sultry voice doing his thing with my words.

I would equate it to a North Korean unicorn (so you know it's real) making love to a regular unicorn and a narwhal. So a three way. But with just one person. His voice, to be specific.