Introduction to Horror Writing for Young Adults

According to writer Raquel Castro, the horror genre is a favorite among adrenaline junkies, i.e., teenagers. In this online course, she teaches you how to harness your own fears and use them to write supernatural horror stories that thrill and captivate young readers.

Discover why we love horror stories so much, their structure, their components, and the strategies that work best in them. By the end of the course, you’ll be able to write terrifying stories step by step to leave your reader quaking in their boots.

Raquel Castro starts off the course by telling you more about her relationship with horror literature, from the time she was a teenager to how she has incorporated it into her writing as an adult. She also talks about her main influences and why she believes this genre helps us understand the world better.

Next, see how teen readers can relate to the horror genre before defining the characteristics of your final piece, the main theme, and “skeleton” of the story.

Explore the different narrative components and analyze what factors make an impact on readers. Then learn how to build good characters, invent a believable world, and understand the importance of structure.

Now it’s time to write! First, choose the narrator’s point of view and the verb tense. Raquel then teaches you strategies for developing action, description, and dialogue. Finally, your teacher gives you some tips on how to proofread your text and get it published.