A writer creates a piece of horror fiction. To stand a chance of getting it out there, there must be some sort of potential readership. And for it to end up in readers’ hands, it must be published.
These three very different but essential components bring us to the question: Is horror fiction art, entertainment, or business?
Remember back in school when the teacher would give you one of three grades on a test: 100%, 80%, or failing?
Yeah, me neither. But that’s exactly what we authors and readers are up against with the 5-star rating system common to Amazon, Goodreads, and elsewhere.
On episode #36 of Josh’s Worst Nightmare Oddcast, host Josh Schlossberg gets decadent with Nicholas Kaufmann, author of THE HUNGRY EARTH, as they marvel at the impermanence of organic matter.
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by Jennifer Anne Gordon
(Livre Maison, 2021)
CONTAGIOUS VIRUS
ROTS HER FROM THE INSIDE OUT;
SHE IS NOT ALONE
Not long ago, I messaged a horror fiction “gatekeeper” to thank them for their work and to ask if they’d be open to reading more indie horror authors. They responded by listing a few well-known names they were promoting, including one whose “Big 4” published novel had years ago been made into a popular Hollywood movie. And then basically told me that all good writers eventually become famous, which is when this person will read and share their work.
As an author, editor, small press publisher, and reader, everything I write about horror fiction is a conflict of interest. That being said, I also have the privilege of seeing the landscape from a variety of perspectives. On top of that, I’ve interviewed scores of writers, followed their careers, and listened to podcast after podcast with some of the biggest names in the genre. The one thing most of them have in common? They were thinking about giving up until that one big break.
After years of processing this information, I believe I’ve come up with the essential elements for getting one’s horror book published and selling. I call them the three “CONS,” as in: CONTENT, CONTACTS, AND CONTEXT.
Continue readingThe second-most common question a horror author gets after, “Where do you get your ideas?” is, “Can you make any money doing this?”
The short answer is, “No.” The slightly longer answer is, “Not really.” But the honest answer is, “It depends.”
I hope you’ll consider voting for some of my titles in Godless Horror’s 666 Awards. Totally fine if you don’t, of course. Just remember that I know where you live (and what time you go to bed).
“Best Novella”: MALINAE (by me)
“Best Anthology/Collection”: THE JEWISH BOOK OF HORROR (edited by me)
“Best Short” category: (any of the stories from THE JEWISH BOOK OF HORROR)
*The 666 Awards makes you vote in every category to submit your vote, and we encourage you do so. But if you’re not familiar with any options in the other categories, feel free to put N/A.
THE JEWISH BOOK OF HORROR, the anthology I edited for Denver Horror Collective, made it on to Horror Writers Association 2022 Bram Stoker Award preliminary ballot for the anthology category.
Have you picked up your copy yet?
On episode #6 of Josh’s Worst Nightmare, host Josh Schlossberg gets lost in the woods with Matthew Lyons, author of THE NIGHT WILL FIND US, to explore what scares us the most about the deep dark forest.
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Josh's Worst Nightmare 