Writing Suspense and Horror

Master tension, dread, and fear — write a suspense or horror novel from concept to publication

What you’ll learn
Understand what defines suspense and horror and what makes each genre work
Build tension through pacing, dramatic irony, misdirection, and withholding information
Create protagonists readers fear for and antagonists they’ll never forget
Master the three-act structure adapted for suspense and horror fiction
Write effective conflict, mystery, suspense, and horror scenes
Develop your voice, viewpoint, and dialogue for maximum impact
Edit and polish your manuscript to professional standards
Navigate traditional publishing, self-publishing, and book marketing

Requirements
No prior writing experience required — beginners welcome
Interest in suspense, horror, or thriller fiction
A computer or device for writing

Description
What keeps you up at night? Whatever it is — that’s where your story starts.

Suspense and horror are two of the most powerful genres in fiction. They tap into something primal — the fear of the unknown, the dread of what’s coming, the moment when everything you thought was safe turns dangerous. Writing in these genres demands precision, control, and an understanding of how fear works on the page.

In this comprehensive course, USA Today bestselling author Steve Alcorn guides you through every aspect of writing suspense and horror fiction. You’ll explore the history of both genres — from Poe and Lovecraft to Stephen King and Jordan Peele — and learn the specific techniques that make readers’ hearts race.

The course covers the full craft of fiction: story structure, character development, pacing, viewpoint, dialogue, and setting. But it goes further, with dedicated lessons on writing conflict, mystery, suspense, and horror — the four engines that drive these genres. You’ll learn how to plant clues and red herrings, how to build dread through atmosphere, and how to deliver scares that linger.

The final section covers everything you need to bring your work to market: manuscript evaluation, query letters, traditional publishing, self-publishing, cover design, and marketing strategies.

41 lessons. From your first unsettling idea to a finished, publishable manuscript. Whether you write psychological thrillers, supernatural horror, or anything in between, this course gives you the tools to terrify your readers.

Who this course is for
Writers who want to write suspense, horror, or thriller fiction
Novelists looking to add tension and dread to any genre
Fans of horror and suspense who want to understand how these stories are crafted
Writers preparing to submit to agents, publishers, or self-publish in the horror/thriller space