Category: Articles

Writing Prompt Wednesdays: Twenty-One Questions

Writing Prompt Wednesdays: Twenty-One Questions

Welcome to “Writing Prompt Wednesdays,” a haven where your imagination can roam free in the realms of speculative fiction. As we embark on this weekly journey, it’s thrilling to think about the untold stories waiting to be penned in the domains of horror, science fiction, and fantasy. Whether you’re a seasoned author or a budding wordsmith, these prompts are your gateway to unexplored worlds and untapped potentials.

Every Wednesday, we’ll serve up a fresh, thought-provoking prompt designed to ignite your creative spark and challenge your storytelling prowess. Think of these prompts as a key, unlocking the doors to uncharted territories where your creativity is the only limit. From eerie, shadow-laden corridors of Gothic horror to the farthest reaches of interstellar space, and the mystical depths of high fantasy, our prompts are a kaleidoscope of possibilities.

Remember, there’s no right or wrong way to approach these prompts. They are mere stepping stones, guiding you towards the vast landscapes of your imagination. Use them to break free from writer’s block, to experiment with new ideas, or simply as a fun exercise to keep your writing skills sharp.

This week’s writing prompt:

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Indie Bookshelf Releases 02/07/2025

Got a book to launch, an event to promote, a kickstarter or seeking extra work/support as a result of being hit economically by life in general?

Get in touch and we’ll promote you here. The post is prepared each Tuesday for publication on Friday. Contact us via Horror Tree’s contact address or connect via Twitter or Facebook.

Click on the book covers for more information. Remember to scroll down to the bottom of the page – there’s all sorts lurking in the deep.

 

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Epeolatry Book Review: The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean

Disclosure:

Our reviews may contain affiliate links. If you purchase something through the links in this article we may receive a small commission or referral fee. This happens without any additional cost to you.

Title: The Book Eaters
Author: Sunyi Dean
Genre: Horror Fantasy
Publisher: Tor Books
Publication Date: 2nd August, 2022
Synopsis: Out on the Yorkshire Moors lives a secret line of people for whom books are food, and who retain all of a book’s content after eating it. To them, spy novels are a peppery snack; romance novels are sweet and delicious. Eating a map can help them remember destinations, and children, when they misbehave, are forced to eat dry, musty pages from dictionaries.

Devon is part of The Family, an old and reclusive clan of book eaters. Her brothers grow up feasting on stories of valor and adventure, and Devon—like all other book eater women—is raised on a carefully curated diet of fairy tales and cautionary stories.

But real life doesn’t always come with happy endings, as Devon learns when her son is born with a rare and darker kind of hunger—not for books, but for human minds.

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Writing the Future: How to Predict Emerging Trends for More Realistic Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Speculative fiction isn’t just a genre; it’s a playground for possibilities. From envisioning future technologies to exploring societal shifts, it allows authors to shape worlds that feel plausible—and sometimes prophetic. By tracking emerging trends and weaving them into your storytelling, you can create immersive worlds that resonate deeply with readers. Let’s explore how you can predict and leverage these trends for your next sci-fi or fantasy masterpiece.

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Writing Prompt Wednesdays: Planet Alignment

Writing Prompt Wednesdays: Planet Alignment

Welcome to “Writing Prompt Wednesdays,” a haven where your imagination can roam free in the realms of speculative fiction. As we embark on this weekly journey, it’s thrilling to think about the untold stories waiting to be penned in the domains of horror, science fiction, and fantasy. Whether you’re a seasoned author or a budding wordsmith, these prompts are your gateway to unexplored worlds and untapped potentials.

Every Wednesday, we’ll serve up a fresh, thought-provoking prompt designed to ignite your creative spark and challenge your storytelling prowess. Think of these prompts as a key, unlocking the doors to uncharted territories where your creativity is the only limit. From eerie, shadow-laden corridors of Gothic horror to the farthest reaches of interstellar space, and the mystical depths of high fantasy, our prompts are a kaleidoscope of possibilities.

Remember, there’s no right or wrong way to approach these prompts. They are mere stepping stones, guiding you towards the vast landscapes of your imagination. Use them to break free from writer’s block, to experiment with new ideas, or simply as a fun exercise to keep your writing skills sharp.

This week’s writing prompt:

(more…)

Ellen Datlow Shares What Giving Us 16 Years Of The Best Horror Is Like!

Ellen Datlow Shares What Giving Us 16 Years Of The Best Horror Is Like!

Ellen Datlow is the World Fantasy Award, Hugo Award and Bram Stoker Award-winning editor and anthologist for the Best Horror of the Year series, and for numerous other horror, fantasy and science fiction collections and series. She is hailed as one of the most influential voices in these genres.  

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The Horror of Aging: Vision Loss as Theme

Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko: https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-shot-of-a-blind-eye-6608260/

The Horror of Aging: Vision Loss as Theme

 

Aging is a universal experience, yet it is one that many fear and resist, especially as it brings with it a gradual and sometimes terrifying loss of control.

 

The physical and mental deterioration that comes with time can be a horrifying prospect, and one of the most unsettling ways this manifests is in vision loss. From the creeping frustration of blurred words on a page to the complete isolation of blindness, the loss of sight is not only a medical condition; it can also be a source of profound psychological terror.

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