Welcome to the site devoted exclusively to horror and dark fiction, whether you read or write about classic creatures of the night, modern monsters, or the dark side of human nature . . .
"I leave you now at the bottom of your own stair, at half after midnight . . .Your own Thing stands waiting 'way up there in the attic shadows. If you speak softly . . . Your Thing at the top of your stairs in your own private night . . . may well come down." Ray Bradbury, Zen in the Art of Writing
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Horror
and Dark Fiction Writers Critique
Group |
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Painted Rock Horror Novel
Reviews
Read about the newest releases in horror fiction at Painted Rock (http://www.paintedrock.com) Recent reviews include C. Dean Andersson's re-released BLOODSONG SAGA, Peter Straub's MAGIC TERROR, THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT by Graham Masterton, Simon Clark's NAILED BY THE HEART, YOU COME WHEN I CALL YOU by Douglas Clegg (a must read!), INDIGO by Graham Joyce (author of THE TOOTH FAIRY), Thomas Tessier's FOG HEART and THE 37TH MANDALA by Marc Laidlaw, now in paperback from Leisure. 1999 Reviews include the Stoker Award winning THE NIGHTMARE CHRONICLES by Douglas Clegg. Graham Masterton's PREY, J.N. Williamson's THE HAUNT, MR. X by Peter Straub and Richard Laymon's BITE. |
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The
DarkEcho Newsletter
The DarkEcho Newsletter (with a subscriber base of more than 5,000) comes to you free of charge and via email every Thursday. This newsletter features a weekly essay, market information, updates on horror conventions, awards, authors, music and movies. Read more about it or email DarkEcho@aol.com to subscribe or visit DarkEcho's Web. |
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FAVORITE HORROR
HAUNTS This area provides links to some of the more popular horror sites on the web. |
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HWA,
The Horror Writers
Association A great source of networking and market information for the serious writer. |
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Web rings this site belongs to. |
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Michele Patterson |
All Content Copyright © 1998-2000 Michele
Patterson
All Rights Reserved
The purpose of any critique group is to offer help to and receive help from other writers. Though comprised primarily of novice writers, we're pleased to have several semi-pro and even a few pro writers in our two groups.
We're a fairly small bunch. Only about 200 members divided into two groups. We currently only have the capacity to send out one to two stories per week depending on length. For this reason, the waiting time to have a story critiqued runs between approximately 6 and 8 weeks. Please be aware of this upon joining.
We also provide web pages that include brief biographies of our group members. These pages are for critique use only. Any personal use or advertisement use of the email addresses on these pages will result in one's expulsion from the group.
Interested? Keep reading or check our FAQs.
We ask that submisssions be kept to a maximum of 8,000 words. Nothing over 10,000 words will be accepted.
We do accept novel chapters but again to a maximum of 8,000 words. We require a 500 word novel synopsis be sent along with the chapter submissions.
Here's how we work:
Michele Patterson (Hauntess@yahoo.com) ,who runs the group, sends the stories out to everyone on Sundays. You have until the following Sunday at NOON ET to email your critique to her. She then "bundles" everyone's critiques and distributes them to not only the author of the story, but to everyone in the group.
We REQUIRE our members to critique a minimum of ONE story per month. This is lenient compared to most other critique groups. Prior warning is sent before removal.
As a member of the the Critique Group, you'll also receive the weekly DARKECHO Newsletter via email. You may request to be placed on the "Newsletter Only" list.
Remember that the writing level in the group varies from published to novice writers. While we encourage members to communicate with one another we also ask that you keep that communication positive.
Criticism is only one person's opinion. We all recognize that, so don't be worried about your input. We do have Critique Suggestions.
Should you decide to join, you will be required to fill out a short "biography" form. You need not supply your last name or location if that makes you uncomfortable. The bios are available for everyone to view on a web page. The URLs for the bio pages are for the eyes of group members only.
Lastly, this is a group where CRITICISM is given. Most people critique in a positive manner but there are those that sometimes come across as "harsh" or "negative".
Before deciding to join I'd like you to consider two things:
First, can you see that someone who seems negative or harsh is still someone who took time from their life to critique and are only offering their help?
And second, do you think you can read criticism of your own work -- positive and negative -- without becoming defensive and/or angry?
Still with me? Check out our list of Critique Suggestions then email Michele at Hauntess@yahoo.com with the subject heading "active".
The DarkEcho newsletter is emailed free to subscribers from all over the world every Thursday. The Newsletter provides those with an interest in horror and dark fiction with information on markets in the genre, publishing and general horror news. We even have the occasional contest. The newsletter has been nominated for non-professional contribution to the field at 1997's World Horror Convention and is a two-time winner of the Bram Stoker Award.
The newsletter is written
primarily for people who write horror or for those involved in the field.
Each week features a topic and essay.
To subscribe, send e-mail to
DarkEcho@aol.com. Please put "SUBSCRIBE"
in the subject heading of your e-mail.
Or visit DarkEcho's site at: http://www.darkecho.com
WRITERS HELP & RELATED SITES
Paula Guran (DarkEcho) and Michele Patterson (formerly Hauntess) ran the Dark Fiction/Horror Writers Workshop (AOL's Writer's Club) on Sunday night's for nearly six years. After teaming up with Paula, Michele took over running the Dark Fiction/Horror Critique Group (or DarkEcho Critique Group). She's had several short stories and poems published, most recently on Gothic.Net with another due out in Pulp Eternity's next anthology. She's currently serving a second year on the Bram Stoker Additions Jury for the Horror Writers Association.
When Michele is not at her computer working, writing or playing, she's busy at her Colorado home working and playing with her three young children and husband of eleven years. Her hobbies include embroidery, knit and crochet, yoga, jogging and reading (lots and lots and lots of reading!!).
Feel free to email Michele at Hauntess@yahoo.com or MichelePatterson@aol.com
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This
Writer's Realm site is
owned by |
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This
Circle
of Horror site is owned by
Michele
Patterson. |
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