Name: Learning from Reading for Horror Writers
SKU: 12304
Availability: InStock

Description

Start Date: September 28th, 2026
End Date: November 3rd, 2026

CLASS MEETINGS
Time: Tuesday nights, 6:30pm-7:30pm CST
Location: Zoom

YOUR INSTRUCTOR
Name: Ryan C. Bradley
Email: RyanB4890@gmail.com. I will respondto emails within 48 hours.
Bio: Ryan C. Bradley (he/him) is a musician, podcaster, and the author of Saint’s Blood, Bad Connections: Horror Stories, Dumb Bullshit for Brilliant Idiots (with John Baltisberger, Andrew Hilbert, and Michael Louis Dixon), and Say Uncle. His short fiction has appeared in NoSleep, Tales to Terrify, and Dark Moon Digest among others. He co-hosts Horror Hangover with Cass Clarke and has a Patreon called Drop Dead Fiction where he writes, scores, and performs horror comedy and comedy about horror. He earned his MFA at Emerson College in 2016 You can learn more about him at ryancbradley.com.

COURSE DESCRIPTION
Every craft book tells writers that the essential practice to being a good writer is to read a lot and write a lot. In “Learning from Short Stories” we’ll be reading short stories by Bram Stoker Award Nominees and Winners, Best Horror of the Year Selections, and authors whose work has been adapted onto the stage and screen with an eye toward sharpening our own work. We’ll meet with the authors of those stories — R.J. Joseph, Johnny Compton, H.V. Patterson, and Max Booth to discuss the craft that went into creating some of their best stories. At the end of class, students will have the option to write an insert — an extra 1 to 2 page section in the style of one of our guest authors that could be added into their story — and receive feedback from the instructor.

LEARNING OUTCOMES
It’s my sincerest wish that students will leave this class with the ability to read with a more critical eye. They’ll both appreciate what they’re reading more and begin to think about what techniques in the stories they read can elevate their own writing.

TEACHING METHODS
We will have a mix of lecture, discussion, in-class writing, in-class readings, sharing by reading aloud, and guest speakers.

ATTENDANCE & PARTICIPATION

Attendance and participation are strongly encouraged. Like anything in life, what students put into this class is what they’re going to get out of it.
If you are late, please do not be disruptive when you join the call.
I encourage students to get notes from a classmate if they are late or absent.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
The use of generative artificial intelligence in any form is banned for any and all course work. If a student is caught using generative AI, they will be asked to not return to future classes with no refund. Beyond the ethical questions around plagiarism and compensation of the authors whose work is used to train these engines and the environmental impact, using generative AI would deprive students of the practical experience of writing themselves, which is the point of any writing course.

CLASSROOM ETIQUETTE
Open and mutually respectful communication of varied opinions, beliefs, and perspectives during classroom or online discussion encourages the free exchange of ideas that is essential to learning and to the ability to learn from each other. We’ll set our own classroom etiquette policies during our first class meeting.

SYLLABUS CHANGE
Occasionally, changes to the syllabus may be necessary. Students will be notified of any changes to the syllabus in writing.

PAYMENT
Must be completed before the beginning of each class. Find more information on the Madness Heart Press website.

COURSE SCHEDULE

COURSE SCHEDULE* – Please complete all readings before class begins (with the exception of the first class.)
-9/28 – “The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe
-10/6 – “Hare Moon” by H.V. Patterson
-10/20 – “Ffuns” by Johnny Compton
-10/27 – “Inheritance” by R.J. Joseph
-11/3 – “You Are My Neighbor” by Max Booth
-11/17 – Insert Due

*All of the writers have confirmed but dates may be subject to change depending on their availability.

PRICING