SHOW THE MEAT: How to Pitch Horror Workshop

About the workshop:

Previously taught to the Maryland HWA, this workshop offers clear, simple strategies on how to adapt an entire horror novel, novella, or short story collection into three or fewer compelling, memorable sentences. These can be used for pitching agents and presses, doing interviews, requesting blurbs, handselling to readers, and saying something quick and normal(ish) to your favorite author while in line for coffee at StokerCon.

We'll break down the qualities of a strong pitch and examine specific challenges, including books with experimental narratives/styles/structures, books with complicated plots or worldbuilding, and books featuring triggering or extreme subject matter. We'll discuss how much to spoil (some!), how to present aspects that may put readers off (as a positive!), and more.

About the teacher:

Will Roth (publicity and events, Creature Publishing) has been an educator and public speaker for more than a decade, including three years specializing in trauma and forensic science education at the 9/11 Museum. He coaches Creature authors and private clients on public speaking and writing for presentation, and has an MFA in Playwriting from Rutgers' Mason Gross School of the Arts. His plays have been performed in New York, Chicago, and elsewhere, and his research on Muslim civilian heroism during 9/11 has been presented at national conferences. One day, he will finish his novel.