Empathy & Dread: Building Psychological Horror from the Inside Out

By Write Your Way - Creative Writing School

Learn how psychological horror stories use empathy, taboos, and character arcs to haunt and heal. Go home with a story of your own!

Date and time

Location

Goldfinch Books

24 High Street Alton GU34 1BN United Kingdom

Lineup

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Highlights

  • 13 hours
  • In person

Refund Policy

Refunds up to 7 days before event

About this event

Arts • Other

What makes horror unforgettable isn’t the blood; it’s the emotional truth beneath the scream. In this immersive workshop, we’ll explore how great horror stories build empathy, confront taboo, and transform their protagonists in ways that linger long after the final scene.

Using case studies from literature and films, we’ll break down the anatomy of psychological horror: how it builds unease, introduces conflict, and escalates toward a cathartic climax. You’ll learn how to craft protagonists we care about, place them in unbearable situations, and guide them through transformation.

We’ll examine key structural beats and will use them to build a horror story of your own. You’ll discover how horror uses fear, disgust and dread to mask deeper truths, and how to write impactful scenes without relying on cheap scares.

This workshop is ideal for writers who want to explore horror as a vehicle for emotional depth, social commentary, and personal catharsis. Whether you’re writing novels, screenplays, or short fiction, you’ll leave with a toolkit for crafting horror that’s not just terrifying, but meaningful.

Expect practical exercises, story breakdowns, and a supportive space to explore the darkest corners of your imagination. Horror isn’t just about what goes bump in the night; it’s about what we’re too afraid to face in daylight. Let’s write that.

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Write Your Way - Creative Writing School

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£11.53
Oct 30 · 7:30 AM GMT