Recent Posts...
Miraculous Interns, or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Accept Unpaid Labor
by L. Andrew Cooper I got an email from a guy who wanted to work for me at Horrific Scribblings, LLC, at which I was (and I technically still am) sole employee and proprietor. Since my company loses money and doesn’t pay me a dime, paying another person isn’t an option, but this guy wanted
After Chambers: Three Stories Featuring the Yellow King
by H.J. Dutton Clocking in at over 11 million viewers, season one of True Detective (2014) was HBO’s most successful show to date and a major turning point for television as a medium. Its ambitious plot, literary depth, and cinematic quality changed the gameboard, proving that high-brow, hard-to-sell concepts could become massive commercial successes in
Five Christmas Ghost Stories
by H.J. Dutton Merry Christmas, everyone! In preparation for the 25th, this week I’ll discuss a niche yet increasingly popular subgenre. Recent holiday horror films such as Krampus (2015), the second Black Christmas reboot (2019), and this year’s reboot of Silent Night, Deadly Night would have audiences assume that the subversion of holiday cheer in
Interview (Part II) with L. Andrew Cooper, Publisher and Editor, Horrific Scribblings
My first interview with Andrew focused on all things Horrific Scribblings, chronicling the past year or so of his publishing journey. Afterwards, I realized that I wanted to rewind the tape a bit and get some insight on what led him there—his early interest in horror, his Ivy League education on the topic, and how
Interview (Part I) with L. Andrew Cooper, Publisher and Editor, Horrific Scribblings
Using a self-publishing company left a bad taste in Cooper’s mouth, so he decided to just… do it himself! I needed to know more, so I spoke with him about his motivation to start Horrific Scribblings, what it took to get it done, and his thoughts about skinning someone alive (a totally natural segue). Check
Stephen King Needs Better Security
In case you haven’t heard, someone—no, some thing—nearly broke into his house by maneuvering itself underneath the infamous iron gate, sprinting across the lawn, and bounding up the steps to the front door. It’s partly my fault, because as it turns out, the culprit is Sebastian Stotch Shannon, who was discovered at the scene by
Do You Ever Think About Me? [How To Get Your Short Horror Story Published]
When I say me, I’m referring to First Reader Briar… or Slush Briar… or Drowning-in-a-Pile-of-Submissions Briar. That me. The one who’s feasting on your pages as I feed on your provocative plots. you + me and your tasty, tasty, beautiful story Read moreIntroducing Briar’s Horrific BlogBut of course, I’m not the only one with the
Introducing Briar’s Horrific Blog
Happy Halloween and WELCOME to Briar’s Horrific Blog! This post is the very first, and unless a clown or a masked killer or a dream demon murders me tonight, it won’t be the last. Read moreDo You Ever Think About Me? [How To Get Your Short Horror Story Published]Now, you’re probably wondering, “who even are
Horrific Scribes: End of the First Wave
Horrific Scribes reopened to submissions of provocative, scary, and strange short stories (and some poetry) May 19, 2025, and good stuff has been pouring in, becoming our second wave of contenders for inclusion in the archive. The first wave ended when we had to close March 31 to catch up on reading, and as of
Expanding the Canon of Epic Horror Novels: THE MIDDLE REACHES
Horror novel The Middle Reaches, Cycle One: Shadow Man is still in the cradle. Nevertheless, Horrific Scribblings spawned Cycle Two: A Rift in Time and Space today. It is available on Amazon. The few who have begun this epic dark fantasy / horror series can now continue into the story’s tormented realms. Watch for signed