100 Unusual Prompts for Writers of Horror, Weird, and Bizarro Fiction
An Interview with J.W. Donley
“100 writing prompts for us writers of ‘other’ fiction, be it horror, Weird, or Bizarro with contributions from John Langan, Carlton Mellick III, Shane Hawk, and many more (including the splendiferous Christi Nogle).”
Thank you so much for being interviewed, J.W.! I would like to start by asking you to tell us a bit about your new book, 100 Unusual Prompts for Writers of Horror, Weird, and Bizzarro Fiction.
Thank you for reaching out! I’m beyond excited to be a part of your newsletter.
100 Unusual Prompts is meant to be a tool for writers to eliminate the fear of the blank page. I wanted to put together a book that could be flipped through at random and inspire writers to fling ink on the page.
Originally I started with the plan to write all 100 prompts myself, but quickly realized that was an insane endeavor, especially when projects like this are so much more fun with friends. I was blown away by the positive response. I’m still starstruck by many of the authors who contributed.
What made you want to collect writing prompts for a book?
There are hundreds of books filled to the brim with writing prompts out there. There are tons of “100 Prompts for Horror” type books.There are nearly none for the Weird and Bizarro genres. (Note: I did get to check out the Dog Doors to Outer Space zine, which collects a handful of Bizarro prompts. It’s a great little book definitely worth checking out.) After attending BizarroCon last year, I decided to take on the task of putting this project together. I wanted a book of writing prompts for those of us who write really weird stuff.
Are there any particular prompts you would like to mention as teasers for the book?
Sure, here are a couple of my favorites that I contributed. (You’ll have to purchase a copy to see the rest.)
Prompt 3:
Start a story with this dialogue:
“And so, I stood there half naked, holding a stolen plastic baby Jesus filled with tapioca pudding...”
Prompt 15:
The spot on your forehead over your pineal gland itches. You check a mirror and see a long black hair. You pull, and it comes out like a long knotted string. You feel each knot as it passes through the hole in your head, like morse code. You have yards of knotted string before it ends. What message is recorded in the knots?
The prompts range from ultra bizarre to horrifying.
What are your hopes for how readers might interact with the book?
I include instructions at the start of the book. I want readers to pick it up and choose a prompt at random. I suggest using two ten-sided dice or a random number generator. The easiest method is to just flip it open at random until something sparks creativity. There is lots blank space around the prompts just in case writers want to draw in the book or scribble in thoughts here and there. I know that’s what I plan to do with mine.
Have you used craft books to work on your own writing? What are some of your favorites?
Ooo. That’s a good question. The most inspiring writing craft book is definitely Stephen King’s On Writing. Anyone in the industry, whether they write horror or not, must read this. King gives both an overview of his daily writing habits (which are not for me, I could never crank out that many words in a day on a regular basis) and a little bio of how he struggled as a writer and kept struggling until he made it.
Next would be Tarot for Writers by Corrine Kenner. Not only does it have wonderful exercises using tarot as a form of writing inspiration and in writing exercises, it is also one of the best overall tarot references I’ve come across.
Wonderbook by Jeff VanDermeer is always fun to flip through when I need a little inspiration. Every writer of the more fantastical needs a copy on their shelf.
Any plans for future books like this one?
Well, I’m in talks with a fellow editor friend of mine on a possible future project related to this one. Also, there may be a volume 2 with a 100 more prompts in the next couple years.
What else do you have in terms of recent or upcoming projects?
In March, my story “I Wake Up” (follow link to free audio) was featured on The Creepy Podcast. It’s always interesting to hear your own stories read by someone else.
In May, my story ‘Fuel and Fodder’ will be in the brand new HOWLs anthology edited by Jessica Peter and Timaeus Bloom, HOWLs from the Scene of the Crime
Through my press, I’m hoping to open submissions this fall to novellas and possibly for an anthology. So keep your eyes on the Dark Forest Press socials (or sub to my newsletter J.W’s Newsletter of DOOM on Substack).
I will be in SanDiego next month for StokerCon. If you will also be there, come find me and say hi. I’ll have my tarot deck with me if anyone needs a bit of help tackling writer’s block.
J.W.—HWA and HOWL Society member—lives with his family in the Pacific Northwest where the Cascade Mountains meet the Salish Sea. J.W. is the author of the novelette Cats of the Pacific Northwest and the brand new 100 Unusual Prompts for Writers of Horror, Weird, and Bizarro Fiction with contributions from John Langan, Carlton Mellick III, Shane Hawk, and many more. His short stories have appeared in anthologies from Dim Shores, HOWL Society Press, PIT, Chuckanut Editions, and on Creepy, a Horror Podcast.
Thank you so much for being interviewed, J.W.!
I have added J.W.’s book to my ongoing list of Horror and Horror Adjacent craft books at https://christinogle.com/the-art-of-dread/ (scroll down to the Further Reading section). If there is a book that should be on this list and isn’t, please let me know about it on the comments or contact form!
100 Unusual Prompts for Writers of Horror, Weird, and Bizzarro Fiction by J.W. Donley
About Horror: The Study and Craft by L. Marie Wood.
Bare Bones: Conversations on Terror With Stephen King, editors Tim Underwood and Chuck Miller
Consider This by Chuck Palahniuk
Creep This Way: How to Become a Horror Writer With 24 Tips to Get You Ghouling by Rebecca Cuthbert
Damn Fine Story: Mastering the Tools of a Powerful Narrative by Chuck Wendig
Dark Dreamers: Conversations with the Masters of Horror by Stanley Wiater
Dark Thoughts on Writing: Advice and Commentary from Fifty Masters of Fear and Suspense by Stanley Wiater
End of the Road by Brian Keene
It’s Alive: Bringing Your Nightmares to Life, editors Joe Mynhardt and Eugene Johnson
Deadly Doses: A Writer’s Guide to Poisons by Serita Deborah Stevens
How to Write Horror Fiction by William Nolan
Mastering Suspense, Structure, and Plot: How to Write Gripping Stories That Keep Readers on the Edge of Their Seat by Jane K. Cleland
Now Write! Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror: Speculative Genre Exercises from Today’s Best Writers and Teachers by Laurie Lamsen.
On Writing by Stephen King
On Writing Horror: A Handbook by the Horror Writers Association, editor Mort Castle
Righting Writing by Michael Bailey
The Horror Writer: A Study of Craft and Identity in the Horror Genre, editor Joe Mynhardt
The Writer’s Guide to Poisons by Benjamin Sobiek
There’s Something Wrong With My Brain by R.L. Stine
Thrill Me by Benjamin Percy
To Each Their Darkness by Gary A. Braunbeck
Where Nightmares Come From: The Art of Storytelling in the Horror Genre, editors Joe Mynhardt and Eugene Johnson
Wonderbook by Jeff Vandermeer–a guide for speculative fiction with some application to horror
Writers Workshop of Horror, edited by Michael Knost
Writers Workshop of Horror 2, edited by Michael Knost
Writing in the Dark by Tim Waggoner (and the Writing in the Dark blog)
Writing in the Dark Workbook by Tim Waggoner
Writing the Paranormal Novel by Steven Harper
Writing the Uncanny: Essays on Crafting Strange Fiction, editors Dan Coxon and Richard V. Hirst
Writing Monsters: How to Craft Believably Terrifying Creatures to Enhance Your Horror, Fantasy, and Science Fiction by Philip Athans
Yours to Tell: Dialogues on the Art and Practice of Writing by Steve Rasnic Tem and Melanie Tem
Zen in the Art of Writing by Ray Bradbury (the chapter “Run Fast, Stand Still or The Thing at the Top of the Stairs, or New Ghosts From Old Minds”)
As always in Noglesque, I like to end with a few items of my own news
As my collection The Best of Our Past, the Worst of Our Future is a nominee for Superior Achievement in a Fiction Collection, I’ll be at StokerCon in San Diego this May. Hope to see you! I believe programming has not yet been finalized, but as of now I am on two panels:
Live at StokerCon: Connect & Improve: The Pros & Cons of Joining a Critique Group, time and participants TBA.
Prerecorded: Short and Not So Sweet: Composing a Short Story Collection with Jonathan Reddoch, Tiffany Michelle Brown, Patrick Barb, Christi Nogle, Eric Guignard, John Palisano, and Angela Sylvaine.
My story “New Again” is coming in May as part of Lindy Ryan and Black Spot Books’ Mother Knows Best.
I'm so excited about this book! Great interview Christi!! JW you rock!
Well looks like another mid-week book purchase for me ;)