Writing Horror Fiction

Create a world populated by strange settings and uncanny characters – and learn how to deliver a truly unsettling story.

Draw on the traditions of horror and Gothic fiction to bring your own weird and wonderful tale to life. Whether you’re writing folk horror, a narrative that has creatures lurking in the shadows of the mundane, or weaving a tale around your own supernatural lore, this course will tap into readers’ fascinations with darker elements and explore how to tackle themes of good and evil with nuance and spine-tingling intrigue.

Prize-winning author Andrew Michael Hurley will walk you through the eerie world of horror fiction. You’ll learn the essential tropes and traditions of the genre, explore the all-important role of settings in horror, and discover how to make your reader feel everything from unease to outright terror.

You’ll join a group of 15 writers for flexibly timed weekly writing workshops on our bespoke online learning platform, plus live group teaching sessions via Zoom covering important genre-topics, and an in-depth one-to-one tutorial with Andrew towards the end of the course.

WHAT DOES THIS COURSE GIVE YOU?

• Live teaching sessions on Zoom: On six Monday evenings, your tutor will welcome the group for a 90-minute Zoom class, covering topics of significance to horror writers, such as creating suspense, building atmospheric settings, and haunting the narrative with a ghost or monster.
• A community of writers: You'll journey through the course in a peer group of 15 students all working on horror fiction. We have developed a bespoke learning platform exclusively for our students. Here you can give and receive feedback, and discuss the week’s topics with your fellow students and tutors. Many of our former students have found their trusted readers with us – and form strong working friendships with classmates which go on long after the course is over.
• Writing workshop: You’ll get a dedicated workshop centring on a 3,000-word extract from your novel-in-progress. Workshops offer in-depth feedback from your fellow students and tutor, and are also designed to help develop your self-editing skills.
• 1-to-1 tutorial: You'll get a 45-minute, one-to-one tutorial with your tutor, based on a 3,000-word extract from your novel-in-progress. Use this tutorial to address your specific concerns about your writing.
• Author & publisher masterclass: Join a live Zoom session with a Lucy Rose (bestselling author of The Lamb) and her publisher Alexa von Hirschberg, Publishing Director at Weidenfeld & Nicolson, and put your questions about writing horror fiction to them. The discussion will cover writing, editing and the submissions process.
• Alumni services: You’ll be given access to a range of exclusive services, which you’ll be able to access after your course finishes. These services include discounts and support with submissions to literary agents at Curtis brown and C&W. Read more about the opportunities available to our alumni here.

COURSE SCHEDULE

COURSE FEES

The course fee of £990 (inclusive of VAT, please note that additional fees may apply if you’re based in a country with a higher VAT rate than the UK) per student is payable, in full, by bank transfer or cheque before the start of the course. However, if you are unable to pay the full fee upfront, let us know and we can arrange an instalment plan.

READY TO APPLY?

Our application form asks some questions about you and your writing – and it also asks you to send us the first 3,000 words of the horror novel you’re working on and a one-page synopsis.

The CBC team will select applicants based on the quality of the writing sample provided. We may start reading and responding to applicants ahead of the final deadline and we therefore advise people who are keen to join this course to apply early.

The final deadline for applications is 10am (UK time) on the application deadline date. The date is dependent on which course start date you're applying for. Use the drop down 'select date' toggle to see currently available start dates and their associated deadlines. Be sure that you've selected the right course start date before you click the 'Apply Now' button.

If you encounter any problems during the application process, or have any more questions about the course, please email help@curtisbrowncreative.co.uk for assistance.

Scholarship place (for course starting 13 Apr 2026)

The Breakthrough Scholarship for LGBTQIA+ Horror Writers will award one talented LGBTQIA+ writer a free place on our new nine-week Writing Horror Fiction course with Zoom teaching and professional feedback. Deadline 23 March 2026.

Breakthrough Scholarship for LGBTQIA+ Horror Writers

STILL DECIDING?

If you’re thinking about joining this course and want to know if it’s the right fit, book a free 15-minute phone consultation to discuss your needs.

Consultations will take place on Tues afternoons (14.00 to 17.00) or Fri mornings (10.00 to 13.00). Times listed are UK times.

Book now