The Monster’s Tail: Writing Nightmares, Demons, and Other Fiends

Any watcher of horror films knows that the scariest moment is when you first glimpse the monster’s tail and only the monster’s tail—your mind creates the rest of the nightmare, far darker than any reality. In this class, we’ll read and discuss several contemporary writers’ various takes on depicting different types of monsters in fiction and nonfiction. We’ll also practice summoning our own brutes and beasts via strategies in description, action, and scene. Don’t be afraid to join in on making your monsters come to life!