Horror is not the safe pretense of twisted houses or twisted bodies or even twisted minds. It is that which cannot be made safe evolving, ever-changing because it is about our relentless need to confront the unknown, the unknowable, and the emotion we experience while in its thrall.

Douglas E. Winter (1998)

Horror is in the midst of an evolution an evolution thats breaking down genre walls and expanding boundaries like never before. For the savvy writer, theres a bigger market than ever for dark fiction youve just got to know how to package and sell it.

Stoker Weekend 2011 will be dedicated to expanding (as our industry has) on the definition of horror as weve come to know it through popular culture. As the borders of the genre have broadened so magnificently over the past decade, the focus of this convention will be on writing outside the traditional genre box. Our guests, workshops, and panels will reflect the many subtleties of the genre in all its shades and variations.

Whether youre a writer who explores the terrifying fragilities of the human condition in the mainstream or one who stretches the limits of the human imagination from a wholly unique fringe, Stoker Weekend 2011 will place emphasis on the creation of distinctive dark fiction versus imitation of prescribed genre conventions.

Unlike gatherings of horror writers past, Stoker Weekend 2011 will embrace the written dark word in all its forms. From prose to poetry, screenwriting to graphic novels, from horror journalism to horror blogging, Stoker Weekend 2011 will embrace the myriad shapes, forms, and hues of horror. From two-hour intensive workshops (with no added fees) and thought-provoking panels, to opportunities to pitch to New York’s top publishers, editors and agents and the 24^th Annual Bram Stoker Awards, this convention will be packed with programming choices for all levels of writers. And, with full convention passes priced at only $75 for those signing up before the end of the year and a fantastic room rate in a luxury hotel, it also promises to be one of the most affordable in these challenging economic times!

Event Overview...

Why attend? For the new or aspiring writer, career exploration; for the semi-professional writer, opportunities to advance your career to the next level with opportunities to meet agents, publishers, and professional writers; for the pro, a thought-provoking re-examination of genre and strategies for keeping up and keeping current with whats hot in todays marketplace. 

Expand horizons

                 Recharge your creativity

                                  Learn to write outside the genre box

                                                   Make new connections or re-establish old ones

                                                                    Mingle with horror royalty

Horror is evolving in shades and variations.

Are you?