This Page Only Shares Horror-Related Content, And Here’s 35 Of Their Best Posts

We spoke with Lauren McMenemy who has a developing fascination with folklore, the old ways, and our fast-changing relationship with the natural world; all of this sneaks into her writing, too. In the real world, Lauren is a creative coach with more than 20 years’ experience in journalism and marketing. She’s also a host with the London Writers Salon’s daily virtual writers' hour sessions.

According to Lauren, we are often fascinated by what we do not understand, and curiosity is a big part of the lure of horror and the supernatural. “We try to rationalize that shadow in the corner, or the mysterious light in the sky, but often we’re not satisfied by the rational explanation. We crave something more than what’s right in front of us,” the creative coach explained.

Moreover, “this fascination with the supernatural is a way to be curious about the big questions about life, death and what happens after. It can also provide an escapism from the drudgery - or the chaos, as in recent times! - of everyday life.”

Lauren argues that often, “we’re drawn to scary stories because it’s a way to experience fear in a controlled environment.” In this way, we can put the book down or turn the movie off if it gets too much. “It’s a cathartic way to explore that curiosity without putting ourselves into real and present danger. As Stephen King once said: ‘We make up horrors to help us cope with the real ones,’” she said.

When asked what it takes to create a good horror story from a professional writer’s perspective, Lauren said that horror as a genre encompasses a huge variety of stories. “When I say I write horror, I’m often greeted with a raised eyebrow - people assume I am obsessed with slasher movies and want to write the next installment of the Saw franchise, that I love a bit of gore. It’s far from the case; I’m more interested in exploring the quieter sides of horror, especially gothic and folk horror which takes its cues from folklore and traditions,” she explained.