Ever wondered what it takes to put together a horror anthology? Well, the recent chat between Chris Jones and Kate, the masterminds behind Twisted50 Volume 3, gives us a fascinating peek behind the curtain. Kate, who edited this latest volume, brought her A-game to the table, wading through a whopping 170 horror stories to find the cream of the crop.

One of the coolest things they discussed was how they tackled the technical side of getting the book onto Amazon. Chris was pretty nervous about the whole thing, which is totally relatable if you've ever dealt with publishing platforms. It's like trying to solve a puzzle while wearing a blindfold - you know what you want to do, but the process can be super tricky.

Kate dropped some serious knowledge bombs about what makes a horror story work. She's big on keeping things tight and snappy - no meandering sentences that leave readers scratching their heads. As she put it, "Something that happens when you have a lot of really long sentences all put together is it gets jumbled and you don't really process anything." That's solid gold advice right there for any writer looking to keep readers hooked.

Here's something interesting - they're not just looking for great stories; they want engaged authors too. The Twisted50 team actually keeps tabs on how involved writers are with the community. So if you're thinking about submitting to future volumes, don't just fire off your story and ghost them. Get in there, mix it up with other writers, and show them you're serious about being part of the Twisted50 family.

When it comes to screenplays (yeah, they take those too!), Kate emphasized how different they are from regular stories. Every word has to earn its place on the page, and dialogue needs to sound natural when read aloud. It's like the difference between writing a letter and having a conversation - they might tell the same story, but they need different approaches.

The whole conversation wrapped up with some killer advice for aspiring Twisted50 contributors. My favorite bit was when they said, "Don't be afraid to get really, really weird." In a world of horror stories, being unique is your secret weapon. The Twisted50 community seems super supportive too, which is pretty rare in the publishing world.

For anyone thinking about diving into horror writing, this podcast basically laid out a roadmap. Keep it tight, stay engaged, don't be afraid to get weird, and remember - you're not just submitting a story, you're potentially joining a community of horror enthusiasts who are all about helping each other succeed. The door's open for Twisted50 Volume 4, and based on what we heard, it sounds like an awesome opportunity for writers ready to embrace their dark side.

Ever thought about writing a horror story but weren't sure where to start? Well, there's this cool project called Twisted50 that's making it super easy for writers to dive into the spooky world of horror fiction. The project's founder, Chris Jones, recently sat down with script editor Lucy Hay to spill all the juicy details about writing horror and getting published.

One of the best things about Twisted50 is how accessible it is. You don't need to be Stephen King to get involved - all you need is a 2000-word horror story and the willingness to give feedback to other writers. It's like a horror writers' support group, but way less scary than it sounds! As Chris puts it, "It's such a low bar to entry because, you know, everybody can write a story under 2000 words."

The conversation between Chris and Lucy got really interesting when they started talking about why horror is such a powerful genre. They both grew up in the 80s, surrounded by classic horror that shaped their love for the genre. They pointed out how zombies have stuck around in horror because they're like a blank canvas - you can make them represent pretty much anything. As Lucy mentioned, zombies started as a metaphor for capitalism and consumer culture, but they've evolved to represent all sorts of social issues.

When it comes to actually writing horror, both experts had some killer advice. They stressed the importance of grabbing readers right from the start and using active language to keep the story moving. Here's a gem of advice they shared: "Write as though nobody's ever going to read it." This isn't because your writing is bad, but because it frees you up to explore those dark corners of your imagination without holding back.

The community aspect of Twisted50 is pretty unique. Writers don't just submit their stories and hope for the best - they become part of a supportive network where everyone helps each other improve. The feedback process is designed to be constructive rather than critical, with both Chris and Lucy suggesting that writers frame their comments as questions rather than judgments. This approach helps writers develop their skills without feeling attacked or discouraged.

For anyone looking to get into horror writing, they had some practical tips that are easy to implement. One cool suggestion was to listen to horror movie soundtracks while writing to help set the mood. They also emphasized that you don't need to be a horror fan to write in the genre - sometimes coming at it from a fresh perspective can lead to the most interesting stories. The main thing is just to start writing and not be afraid to explore those dark ideas lurking in your mind.

The whole conversation really highlighted how horror writing can be both challenging and incredibly rewarding. Whether you're dealing with supernatural monsters or exploring real-world fears, there's something uniquely cathartic about crafting a horror story. And with initiatives like Twisted50 making it easier than ever to get involved in the horror writing community, there's never been a better time to give it a shot. After all, as the experts suggest, everyone's got at least one good horror story in them - it's just a matter of letting it out!

Remember those nights when you couldn’t sleep because a movie scared you senseless? That’s exactly what Chris Jones and Bob Schultz dive into during their fascinating chat about the horror movies that shaped their childhoods. As the founder of Twisted 50 and the London Screenwriters Festival, Chris brings a unique perspective that meshes perfectly with Bob’s experience as a horror movie writer and producer.

The conversation kicks off with those unforgettable first encounters with horror films – you know, the ones that left permanent marks on our psyches. They recall how Jaws and Alien totally changed the game, with that chest-burster scene in Alien being particularly nightmare-inducing. As one of them puts it, it “absolutely shook me to my core.” Who hasn’t felt that way after watching something truly terrifying for the first time?

Then there’s the whole slasher genre – what a wild ride that was! Halloween and Friday the 13th basically wrote the rulebook for how to scare teenagers out of their minds. The hosts share some pretty cool stories about watching these films in tiny theaters, which honestly sounds like the perfect way to experience a horror movie. They talk about how these films mastered the art of making you feel unsafe from the very first minute – like pulling the rug out from under you and never letting you find your footing again.

But let’s talk about the really gnarly stuff – the creature features. The Thing and The Fly pushed the boundaries of what practical effects could do, and boy, did they deliver! There’s this amazing moment when they discuss the maggot birthing scene in The Fly, where one of them proudly stayed in the theater while their friends bailed. That’s true horror dedication right there!

The supernatural hits get their moment in the spotlight too. The Exorcist, Poltergeist, and The Omen – these films didn’t just scare us, they got under our skin and stayed there. The hosts reminisce about that infamous sheet of glass scene in The Omen, and how Poltergeist managed to make even a peaceful lake seem terrifying. They also get into some interesting stuff about British horror TV shows and those weirdly scary public information films that traumatized an entire generation of UK kids.

Wrapping things up, they geek out over werewolves and vampires, particularly in films like An American Werewolf in London and Fright Night. These movies showed us that horror could be funny and scary at the same time – pretty revolutionary stuff! They also give props to the literary giants of horror, Stephen King and James Herbert, who proved that sometimes the scariest stories start on the page. The conversation ends with some solid advice for aspiring horror writers: “The more original and yourself you can be with your writing, the more you’re going to stand out and really sparkle. So don’t be afraid. Just make other people afraid and you’ll do great.”

And honestly, isn’t that what great horror is all about? Making other people afraid while having a blast doing it? This conversation really captures why we love being scared by movies – it’s not just about the jumps and screams, it’s about those moments that stick with us long after the credits roll, making us check under the bed just one more time before we go to sleep.

Ever wondered what happens when you let writers run wild with their darkest imaginations? That's exactly what Chris Jones did when he created the Twisted 50 initiative, a unique project that's part of the London Screenwriters Festival. In a fascinating conversation with Amy, Chris spilled the beans on how this crazy idea came to life and why it's become such a hit with writers worldwide.

It all started with Chris wanting to help writers get their first film credit. Pretty cool, right? He kicked things off with projects like "Four Nights in August" and "50 Kisses," but things really got interesting when he decided to dive into the horror genre. As Chris puts it, it became this "furious, excited ball of energy" that just kept growing. Writers weren't just writing anymore - they were part of something bigger, something electric.

What makes Twisted 50 so special is its low barrier to entry. You only need to write 2,000 words or less, which is perfect for those of us who might be intimidated by the idea of writing a full novel or screenplay. But here's the really cool part: it's not just about submitting your work and crossing your fingers. You're joining this amazing community of writers who read each other's work, offer feedback, and help each other grow. As Chris says, "We all too often work very much in a vacuum," but Twisted 50 breaks down those lonely writer walls.

And let's talk about the horror aspect because this isn't your grandmother's ghost story collection. Chris actively encourages writers to "bite harder" and push boundaries. He's not interested in kitchen sink horror - he wants demons, monsters, and aliens! In his words, "It's horror. It's supposed to unsettle you." He even jokes about using it as an opportunity to "murder all those people that you've been wanting to murder secretly for a long time" (in writing, of course!).

The community aspect of Twisted 50 is what really makes it special. Chris describes it as "the lunatics getting to take over the asylum," and honestly, that's probably the best description possible. Writers from all backgrounds come together, share their work, and create this incredible energy that pushes everyone to be better. It's not just about getting published - it's about finding your tribe and growing as a writer.

Perhaps the most inspiring part of Chris's message is his encouragement to "be audacious" and "write bigger." He wants writers to approach this like it's their last chance to write something meaningful. As he puts it, "Write as though you're going to be executed tomorrow. Like, this is it." It's this kind of bold thinking that's helping to reshape the horror genre and giving new writers a platform to shine.

The beauty of Twisted 50 is that it's not just for horror writers. Chris encourages everyone to give it a shot, even if horror isn't their usual cup of tea. After all, he believes that as professional writers, we should be able to tackle any genre that comes our way. And with the September 15th deadline approaching, there's never been a better time to push yourself out of your comfort zone and join this wild, wonderful community of writers who are daring to be different.

So if you've got a twisted tale lurking in the back of your mind, maybe it's time to let it out. As Chris would say, what's the worst that could happen? (Actually, in horror, that might be exactly what we're looking for!)