Welcome to the Horror Writers Association
A professional writers’ organization for horror writers, dedicated to support, education, and community.
Bram Stoker Awards
2025 Bram Stoker Awards® Final Ballot Announced.
StokerCon
StokerCon is a convention and includes Horror University workshops, the Ann Radcliffe Academic Conference, the Final Frame Short Horror Film Competition, Guests of Honor, panels, readings, parties, signings, and more.
HWA Scholarships
HWA is pleased to offer a variety of scholarships to assist writers looking to pursue a career as a writer of horror fiction, nonfiction, or poetry.
Our Mission & Vision
The Horror Writers Association’s® mission is to encourage public interest in and foster an appreciation of good horror and dark fantasy literature. To that end, we offer the public areas of this web site, we sponsor or take part in occasional public readings and lectures, we publish a blog and produce other materials for booksellers and librarians, we facilitate readings and signings by horror writers, and we maintain an official presence at the major fan-based horror and fantasy conventions, such as the World Fantasy Convention, Necronomicon, and others. We also organize our own annual convention: StokerCon.
Our Latest Insights
Chills of Winter: "Ice Skating in January" by LindaAnn LoSchiavo
Ice Skating in January Night’s spiderweb charmed, enveloped me,Its skein unruptured. Slow freezingTurned our township’s pond to ice.Rumors said aliensLurked beneath, unseen.I skated solo,Heard a crack.”Stop it!”( ( ( splash ) ) ). . . . . . Writing Prompt for Readers In a deserted cemetery, you suddenly hear sounds behind you Poet Bio Native…
Chills of Winter by Oliver Baer
63. It’s been snowing for daysLofty spiraling flakes glint and sparkleTinsel on a frozen landscape seen through hoarfrost scratched glassAn icy spiral whipping wind etching the list into my mindWhere are the children?I must to them.Boreas brings me whispers of their renewed pacts.Urging the sleigh on, I parcel out the coal stockings.Presents fall away from…
Nut & Bolts: "Speculative Poetry, Craft, and the Art of Revision" by Betsy Aoki
Welcome to Speculative Poetry Month! It has been almost 10 years since my first speculative poetry publication in Uncanny Magazine, and in that time the community of writers working on speculative poems has only grown—in size, power, and recognition. Woo! Within the speculative writing community, determined advocates have pushed through special Hugos for Poetry over…
Unmatched Support for Horror Writers and Readers
Access exclusive resources and networking opportunities.
Promote your new releases to members and to the public via HWA’s blog.
Participate in the HWA’s Mentorship Program that pairs you with an established pro.
Join (or start) a local chapter and participate in events including signings, book fairs and genre conventions.
Enjoy members’ only discounts to workshops, editors, and more.