Before there was A Stranger Among Us, Horror Illustrated, or With Signs Following, there was a well-worn copy of On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King.
I’ve always been drawn to horror storytelling, whether it’s found in books, films, television, or somewhere in between. King’s work was one of many gateways into a genre I’ve spent years exploring as both a fan and a writer.
Like many readers, I first picked up On Writing expecting a book about craft. What I found was part memoir, part writing guide, and a refreshingly honest look at the discipline required to tell stories. King’s thoughts on reading, consistency, and trusting the creative process have stayed with me ever since.
His horror novels helped deepen my appreciation for storytelling within the genre, while On Writing offered a glimpse behind the curtain and showed how those stories are built.
That appreciation for horror has followed me into nearly every creative project I’ve worked on over the years, from fiction like With Signs Following to commentary on horror films in Horror Illustrated.
Some books entertain us. Others change the way we think about creativity itself.
This one did both.
Robert Lee Dugan III
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