Dialogue is one of the most powerful tools a writer has, and one of the easiest to misuse. It can pull readers deeper into a scene or quietly push them away. At its best, dialogue feels natural while doing intentional work behind the scenes. At its worst, it rambles, explains too much, or exists simply because silence feels uncomfortable.

Grab a cup of cocoa and get cozy while we take a stroll down candy cane lane to the intoxicating tune of carols and stop under an opportunely-placed sprig of mistletoe to discuss the finer points of Christmas story crafting.

Writers know how important it is to use language to show the reader what a character is feeling and thinking in a story. Beyond dialogue and outright exposition, writers have other literary tools to achieve this goal. Let’s zoom in on one of those tools: stream of consciousness.

Elsie Jones did not belong here. Despite the soft sunlight that filtered in through her large windows, the lush pillows surrounding her, the gorgeous silk scarf holding her dark curls aloft as she slept, and the inviting platter of tea sitting on the table beside her door, the entirety of Southerby Plantation seemed to constantly ooze a sense of foreboding. It was as if the very structure itself whispered obscenities to her through the walls each night...

Kid crashed his car into the River at 2:03. It was just as the sun came into his eyes and flared that he’d swerved. Or didn’t realize he’d swerved. Not that it mattered.

He comes in those moments before sleep sweeps across my brow, sinks me into nothingness. His words mere whispers. In my ear? My mind? I can never tell. They encoil my heart and steal my breath as terror surges through me, awareness of my mortality palpable. His presence a shroud embracing me. Portending that which lies beyond my end.

Pickles the Clown was calmer than he remembered being in his entire life. Leaning forward in the vanity chair toward the mirror, he carefully drew a rag across his cheek. The thick white makeup and red freckling transferred from his face onto the cloth. He’d been with the traveling carnival for three seasons. During that time, he’d aged from runaway teenager to legal adult. The other members of the troupe had treated him like a grown-up from the beginning.

There’s something special about Halloween reading. A flickering candle, a cool October night, and the right story can turn the ordinary into something unforgettable. Some tales creep in quietly, others jump out at you, but all of them capture the strange beauty of fear. We’ve dropped the horror stories and books we’ve reached for over the years below so you can have a frightful night to remember.

When you are writing a short story intended to scare your reader into the next decade, there are some key elements to include and a few pitfalls you will want to avoid. We will cover the best ways to ensure you craft your narrative with the right dose of suspense to keep readers engaged all the way though.

You don’t have to look far for inspiration when setting out to write chilling content in North Carolina. Our state is home to a host of authors delivering freshly brewed horror tales. Read on, if you dare, for details on local meet-ups and frights to spur your creativity.

We are at the brink of October, that time of wandering souls, Samhain and otherworldly vibes. Here at Ink & Oak, that means we are sending out a call to all you tortured souls and twisted Triangle-based writers to hit us with your finest flash fiction, micro-fiction, and short stories that bring out the dead, the undead, and all that occupies the liminal space between.