Name: Abridge to Terror: The Horror Short Story
Start: 2026-06-07T10:00:00-0400
End: 2026-06-07T10:50:00-0400

Abridge to Terror: The Horror Short Story

Sunday June 7, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am EDT

Westmoreland

Short stories are more than just stepping stones in an author’s journey. They allow writers to hone their craft, experiment with structure and point of view, and are a strong way to connect with editors and publishers. Short stories can also help writers achieve Active Membership in the HWA, and they build up the potential for an eventual collection. Join panelists to discuss how short stories helped strengthen their craft and career, why this length works so well for horror, and what makes a story stand out.

Moderators

Arley Sorg

associate literary agent, senior editor, kt literary agency, Locus Magazine

Speakers

Christa Carmen

writer

Christa Carmen is the Bram Stoker Award-nominated author of The Daughters of Block Island and Beneath the Poet’s House, coming fall 2024 from Thomas & Mercer.
Additional work can be found in Vastarien, Nightmare, Orphans of Bliss, Year’s Best Hardcore Horror, and the Stoker... Read More →

Raymonde Chira

Author

Raymonde Chira (she/they) is a writer, illustrator and librarian based in New York City. She is the author of multiple dark short stories and comics, having been published in Ghost Parachute, Dark Matter Presents: The Off-Season, Let Her Be Evil, and Bump in the Night (forthcoming... Read More →

Lauren Elise (L. E.) Daniels

Author/Editor, HWA Mental Health Committee, Brisbane Writers Workshop

Julie C. Day

Publisher & Editor-in-Chief, Essential Dreams Press

Julie C. Day is a finalist for the Lambda and Bram Stoker awards. Her longer works include her novellaThe Rampant and her genre-bending debut collection Uncommon Miracles, which was praised by Kelly Link, John Crowley, Nathan Ballingrud, and Jeffrey Ford. She is the editor-in-ch... Read More →

S. Alessandro Martinez

Writer

S. Alessandro Martinez is a Bram Stoker Award® -nominated author of Mexican and Spanish descent, and a native Southern Californian with Autism/Asperger’s who writes horror and fantasy for adults and children. His writings have appeared in several magazines and anthologies such... Read More →