What a thrilling, chilling session we had with Shabnam Minwalla! It was interactive and fun, full of creepy examples and wonderful ideas.
Shabnam began by telling us what inspired her book Saira Zariwala Is Afraid–mysterious messages on her daughter’s phone. From there, we explored all kinds of things, from settings, to concepts for horror stories. I loved how many participants shared examples of regular places that become sinister! Playgrounds, people who are a little too sweet, mysterious lights … Even ordinary places like schools and malls have so much potential for horror!
One big takeaway for me was the idea that what we imagine is far more frightening than what is written. As a result, an unreliable narrator who makes us feel uncertain works perfectly for horror!
Beginning with a setting that has potential, moving to a “what-if” sentence, and then creating a sense of suspicion, where we wonder whom to trust–these are the makings of a great horror story!
I can’t believe that this was my thirty-third guest! We’ve explored so many genres and worked on so many different styles. I’m grateful to each guest who’s added a spark to my writing programmes. This one was the last of the season; look out for the next guest session in April 2026!
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