Q&A: Stephanie M. Wytovich on Writing Poetry in the Dark: “I wanted to put together the book that I wanted to read when I first started out.”

The book’s editor explains the biggest challenges in writing horror poetry.

“Don’t hesitate to experiment. Read everything and read diversely. See what’s out there and what resonates with you, but most importantly, stay true to your voice.”

Stephanie M. Wytovich is the editor of the Bram Stoker Award-nominated book Writing Poetry in the Dark, which is in the category of Superior Achievement in Non-Fiction for horror books. Writing Poetry in the Dark brings together some of the most successful contemporary genre poets to discuss topics related to creating dark and fantastical poetry. With input from authors like Linda D. Addison, Tim Waggoner, Christina Sng, Alessandro Manzetti, Cynthia Pelayo—and more—this guide for dark poets addresses some of the unique challenges they face, such as creating monsters out of white space, writing the hybrid poem, or subverting folklore in the retelling of a classic tale.

In our exclusive interview with Wytovich, the editor explains to Monster Complex the origins of the book, reveals the biggest challenges in writing horror poetry, and shares what she celebrates when she sees other writing it.

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About the book Writing Poetry in the Dark

Writing Poetry in the Dark brings together some of the most successful contemporary genre poets to discuss topics related to creating dark and fantastical poetry.

While there are countless books available for the aspiring poet, there is a lack of resources specifically for and on speculative poetry, and with the market thriving, publishers who previously did not put out poetry are now adding it to their catalogs, requesting it for their anthologies, and seeking it for their magazines.

Given these factors, it seemed like the perfect time to put together a guide for dark poets that addresses some of the unique challenges they face, such as creating monsters out of white space, writing the hybrid poem, or subverting folklore in the retelling of a classic tale.

Included in Writing Poetry in the Dark are recommendations on how to bring fear to the page, write from the wound, let violence loose, channel the weird, and tackle the dark side of daily life. There are also practical suggestions for exploring different poetic forms and topics ranging from building worlds, writing from different points of view, and exploring gender and sexuality on the page.

This book will bring something different to every speculative writer who is interested in exploring poetry with a genre twist, and it is our hope that this book will help poetry itself continue to evolve, grow, and redefine itself in the market for many years to come.

Writing Poetry in the Dark Table of Contents:

“To Sing Dark Songs” by Tim Waggoner
“Dislocating the World” by F.J. Bergmann
“Writing Speculative Poetry in Experimental Forms” by Linda D. Addison
“The Art of Speculative Haiku” by Christina Sng
“A Slippery World: Writing Poetry About Gender and Sexuality” by Lucy A. Snyder
“Do Not Fear Poetic Collaboration” by Jim & Janice Leach
“Here Are the Stairs to the Dark Cellar; Yes, You Must Go There: POV in Dark Poetry” by Timons Esaias
“World-Building…in a Poem?” by Albert Wendland
“Putting the Science in Science Fiction Poetry” by Jeannine Hall Gailey
“Like Fright on Lice: Humor and Horror Poetry” by Michael Arnzen
“Dark Poetry and War” by Alessandro Manzetti
“This Is Not a Poem” by Cynthia Pelayo
“Global Reflections Within Our Fear-Lit Ink” by Bryan Thao Worra
“Of Poison Doors and Uncarved Stones” by Saba Syed Razvi, PhD
“Into the Dark Woods: Fairy Tale Poetry” by Carina Bissett
“Dreams as Poetry: Translating Dreams into Verse” by Joanna C. Valente
“I Got My Passport Stamped in Hades: Waking the Dead in the Poem” by Leza Cantoral
“Historical Horror in Poetry” by Sara Tantlinger
“Exploring the Monstrous Woman Archetype: Writing Satan’s Sweethearts” by Marge Simon
“Freeing the Demon: Writing Violence Into the Poem” by Claire C. Holland
“Dancing in the Design: Creating Blackout Poetry” by Jessica McHugh
“Writing the Wound” by Donna Lynch

Writing Poetry in the Dark
Stephanie M. Wytovich, editor
Raw Dog Screaming Press
Categories: Writing Skill Reference, Fiction Writing Reference

Find Writing Poetry in the Dark on Amazon

About the editor

Stephanie M. Wytovich is an American poet, novelist, and essayist. Her work has been showcased in numerous magazines and anthologies such as Weird Tales, Nightmare Magazine, Southwest Review, Year’s Best Hardcore Horror: Volume 2, The Best Horror of the Year: Volume 8, as well as many others.

Wytovich is the Poetry Editor for Raw Dog Screaming Press, and an adjunct at Western Connecticut State University, Southern New Hampshire University, and Point Park University. She is a recipient of the Elizabeth Matchett Stover Memorial Award, the 2021 Ladies of Horror Fiction Writers Grant, and has received the Rocky Wood Memorial Scholarship for non-fiction writing.

Wytovich is a member of the Science Fiction Poetry Association, an active member of the Horror Writers Association, and a graduate of Seton Hill University’s MFA program for Writing Popular Fiction. Her Bram Stoker Award-winning poetry collection, Brothel, earned a home with Raw Dog Screaming Press alongside Hysteria: A Collection of Madness, Mourning Jewelry, An Exorcism of Angels, Sheet Music to My Acoustic Nightmare, and The Apocalyptic Mannequin. Her debut novel, The Eighth, is published with Dark Regions Press, and her nonfiction craft book for speculative poetry, Writing Poetry in the Dark, is available now from Raw Dog Screaming Press.

You can also find her essays, nonfiction, and class offerings on LitReactor.

Interview with Stephanie M. Wytovich about Writing Poetry in the Dark

Q: What drove you to explore this topic? (And, in particular, from this angle?)

“I’ve been working in the field for the past 10+ years now, and I wanted to create a book catering specifically to poets looking to explore science fiction, fantasy, and horror, because while there are countless books on how to write and approach poetry, I noticed that none of them had a focus on the speculative.

“Essentially, I wanted to put together the book that I wanted to read when I first started out. That said, I reached out to some of my favorite poets, teachers, and mentors and had them write a piece that spoke to a particular area of the form I thought they excelled at, and I’m so happy with the result because there’s not only instruction, but commentary and examples throughout the book that both show and tell.

“You can read more about the book here.”

Q: What do you consider the biggest challenges in writing horror poetry?

“With poetry in general, I think it’s easy to get in your head and forget to have fun, especially because poetry has always had this highbrow stigma for so long; and sure it can be that and that’s wonderful, but poetry can be and is so many different things, too, so it’s important to remember there isn’t a right or a wrong way to explore or approach it.

“Try different forms. Don’t hesitate to experiment. Read everything and read diversely. See what’s out there and what resonates with you, but most importantly, stay true to your voice.”

Q: What are your favorite things about the horror genre?

“Horror is such a playground for the psyche and my favorite thing about it is that it pushes me, challenges me, and forever forces me to constantly reevaluate myself, my morals, and my ethics. I love the atmosphere of arthouse horror, the social commentary of slashers, the layers of creature features and monster flicks, but most importantly, I love how horror keeps reinventing itself and speaking on behalf of the othered.”

Q: What are your pet peeves about the horror genre that you’ve seen others do? (books, movies, wherever)

“I have such a respect for the creative process that I’m hesitant to talk about things I don’t like.

“Instead, I prefer to champion the stuff I’m really appreciating such as the subversion of the final girl trope, the expansion of queer theory in the genre (check out the documentary series Queer for Fear), or the focus we’re seeing on translated works and diversifying our reading list.

“Honestly, I just want more horror (and a bigger section of it in Barnes and Noble).”

Q: What are the best ways for readers to connect with you and keep up with your latest news?

“You can find me on Twitter and Instagram @swytovich and @thehauntedbookshelf (for all the #bookstagrammers out there!). I’m also on Goodreads and The StoryGraph, and my blog—where I post author updates, reviews, interviews, etc.—is http://stephaniewytovich.blogspot.com. My author website is: https://www.stephaniemwytovich.com.”

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