Anti-Ableism in Horror

Mentally unstable serial killers? Creepy stalkers with a crippled leg? Horror is rife with disability, but too commonly used as a shortcut for “weird” or “scary". Heroes and villains can be more than their diagnoses and good representation for disability means creating complex, flawed, and compelling characters who try and fail while enjoying fully realized lives inclusive of their challenges, not in spite of them. We will cover why these characters deserve our page time, how to do them justice, and what pit-falls to avoid as we represent all abilities in the human spectrum and within the horror genre.

About the Instructor

Callie Stoker is an editor with over fifteen years of experience and a knack for knowing what makes a story shine. Her business The Manuscript Dr supports writers by teaching skills to improve craft through coaching and editing services. Callie has three children on the Autism Spectrum and is a champion for representation of neurodiversity. She was a guest on Brandon Sanderson’s podcast, Writing Excuses, and is a member of the Editorial Freelancers Association, and local writing organizations. She currently resides in the Dallas, TX area.

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$65

Anti-Ableism in Horror

How to write accurately and avoid pitfalls when representing all abilities in the human spectrum.

Mentally unstable serial killers? Creepy stalkers with a crippled leg? Horror is rife with disability, but too commonly used as a shortcut for “weird” or “scary". Heroes and villains can be more than their diagnoses and good representation for disability means creating complex, flawed, and compelling characters who try and fail while enjoying fully realized lives inclusive of their challenges, not in spite of them. We will cover why these characters deserve our page time, how to do them justice, and what pit-falls to avoid as we represent all abilities in the human spectrum and within the horror genre.