Hi Reader,
Halloween is almost here, which for me is basically the perfect season to be working on horror. And this year, I feel especially lucky.
I’ve got Dead Strays, my horror-thriller novel, in its final stages. I’m also deep into post-production on Room 309, my supernatural short film.
So between the book, the film, and all the Halloween energy around me right now, my brain is definitely living in horror mode. And honestly, I love it.
This time of year always gets me thinking about new ideas too.
New monsters, new situations, new characters, and new ways to take something familiar and twist it into something darker.
But it's also a chance for me to think about other people's work.
I’m also helping other writers with their horror stories
Right now, I’m doing comprehensive coverage on two horror-related screenplays.
One is a thriller with horror elements, and the other is a full-blown vampire story that leans into the genre at every turn. And this is one of the things I do that I find the most rewarding.
Helping other writers figure out what their story is missing.
It could be dialogue or character development. Sometimes the structure is close, but a key emotional beat is missing. Other times the story works on paper, but the characters still feel too passive. And sometimes the writer knows something is wrong, but they can’t quite put their finger on what it is.
Honestly, that’s normal. When you’ve lived with a script for months or years, you can get too close to it.
For example, you know what every character means in what they say or do, even if the subtext doesn't come through in the writing. Or you know what every scene is supposed to accomplish, even though something about it falls flat. Or you know the backstory that never actually made it onto the page.
And the thing is, because you know all of that, your brain fills in the gaps for you. But the reader doesn't have that advantage.
That’s where an outside perspective can make a huge difference.
The problem is often obvious... once you see it
Writers sometimes assume that if the fix is simple, they should have spotted it themselves. That's often the exact opposite of what happens.
The solution might look obvious once someone points it out, but finding that solution is the hard part.
An experienced developmental editor can look at a script and ask:
- What works?
- What doesn’t?
- Why isn’t it working?
- What's the writer trying to achieve?
- What's the audience seeing instead?
- And where is the disconnect?
That’s usually where the real work begins.
One recent client, Richard B., put it this way:
“When I submitted my script to Neil Chase, I didn't expect anything different from the notes I'd received from others. Was I ever wrong! Neil dove deeper than anyone else. He bored into every aspect of screenplay structure and came out with specific recommendations on improvements. He even offered some writing of his own to flesh out some parts I'd glossed over.”
That means a lot to me, because it gets right to the heart of how I approach coverage, feedback, and the editing process.
I don’t want to just tell you that something is weak and let you figure out the solution yourself. I want to help you understand why it’s weak, and then show you a path toward making it stronger.
Genre stories need more than genre elements
This is especially true with horror, thrillers, sci-fi, fantasy, and other genre stories.
Sure, the genre elements matter, but the characters matter more.
If we don't care who survives, the danger loses power. If the dialogue sounds generic, the tension vanishes. If the emotional choices don't feel authentic, then even the biggest supernatural idea can fall flat.
That’s why I always come back to character, motivation, dialogue, conflict, and active choices. Those are the things that make the horror work.
Sometimes you just need another writer in your corner
So if you’ve been stuck on a genre screenplay, novel, or story lately, you don't need to throw everything out and start again from scratch.
Sometimes all you need is someone who understands what you’re trying to do, and can look at it with fresh eyes backed with years of writing and editing experience
I offer screenplay coverage, developmental feedback, and story coaching for writers who want to push their stories and writing skills to the next level.
And speaking of horror...
Last week, I posted a new video on why every writer should try writing horror, even if horror is not normally your genre. Halloween may be the perfect excuse to try it, but you definitely don’t have to wait until October.
🎥 Watch the full video here: Why Writing Horror Can Make You a Better Writer
And if you want help with your screenplay - horror or otherwise - on a human level, and from an experienced writer and story coach, then click one of the links below:
👉 My coaching calls - great for brainstorming, outlining, character work, and solving story problems early: Book Your Session today!
👉 My coverage packages - a great next step if you need meaningful developmental feedback before diving back into the draft: Click here!
👉 Rewrite to Greenlight - my ongoing developmental editing program for taking a script from almost there to funding or production-ready: Click here!
At this time of year, the best way out of a creative slump might be to write something darker. And sometimes it’s simply to talk with someone who knows first-hand what you're going through.
Until next time - keep writing, and stay creative!
Neil
P.S. Check out my feature film, Spin the Wheel - out now on Tubi!
Click here to watch for FREE: https://tubitv.com/movies/100030151/spin-the-wheel
And see my latest feature, Contamination, now on Fawesome, Amazon, AppleTV, Fandango, and Hoopla!
Learn more about storytelling, screenwriting, and filmmaking: www.neilchasefilm.com.
Looking for in-depth help with your script, story or film? Check out my one-on-one coaching services here.
Check out my Gothic horror-western novel, Iron Dogs, available in eBook, print, and audiobook.
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