Cailynn's Blog

In West Pittston, Pennsylvania, the Smurl family thought they’d found a safe haven. Instead, their duplex became the site of sulphuric smells, shadowy figures, and violent bangs — a haunting so dark that Ed and Lorraine Warren called it one of the worst they’d ever faced. Was it the house that wanted them gone, or was something bound to the family itself?

In The Warehouse, Rob Hart imagines a future where one mega-corporation runs everything — and “on-site living” is just a polished cage. Under constant surveillance, workers trade freedom for safety, productivity for purpose. It’s a sharp, unsettling blend of dystopian fiction and workplace horror that will have you questioning every “perks and benefits” promise you’ve ever heard.

In horror, a smile can be deadlier than a scream. Politeness lulls the reader into a false sense of safety — making it the perfect disguise for control, menace, and hidden malice. From corporate scripts to dinner table threats, discover how to twist courtesy into one of the most chilling tools in your writer’s arsenal.

A wedding in a haunted Heian-era mansion sounds romantic—until the walls start remembering. Nothing But Blackened Teeth by Cassandra Khaw is a gothic novella steeped in folklore, group tension, and poetic dread. With prose as sharp as broken glass and characters brimming with secrets, this story asks what happens when the real horror is the company you keep.

From isolated cabins to ancient evils, horror is full of familiar frights. But the secret to great horror writing isn’t avoiding tropes—it’s owning them. Learn how to twist the genre’s most iconic elements into something fresh, terrifying, and uniquely your own.

In 1981, a mysterious arcade game called Polybius appeared in Portland—and disappeared just as fast. Players reported blackouts, memory loss, and hallucinations. No one saw it being serviced. Some believe it was a secret government experiment in mind control, hidden in plain sight. Urban legend? Or something more sinister? Welcome to the world where “mandatory fun” feels more like surveillance.

This Frightful Reads Friday, we spotlight The Circle by Dave Eggers—a chilling dystopian novel about surveillance, enforced cheer, and the price of performance. If you enjoyed my short story Popcorn, this one hits just as hard. From corporate control to emotional manipulation, it’s horror that feels disturbingly real. Plus, discover more dark, thought-provoking reads that will keep you up at night.

The most terrifying monsters don’t always lurk in the shadows—sometimes, they hum quietly in your kitchen or sit innocently on your desk. In horror fiction, everyday objects like a popcorn bag or a hand mixer can be powerful tools for unsettling your readers. When the ordinary becomes ominous, it disturbs something primal. This post explores how to use mundane items to build dread, subvert comfort, and leave your audience glancing nervously at their own surroundings.

He appears without warning—tall, silent, and grinning far too wide. The Smiling Man isn’t just an urban legend; he’s a manifestation of something deeper: fear of the unknown, the uncanny, and being watched with no escape. In this post, we explore the eerie folklore behind the Smiling Man, why his presence unsettles us, and how this legend mirrors the chilling themes of corporate horror in Popcorn.

This week on Frightful Reads Friday, we’re exploring a haunting tale that redefines the haunted house trope. The House Next Door by Anne Rivers Siddons offers psychological horror set in a brand-new suburban home—one that destroys lives without a single ghost in sight. If you enjoy slow-burn dread, suburban paranoia, and sinister elegance, this Southern Gothic masterpiece belongs on your bookshelf.

Want your horror to haunt, not just shock? Unlock the power of symbolism. This guide reveals how everyday objects, colours, animals, and settings can become potent tools to explore trauma, embed unease, and turn your stories into emotional puzzles. Learn to weave symbolism into your narratives to intensify atmosphere, deepen character arcs, and ensure your horror lingers in the reader's mind long after the final page.

Step inside the Phantom Funhouse — where the mirrors lie, the laughter never ends, and your reflection might just step out on its own. This week’s Macabre Monday dives into the eerie urban legends of haunted amusement rides and how writers can turn them into nightmare-fuelled story settings. From chilling folklore to horror writing prompts, this article is your ticket to crafting carnival horror that lingers in the reader’s mind.

In horror fiction, pacing is more than just tempo—it’s tension. It’s the slow creep of dread in a haunted hallway, and the heart-pounding sprint when something lunges from the dark. In this post, we explore how to balance slow-burn suspense with fast-paced fear, so your story grabs the reader by the throat—and doesn’t let go.

Strange noises. Missing food. A creeping sense that you’re not alone. The “Man in the Attic” phenomenon isn’t just an urban legend—it’s a chilling real-world horror. From secret squatters to exes hiding in ceilings, real-life cases prove that the most terrifying intruder might already be inside your home. In this post, we explore unsettling stories, the psychology behind them, and why this fear hits so close to home.

A great horror twist doesn’t just shock—it lingers. It makes you question everything that came before, including the characters, the setting, and maybe even yourself. In this post, we’re peeling back the layers of what makes a twist truly work in horror—and how to craft one that doesn’t just surprise your readers, but haunts them.

Carnival corpses and vanishing passengers—these legends aren’t just spooky stories. They might be warnings. 🎡👻🚗

A witchy, vengeful spirit rises in Puritan New England. Slewfoot is dark, defiant, and devilishly good. 🐐🔥📖

In horror, suspense is the silence before the scream—the breath held before the shadow moves. In this post, we’ll explore how to build dread that lingers, how suspense differs from surprise, and why tension is your best scare tactic. Whether it’s footsteps in the attic or a truth your character can’t face, suspense keeps readers turning pages with white-knuckled curiosity.

These writers don’t just scare me—they haunt me. Folklore, fear, and fiction that lingers like fog in the bones. 📚👁️

A fairy tale gone feral. The Changeling is part grief horror, part urban legend, and 100% unsettling. Read it… but not at bedtime.