HeyJaredHalcyon Horror
Thoughtful horror short stories that are often set in the past. No paywall currently, but I do have a paid option if you'd like to support my work.
- Indexed issues, last 90 days
- 7
- Latest publication
- Sep 14, 2026
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- Earliest in this view
- Jul 13, 2026
Latest issues
Part 4: The Second Draft (opens the original)
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Remember when I said that writing fiction is mostly trial and error? Well, the unfortunate thing about trial and error is that sometimes you err. When I started thinking about the second draft, I quickly realized that the interrogation scene I’d originally planned doesn’t work very well as a horror story. This may seem like a major problem but I’ve gotten used to it. It’s what tends to happen when you don’t follow an outline (and sometimes when you do). This might seem like an endorsement for ou
September Newsletter (opens the original)
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So, after making my deadlines on the first three installments, I choked on the fourth. This happened mainly because I had to completely rewrite my first draft from scratch, keeping only the basic scenario and a couple of characters. Also, I got stuck a few times. I’ve been writing for long enough to know that I can usually get unstuck in a day or two, but this isn’t very helpful when there’s a deadline. Rest assured, I’m working hard on this and will release it as soon as it’s finished. Part Fiv
Part 4 Delay (opens the original)
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Hello all,I just wanted to let you know that Part 4 of Horror Short Stories, Step by Step will likely be delayed by a few days. I’ve had some personal stuff come up and am not as far along in writing this section as I’d hoped. I’ll try to get it to you sometime next week if possible, albeit probably not on Monday. Thanks so much for your patience and for sticking with me on this!-Leigh
Paid Tier Options (opens the original)
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Hi all,I’ve been thinking about revamping my paid tier options. There are a ton of really good fiction Substacks to support, and as a subscriber myself, I get that $50-$80 annually per author can add up fast. So here’s what I’m proposing: a basic tier that costs around $10 or $15 annually, plus a $50 “founders” tier for those of you who might be interested in that. What I’d like to know is if there’s any interest in either of these cheaper options. I’d appreciate it if you’d take this survey so
Part 3: Outlining & The First Draft (opens the original)
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In case you missed the previous installments, here are links to part 1 and part 2. IntroductionNow we come to the most terrifying part of this series. Not for you, but for me. As much as I’d love to show you a pretty, nearly finished draft right from the start, doing so would be neither honest nor helpfu
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