I would like to start my post off with a massive thank you to KellyAnneBlount for inviting me to me very first #WattpadBlockParty. Kelly dedicates a huge amount of time to these amazing networking events, as well as serving as an inspiration for young Wattpad writers out there.

My name is Seb Jenkins (SebJenkins), and the few of you who know me will probably associate me with horror fiction. My most notable writing is the Life After Death series, which is now on its third and final book. I wanted to use my post to tell you guys about upcoming work, but I also want to give you some cool sneak peaks, and my top tips for writing all things horror. In the spirit of the block party, I want to concentrate on interactivity. I urge you all to comment and message me with any ideas or questions, or even if you just want a chat!

ALSO KEEP READING DOWN TO THE BOTTOM FOR SOME COOL, EXCLUSIVE COMPETITIONS!

All graphics in this post were designed by the wonderful Abyss-of-Crazy.

I started planning Life After Death in my final couple of years at school in England. It started off as a few thoughts in my head about ideas I would like to see incorporated into my favourite shows, and eventually blossomed into an entire written book plan by the time I'd finished school. In my first year of university I decided to give it a go, it seemed a waste having a book plan without a book to show for it after all, and three years later, I'm just about bringing the series to a close. Thanks so much to anyone who has read the books and supported me through the beginning of my writing career. In all honesty, if it hadn't been for all the wonderful comments and words of encouragement, I probably would have called it quits after book one.

Synopsis: Max is in his late thirties, stuck in a dead-end job, no wife, no girlfriend and no friends. In the midst of depression, and contemplating ending it all, he is plunged into an apocalyptic world of the undead, but it is in this hopeless world that he may finally find a meaning to life, after he meets loud-mouth teenager Lizzie.

I wanted to take the key themes of a zombie novel, the death, destruction, gore and of course, zombies, but also inject what I think a lot of stories miss. I wanted to deal with depression, loneliness, family, love, loss, everything that makes us human, juxtaposed against everything that makes the zombies not.

As a thank you, I would like to share with you guys a sneak peak of the new project I am currently working on with the amazingly talented ShaunAllan.

Welcome to The Hunt! In society, everyone has a job. For some it is to die.

"Foxhunting...the unspeakable pursuing the inedible."

Oscar Wilde

In 2004, The Hunting Act banned the hunting of wild animals, notably foxes, with dogs across England and Wales. On the 18th of February 2005, this act came into force.

In 2031, The Conscientious Hunting Act was passed across America, making the hunting of humans entirely legal under a volunteer-based system.

With overpopulation soaring, and the gap between classes ever-growing, poverty had sunk its relentless claws into hundreds of millions across the globe. The 2031 Act gave volunteer contestants the chance to change their family's lives forever.

In 2032, the same act was passed by British Government.

By 2035, the act was adopted by Germany, Spain, Italy, Denmark, and 13 other nations.

The hunt was born.

"Sport Hunting is a sickness, a perversion and a danger, and should be recognised as such. People who get their 'amusement' from hunting and killing defenceless animals can only be suffering from a mental disorder.

In a world of boundless opportunities for amusement, it is detestable that anyone would choose to get thrills from killing others who ask for nothing from life but the chance to remain alive."

Sir Roger Moore

Head over to my profile SebJenkins to find out more about this exciting new project, or feel free to ask any questions here!

Seb's top tips for horror writing:

I have been writing horror for a few years now, and my readers often ask me how I go about creating a story, or a particular scene. I thought I would share with you guys, my top tips for horror writing, from the view of a relative beginner.

Choose your main topic, even if it's just a vague image in your head. For every story, you obviously need a topic matter, and that has to be the base to your writing. When it comes to horror, I like to imagine myself in scenarios that would honestly terrify me, and then expand from there. For example, I wrote a short story last year entitled 'The Lighthouse', which started from a basic prompt that I found online. From there I fleshed it out with characters and a chilling scenario to match the setting, but the image of a lighthouse on a stormy night was the basic inspiration that I had in my head, which sparked the rest of the story.

Write what you know. This is a very well used piece of advice, but it is also extremely true, you have to write what you know because if you don't have a clear idea of the subject matter, you can't expect your readers to. Take one of your own real fears and use that authentic feeling to carve your story. Real thoughts and feelings always read a lot better than alien experiences. If you know a lot about zombie fiction, write a zombie novel. If you know loads about the U.S police set up, write a gritty crime story. Always write what you know, or failing that, research what you don't.

Place yourself in the scene. This is a technique that I use in every single one of my stories. People have often asked me about how to build up a scene, with all the intricate and specific details. I simply shut my eyes and imagine myself in the creepy room in question, or the abandoned forest, and then note down every detail that my imagination concocts. Every dusty table, and spider-riddled cobweb adds to the overall realism of the scene. If you act like you're really there, your reader will feel like they are too.

Avoid clichés. Simple, if it's been done before, then come up with something new. This doesn't mean that you're not allowed to write about clowns because Stephen King already wrote 'IT', but it does mean that you need to put a fresh spin on the genre. Readers are always looking out for something they have never seen before, and that's the aspect of your story you need to concentrate on. What makes you different to all the other writers out there? New and original content is the driving force of writing, whether it's for books, TV or film.

Search engines- Search engines are an amazing tool for any aspiring writer. The world wide web is full of inspirational material that could spark your next best seller. When I'm stuck for ideas, I often search for scary prompts to base a short story on. As I said before, a basic prompt is what started my story The Lighthouse, and that has now been published in an anthology. You don't even have to search for prompts, just a basic vague search can often get the brain juices flowing. Try searching 'scary' or 'horror' and just see what comes up, you never know what image or quote could be the source of your next idea.

Take your time- This is an important one, I don't think any of my best ideas, lines or descriptions have ever come to be when I try to force it. Often a great idea doesn't pop into my head until I'm trying to get to sleep at 3am. Always have your phone at the ready to make a note of anything and everything that runs through your mind, you never know what might stick. When it comes to actually sitting down and writing, never be afraid to get up and walk away. If it isn't flowing, it isn't flowing. Sometimes you need to take an hour, a day, even a week off to collect your thoughts. Never force a good piece of work.

Have fun- If you're not enjoying a story, what's the point after all? If even you aren't having a good time, chances are that your readers won't either. Write what makes you happy.

What is your favourite horror sub-genre, and your favourite book?

Current work:

The Hunt

Cold Blood – a short story horror anthology

Tales of Injustice- A poetry anthology

After- Book three of Life After Death

Coming soon-

Fate and Fortune

Unsolved

What is your favourite horror film or TV show?

Thanks so much for reading my Wattpad Block Party post, I hope you all enjoyed it, and continue to interact with me far past the end of this event. I would like to leave you with one of my poems from my anthology, Tales of Injustice.

The Innocent Eyes

In a world of war, sexism, hate and racism

Lizzie is lost in kindergarten escapism

Little Lizzie doesn't see different colour or race

Just the toothy grin on her young buddy's face

The only shades she cares about are those of building blocks

Her battleground consists of papers, scissors, and rocks

She plays with boys and with girls, both older and younger

A son of a lawyer, daughter of a fish monger

Her best friend is black, and Lizzie, she's white

Yet there's not a hint of mistreatment or tension in sight

Their innocence overcomes these old fangled barriers

But our generation still act as dirty disease carriers

Because if someone so young is clearly so pure

Then a change in upbringing could be the cure

For the world is evil, full of darkness and pain

But there's no reason we can't let equality remain

For if a child has such a strong grasp of human parity

Then an evolution of thought could provide clarity

As we stamp out such hatred, and remove such oppression

Don't subject them to injustice, keep it as a lesson

Instead of poisoning young minds with unjustified hate

Teach them that everyone is human, no matter their traits

No matter your race, your colour, your sexual orientation

No matter your gender, your looks, or your birth nation

The lessons we teach children at nursery age

Should continue through life on every new page

For the better we'll be when we realise

Equality is born through innocent eyes

As well as the giveaway, I am also giving one other lucky winner a £10 Amazon voucher. To be in with a chance of winning, all you have to do is visit my profile and post a piece of 50-word flash fiction. The 50 word story can be about anything you want, but usually, the scarier the better! I'll pick a winner at the end of this month. Good luck!

Thanks! Hope to hear from you all soon! Seb x

GIVEAWAY: SebJenkins will give away a £20 Amazon gift voucher to one lucky winner! My giveaway is open internationally!

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