About Us

THE HORROR WRITERS ASSOCIATION® (HWA) is the oldest literary organization of writers and publishing professionals around the world, dedicated to promoting dark literature and the interests of those who write it.

Horror Writers Association’s Mission

The Horror Writers Association’s mission is to encourage public interest in and foster an appreciation of good horror and dark fantasy literature. To that end, we offer the public areas of this web site, we sponsor or take part in occasional public readings and lectures, we publish a blog and produce other materials for booksellers and librarians, we facilitate readings and signings by horror writers, and we maintain an official presence at the major fan-based horror and fantasy conventions, such as the World Fantasy Convention, Necronomicon, and others . We also organize our own annual convention: StokerCon.

The HWA’s mission is to encourage public interest in and foster an appreciation of good horror and dark fantasy literature. To that end, we offer the public areas of this web site, we sponsor or take part in occasional public readings and lectures, we publish a blog and produce other materials for booksellers and librarians, we facilitate readings and signings by horror writers, and we maintain an official presence at the major fan-based horror and fantasy conventions, such as the World Fantasy Convention, Necronomicon, and others . We also organize our own annual convention: StokerCon.

The Horror Writer Association exists exclusively for charitable and educational purposes to encourage interest in the Horror and Dark Fantasy genre in all media. To achieve these goals, the HWA strives to:

  • foster an appreciation of Horror and Dark literature for pleasure and information
  • broaden the intellectual and cultural horizons of the public and HWA members with regards to the horror genre
  • sponsor activities, events, and writings which exemplify Horror and Dark Fantasy literature of high quality
  • encourage literacy through the use of horror and dark fantasy literature
  • conduct conferences, discussion groups, forums, lectures, and seminar programs to cultivate horror writing

In accordance with its bylaws, the Horror Writer Association will not engage in activism or statements outside these parameters or unrelated to the horror genre.

As part of our core mission, we sponsor the annual Bram Stoker Awards® for superior achievement in horror literature. Named in honor of the author of the seminal horror novel Dracula, the Bram Stoker Awards® are presented for superior writing in eleven categories including traditional fiction of various lengths, poetry, screenwriting, graphic novels, young adult, and non-fiction. In addition, HWA presents an annual Lifetime Achievement Award to a living person who has made significant contributions to the writing of horror and dark fantasy over the course of a lifetime.

The Horror Writers Association is also dedicated to recognizing and promoting diversity in the horror genre, and practices a strict anti-harassment policy at all of its events.