Writing Neurodivergent Characters in Horror
Neurodiverse or neurodiverse-coded characters, from Hannibal Lecter and Frankenstein’s Monster to Stephen King’s Holly Gibney, have long drawn readers and writers to horror, yet multifaceted and nuanced representation remains elusive. In this OnDemand webinar the instructor discusses the stereotypes and tropes that have come before—everything from hyper-intelligent, emotion-free killing machines to the hyper-fixated, socially awkward investigators who pursue them—as well as the challenges in depicting invisible disorders that express themselves in a myriad of ways. Most importantly, we’ll talk about how to create authentic, neurodiverse characters that aren’t merely a grab bag of their expressed traits and exist on the page with full, lived-in personalities.
Instructor:
Mark Wheaton got his start as a screenwriter on horror films like Friday The 13th (2009), the Sam Raimi-produced, The Messengers, and the Emilia Clarke-starring, Voice From the Stone. He has also written novels, including the bestselling Father Chavez crime trilogy (Thomas & Mercer, 2016-2017), Emily Eternal (Grand Central Publishing, 2019, written as M.G. Wheaton – named one of the Five Best Sci-Fi Novels of 2019 by the Financial Times and translated into five languages), The Quake Cities (Severn House, 2021) and Who Haunts You (Off Limits Press, 2023). In addition, Wheaton has had several horror short stories published including, In the Water, appearing in the 2021 Stoker Award-nominated anthology, Worst Laid Plans (Grindhouse Press) and Killer of Hogs, long-listed by Ellen Datlow as one of the Best Horror Short Stories of 2022. He has also worked as a comic book writer (Dark Horse’s The Cleaners), video game scripter, (Wet 2, F.E.A.R. franchise), and movie journalist for outlets such as E!, Syfy, Fangoria, Total Film and many, many others.
