New Class! Learn How to Write a Weird Western

I’m thrilled to teach “Creating Weird West Stories That Sizzle And Sell” at Reach Your Apex later this month.

In this live virtual course, writers will learn how to:

Build immersive settings and plots that evoke the Old West without falling into clichés and harmful stereotypes
Flip familiar tropes into fresh and thought-provoking elements
Draw inspiration from historical accounts with empathy and nuance
Develop grounded characters and high-stakes conflicts
Blend horror, fantasy, science fiction and history in unexpected ways

Writers will leave with the foundation of a new weird western, along with tools for revisions and submissions  

Use code wwss10 at checkout for $10 off!

Master the art of writing weird westerns! About the Course

The “weird west” genre is riding into the limelight as readers are eager for fresh stories that reimagine the American Old West through a speculative lens. From monsters haunting mining towns to interdimensional train robberies and robotic gunslingers, the weird west spans stories from the pulpy to the horrific. But beyond just cowboys and creatures, the genre offers fertile grounds for genre blending, social commentary and fresh takes on the mythos of the western.

This workshop is for anyone interested in experimenting in a genre that fuses Old West aesthetics with elements of horror, sci-fi and fantasy. Whether you’re a history buff or you’ve never seen a western in your life, this class will help you tap into the spirit of the Weird West and expand your creative range.

We’ll break down what makes a story a true weird western (hint: The Mandalorian and Firefly count), and how to strike the right balance between historical flavor and speculative strangeness. You’ll learn how to:

Build immersive settings and plots that evoke the Old West without falling into clichés and harmful stereotypesFlip familiar tropes into fresh and thought-provoking elementsDraw inspiration from historical accounts with empathy and nuanceDevelop grounded characters and high-stakes conflictsAvoid common pitfalls of writers starting out in this genreBlend horror, fantasy, science fiction and history in unexpected ways

Through guided writing exercises and expert feedback, you’ll harness vivid sensory details and create powerful emotional arcs to make your story sing.

We’ll also cover the publishing landscape for Weird Westerns—what editors are looking for, where to submit, and how to steer clear of tired tropes and cultural pitfalls that can undermine your story.

By the end of the workshop, you’ll leave with the foundation of your own weird western, along with tools for revisions and submissions. Whether you’re breaking into the genre or expanding your creative frontier, this course will equip you to ride confidently into the weird west.

DATE: June 27, 2025 at 2pm ET / 11 am PT

Creating Weird West Stories That Sizzle And Sell

About Your Instructor

KC Grifant is an award-winning Southern Californian author who writes speculative stories in the horror, fantasy, sci-fi and weird west genres. She authored the award-winning supernatural western Monster Gunslinger series and Shrouded Horror: Tales of the Uncanny.

She is editor of Women of the Weird West, and co-editor of Dread Coast: SoCal Horror Tales and Of Terrors and Tombstones, as well as creator of Weird West Fiction, a website that showcases diverse weird west authors.

In addition, she is a published short story writer, with dozens of tales appearing in podcasts, magazines and Stoker-nominated anthologies, including: PseudoPod, Andromeda Spaceways Magazine, Unnerving Magazine, Cosmic Horror Monthly, Dark Matter Magazine, Sley House Presents, the British SF Association’s Fission Magazine, Tales to Terrify, the Lovecraft eZine; Musings of the Muse; Dancing in the Shadows—A Tribute to Anne Rice; the Stoker-nominated Chromophobia; the Stoker-nominated Fright Mare: Women Write Horror, and many others.

She teaches genre and short story workshops and has been a moderator, panelist or speaker at dozens of conferences and events. In 2016, she co-founded the Horror Writers Association San Diego Chapter, an organization that helps to promote the horror genre and co-chaired its flagship international event, StokerCon, in 2024. She is also a member of numerous writing organizations and a Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association mentor. Aside from constructing imaginary worlds, she works as an award-winning science communicator and tries to keep up with two small wildlings.