Russ Black

Five weeks of repose.
Now the second draft of LIGHTS.
Working the big chunks first.

#writing #wip #seconddraft #writingcommunity #horror

Sorry that happened.
I enjoyed your account.
Hope you stay safe.

Horror, psychological horror, supernatural.

Anders,
Absolutely.
This is my favorite of his work. It's brutal.

Originally posted 12.11.2025

Holy hell – finished first draft of first novel.
If I couldn't remember the past nine years I wouldn't believe it.
Wrote five practice novels trying to find my style & what worked.
Today is a win.

#firstdraftdone #Writing #Wip #WritingCommunity #finishedmanuscript

"Well, I won't back down No, I won't back down You could stand me up at the gates of Hell, But I won't back down. No, I'll stand my ground, Won't be turned around. And I'll keep this world from draggin' me down - Gonna stand my ground." I Won't Back Down #TomPetty and the Heartbreakers, 1989.

"Well, I won't back down
No, I won't back down
You could stand me up at the gates of Hell,
But I won't back down.
No, I'll stand my ground,
Won't be turned around.
And I'll keep this world from draggin' me down -
Gonna stand my ground."

I Won't Back Down
#TomPetty and the Heartbreakers, 1989.

Have a FANTASTIC New Year! (Hanging out with nephews, decided to draw Reed with nod to Dale Eaglesham style) #FantasticFour #ReedRichards #MisterFantastic #Marvel #Illustration #CouncilofReeds #UltimateNullifier #MCU #InfinityGauntlet

Have a FANTASTIC New Year!

(Hanging out with nephews, decided to draw Reed with nod to Dale Eaglesham style)

#FantasticFour #ReedRichards #MisterFantastic #Marvel #Illustration #CouncilofReeds #UltimateNullifier #MCU #InfinityGauntlet

Watched 4 movies:
Ready or Not, 2019
Mickey 17, 2025
Babes in Toyland, 1934
Miracle on 34th Street, 1947

#SamaraWeavingCallMe

Joined the Horror Writers Association.

#HWA #WritingCommunity #Authors #Horror #LiteraryAgent #Editor #Publishers #HorrorWritersAssociation

Unintentional research: met Albanian woman in hospital who said she was possessed by a demon. We talked. She liked talking to me because I'm "sweet and nonjudgmental." Woman Possessed Peter Paine, 1974

Unintentional research:
met Albanian woman in hospital who said she was possessed by a demon.

We talked. She liked talking to me because I'm "sweet and nonjudgmental."

Woman Possessed
Peter Paine, 1974

Spending time with the nephews. Sometimes crayon holiday drawings get out of control.

Spending time with the nephews. Sometimes crayon holiday drawings get out of control.

There's a lover in my heart Killer in my hands Whiskey on my breath Someone handed me a ladder And for the longest time I've been climbing to the bottom of it. Three Nights #BlackFlag, 1984

There's a lover in my heart
Killer in my hands
Whiskey on my breath

Someone handed me a ladder
And for the longest time
I've been climbing

to the bottom of it.

Three Nights
#BlackFlag, 1984

This evening's writing space was across the street from the bar.

Wasn't planning on a trip this holiday, but I went and I'm glad I did... It sucked so much, I have the plotline for my next book! #writingcommunity #WIP #writing #author #writer #bookcommunity #horror

Wasn't planning on a trip this holiday, but I went and I'm glad I did...
It sucked so much, I have the plotline for my next book!
#writingcommunity #WIP #writing #author #writer #bookcommunity #horror

"I've been splittin' 8's 'n' hittin' straights in the cardrooms of the world Chasin' skirt and gettin' hurt but now I got card playin' girl Man she gets excited when the deal don't come out right, It's time to switch to whiskey we been drinkin' beer all night" Time To Switch #CorbLund, 2002

"I've been splittin' 8's
'n' hittin' straights
in the cardrooms of the world
Chasin' skirt
and gettin' hurt
but now I got card playin' girl

Man she gets excited
when the deal
don't come out right,
It's time to switch to whiskey we been drinkin' beer all night"

Time To Switch
#CorbLund, 2002

Most of my book has been written in parking lots.
I recall this trend for writers, sharing their writing spot with a photo... mine would be a parking lot – any parking lot.
#WritingCommunity #Editor #LiteraryAgent

A-TEAM sketch. I was waiting on hold. #ATEAM #BABARACUS #FACE #HANNIBAL #MURDOC

A-TEAM sketch.
I was waiting on hold.
#ATEAM #BABARACUS #FACE #HANNIBAL #MURDOC

After one day of gathering ideas, one day of overtime, and one day of sleeping, me and the words are back! Got in 2000 words on a scene I didn't know was coming. "Thank you, Miss Violet." #Writing #WIP #WritingCommunity#Manuscript #Editor #LiteraryAgent #BookPublisher

After one day of gathering ideas, one day of overtime, and one day of sleeping, me and the words are back!

Got in 2000 words on a scene I didn't know was coming.

"Thank you, Miss Violet."

#Writing #WIP #WritingCommunity#Manuscript #Editor #LiteraryAgent #BookPublisher

I'm looking to connect with literary agents interested in: "Supernatural Horror / Psychological Thriller" Any recommendations (with searchable links / evidence) ? #writingcommunity #literaryagent #WIP #SupernaturalHorror #PsychologicalThriller #Publisher #Editor #Writer

I'm looking to connect with literary agents interested in:
"Supernatural Horror / Psychological Thriller"

Any recommendations (with searchable links / evidence) ?

#writingcommunity #literaryagent #WIP
#SupernaturalHorror #PsychologicalThriller #Publisher #Editor #Writer

Yesterday was one of a few rest days in the past month from writing.

I wasn't sure about resting and letting ideas percolate, mainly because of the fear of not continuing - losing momentum.

Turns out it was useful.
I got a lot of new stuff.

#WritingCommunity #Editors #Agents #Publishers

Approaching the halfway point on the first draft.
Its exciting.
Consistency is key for me.
#writing #wip #author #writingcommunity #readingcommunity #manuscript #editor #literaryagent #publisher #suspense #thriller #horror

Today was rough going.
It was hard to start and get into the flow, but by the end I had out 2.5K

Someone else said it, but it's true for me: "Every day - good or bad, show up and do the time. Something is bound to happen."

#writingcommunity #writers
#Booksky

Paul Gauguin D'où venons-nous? Que sommes-nous? Où allons-nous?, 1914. My friend Sharon made Gauguin more interesting than art school had, w/ mushrooms, weed, & big book of color plates #Art #Artwork #PaulGauguin #ArtLivingRentFree #Painting #MetaphysicalArt #symbolicart #Tahiti #Fauvism #Sauvage

Paul Gauguin
D'où venons-nous? Que sommes-nous? Où allons-nous?, 1914.

My friend Sharon made Gauguin more interesting than art school had, w/ mushrooms, weed, & big book of color plates

#Art #Artwork #PaulGauguin #ArtLivingRentFree #Painting #MetaphysicalArt #symbolicart #Tahiti #Fauvism #Sauvage

Question: Why do you write?
Answer: I hate people, so...

I had a couple Avengers Marvel reprints. Always loved this cover. At the time, I wanted to follow up with the "Masters of Evil" cover - Superfriends vs. Legion of Doom. Maybe Dolphin will make that cover remake ;)

I had a couple Avengers Marvel reprints. Always loved this cover.
At the time, I wanted to follow up with the "Masters of Evil" cover - Superfriends vs. Legion of Doom.
Maybe Dolphin will make that cover remake ;)

I grew up with those late 70s super friends, the non-white ones. Even though they were bad stereotypes, I liked them, especially Black Vulcan, El Dorado, and Apache Chief. I did this as tribute. #Avengers #SuperFriends #ElDorado #BlackVulcan #ApacheChief #Samurai #Comic bookArt #Art

I grew up with those late 70s super friends, the non-white ones. Even though they were bad stereotypes, I liked them, especially Black Vulcan, El Dorado, and Apache Chief.

I did this as tribute.
#Avengers #SuperFriends #ElDorado #BlackVulcan #ApacheChief #Samurai #Comic bookArt #Art

I had a great spat of writing this morning. Trying to stay consistent – consistently writing instead of consistently not.

#Writing #WritingCommunity #ReadingCommunity #WIP

Writer writing.
#Portrait #DigitalPhotography #Writing #Author #Writer

During downtime, I drew with my nephews. I came up with this. They told my sister I drew a "scary owl man."

#originalart #wip #art #owl #drawing

Finally making time / taking time to write my novel.

Job and relationships have been at the fore.

Now writing to:
Prince of Darkness
John Carpenter & Alan Howarth, 1987.

#writingcommunity #writing #crime #horror #filmscore #johncarpenter #princeofdarkness