Twisted50 is back. Chris Jones, founder of Create50 and the London Screenwriters' Festival, is joined by Amy to launch Volume Five of the horror anthology: 50 short, terrifying stories, written and shaped by a global community of writers.

In this episode

• What's new: submissions and reading now happen on TalentCircle.org, the new home for Create50, the Screenwriters' Festival, courses and events
• Already done something with Create50? You're probably on the system. Request a password using your existing email
• How Volume Four was chosen: judges' scores, "must include" nominations, community feedback and a long session in the pub (no alcohol involved) deciding the final 50 and their order
• Formatting matters: you now paste your story straight into the platform, so please no tabs, no stray line spaces, and check how it looks on the page
• Themes we expect: monsters, serial killers, AI and robots, and the new wave of liminal horror
• Keep it contemporary. A little into the future is fine, but not too far
• 2,000 words is a limit, not a target. Some of the strongest stories came in well under, and 100 words that scare us is welcome too
• Add a specific visual image description with your story, as we create images for each one on the platform
• Amy's advice: submit early and don't talk yourself out of it
• Chris's advice: leave an impression. Write something that stays with the reader days later

How it works

1. Submit your story (£15)
2. The community reads it and leaves feedback
3. Let it stew, then redraft and submit your final version
4. The deadline is Halloween 2027, so there's plenty of time

Timestamps

• 00:00 Welcome and Twisted50 Volume Five
• 01:15 The move to Talent Circle
• 02:48 How Volume Four was put together
• 06:31 New submission process and formatting
• 07:41 Themes we expect to see
• 08:53 Keep it contemporary
• 09:58 You don't need to use all 2,000 words
• 10:37 Images, and the awards night in London
• 11:29 Amy's advice: submit early
• 12:53 How the feedback process works
• 14:06 A global project
• 14:47 Leave an impression

Links

• Submit: talentcircle.org
• Read past stories: twisted50.com
• All previous Twisted50 books are on Amazon
• Can't find your account? Email chris@londonswf.com or chris@create50.com

This fascinating conversation with filmmaker Chris Jones really dives deep into the world of independent filmmaking and creative storytelling. He's currently wrapping up an exciting community-driven project called Twisted50, a horror anthology book that showcases the power of collaborative creativity.

What really stands out is Chris's philosophy about taking action with whatever resources you have - as he puts it, "I'm a great believer in you taking action with the resources that you have, which will never be enough." He offers some brilliant insights into the horror genre, explaining that true horror is "fundamentally suspense with a shock and a story that unsettles," and shares concerns about how our "popcorn culture delivered in 30-second sound bites on TikTok is rewiring our brains."

For anyone looking to break into filmmaking or writing, Chris's advice is refreshingly simple: just start. "You type the first word. Because if you're going to make a movie... it starts with the written word." The discussion also touches on how military experience can translate beautifully into filmmaking, bringing essential qualities like "grit, discipline, focus" that many in the industry lack. It's an inspiring listen for anyone passionate about storytelling and creative pursuits.

Horror writing isn't just about throwing some blood and guts on the page - it's about diving deep into the darkest corners of your mind and seeing what creepy creatures crawl out. That's exactly what the folks on the Twisted 50 Volume 3 podcast showed us when they got together to chat about their spine-chilling anthology.

The podcast brought together quite the crew - you had Chris Jones hosting, Kate Bemis wearing her editor hat, and three authors (James, Paul, and Lewis) who weren't afraid to get their hands dirty in the horror genre. Kate kicked things off by admitting she had to wade through 150 stories, which is enough to make anyone's eyes cross! She joked about needing her glasses, but you could tell she was totally up for the challenge.

Things got really interesting when the authors started spilling the beans about their stories. Paul dove into his tale about a serial killer (because who doesn't love a good murder story, right?), while James took us on a twisted journey through the mind of a psychopath on a date - talk about dinner conversation! Lewis brought something different to the table with his zombie apocalypse story, which actually came from a pretty personal place dealing with depression. It's pretty amazing how writers can take their dark experiences and turn them into something creative.

The whole gang got really deep when they started talking about where they get their inspiration from. It turns out writing horror can be kind of therapeutic - who knew? Lewis really opened up about how feeling out of control in his own life led to his zombie story, saying "I felt I had no control over my own self and the whole outside world is controlling me." That's the kind of raw honesty that makes horror stories hit home.

One of the coolest things about Twisted 50 is how they handle feedback. Instead of the usual "this is great" or "this sucks," they've got this whole community vibe going on where writers help each other out. James mentioned how easy it is to get lost in your own story and how having fresh eyes on your work can be a game-changer. The editing process sounds more like a writing workshop than a scary editorial chopping block.

The conversation took an exciting turn when they started talking about possibly turning some of these stories into movies. I mean, who wouldn't want to see these twisted tales on the big screen? Paul was practically bouncing off the walls with excitement about the film potential, and honestly, a horror anthology film sounds pretty sweet.

The cherry on top was all the advice they dished out for aspiring horror writers. Kate dropped this gem: "The less you care, the better the writing almost always is." It's like she's telling us to stop overthinking and just let our inner Stephen King run wild. They wrapped everything up by inviting writers to submit to Volume 4, basically saying "come on in, the water's bloody... I mean, fine!"

For anyone thinking about dipping their toes into horror writing, this podcast showed that it's not just about scaring people - it's about finding your voice, sharing your darkness, and maybe making some friends who are just as twisted as you are. Whether you're writing about zombies, psychopaths, or things that go bump in the night, there's room for everyone in this creepy little corner of the literary world.