This Week in Speculative Fiction with The Horror Tree for 12/26/2025

In this Newsletter, you'll find...

• 🌟 Intro

• 🌟 Newsletter sponsor

• 🌟 Horror Tree / Trembling With Fear Updates

• 🌟 Newsletter sponsor

• 🌟 Articles

• 🌟 Free Fiction Roundup

• 🌟 Writing Prompt

• 🌟 Newsletter sponsor

• 🌟 Weekly Post Roundup

🌟 Newsletter sponsor

Read Project Threshold

🌟 Horror Tree / Trembling With Fear Updates

Hi all.
This year has been a really good one for Horror Tree. More readers are showing up. More writers are sending brave, weird, beautiful work. More stories are finding homes. More proof that speculative fiction folks are the kind of people who keep the lights on for each other, even when we’re writing about what’s lurking just outside them.

I’m also running on peppermint fumes and sheer determination right now. Between the holiday chaos, the plans, the travel, the food, the “wait, we still need to wrap that,” and the general joyful mess of December, I’m exhausted and slammed. The good kind, though. The kind that reminds you life is full, and that the full parts are worth it.

The new year is right around the corner. Fresh calendars. Fresh goals. Fresh chances to finish that draft, start the next one, or give yourself permission to rest before you sprint again. Whatever your end-of-year vibe is, I hope you get a little breathing room and a little creative spark before we flip the page.

We’re mere days to the end of the year and a fresh start, so settle in, grab something warm, and let’s end this week on a high note. 🎄📚✨

And now, I will return you to your regularly scheduled newsletter!

🌟 Newsletter sponsor

Read InhuMANities today!

“Dark, visceral, poetic and devastatingly honest, Robertsons writing lives at the intersection of unabashed hunger, desire, beauty and repulsion. These tales strike at the heart of the queer, gothic soul. They are beautifully painful and darkly necessary. A must read for all those who love unflinching art.”
-Suzan Palumbo Author of Countess and Skin Thief.

🌟 Articles

This week, I’m sharing articles from General and Craft. Firstly, Writers in the Storm has writer and publisher Lisa Norman discuss creativity as an act of belief. We need to believe in what we write, to enjoy what we write, or we’re wasting our creative energy. It’s a reflective article with encouragement for the new year. In craft, Mythcreants analyses five character and plot motivation issues and how they can be fixed. Motivation keeps the character and the plot going, but if there’s issues, then the motivation is weak, and the plot falls apart as readers poke holes and refuse to read more or review it badly. Lastly, Every Writer's Resource shares a list of Christmas writing prompts to help spark your imagination this season. Rather unlike our Horror Tree writing prompt (see below), this list is questions designed to get you thinking about your own Christmas experiences.   

General:

Writers in the Storm: “When We Believe”

Craft:

Mythcreants: “Five Common Motivation Issues and How to Address Them”

Every Writers Resource: “160 Christmas Writing Prompts”

From Horror Tree:

Bloodborne: The Death of Sleep Deluxe Edition - Graphic Novel Review

Book Review - Something’s Wrong With Maddie 🧟‍♀️

Hell’s Heart by Alexis Hall - Cosmic Horror Book Review 🌌🐋

🌟 Free Fiction Roundup

This week’s free fiction is a whole range of speculative fiction on the theme of Christmas. Firstly “‘Twas the Week Before Christmas” is a fantasy flash story from the point of view of a leprechaun called Pádraig who works as a Santa’s Little Helper to make ends meet alongside other jobs. It is a compelling read with interesting characters and world-building. Next, “The Last Christmas” is a horror story about Santa Claus’s sleigh being clipped by a jet and crashing into the ocean. There’s gore and an ending that will make you furious especially when you realise it is based on real events. Next, “I’ll be Home for Christmas” is a horror drabble (100 word story) about the narrator who is determined to be home for Christmas but something is off. There’s great suspense and dark hints that leave the imagery up to the reader. Lastly, “37 Minutes” is a sci-fi flash about an argument between Jan and Paul who live as part of a colony on Mars. They argue over whether it is actually Christmas or it will be in 37 minutes based on which calendar. There’s a wonderful twist at the end that will make you chuckle. Enjoy reading!   

“‘Twas the Week Before Christmas” by Karl Dandenell at Wyldblood (scroll down the homepage).

“The Last Christmas" by Jacque Day at Carnage House Publishing.

“I'll be Home for Christmas” by Timmy le Frog at Black Hare Press.

“37 Minutes” by Greg Beatty at Flash Point SF.

🌟 Writing Prompt

Writing Exercise: New Year's Resolution

Your protagonist has polyphobia and is determined that this new year will be the year they will overcome their fears. They decide to pick a small fear, one that usually isn’t a problem with their everyday life, and so they choose to tackle capraphobia. 

They drive to a farm with their therapist, who hands them goat feed. If they can feed a goat, then they were cured, or so claimed their therapist. 

They tremble head to toe and slowly outstretch their hand to a beady-eyed goat. The goat eats, nibbling before chomping. 

The protagonist yelps and pulls their hand away immediately. They’d lost a finger.

Yet the therapist still ticked a box, noting that there were still 65 phobias to tackle.  

What happens next is up to you…Let your imagination run wild!

🌟 Newsletter sponsor

The Daily Newsletter for Intellectually Curious Readers

Join over 4 million Americans who start their day with 1440 – your daily digest for unbiased, fact-centric news. From politics to sports, we cover it all by analyzing over 100 sources. Our concise, 5-minute read lands in your inbox each morning at no cost. Experience news without the noise; let 1440 help you make up your own mind. Sign up now and invite your friends and family to be part of the informed.

Join for free today!

🌟 Weekly Post Roundup