Derick Turner

Most people overthink the opening of a book. They treat it like some mythical doorway that has to be poetic, flawless, and worthy of a publishing deal on its own. That’s nonsense. The opening matters, yes, but not because it needs to be beautiful. It matters because it needs to pull the reader in fast and tell them, quietly, “You’re safe. I know what I’m doing.”

Grimdark isn’t for everyone. It appeals to readers who crave realism, moral complexity, and stories that actually make them think. This guide will explain how to write a short story in the uncompromising spirit of the grimdark genre.