Author and film-maker Johnzy Zombee tells us of his writing journey . . .
What does writing mean to you?
I think fiction is the best medium for telling a story. It allows me to explore a character’s mind and reveal what’s going on inside them. I’ve always been drawn to putting words on the page, but I only really started writing stories at 17, and my very first goal was to complete a feature-length screenplay. I knew how to structure it, but it felt like an impasse. Around that age, I began writing prose. Horror is the genre I feel most comfortable in. For me, it is the ultimate form of escapism: you can follow a story about everyday life that takes a dark turn, then close the book and relax on your couch with a cup of chamomile tea. I truly believe the characters and worlds I create exist beyond me, in parallel universes. Some of my latest stories have lingered in my mind, seeping into my sleep and giving me nightmares.
How do you approach it?
Once a story is in my head, I start by getting words on the page. After the first few paragraphs, the story often begins to write itself. When characters start speaking for themselves, I know I’ve broken the mould. This process feels like a form of alchemy. There’s a magic to it. I’m very fortunate that ideas are always present, as if I can pluck them straight from the air. I also have a very detailed memory. I can recall life events and conversations going back decades, and all of it finds its way into my writing. The hard work happens during rewrites, which I find particularly taxing. Once I can skim without making too many changes, I abandon it.
Writing is hard, hard work, and it requires significant amounts of energy, but it’s worth it. For my college dissertation, I explored 1970s American horror cinema through a feminist academic lens. It was a fascinating way to analyse the formulaic elements of that golden era, particularly the focus on masked killers and final girls.
I conduct extensive research with every story, to ensure each narrative reflects real life as closely as possible.
How have you achieved your goals?
I have directed two short films: the award-winning Battle Scars, which I co-wrote, and Little Devil, which I wrote myself. Last April, I self-published Tension Wrench & 99 Other Micro Horror Stories. I identified a gap in the market for ten-word horror stories and wrote my own, exactly the kind of book I would choose from a shelf. It was reviewed in Issue #53 of ScribesMICRO. I’m also working on a collection of twenty horror stories with a target word count of 100,000; I am currently over 70% there. Getting an agent and publisher is challenging, but I continue to pursue opportunities, knocking on as many doors as I see.
Writing has now become a part of my daily routine, producing between 1,000 and 4,000 words per session. My editing process is very thorough. I check grammar, sentence structure, and flow. Some of my stories have been adapted into audio for horror podcasts such as Creepy and Tales from the Breakroom. Hearing my first story performed by an actor was an unforgettable experience, and I listened with objective attention. Buttercup Cords follows Julia, who, after her sister’s death, wanders her house searching for the source of a mysterious scream.
Johnzy Zombee: Future Plans
As of February 2026, I have written two feature-length screenplays on spec: one horror and one Garda procedural. Last February, I published an academic paper on Zenodo titled A Jigsaw Broke My Brain: The 19-Year Struggle for a Mental Health Diagnosis. It reflects on my own battles with mental health and stigma. I was prescribed the antipsychotic Olanzapine (Zyprexa) off-label without a formal diagnosis, which caused a range of adverse effects and a traumatic withdrawal. I hope my account has helped others.
I plan to write a novel in the future, but only with a clear goal. Writing on spec can feel like a losing game.
Writing means the world to me and has become part of my daily routine. If I was asked to give any advice to aspiring writers, it would be this: get the words down on the page. You might be pleasantly surprised by what you get.
(c) Johnzy Zombee
https://www.youtube.com/@JohnzyZombee
About Tension Wrench & 99 other micro horror stories by Johnzy Zombee:
One hundred micro nightmares. Each no more than ten words. Each designed to slip in unnoticed and stay there. A collection that will breathe into the unwelcomed corners of your mind, stories that will force you to think outside the box. Then make you regret stepping out.
This is horror stripped to one of its shortest mediums, condensed into the quickest of bursts. This collection doesn’t blink. And neither should you.
Tension Wrench by Johnzy Zombee includes: Circadian Arrhythmic, Popcorn Lung, Defib, Witchdoctor, Thunderclap Headache, Anaesthetised, My Favorite Monster and Prime Real Estate.
Order your copy online here.
And read more Writing & Me articles on Writing.ie here.
