Cryptids & Paranormal Expert Series

Starts October 7th, 2025!

Days

Hours

Minutes

Seconds

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Tap into the weird, the mysterious, the unseen — and make your readers believe the unbelievable.

Step Into the Shadows

Readers love stories that whisper, What if?

From cryptids and paranormal encounters to folklore and the mysteries of the unknown, tales that blur the line between reality and myth have fascinated people for generations. But writing them well takes more than imagination — it takes craft, research, and the ability to balance mystery with believability.

That’s exactly what this workshop delivers.

What We’ll Cover:

Embrace the Lore: Use folklore, mythology, and cryptid history as a foundation for compelling fiction.
Explore Ambiguity: Harness the power of uncertainty to leave readers questioning and engaged.
Create Intriguing Settings: Bring your worlds to life by rooting them in vivid locations and cultural legends.
Q&A Opportunity: Ask questions live or submit them in advance for personalized guidance.

Tuesday, October 7th @ 6:00 PM ET
Replay available for all registrants

Your Guides Into the unknown:

Jeremy Socha

Host of The Infinite Rabbit Hole podcast, Jeremy is a U.S. Navy veteran whose lifelong fascination with the unexplained began after witnessing a towering humanoid figure in Vermont’s forests at age nine.

From cryptids and supernatural lore to fringe science and alternative histories, Jeremy explores the mysteries that exist beyond the everyday — and he’ll show you how to infuse your fiction with the same sense of wonder and discovery.

Lyle Blackburn

Lyle Blackburn is a Texas-based author, podcaster, and cryptid researcher best known for books such as The Beast of Boggy Creek and Texas Bigfoot.

His balanced approach combines gripping narrative with serious research, preserving the history of famous cryptid cases. He has appeared on numerous TV programs including The UnXplained, Monsters and Mysteries in America, Strange Evidence, and Finding Bigfoot, and contributed to nine Small Town Monsters documentaries.

Lyle also hosts the Monstro Bizarro podcast and YouTube channel. At conferences across the U.S., he’s instantly recognizable by his signature black cowboy hat.

What You’ll Learn:

- Hook Readers with Lore — Tap into folklore, mythology, and cryptid history as a foundation for compelling fiction.

- Harness the Power of Mystery — Use ambiguity and the unexplained to keep readers questioning and engaged.

- Build Worlds That Feel Alive — Create vivid settings rooted in cultural legends and real places.

- Engage with the Experts — Ask Jeremy and Lyle your questions live, or submit them in advance for personalized insight.

Why This Workshop Matters

The market for paranormal, speculative, and cryptid-inspired fiction is booming — from TikTok obsessions to streaming documentaries and bestsellers. Readers are hungry for stories that blur the line between legend and reality.

This workshop gives you the tools to write in this space with confidence, authenticity, and style.

Who This Workshop Is For

- Fiction writers interested in paranormal, horror, or speculative genres

- Authors who want to weave folklore and myth into their work

- Storytellers looking to deepen atmosphere and suspense

- Anyone curious about crafting believable mysteries rooted in the unexplained

This workshop gives you the tools to write in this space with confidence, authenticity, and style.

Why Writers Love AutoCrit Expert Workshops

I really liked the examples of the concepts in well known novels. It helps with understanding the breakdowns.

Love the efficiency and value of the course. The offline work paired with the lessons, then reinforced by the live class, in addition to real-time instructor/student feedback.

Daniel is funny and his use of tech was extremely entertaining. The lessons were thorough and interesting. I feel like I learned a lot.

These courses are helping me build my confidence and skill as a writer. I love that I keep access to the materials after the class is finished.

The guest speakers alone are worth the price of admission. It’s like a writer’s convention in your home. Well worth the time, effort, and investment.

I’ve never felt so welcome and valued in a course before. Both teachers and students were so graceful towards one another from start to finish.

Excellent quality, filled with recommendations, advice and content, as promised. There was a LOT more added into it than I was expecting to receive. What an eye opener this was for me!