Ben Pienaar
@benpienaar.bsky.social
Award winning horror writer of the strange and creepy variety.
Holly and the Nobodies
Carve Your Soul to Pieces
Peeping Eyes and Lipless Mouths
Holly and the Nobodies
Carve Your Soul to Pieces
Peeping Eyes and Lipless Mouths
Pinned
Ben Pienaar
@benpienaar.bsky.social
· Sep 25
Keen as hell to finally have something coming out again! Get ready...
In the mean time check out this badass cover by the great @kealanpatrickburke.bsky.social at elderlemon designs!
If you like bittersweet, noir horror, pre-order here: acesse.one/mw164
In the mean time check out this badass cover by the great @kealanpatrickburke.bsky.social at elderlemon designs!
If you like bittersweet, noir horror, pre-order here: acesse.one/mw164
You ever keep reading a book despite its many flaws because you enjoy the 'flavour' so much? Like, this is not great but it reminds me so much of X movie/book/song/general vibe that I now love it?
January 22, 2026 at 12:44 AM
You ever keep reading a book despite its many flaws because you enjoy the 'flavour' so much? Like, this is not great but it reminds me so much of X movie/book/song/general vibe that I now love it?
Writing for fun is like Pizza: even when it's bad, it's still pretty good
January 13, 2026 at 1:24 AM
Writing for fun is like Pizza: even when it's bad, it's still pretty good
The struggle of going online while dodging Stranger Things spoilers because I haven't caught up yet is crazy. I don't normally binge shows but this might be the exception
January 6, 2026 at 3:33 AM
The struggle of going online while dodging Stranger Things spoilers because I haven't caught up yet is crazy. I don't normally binge shows but this might be the exception
I don't know how many pages or exactly how much time I spend reading every day. I just... like to read? I do it when I can? I don't care if it improves me as a person. Probably I'd still do it if it was unhealthy, like some kind of delicious cigarette. I'd have books stashed in bags under the bed
December 16, 2025 at 12:06 AM
I don't know how many pages or exactly how much time I spend reading every day. I just... like to read? I do it when I can? I don't care if it improves me as a person. Probably I'd still do it if it was unhealthy, like some kind of delicious cigarette. I'd have books stashed in bags under the bed
I read somewhere that the pagans used to hang the organs of animals they sacrificed for yule on pine trees, and that this is where the idea of Christmas tree ornaments originated. Bring back the old traditions I say!
December 4, 2025 at 1:09 AM
I read somewhere that the pagans used to hang the organs of animals they sacrificed for yule on pine trees, and that this is where the idea of Christmas tree ornaments originated. Bring back the old traditions I say!
I don't like making goals about things I can't control. Instead of: 'my book will be read and loved by the masses', I prefer to think: 'For my next book I will write the most unique and interesting characters I can.'
Or at the very least: 'I will not prioritize nachos over writing today'
Or at the very least: 'I will not prioritize nachos over writing today'
November 28, 2025 at 2:04 AM
I don't like making goals about things I can't control. Instead of: 'my book will be read and loved by the masses', I prefer to think: 'For my next book I will write the most unique and interesting characters I can.'
Or at the very least: 'I will not prioritize nachos over writing today'
Or at the very least: 'I will not prioritize nachos over writing today'
The cool thing about books is you can just buy as many as you want every time you pass a bookstore and they will sit, happily on your shelf like so much wine in a cellar, waiting for when the time is right for you to read them. And then they can be given away. It literally can't go wrong
November 25, 2025 at 2:50 AM
The cool thing about books is you can just buy as many as you want every time you pass a bookstore and they will sit, happily on your shelf like so much wine in a cellar, waiting for when the time is right for you to read them. And then they can be given away. It literally can't go wrong
"I may be bad... but I feel good"
- Army of Darkness, classic
- Army of Darkness, classic
if you were gonna get a tramp stamp of a line from a horror movie what would you get?
November 24, 2025 at 12:56 AM
"I may be bad... but I feel good"
- Army of Darkness, classic
- Army of Darkness, classic
get to know your mutuals! list 10 random things you like
1. Mezcal
2. Chess
3. Hyenas
4. Brazillian Jiu Jitsu
5. Cold, Dark, Stormy Weather
6. Surfing, and big scary waves
7. Very hot Vindaloo
8. The DOOM games
9. Supernatural noir horror
10. Lana Del Rey music
1. Mezcal
2. Chess
3. Hyenas
4. Brazillian Jiu Jitsu
5. Cold, Dark, Stormy Weather
6. Surfing, and big scary waves
7. Very hot Vindaloo
8. The DOOM games
9. Supernatural noir horror
10. Lana Del Rey music
get to know your mutuals! list 10 random things you like
Oldies
Ghost stories
Cats
Poison rings
Margaret Keane paintings
Street Tacos
Petrichor
Stereoscopic Cards
Coffee
Magic Hour
Oldies
Ghost stories
Cats
Poison rings
Margaret Keane paintings
Street Tacos
Petrichor
Stereoscopic Cards
Coffee
Magic Hour
get to know your mutuals! list 10 random things you like
Blink 182’s self-titled album
Dinosaurs
First sip of coffee in the AM
George Romero movies
Lasagna
“Metroid” games
My three cats
Myth and religion
“The Stars My Destination”
Uninterrupted sleep
Blink 182’s self-titled album
Dinosaurs
First sip of coffee in the AM
George Romero movies
Lasagna
“Metroid” games
My three cats
Myth and religion
“The Stars My Destination”
Uninterrupted sleep
November 11, 2025 at 11:19 PM
get to know your mutuals! list 10 random things you like
1. Mezcal
2. Chess
3. Hyenas
4. Brazillian Jiu Jitsu
5. Cold, Dark, Stormy Weather
6. Surfing, and big scary waves
7. Very hot Vindaloo
8. The DOOM games
9. Supernatural noir horror
10. Lana Del Rey music
1. Mezcal
2. Chess
3. Hyenas
4. Brazillian Jiu Jitsu
5. Cold, Dark, Stormy Weather
6. Surfing, and big scary waves
7. Very hot Vindaloo
8. The DOOM games
9. Supernatural noir horror
10. Lana Del Rey music
Books I just bought:
Coffin Moon - Keith Rosson
Rest Stop - Nat Cassidy
Necroscope - Brian Lumly
Crypt of the Moon Spider - Nathan Ballingrud
Darkness that Comes Before - R.Scott Bakker
A Game in Yellow - Hailey Piper
Will prob get King Sorrow and Tom's Crossing in hardcover
Coffin Moon - Keith Rosson
Rest Stop - Nat Cassidy
Necroscope - Brian Lumly
Crypt of the Moon Spider - Nathan Ballingrud
Darkness that Comes Before - R.Scott Bakker
A Game in Yellow - Hailey Piper
Will prob get King Sorrow and Tom's Crossing in hardcover
November 10, 2025 at 11:27 PM
Books I just bought:
Coffin Moon - Keith Rosson
Rest Stop - Nat Cassidy
Necroscope - Brian Lumly
Crypt of the Moon Spider - Nathan Ballingrud
Darkness that Comes Before - R.Scott Bakker
A Game in Yellow - Hailey Piper
Will prob get King Sorrow and Tom's Crossing in hardcover
Coffin Moon - Keith Rosson
Rest Stop - Nat Cassidy
Necroscope - Brian Lumly
Crypt of the Moon Spider - Nathan Ballingrud
Darkness that Comes Before - R.Scott Bakker
A Game in Yellow - Hailey Piper
Will prob get King Sorrow and Tom's Crossing in hardcover
Horror and Noir are such a great blend. Who does it best? Besides Silvia Moreno Garcia of course - I'm already reading everything of hers...
November 10, 2025 at 1:24 AM
Horror and Noir are such a great blend. Who does it best? Besides Silvia Moreno Garcia of course - I'm already reading everything of hers...
Today in writing: No words. Stared at screen for 10 minutes, then wall for 15. Then realised there is a much better way to start the final act of this novel. Deleted last scene, then made a rough plan for what comes next. Smiled at ceiling and thought for 25 min.
Total of minus 1250 words. Satisfied
Total of minus 1250 words. Satisfied
November 7, 2025 at 11:05 PM
Today in writing: No words. Stared at screen for 10 minutes, then wall for 15. Then realised there is a much better way to start the final act of this novel. Deleted last scene, then made a rough plan for what comes next. Smiled at ceiling and thought for 25 min.
Total of minus 1250 words. Satisfied
Total of minus 1250 words. Satisfied
Dancing for the Gods officially released! Enjoy my latest 'slice of horror'...
"Pienaar shackles you to his story with razor-wire tension... This page-turning slice of horror will keep you at the mercy of his tale. Zachary Ashford - author of Polyphemus.
shorturl.at/qP0qm
"Pienaar shackles you to his story with razor-wire tension... This page-turning slice of horror will keep you at the mercy of his tale. Zachary Ashford - author of Polyphemus.
shorturl.at/qP0qm
Amazon.com
shorturl.at
October 31, 2025 at 11:44 PM
Dancing for the Gods officially released! Enjoy my latest 'slice of horror'...
"Pienaar shackles you to his story with razor-wire tension... This page-turning slice of horror will keep you at the mercy of his tale. Zachary Ashford - author of Polyphemus.
shorturl.at/qP0qm
"Pienaar shackles you to his story with razor-wire tension... This page-turning slice of horror will keep you at the mercy of his tale. Zachary Ashford - author of Polyphemus.
shorturl.at/qP0qm
I am sick, but writing stops for no man! Even one with a sore throat. I have noticed though that being sick can make me loopy, and i pursue weird story developments i wouldn't normally.
Hmm, maybe i'll give myself 1 strepsil per 500 words. Seems reasonable
Hmm, maybe i'll give myself 1 strepsil per 500 words. Seems reasonable
October 27, 2025 at 3:40 AM
I am sick, but writing stops for no man! Even one with a sore throat. I have noticed though that being sick can make me loopy, and i pursue weird story developments i wouldn't normally.
Hmm, maybe i'll give myself 1 strepsil per 500 words. Seems reasonable
Hmm, maybe i'll give myself 1 strepsil per 500 words. Seems reasonable
I've been working at the same liquor store for almost twelve years, and in that time I wrote 10 horror novels and published the last 3. Selling delicious poison is fun, but it's stories that feed my soul, and one day, that will be all I do. Here's to 10 more!
October 15, 2025 at 2:15 AM
I've been working at the same liquor store for almost twelve years, and in that time I wrote 10 horror novels and published the last 3. Selling delicious poison is fun, but it's stories that feed my soul, and one day, that will be all I do. Here's to 10 more!
I've always preferred having physical books (don't we all?) but lately I've been really getting into the idea of physical media in general. Movies, games, even music. It's so nice to just... have something. In the flesh, as it were.
October 9, 2025 at 2:52 AM
I've always preferred having physical books (don't we all?) but lately I've been really getting into the idea of physical media in general. Movies, games, even music. It's so nice to just... have something. In the flesh, as it were.
In retrospect, doing a deep dive on the Rwandan genocide at 1am was... not the best choice
September 29, 2025 at 2:43 AM
In retrospect, doing a deep dive on the Rwandan genocide at 1am was... not the best choice
Lettuce is the bread of the vegetable world.
September 28, 2025 at 11:22 AM
Lettuce is the bread of the vegetable world.
I'd rather spend 2 hours on a single paragraph I think is good than 1 hour on 2000 words I vomited to hit an arbitrary word count goal. Then again, I'd rather finish a shitty novel in 1 year than agonize over a 'masterpiece' for 10. Strive for perfection, but only until the deadline hits.
September 27, 2025 at 2:12 PM
I'd rather spend 2 hours on a single paragraph I think is good than 1 hour on 2000 words I vomited to hit an arbitrary word count goal. Then again, I'd rather finish a shitty novel in 1 year than agonize over a 'masterpiece' for 10. Strive for perfection, but only until the deadline hits.
Keen as hell to finally have something coming out again! Get ready...
In the mean time check out this badass cover by the great @kealanpatrickburke.bsky.social at elderlemon designs!
If you like bittersweet, noir horror, pre-order here: acesse.one/mw164
In the mean time check out this badass cover by the great @kealanpatrickburke.bsky.social at elderlemon designs!
If you like bittersweet, noir horror, pre-order here: acesse.one/mw164
September 25, 2025 at 1:23 AM
Keen as hell to finally have something coming out again! Get ready...
In the mean time check out this badass cover by the great @kealanpatrickburke.bsky.social at elderlemon designs!
If you like bittersweet, noir horror, pre-order here: acesse.one/mw164
In the mean time check out this badass cover by the great @kealanpatrickburke.bsky.social at elderlemon designs!
If you like bittersweet, noir horror, pre-order here: acesse.one/mw164
Reposted by Ben Pienaar
I once saw advice that would grind my writing to a halt if I followed it. They said that 'you have to know the ending of the story at the start' and that would be impossible to me. I'd lose interest. I need to solve the mystery. I write as my interest arrives and then edit it together layer by layer
Friendly reminder that when folks say that you "have" to follow specific writing advice, you do not, in fact, have to.
What they are sharing is what works for them, and while it might be useful, there is no one way to get your writing out into the world. Do what works for you.
#WritingCommunity
What they are sharing is what works for them, and while it might be useful, there is no one way to get your writing out into the world. Do what works for you.
#WritingCommunity
September 24, 2025 at 12:12 AM
I once saw advice that would grind my writing to a halt if I followed it. They said that 'you have to know the ending of the story at the start' and that would be impossible to me. I'd lose interest. I need to solve the mystery. I write as my interest arrives and then edit it together layer by layer
Reposted by Ben Pienaar
Write what you want.
Embrace who you are.
Forget everything else.
Get lost in the art.
Embrace who you are.
Forget everything else.
Get lost in the art.
September 20, 2025 at 11:05 AM
Write what you want.
Embrace who you are.
Forget everything else.
Get lost in the art.
Embrace who you are.
Forget everything else.
Get lost in the art.
Reposted by Ben Pienaar
My only piece of writing advice is that if your thing DOESN'T include characters saying things like this, it is bad and you should throw it out
September 13, 2025 at 1:14 AM
My only piece of writing advice is that if your thing DOESN'T include characters saying things like this, it is bad and you should throw it out
Reposted by Ben Pienaar
Why I Love Horror lands 9/23. Edited by @raforall.bsky.social, published by @sagapressbooks.bsky.social, this one's not to be missed!
"... my first impulse is to look to my childhood..."
-- John Langan
Indeed, indeed, indeed. My memories are vivid and bloody. So bloody.
#whyilovehorror
"... my first impulse is to look to my childhood..."
-- John Langan
Indeed, indeed, indeed. My memories are vivid and bloody. So bloody.
#whyilovehorror
September 11, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Why I Love Horror lands 9/23. Edited by @raforall.bsky.social, published by @sagapressbooks.bsky.social, this one's not to be missed!
"... my first impulse is to look to my childhood..."
-- John Langan
Indeed, indeed, indeed. My memories are vivid and bloody. So bloody.
#whyilovehorror
"... my first impulse is to look to my childhood..."
-- John Langan
Indeed, indeed, indeed. My memories are vivid and bloody. So bloody.
#whyilovehorror
It's Friday night tonight, and when work's done at 9 I got two bottles of wine waiting for me and whole lot of pages to fill. Life is good
September 12, 2025 at 3:14 AM
It's Friday night tonight, and when work's done at 9 I got two bottles of wine waiting for me and whole lot of pages to fill. Life is good