What is up, everyone! It’s that time of year when we all collectively sigh and go… where the hell did the year go?
Figured I’d reintroduce myself. I’m a Northwest Indiana native, and this is actually my second time on Stage32. I took a writing hiatus in 2018 after a many years writing in Los Angeles. Life and its curveballs, right?
I never truly "stopped," but it had been a while since I worked on a full feature. With the itch back in full force, I jumped in to rebuild my portfolio and lean harder into horror, which I fell back in love with during my break.
112 pages and a few dozen rewrites later (did I miss those? haha), I finished my first feature in about seven years. It’s also my first true horror screenplay, and I’m already working on the next one. Very happy to be back on Stage32 and connect with you all!
If anyone’s interested, my feature-length horror screenplay 11 Elmridge is available to check out in my profile. Always appreciate the eyes. https://www.stage32.com/profile/1353842/Screenplay/11-Elmridge
Have a fun, and very safe, holiday season. Can't wait to see all of your amazing stories and wins in 2026! Cheers, everyone!
4 people like this
What's up, Martin Graham? Congratulations on rebuilding your portfolio! I need to rebuild mine too. Are you an Indiana football fan?
5 people like this
Hey Martin! I love finding other writers getting back into their creativity after a hiatus. Lets me know I'm not alone. Congratulations on your return!
4 people like this
Hey Hey Maurice Vaughan Thank you, sir! It's definitely fun starting from "scratch," so to speak. I've changed since the last time I was writing. New experiences and whatnot.
Oh man, don't hold it against me, but I am not good when it comes to sports haha. I'm much closer to Chicago, so our area tends to lean into Bears/Bulls/Sox/Cubs/Blackhawks than Indiana teams. I'm assuming had I been a fan, it would have been for one of those haha
4 people like this
Elle Bolan Thank you! And you are absolutely not alone! I'm sure we've all been there. I think the thing I love is that I knew it wouldn't be forever. I just needed it to be the right time to come back. Breaks are good too, sometimes. Helps realign.
5 people like this
Hello,
Nice to meet you, and good for you for returning to your passion. I wish you a great creative journey and work that grows even stronger than before.
That happened to me as well—I stopped writing for six years, and now I’m back. It feels like all the stories were hidden somewhere in my subconscious, just waiting for me to open the door so they could enter, appear, and grow all at once.
6 people like this
Martin — welcome back. That return-after-the-hiatus moment is powerful, especially when it leads you deeper into a genre you truly love. Huge congrats on finishing a feature after seven years — that’s no small feat, rewrites and all.
Leaning into horror after life reshapes you often brings unexpected depth to the work. Wishing you momentum on the next script and a strong, creative 2026. Glad to have you back in the community.
6 people like this
hey how's it going
5 people like this
You're welcome, Martin Graham. Good because I was about to say Alabama is gonna beat Indiana if we face them in the playoffs! And all the teams in the playoff! Haha I hope. Alabama isn't the same team as before though. Have you thought about writing a Sports Horror script?
5 people like this
Charmane Wedderburn Thank you so much! You’re spot on. I’ve had people ask me, “Why aren’t you writing horror?” and I never really had a good answer. I’ve always loved it, and I honestly think it’s a very truthful genre, which I know sounds odd. I love that you get to explore heavy subjects abstractly, while still going to those darker, often brutally honest places that a lot of films don’t dare to touch. It was refreshing coming back to a genre like that.
Wishing you all the good writing vibes, and an awesome end of the year into 2026 and beyond!
5 people like this
Maurice Vaughan I haven’t. I think the real horror would be how inaccurate it’d be, thanks to my embarrassing lack of sports knowledge. Unless it’s 90s-era Chicago Bulls. Then I’ve got you haha
Have you ever done one? I’ve been meaning to check out some of the scripts you’ve posted, and now that I’m on holiday vacation from work, I finally have the time to get some reading AND writing done haha
5 people like this
Thank you so much Meriem Bouziani ! Same to you, and I’m glad we found our way back to the page. I totally agree. One of my favorite parts has been revisiting old loglines I had tucked away before the hiatus, sitting in a folder on my laptop. They hit with a completely different angle and meaning now.
The one I just finished started as a coming-of-age time-travel film. It was one of the last loglines I wrote down before I stopped. Now, 7 years later, it’s a psychological horror film, haha. It's wild how things evolve.
Wishing you all the luck in 2026 and beyond!
5 people like this
I've written a Horror Comedy baseball short script, Martin Graham. What about a Sports Horror script about the 90s-era Chicago Bulls but make up your own team and things for the story?
Thanks. I'll check out your work too when I get some things off my plate.
5 people like this
Might have to think about that. I have always heard of the rumors of Wrigley Field being haunted. There are some pretty incredible and dark stories surrounding sports teams and the mob in Chicago. Capone got involved in the betting side that had ties to major Chicago teams at the time. The Sox Scandal, too. Might be some cool things to consider adapting.
Appreciate it! Nice to get to the end of the year break after a busy one! Cheers!
5 people like this
Yes, as the mind grows, the story grows with it. Martin Graham
4 people like this
I'd watch those movies, Martin Graham. Hope you enjoy the vacation! Happy Holidays!
6 people like this
Martin Graham Welcome back Martin! I also lived in L.A, and know first hand, the burnout, density, and just...low vibes...that can accrue there when things are slow. So happy to see another artist finding their mojo and firing up once more!
5 people like this
Juliana Philippi Oh, the burnout is real haha. I loved LA, but it can certainly do a number on you if you let it. Thank you so much! Hope you have an awesome rest of your year and into 2026!
4 people like this
Welcome back, Martin Graham. Looks like your "break" was a more of a self-exploration. Which is good as banging out pages isn't always what it's about. Good that you found a genre and ideas to work on and now start those pages. Best.
7 people like this
Hey Martin Graham Welcome back to Stage 32 and congrats on completing your first feature in seven years! That's not just returning to writing, that's proving you still have it! 112 pages of horror sounds like my kinda night. Looking forward to seeing what comes next from your rebuilt portfolio!
4 people like this
Michael Dzurak That's the truth. It's also nice to see the parts that carried over and the parts that changed the most. I may not have been writing films, but I was definitely absorbing them still haha
4 people like this
Pat Alexander Thank you! It was pretty satisfying typing "Finished Draft" into the file name haha I'm excited for the next one for sure. Hope all your projects are coming along!
4 people like this
Welcome back, Martin Graham & happy IYW! It’s great to see you returning with momentum, and finishing a feature after that long really says a lot. 11 Elmridge is a great milestone.
What would you say are your top three horror films growing up?
4 people like this
big congrats Martin Graham both for returning to your passion and completing the feature - wishing you an amazing 2026 for your projects! cheers
6 people like this
Where did the year go indeed, Martin Graham. Looks like you made the most of it, however! BTW, there's a great thread in the Writers' Room Lounge regarding swapping scripts. I'd hop in there!
6 people like this
Hi Martin Graham - nice to meet you! Your post really resonates with me, as I also took a break from writing (to focus on life circumstances) - amazing news regarding the completion of your feature script! I wish you all the best for 2026!
4 people like this
Dwayne Williams 2 Thank you!! Truly means a lot. Oh man... just three huh haha. I'll say growing up had to be:
1. The Exorcist
2. The Thing
3. Nightmare on Elm Street
Modern horror too. I've found so many that have inspired me. Hereditary, When Evil Lurks, A Dark Song, Martyrs. What about you?
5 people like this
Thank you Sebastian Tudores . Appreciate it and same to you!
5 people like this
Richard "RB" Botto definitely tried to make the most of this suspiciously fast year haha. Thank you! I'll check it out! Happy holidays! Have an amazing rest of the year and into 2026!
4 people like this
Kirsty Louise Joyce Life most certainly happens haha. Awesome to hear you found your way back too. Hope all your writing is going amazing and wishing you all the best in the new year!!
3 people like this
Hi, Martin Graham I wish you all the best with your new horror screenplay. Have a Happy Holiday Season and excellent 2026.
1 person likes this
Hi Martin Graham welcome back. I know about taking a hiatus. I know all about LA burnout. Juliana Philippi I am a southern California native, raised in the OC. I moved to LA in 2013 (North Hollywood) and I moved to Arizona the next year. Haha I have not been back.
Have you Martin, thought about writing a horror tv series or only movies? Are you more a traditionalist when it comes to horror or are you into the elevated horror? based on your favorite films, you like the slasher flicks.
2 people like this
Martin Graham Nice to meet you! Glad you found that spark again. I'll definitely check out your work. Good luck and welcome back.
2 people like this
Maria Caeiro Same to you!! And thank you so much!
3 people like this
Suzanne Bronson Oh the LA burnout is real haha. I think for now I will focus on horror films. I've written pilots in the past and just find I enjoy film more. That's not to say I'll never explore it, though, as I love the series Mike Flanagan has done. He's a huge influence. I definitely lean into elevated horror over slasher/traditional. I liked Elm Street, Halloween, Scream, etc but I definitely enjoy the darker, more elevated stuff we've been seeing over the last ten years or so.
3 people like this
Ryan Wilford Thanks! Appreciate you checking it out, and happy to do the same! Enjoy the holidays!
5 people like this
Hello @MartinGraham Welcome back and back into writing. Happy Holidays and yes, if you know where this year went kindly do advise! Good luck in '26!
4 people like this
Martin Graham Those are great choices; that’s a creative lineup. Nightmare on Elm Street is actually my favorite from your list, too, such an iconic concept and execution. Growing up, my favorites were The Descent, 28 Days Later, and Resident Evil. Honorable mention: 13 Ghosts. Always love hearing what shaped other people’s taste, it says a lot about the kind of stories they’re drawn to. Appreciate you sharing yours.Can’t wait to see more of your work as well.
3 people like this
Nice to see antother Horror writer.