An Interview with Max Doty: From Viral Reddit Stories to a Two-Book Horror Deal

Q: What Is Max Doty’s Debut Novel, The House That Eats the Dead, About?

The House That Eats the Dead is a horror novel following Tom and Claire, a San Francisco couple who move into a Los Altos Queen Anne mansion that consumes dead things and erases them entirely from existence. From dead bodies to cardboard boxes and a child's beloved teddy bear, the house eats these objects, leaving only Tom and Claire with the memory that the items ever existed. The couple then attempts to use this supernatural anomaly to their advantage. The initial seed for the story came from Doty's wife, who anthropomorphises their own home and refuses to critique it indoors for fear of hurting its feelings—a concept Doty's horror-oriented mind took to a very dark place.

Jamie

4 days ago

3 min read

Max Doty, a veteran video game writer and winner of Netflix's inaugural Find Your Voice award, recently joined The Write and Wrong Podcast to discuss his transition into traditional publishing. Doty detailed the journey of his debut horror novel, The House That Eats the Dead, tracing its origins from a viral Reddit series to a two-book publishing deal.

5 Key Takeaways for Writers:

Permit yourself to fail: Giving yourself permission to write without over-polishing can lead to a massive creative output, as seen when Doty wrote 60 short stories in 90 days.
Social media can launch careers: Literary agents actively scout platforms like Reddit; Doty was discovered by his agent after his serialised story gained viral traction on the r/nosleep subreddit.
Leave your ego at the door: Coming from the video game industry, Doty learned the importance of collaboration and accepting that preciousness over every single word is detrimental to a project's completion.
Don't be "Doctor No" in brainstorms: If you reject an editorial idea or note, you must pivot and supply a better alternative rather than just shutting down the conversation.
Outlines are not foolproof: Even with a solid framework, drafting can reveal structural flaws; Doty had to completely rewrite the final third of his upcoming second novel, Sleepers in the Lake, after realising the villain was wrong.

What Is Max Doty’s Debut Novel, The House That Eats the Dead, About?

The House That Eats the Dead is a horror novel following Tom and Claire, a San Francisco couple who move into a Los Altos Queen Anne mansion that consumes dead things and erases them entirely from existence. From dead bodies to cardboard boxes and a child's beloved teddy bear, the house eats these objects, leaving only Tom and Claire with the memory that the items ever existed. The couple then attempts to use this supernatural anomaly to their advantage. The initial seed for the story came from Doty's wife, who anthropomorphises their own home and refuses to critique it indoors for fear of hurting its feelings—a concept Doty's horror-oriented mind took to a very dark place.

How Did Max Doty Turn a Reddit Post Into a Book Deal?

Max Doty secured his book deal after literary agent Maria Brannon discovered his viral story on the r/nosleep Reddit community and reached out via his account. After leaving his 20-year career in game writing to be a full-time father, Doty used his spare time to write short stories, posting roughly 2,000 to 3,000 words every few days. One of these stories gained massive viral traction, prompting him to expand it into a seven-part series. Brannon saw the potential for a full-length novel and worked collaboratively with Doty for six to twelve months, expanding the hastily drafted Reddit framework into a fully polished universe with fleshed-out characters. This process ultimately led to a two-book contract with Macmillan.

How Does Screenwriting and Game Writing Help Novelists?

Experience in screenwriting and video game development teaches authors structural discipline and the importance of dropping their creative ego. Doty previously wrote spin-off middle-grade novels for the game Surviving High School and managed a team of up to 40 writers. He also co-wrote a screenplay that won Netflix's Find Your Voice award, requiring him to quickly learn the conventions of a second act and endure over 50 executive revisions. These experiences taught him that being an overly precious artist who refuses to alter text will only stall a project, whereas being highly collaborative ensures the story actually gets made.

What Is Max Doty’s Advice for Handling Editorial Feedback?

Writers should assume that if an editor takes the time to give a note, there is a fundamental issue that needs to be addressed, even if the editor's proposed solution isn't perfect. Doty approaches editorial feedback with a collaborative mindset and advises against being a "Doctor No". In brainstorming and editing, this means you cannot simply shoot down ideas; if you refuse to change something, you must explain why it is structurally necessary, or you must pitch a better idea to replace the one you are killing.

Which Book Would Max Doty Read While Snowed In?

If snowed in at a remote cabin, Doty would choose to read Mark Z. Danielewski's House of Leaves. He highly recommends the thick, immersive novel because it demands active participation from the reader, requiring them to juggle multiple bookmarks and navigate disorientating footnotes within footnotes. While he acknowledges that the dark, twisting narrative might terrify someone isolated in a cabin, he believes its complex structure makes the horror hit even harder.