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How Leonardo Dias Marzano Turned His Horror Novel Dream Into Reality
by Writing Workshops Staff
2 weeks ago
"Before taking the workshop, my writing life was disorganized and unstable, but now it is structured, disciplined, and goal-oriented."
For Leonardo Dias Marzano, a Brazilian writer living in Italy, these words capture a transformation that many aspiring authors dream about but few achieve. Today, his psychological-horror novel Silence at the Lake House is available for pre-order on Amazon—a milestone that seemed impossibly distant just a year ago.
Leonardo came to WritingWorkshops.com with a vision that haunted him: a story about a father and son seeking refuge in a remote lake house after a painful divorce, only to discover they're not alone. The creature watching them is never fully shown. The silence itself becomes a character. But translating that cinematic vision onto the page? That required something Leonardo hadn't yet found on his own.
"My biggest victory was structuring and completing the full manuscript," Leonardo shares. The workshops gave him what he calls "clarity, discipline, and a professional approach that allowed me to turn a scattered idea into a solid, publishable project."
Leonardo enrolled in the Literary Agent Seminar Series with Mark Owen Gottlieb, taking three pivotal courses: Pitch Perfect: Crafting a Compelling Nonfiction Book Proposal, Indie vs. Traditional Publishing: Which Path is Right for You?, and Mastering the Submissions Process to Get a Literary Agent. Working with Mark Gottlieb proved transformative. "Mark was particularly influential due to his practical, market-focused approach and his clarity on narrative structure," Leonardo explains. The combination of craft instruction and industry insight helped Leonardo see his manuscript through a publisher's eyes while staying true to his artistic vision.
The techniques Leonardo learned went far beyond query letters and proposals. "The breakthrough that stays with me is learning how to control rhythm and atmosphere scene by scene, especially through the exercises on suspense and micro-tension," he reflects. "I still use the principle of revealing less to make the story more unsettling." For a novel that depends on slow-burn tension and psychological dread, this insight proved invaluable.
Beyond the instruction itself, Leonardo found something equally precious: community. "I benefited greatly from peers working in darker genres, who helped refine my voice," he notes. The workshop environment gave him permission to lean into the unsettling corners of his imagination while receiving thoughtful, professional feedback.
The result is Silence at the Lake House, a novel that follows Jack Thompson and his son as they attempt to start over in a house the townspeople refuse to discuss. Inside, silence behaves as though it has a will of its own. The lake never moves. The wooden structure creaks at unnatural hours. And something that has lived there long before them does not accept intruders. Leonardo describes it as his "darkest and most visceral work"—a story that blends psychological realism with cinematic atmosphere in ways that feel both intimate and deeply unsettling.
What does Leonardo credit for pushing through to completion? "Maintaining a non-negotiable daily writing routine, even if it's just a single page," he says. "I also revisit my notebooks and reconnect with the emotional core of the story to regain momentum."
For writers considering whether to invest in their craft, Leonardo doesn't hesitate: "The workshops offer not just theory but structure, community, accountability, and practical tools that accelerate years of solo learning. If they take their writing seriously, this is the right place to start."
Leonardo continues writing from Verona, building an international author platform and sharing his creative process on his author blog. His journey from scattered ideas to published novelist demonstrates what becomes possible when raw talent meets structured guidance and a supportive community.
"I'm deeply grateful for the foundation the workshop gave me," Leonardo reflects. "I continue applying everything I learned to every chapter."
Ready to write your own success story? Whether you're developing your first novel or preparing to submit to literary agents, WritingWorkshops.com offers the expert instruction, structured methodology, and supportive community that has helped writers like Leonardo transform their dreams into published reality. Your breakthrough is waiting.
