Karyn Little is a Toronto-based psychological and surrealist horror writer and community builder. Her work explores mental illness, identity collapse, and liminal states through character-driven, elevated horror with cinematic and adaptation-friendly qualities. She writes literary horror fiction that blends surreal imagery with emotional realism, drawing on lived experience with mental health. Her narratives are well-suited for film and television adaptation, and she is an emerging Canadian horror author open to literary representation and development opportunities.
ABOUT
Karyn Little is a Toronto-based horror and surrealist writer and community builder, raised in Port Elgin, Ontario.She blends psychologically driven storytelling with a professional background in publishing and community building, alongside lived experience with depression, anxiety, and ADHD. Her writing spans fiction, personal essays, and prose poetry; often exploring mental illness, vulnerability, and liminal emotional states through character-forward narratives.Her work has appeared in Dark Poets Club, Rebelle Society, and the To Write Love on Her Arms blog. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Windsor, and post‑graduate certificates in Creative Writing and Creative Book Publishing from Humber College (now Humber Polytechnic). Writing a mix of literary and elevated horror, Karyn’s stories pair surreal imagery with emotionally grounded interiors, making them well-suited for adaptation.She is the creator of The Room That Waits for You, a Substack publication devoted to horror-inflected writing about mental health, longing, and the emotional impact of the horror genre.By day, Karyn works as a Community Animator at Rise, an organization that empowers individuals with lived experience of mental health and addiction challenges through entrepreneurship. Her career has centered on building and stewarding online and in‑person communities rooted in trust, creativity, and mutual care. Her work is informed by her own experiences navigating mental illness, bringing a care‑centered, trauma‑aware sensibility to both her creative and professional work.In addition to her writing and community work, Karyn is the creator of I Disagree! The Hilarious Game of Unpopular Opinions (currently unreleased), a card game designed to ease social anxiety through laughter and bold conversation.Karyn is passionate about building spaces, on the page and in real life, where vulnerability is met with care; and where every story, no matter how strange or shadowy, has value.
CONTACT
Thanks for your interest in working with me!I’m available for writing projects, public speaking, panel participation, consultations, and collaborative opportunities.My experience spans horror and psychological fiction, creative writing, digital community management, entrepreneurship, content creation, and mental health and neurodiversity advocacy.Based in Toronto, Canada, I'm open to local and remote inquiries, including writing, media, and community-focused work.Literary representation and adaptation inquiries are welcome.Please get in touch using the form below, and I’ll connect with you as soon as possible.
PORTFOLIO / SELECTED WORKS
Selected writing across psychological horror, poetry, personal essays, and digital media.This portfolio showcases a range of creative and professional writing, encompassing literary works, cultural criticism, and commissioned editorial content. To learn more about Karyn's work as a community builder, please visit her Led by Community Professional Portfolio.
Substack Publication
The Room That Waits for YouPoetry & Prose
Soulless — Dark Poets Club
The Light, the Dark, and the Fog: 20 Days of Poems — BookLeaf PublishingShort Fiction
Boiling Point — Writing BattlePersonal Essays & Cultural Criticism
Grieving Prince Eric: Reflecting on a Year of Heartbreak & Truth — Medium
We Can't Predict the Future, But We Do Have Hope — TWLOHA Blog
Dear Iain Reid: An Open Letter on Having Fear and Hope — Medium
Five Signs It's Time to Leave Your Company — Golden Key Academy
The Inevitable End of Our Love Described in John Mellencamp Lyrics — Rebelle Society
Carrie White: Horror’s Most Relatable Anti-Heroine — The ArtificeEditorial & Brand Writing
12 Cutting-Edge Technologies to Reduce Waste — Lomi / Pela Earth
How to Breathe Properly: Tips for Running, Exercise, Sleep & More — Othership
4-7-8 Breathing: How It Works + Benefits, Apps, Resources & More — Othership
25+ Breathwork Apps for Guided Sessions + 8 Free Breathing Apps — Othership
Paint Sprayer Tip Size Chart (with Tip Numbers Explained) — The City Painters
10 Best Ceiling Painting Tools: Brushes, Rollers, & Sprayers — The City Painters
The Cost to Paint Your Bedroom: DIY vs Professional Painters — The City Painters
How to Measure a Room for Painting: Get an Accurate Painting Quote — The City Painters