It’s October. You know what that means: IT’S HALLOWEEN SEASON. There are few times of the year that can get people in such a festive mood. With Halloween fast approaching, people are now making time to rewatch their favorite horror movies,- like the Halloween franchise, Friday the 13th, Chucky, and Nightmare on Elm Street, among others. The reason why people choose to watch such terrifying films is simple: the fright interests them. As with horror of all mediums–-- whether it be film, television, or literature–-- fear is a pivotal and evocative invoking feeling. There’s something that makes these stories so mesmerizing, and that is the ability of the author to completely incorporate the horror genre into their works, dialogue, and setting. So, for anyone interested in creating their own horror magnum opus, here’s a quick and simple guide to get you started:
Step 1: Indulge in the Horror Genre More
The first step is often the most simple in lists like these. Unless you are a diehard horror fan, the best method when writing one will often be to gain insight by reading and watching more horror movies. If you are trying to write a story, I advise you to read writers like Edgar Allen Poe, R.L. Stine, and Stephen King, or Agatha Christie for the mystery and suspense. By reading and watching these, you will become more familiar with the genre and have more experience when it comes to creating interesting settings and characters that the reader will find enjoyable.
Step 2: Create Suspense Through A Point of View
This is the case for any story: the most important thing to establish before you begin writing is deciding what point of view you want to use. In order to achieve a connection with the reader, try to use a first person or third person limited point of view. A great example of first person POV is in “The Tell Tale Heart,” which centers around the protagonist recounting his thoughts as he kills an elderly man. First person POV is excellent for hooking your reader at the beginning and keeping them in suspense throughout your story. However, it might be too intense for longer, more intricate pieces, and it may be difficult to execute if you’re trying to conceal something from your readers.
It’s also worth thinking about the implications of first person, past tense POV in a horror story — it suggests they’ve lived to tell the tale, which might ruin your dramatic ending. Therefore, if you do decide to use first person narration, you should probably keep it in the present tense.
Third person limited perspective is another popular option. This kind of narration is often used in longer-form horror, popularized by the likes of writers such as Stephen King. This narration paints an intimate picture of the character, while still allowing the freedom for commentary in a way that first person narration doesn’t as much.
You could also use an unreliable narrator. Many mystery and thriller novels employ unreliable narration in order to work up to a big twist without giving away too much.
3. Make It Unbelievable Or Unreal- Make it Thought-Provoking
In most cases, psychological horror sticks with audiences far longer than a jump scare or gross-out moment in a slasher film. There’s a reason that audiences couldn’t stop talking about films like The Blair Witch Project and Paranormal Activity—both of which were gore-free. Toying with people’s real-life fears tends to scare them much more than just grossing them out. Insanity is a core fear that many people share. The simple thought of losing one’s ability to understand what’s happening around them in a disorienting, distorted reality is enough to send many thinking readers over the edge. Include events in the story that are simply unpredictable, and people will continue reading.
4. Choose The Correct Subgenre:
The right atmosphere for your story depends on what kind of horror you want to write. Here are a few example subgenres:
5. Consider The Main Fear Being Represented, Or A Theme You Would Like to Portray
The most important part of any horror story is naturally going to be its fear factor. People don’t read horror for entertainment, but to be horrified. It is important to think of the themes you want to convey throughout the story, both literally and figuratively.
Literal/Real Life- Physical Fears
Fears that have some sort of logical or biological foundation are often the most potent in horror. Darkness, heights, snakes, and spiders — all these are extremely common phobias rooted in instinct. As a result, they tend to be very effective at frightening readers.
Monsters and Supernatural Entities
We all know that vampires and werewolves are not real, but that doesn’t mean they can’t shake us to our core. In fact, it’s the very uncertainty they arouse that makes them so sinister: what if monsters are really out there, and we’ve just never seen them? This fear is one of the most prevalent in horror, but if you decide to write in this vein, your story has to be pretty convincing.
Societal TensionsAnother great means of scaring people is to tap into societal tensions and concerns — a tactic especially prevalent in horror movies. Just in recent memory, Get Out tackles the idea of underlying racism in modern America, and The Babadook examines mental health.
6. Create Three-Dimensional Characters And Don’t Be Afraid To Put Them In Danger
All good literature contains characters who have flaws, ambitions, and desires. The more human you make these characters seem, the more logical their actions will be portrayed, and the more readers will relate to them. However, you also shouldn’t throw readers directly into these characters. You should consider the pacing and allow them to slowly develop a liking for the characters over the course of the story, while they simultaneously grow as a result of the horror setting they live in. Without empathy, fearful events wouldn’t be scary. The reader should have a solid understanding of their psyche and be able to know what obstacles the protagonists must overcome, and whether their decisions will have consequences. At the same time, you shouldn’t let the characters go through the story without experiencing some trauma or pain.
7. Use Foreshadowing, Either Subtle or Explicit
Finally, an important tip is to use foreshadowing throughout your story. Adding this element will create both fear and tension. When done correctly, foreshadowing will make things seem both in place and unpredictable at the same time. Readers will be able to piece things together while the story still maintains its expected fear factor. Try to start foreshadowing things as early as the beginning of the story, in order to make events more concise and meaningful.
The first step is often the most simple in lists like these. Unless you are a diehard horror fan, the best method when writing one will often be to gain insight by reading and watching more horror movies. If you are trying to write a story, I advise you to read writers like Edgar Allen Poe, R.L. Stine, and Stephen King, or Agatha Christie for the mystery and suspense. By reading and watching these, you will become more familiar with the genre and have more experience when it comes to creating interesting settings and characters that the reader will find enjoyable.
Step 2: Create Suspense Through A Point of View
This is the case for any story: the most important thing to establish before you begin writing is deciding what point of view you want to use. In order to achieve a connection with the reader, try to use a first person or third person limited point of view. A great example of first person POV is in “The Tell Tale Heart,” which centers around the protagonist recounting his thoughts as he kills an elderly man. First person POV is excellent for hooking your reader at the beginning and keeping them in suspense throughout your story. However, it might be too intense for longer, more intricate pieces, and it may be difficult to execute if you’re trying to conceal something from your readers.
It’s also worth thinking about the implications of first person, past tense POV in a horror story — it suggests they’ve lived to tell the tale, which might ruin your dramatic ending. Therefore, if you do decide to use first person narration, you should probably keep it in the present tense.
Third person limited perspective is another popular option. This kind of narration is often used in longer-form horror, popularized by the likes of writers such as Stephen King. This narration paints an intimate picture of the character, while still allowing the freedom for commentary in a way that first person narration doesn’t as much.
You could also use an unreliable narrator. Many mystery and thriller novels employ unreliable narration in order to work up to a big twist without giving away too much.
3. Make It Unbelievable Or Unreal- Make it Thought-Provoking
In most cases, psychological horror sticks with audiences far longer than a jump scare or gross-out moment in a slasher film. There’s a reason that audiences couldn’t stop talking about films like The Blair Witch Project and Paranormal Activity—both of which were gore-free. Toying with people’s real-life fears tends to scare them much more than just grossing them out. Insanity is a core fear that many people share. The simple thought of losing one’s ability to understand what’s happening around them in a disorienting, distorted reality is enough to send many thinking readers over the edge. Include events in the story that are simply unpredictable, and people will continue reading.
4. Choose The Correct Subgenre:
The right atmosphere for your story depends on what kind of horror you want to write. Here are a few example subgenres:
- Thriller-horror employs psychological fear, often occurring near the beginning of horror stories before much has happened
- Gross-out horror involves vivid descriptions of spurting blood, hacked-up flesh, and gouged-out organs in order to shock the reader; think gore movies of the 70s
- Classic horror is similar to those in the Gothic genre, with spooky settings
- Terror provokes a feeling of all-pervasive dread, which can either serve as the climax of your story or be sustained throughout.
5. Consider The Main Fear Being Represented, Or A Theme You Would Like to Portray
The most important part of any horror story is naturally going to be its fear factor. People don’t read horror for entertainment, but to be horrified. It is important to think of the themes you want to convey throughout the story, both literally and figuratively.
Literal/Real Life- Physical Fears
Fears that have some sort of logical or biological foundation are often the most potent in horror. Darkness, heights, snakes, and spiders — all these are extremely common phobias rooted in instinct. As a result, they tend to be very effective at frightening readers.
Monsters and Supernatural Entities
We all know that vampires and werewolves are not real, but that doesn’t mean they can’t shake us to our core. In fact, it’s the very uncertainty they arouse that makes them so sinister: what if monsters are really out there, and we’ve just never seen them? This fear is one of the most prevalent in horror, but if you decide to write in this vein, your story has to be pretty convincing.
Societal TensionsAnother great means of scaring people is to tap into societal tensions and concerns — a tactic especially prevalent in horror movies. Just in recent memory, Get Out tackles the idea of underlying racism in modern America, and The Babadook examines mental health.
6. Create Three-Dimensional Characters And Don’t Be Afraid To Put Them In Danger
All good literature contains characters who have flaws, ambitions, and desires. The more human you make these characters seem, the more logical their actions will be portrayed, and the more readers will relate to them. However, you also shouldn’t throw readers directly into these characters. You should consider the pacing and allow them to slowly develop a liking for the characters over the course of the story, while they simultaneously grow as a result of the horror setting they live in. Without empathy, fearful events wouldn’t be scary. The reader should have a solid understanding of their psyche and be able to know what obstacles the protagonists must overcome, and whether their decisions will have consequences. At the same time, you shouldn’t let the characters go through the story without experiencing some trauma or pain.
7. Use Foreshadowing, Either Subtle or Explicit
Finally, an important tip is to use foreshadowing throughout your story. Adding this element will create both fear and tension. When done correctly, foreshadowing will make things seem both in place and unpredictable at the same time. Readers will be able to piece things together while the story still maintains its expected fear factor. Try to start foreshadowing things as early as the beginning of the story, in order to make events more concise and meaningful.
chase jones
