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“I ate him,” said the homunculus, biting into his sausage. The kids couldn’t hide their looks of horror. He smiled, sausage juice running down his chin. “Oh, don’t worry—I cooked him first. I’m not a barbarian.”
~ Pseudonymous Bosch ~
There are horrors beyond life's edge that we do not suspect, and once in a while man's evil prying calls them just within our range.
~ H. P. Lovecraft ~
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Regardless of what genre you write about, one thing I’ve found out is it shouldn’t be difficult. That’s not to say it’s going to be completely easy—of course you’re going to have the occasional writer’s block, and there will always be a few bumps in the road—but if you get so frustrated that you’re beating your head against a wall, then maybe writing isn’t for you.
What I’m trying to get at is that you should ENJOY writing. If it feels like your writing is forced, then it probably is. Take a breather. Or better yet, make a note of what you’re trying to say so you can come back with a clear head when the words are flowing again.
Another thing: don’t think you have to subscribe to a routine for writing. I know I write better when the mood strikes me, which could be any time of the day or night. I know that’s not possible for a lot of people, especially for those with hourly jobs, but even then you can keep a pen and notebook handy for getting ideas down.
Okay. Now that I’ve told you some things you probably already knew, here’s a few other tips that might help you send chills down your reader’s spines:
Tap into common human fears to frighten
If the point of horror writing (and horror elements in other genres such as paranormal romance) is to arouse fear, shock or disgust, think of the things people are most commonly afraid of.
Heights
A trip to the dentist
Snakes
The dark
Strange environments
Learn the difference between terror and horror
In order to write a good horror story, the author should understand the difference between horror and terror. ‘Terror’ describes a state of feeling. Oxford Dictionaries simply define it as ‘extreme fear’. To ‘terrorise’ means to use extreme fear to intimidate others.
Horror, however, also suggests elements of disgust and surprise or shock. Thus the word ‘horror’ describes not only extreme fear, but also revulsion and a sense of surprise and the unexpected.
Horror writers share different ways to understand the difference between terror and horror.Stephen King says, “I’ll try to terrify you first, and if that doesn’t work, I’ll horrify you, and if I can’t make it there, I’ll try to gross you out. I’m not proud.”
King’s quote suggests that if you can create terror in the reader before there’s even a gross-out moment or sickly reveal in your horror novel, you’re on the right path.
Atmosphere
The right atmosphere for your story depends on what kind of horror you want to write.
To use a couple of movie examples, are you going for more Texas Chainsaw Massacre or Silence of the Lambs? The tone and atmosphere of your story will hang upon its subgenre.
Carefully consider your point of view
1st person or 3rd person limited POV
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 may be difficult to execute if you’re trying to conceal something from your readers.
(When writing horror, you’ll want to avoid third person omniscient, which can distance your reader and lessen their investment in the story.)
Twist or no twist? (one of my personal favorites!)
Plot twists are exciting, memorable, and help bring previous uncertainty into focus, releasing tension by revealing the truth. However, they’re also notoriously difficult to come up with, and extremely tricky to pull off — you have to carefully hint at a twist while making sure it’s not too predictable or clichéd.
Twist
Big plot twists in horror writing tend to follow the beaten path: the victim turns out to be the killer, the person who we thought was dead isn’t really dead, or — worst of all — it was all in their head the whole time! But keep in mind that small, subtle plot twists can be just as (if not more) effective.
No twist
The ending of your story doesn't have to come out of the blue to shock your readers. The classic horror approach leaves the reader in suspense as to precisely what will happen, then concludes with a violent showdown.
It’s good to keep the reader on their toes, but also give them a little room to breathe
Some books work well with a constant state of anxiety, but a lot of the time that’ll just wear the reader out and they’ll stop reading to take a rest. The danger then is that they don’t pick the book up again.
While it’s important to maintain suspense in a horror story or novel, you also need moments of calm, where the reader gets to take a breath even if the characters don’t. The best thing about this is that when you do bring up the tension again, the reader has fallen into a false sense of security and will get an extra shock from the return of the suspense.
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Two older fellers conversing on a park bench, but one is more clueless than he knows...
#2198955 by Angus |
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This month’s question: What do you think is the most important element in a good horror story? The plot? The characters? The way it's written? Something else?
My Last Newsletter Question:
Have you ever experienced anything paranormal? Ghosts, UFOs, anything?
From: GaelicQueen
Interesting article. I have seen the show Paranormal Caught on Camera (I'm also on quarantine). Aside from the usual noctural critters stomping across the roof at 5 a.m., the only bizarre event I've seen in my house was the morning I opened the cabinet to get a cup for water. When I opened the cabinet door, a cascade of broken glass rained down on me. The pieces were small like safety glass when it breaks. I had a glass bowl up there. Don't know why it shattered within the cabinet. Nothing else was broken or moved out of the way.
From: ForeverDreamer
Paranormal Caught on Camera really is a thought provoking show. They show some really strange stuff.
From: willwilcox
A few years back, I had an owl dive bomb me outside just before receiving the phone call that said my mother had died.
Another time, while on a Greyhound bus, this fella gets on in the middle of nowhere, and sits in front of me. Eventually he turns around in his seat and starts telling me he can light a cigarette with a beam he shoots from his forehead. Weird right? The more he talked about weird stuff, I began to see his face morph. It was actually bubbling, and then when the bus passed a huge church, he shivered like a vampire who's just seen a crucifix. I was headed to LA and he finally said I would have good luck in my endeavors. I sold seven songs that week in Hollywood. Coincidence?
From: Lilli 🧿 ☕
Yes, I have actually experienced what some would call paranormal. I'm intrigued by the subject and do not find it frightening. Like Angus, I have watched shows about the subject too. Some of those shows are fake and after you have an experience of your own, you can spot the staged occurrences fairly easily, I think.
Great newsletter! Thanks a bunch, Angus!
From: hullabaloo22
Thanks for the inclusion of a story, Angus. I've got to admit I'm a believer too, although maybe it comes from growing up near a place known as Spooky Hall. It was a place where séances and spiritualists were practiced. I often wonder if it is still there.
Honestly, I have had a lifetime love of all things supernatural.
From: s
Me, personally, no, and I've gone on ghost tours, ghost hunts and the like.
But my family has. My dad died when I was 10. 16 years later my niece was born. When she used to sit on my mum's lap in mum's favourite chair at her place, she'd constantly look over mum's shoulder and coo and hold her hands out to something not there. Years later, my sister was telling her about our family, when she was old enough to understand. When a photo of my dad was brought out, my niece said, "Oh, I know him. I see him at grandma's."
My family is still freaked out by that and my niece is now 23.
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Horror/Scary: July 01, 2020 Issue [#10252]
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