 Horror/Scary: December 19, 2007 Issue [#2126] |
  Horror/Scary
This week: Edited by: darkin
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Reading a horror story, one that keeps you on the edge of your seat until the last page, is what every horror fan dreams of. Being scared, to the point that sleep is almost impossible, makes the read all the more worthwhile. Does that make us crazy? You bet!!!
My name is Darkin, and I’m your host this week for the Horror Newsletter. |
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Adding Thrills to Your Horror Tale
Take the great horror stories you've read and think about what made them great. Was it the monster, the characters, or the plot? No, it was the suspense. It was the way the writer carried the dangers of the story along, building it until it finally bursts forth from the page and sweeps you into the horrifying blackness.
Without suspense a horror story just isn't scary. Oh sure, there's a monster or two. But without that locked door the heroine should never, ever open, it just a monster. Suspense should start from word one in every horror story. Even if it's not directly known by the reader, they should feel uncomfortable reading. They should wonder, in the back of their minds, what awful thing is about to befall the helpless characters.
Some of my favorite methods to raise the suspense level are also the easiest ones to use. I'm sure there are tons more, but for now we're going to go over my top four suspenseful tools.
The Locked Door
Consider this basic plot. Your heroine has been invited to stay the weekend at the mansion of an old friend. Her friend allows her the run of his estate, use of anything and everything. The only exception is the locked tool shed behind the house. That tiny building is dangerous, he says, he doesn't want her to get hurt. The weekend starts off nice, until her friend is called away on unexpected business. Suddenly she is alone in this big house and now there are strange noises coming from that tool shed. Her curiosity is peeked and she just has to know what's inside it.
What is behind a locked door is rarely a good thing in horror stories. It is an easy suspense tool. It works because, even though it is familiar, it is still suspenseful because the reader knows what is behind that door can't be good.
All By Myself
Using the above example let's add the following. The mansion your heroine is staying at is off the beaten path, far enough from the nearest town that getting there by foot would be difficult. Plus, she isn't too familiar with the woods surrounding the house. When the noises from the tool shed start she decides to go into town and have some dinner to get away from the house for a while. But her car won't start. It hasn't worked right since her jerk boyfriend tried to fix the carburetor. Now she's trapped in this big house alone and the noises are getting louder.
Another wonderful suspense tool is isolation. Being totally alone scares a lot of people. Add to that the need to face a terrifying event without help and you have the makings of a very suspenseful horror story.
Who Turned Out the Lights?
Going back to our heroine. The sun is going down, so she has no choice but to stay at the house. She doesn't know the area well enough to walk into town and it's going to be very dark very soon. When she gets back to the house she finds the lights aren't working. Oh yeah, her friend said he was having trouble with the electricity. He left some candles and flashlights for her to use. Now she's trapped in an unfamiliar house after dark with just a flashlight to light her way and those noises are still coming from that tool shed.
Common fears, like the dark, can add a lot of suspense to a story. Use them to play on your reader's own fears. Make the reader get scared along with the heroine. Build on those fears until the reader can't help but find out what's going to happen.
Creature Feature
Back to our heroine. She tries to go to sleep, since it's now night time, but the noises from the tool shed are louder than ever. To make matters worse, she thinks she can hear a person's voice coming from there. Could someone be trapped inside there? Could her friend be a cold-blooded villain? Curiosity gets the better of her and armed with her flashlight she ventures out to the tool shed. Using a length of metal she finds near the building she breaks the lock off of the door....
Are monsters real? Do they exist? Unless you are creating a world where monsters are real, most of your characters probably won't believe in them. It's the usual response from people if you ask them, honestly, if creatures of the dark exist. To make her start to believe you need to plant the seed into her mind that maybe this creature could really exists. Journals, drawings, and area legends are great ways to help bring the monster's possible existence to light.
So how do I fix my current plotline to make my heroine start believing in a creature? Well, I could have my heroine find a journal written by a former owner of the house, describing a creature the previous owner trapped on the property. Or maybe there could be a town story, told to her when she was just a young girl, about a monster that terrorized the area? Either way, it would put some seed of belief in her mind; just enough to make her wonder if it could be real.
Horror is more than just plot or characters, it is also suspense. The more suspense, the more horrific your story's events will seem. And the more frightening it will be.
So, what happens to my heroine? Does she go into the shed, or does she take the safe route? Well, you'll just have to wait until I finish the story. If you want to read what I have so far here is the item. "Invalid Item"
Thank you for taking the time to read. Happy Writing!
darkin |
Here are some items I found while traveling the highways and byways of Writing.Com!
| |  | Invalid Item
This item number is not valid.
#1333171 by Not Available. |
|  | The Monster (E)
Story for Writers Cramp about a bunny with bulging eyes.
#837722 by Diane   |
| | Last ride (13+)
The story of a sad, broken man making his last journey to wherever it may lead.
#1358553 by Alexander |
| | | Invalid Item
This item number is not valid.
#1349248 by Not Available. |
| | | Invalid Item
This item number is not valid.
#1103550 by Not Available. |
| | | Invalid Item
This item number is not valid.
#1330231 by Not Available. |
| | | Invalid Item
This item number is not valid.
#1115993 by Not Available. |
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Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
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Thank you for allowing me to enter your world. If you have any comments, or questions, feel free to drop me a line. I'd love to hear from you!
darkin
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Submitted By: zwisis
Submitted Comment:
Zombie Squirrel - thanks for this newsletter and the excellent selection of highlighted items. You are so right - it is easy to turn an ordinary, everyday item like fire into an object of horror. It's trying to get your readers to buy into the idea that's a challenge - or as you so rightly say takes "finesse".
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Yep, you have to make the reader believe that what you're writing could happen. Even if it's so fantastical it couldn't That's a tough order to fill!
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Submitted By: lulubelle
Submitted Comment:
You rock at the Horror/Scary newsletter. I really enjoy them and they help me put even more scare in my stories.
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Thank you so much. It makes me really happy to know my newsletters are helping
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Submitted By: white_feather
Submitted Comment:
You never seize to surprise me with your words of wisdom. I would already like to read a story about a fire-breathing creature and a household of patrons fearing sage burning. You certainly caught my attention, and taught me another thing or two. Thanks again, Zombie/Demon Squirrel.
PS: zombies are probably the scariest creatures, because they are the most likely of monsters to happen in real life with all the biological warfare possibly happening around us without our knowing. Alien horrors come in second for me for the very same reason. Those are few and far between, though, and usually end up in the action or sci fi genre. Hmmmmm....
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Yeah, that story's been in the back of my mind since the CA fires in October. When I finish writing my NaNoWriMo novel I'll sit down and type that one up
I totally agree with you on zombies. I'd rather face a hoard of vampires and werewolves than to come across zombies! Zombies are just plain scary{e:shudder}
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