 Horror/Scary: June 29, 2016 Issue [#7718] |
  Horror/Scary
This week: All alone Edited by: Arakun the twisted raccoon  
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Quote for the week: “Alone. Yes, that's the key word, the most awful word in the English tongue. Murder doesn't hold a candle to it, and hell is only a poor synonym.”
― Stephen King |
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Because many people have experienced the fear of being alone at some time in their lives, it is a great basis for a horror story. Imagine the monster or situation that scares you the most, and then imagine facing it all by yourself.
In our society, people are seldom truly alone. Even when there are no people around, we use our phones and computers to remain connected.
A spooky old house is a classic horror setting for a lone character, but you can leave your character alone in many ways. Here are a few suggestions:
A storm
A storm, whether it is a blizzard, hurricane, tornado, or just a strong thunderstorm can be a terrifying experience in itself, but the horror may continue long after the storm is over. Bridges and roads may be destroyed, and electricity and internet may go out, cutting off all communication with the outside world.
An isolated wilderness area
Mountain ranges, the desert, and the jungle can be beautiful, but they can also be frightening if you are lost there all by yourself.
Solitary confinement
Your character might be in prison or locked in a cellar or attic. Part of the plot may involve figuring out where he is and how he got there.
A foreign country where they don't speak the language
Communication barriers can isolate your characters as effectively as a 15 foot stone wall.
Can't trust anyone
Maybe your character is surrounded by other people, but for some reason, does not dare trust anyone.
Writing a story that revolves around an isolated characters has some special challenges. If you have just one main character, that character needs to be strong enough to carry the story alone. For me, the hardest part of writing (or reading) a one character story is the lack of dialogue. Many readers find long stretches of narrative intimidating, and may skim them or skip them completely. Break up narrative and description into short bites, and use as much action as possible. You can show the character's thoughts, but avoid internal dialogue.
If focusing on an isolated character for an entire story is too difficult, you might alternate scenes between the isolated character and others. The other characters could be trying to rescue the main character, or could be the villains who are after him or her. Or the character might only be alone for one crucial scene where he or she is in the most danger.
Something to try: Write a horror story with only one character who is alone in a frightening place.
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|  | The Singer (13+)
A sniper team is sent to kill a singer whose song soothes those infected with the Bug.
#1959819 by Kotaro  |
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