There’s a lot more to horror than simply creating a monster or scheduling a few jump scares. The greatest horror hits your audience in a deeper spot. They might not remember every plot point, but they’ll remember how you made them feel.
In an article for The Writer, Josh Sippie offers advice on creating horror that gets under your reader’s skin. “Don’t sacrifice your traditional story elements in favor of bigger scares, bloodier gore, more frequent startles,” Sippie writes. “Your monster can only have so many teeth, your graveyard only so many bodies. Eventually, your reader is going to crave a deeper connection than what is offered by terrible, horrible, bloodcurdling scares.”
One method of reaching your reader is creating living, empathetic characters who engage their empathy and emotions. Once you establish a relatable status quo, your horror has something to disrupt. You’ve established the stakes for your readers. “Dynamic storytelling is the entrée. Horror is the side,” Sippie adds.
