How to Use Horror
There are many elements commonly found in horror literature, but its defining characteristic is that it elicits true fear that produces an emotional, physical, or psychological response in the reader. So, the fundamental goal when writing a horror story should be to scare the audience. In relation to this goal, there are common techniques that the genre employs to make sure this frightened response is triggered and maintained throughout the plot. Below are some of the most common traits and techniques used in horror:
- A villain or menace, either real or imagined, that is threatening to the protagonist(s), whether physically, emotionally, psychologically, lawfully, etc.
- Old, abandoned, or dilapidated settings
- The majority of the storyline occurs at night or in darkness
- Blood and gore
- Imminent and/or persistent threat to life
- Protagonists and other characters facing scary situations alone
- Supernatural forces or beings that threaten the characters
- Situations that are seemingly or actually impossible to escape
- Conflicts of good versus evil
- Unexpected situations, settings, people, or supernatural beings that the protagonist is not prepared for and/or capable of dealing with
When to Use Horror
Horror is the ideal genre for short fiction and novels, which have been the choice form for horror authors for centuries. Because of its frightening and bothersome nature, most horror should be intended for adolescents and adults (though there are some exceptions, like R.L. Stein’s widely read children’s horror series Goosebumps). Horror is used best when in combination with another literary genre or subgenre; such as fantasy (as in gothic fiction), science fiction, crime fiction, mystery, folklore, and so on. In fact, many fairy tales are often horror stories at their core, such as “Little Red Riding Hood,” which features a man-eating wolf that stalks and terrorizes a little girl, though popular culture has modified storytelling techniques to make them more lighthearted for children.