I honestly think that writing a "cute" little horror story is the easiest thing out there. I say this not because I am a deranged man who only needs to take notes on his sociopathic fantasies, but because the genre only requires that you reinvent a few clichs for a decent story.

First you need your monster. This can be anything between a zombie, or just and idea (like "The Village"). I will help you out: our baddy will be an Accursed Hammer. Next we need a background story for this hammer.

One of the chief things that gruesome horrifying movies get docked on is a bad explanation for why blood-sucking zombies from the pit of hell were able to escape from such a prison; never allow your writing to get carried away with an idea that you cannot explain rationally (and it is in rational explanation of terrifying scenarios that truly frighten). The explanation should explain both why the hammer is cursed, as well as how this could credibly endanger someone.

To make it truly disgusting, you must then make the main character lose something/one that he loves, and/or give him a reason to doubt himself.

Then there will come a possible triumph, with a hint of a possible sequel. The hint may not even indicate a sequel, but indicate that the problem remains unsolved.

Maybe the best thing you can do for your story, though, is to have your family read it; just make sure that your wife/husband doesn't take you for a sociopath.

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