by Pat Merewether

Created on: October 31, 2007

Horror fiction is more difficult to write than many people think. To some writers, like Edgar Allen Poe or Stphen King it's an innate talent, but that talent is rare. Here are some tips I've picked up after years of reading and writing horror fiction that I hope you find helpful.

1. Reading the genre is most important. Readers of horror fiction are very harsh judges and quite demanding. If you want to write fiction you're more likely to be a fan. However, if you don't read it first you'll spend a lot of time spinning your writing wheels before getting published.

2. Horror fiction is very sensual. Some things may not be in your scope of experience, but do your research. Read about the way that blood smells or what rodents sound like as they scratch inside the walls. Your audience must be with you and want to know what's in that attic or empty garage. If you're lucky there people in your family of neighborhood who have knowledge in various areas you'd like to include in your book. I had a friend who was a retired police officer and shared with me more than I wanted to know at times. I got some interesting information from a neighbor who'd worked as a garbage collector.

3. Choose your setting carefully. It's difficult to create something unique after all the good (and really bad) horror fiction that's been written. Alfred Hitchcock was a master at this and turned a motel on a lonely road into a horror setting, and made a small harbor town and even Mt. Rushmore frightening! Stephen King's frightful tales usually take place in an ordinary, small town in Maine, but that's part of why they're scary, they take place what is usually thought of as a safe place. Try to use places from your own experience that are your own nightmare location. Carnivals and basements are what give me the willies, what are yours?

4. Create characters that readers can relate to and care about. Few high school girls can fail to relate to Mr. King's "Carrie". However the entire audience could also know what she felt like. We were horrified and humiliated when the bucket of blood fell on her. Even the monster in Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" drew empathy from the audience. The characters can't just be plastic action figures that you move from place to place. (Well unless your Sir. Arthur Conan Doyle, but it's a good chance you're not. Besides, he wrote mysteries.)

5. It's a clich' but very true, less is more' in horror fiction. Allow your reader to use their own imagination and set their inner stage. I think this is why movies made from really good or great horror fiction usually disappoint. We've created our unique heroes and victims in our minds , and Hollywood's visions just don't work for us.

Finally just keep at it, dont give up. You may write reams before youre satisfied or published, but if you love doing it thats part of the allure. Chances are your characters and even your locations will have a story or two of their own to share with you. Have fun. re

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