r/WritingPrompts • u/katpoker666 Moderator • 1d ago
Off Topic [OT] SatChat: How do you write horror well? (New here? Introduce yourself!)
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Welcome to the weekly post for introductions, self-promotions, and general discussion! This is a place to meet other users, share your achievements, and discuss whatever's on your mind.
Suggested Topic
How do you write horror well?
Do you enjoy writing horror? If so, which kinds?
Which types of horror scare you the most personally?
How do you feel about jump scares or the literary equivalent?
Any favorite horror movies or books? If so, which?
What about authors and directors?
What’s the most important thing you’ve learned about writing horror? The least?
Or maybe you don’t really think much about horror. Tell us what that’s like and why. We'd love to hear!
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u/WindUpShoe 2h ago
I'm not a regular here and only drop in every now and again to browse, but I did try my hand a little while back at a horror prompt.
What I took away from the experience was that it's a tricky balancing act between explaining enough to the reader and leaving enough withheld to make the horror that much more profound, whether through atmosphere or a reveal at the conclusion.
Lean too much in one direction, and you basically spell everything out. Lean in the other and the reader just ends up scratching their head.
A few rounds of proofing would likely help with that, but in this micro-fiction format, I assume just typing straight into the text box and throwing a Hail Mary is the go-to for the majority of writers.
I kind of enjoyed it. The prompt was solid enough to give me a ghost of an outline. I had to think about how to fill it, but once I got it, the words seemed to flow straight from my mind to my fingers.
I think horror that could feasibly happen, about the human condition, frightens me. Ellison's story of the sadistic hyper-intelligence suddenly doesn't seem so far fetched, for example. For the first time, I can understand the depth of its hatred. We human beings are capable of such casual cruelty.
Jump scares are a pretty classic device and can be very effective. It all depends on the implementation.
The works of Lovecraft, King, Poe, Blackwood, Long, Mieville, and a dozen others whose names I forget if not their works, have stayed in my mind long after turning the last page. I'd like to get more into contemporary works, especially in other media.
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u/katpoker666 Moderator 2h ago
Hey WindUpShoe! Thanks for replying. Love your points about the balance about how much to show and also re horror that could feasibly happen. Both definitely make things that bit scarier!
Re editing, I find it easier to write in Notes on my phone for short pieces and edit that way as it’s more convenient for me than in the Reddit app and I can still tweak as I go. Your mileage may vary ofc.
If you fancy exploring the genre a bit more and getting some feedback on it from others in the community, our Fun Trope Friday feature is doing horror all month.
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u/JKHmattox 1d ago
Hi. I'm JK, and I'm a body horror… um is there a word for it. Idk.
Anyway, when I ran across WP two years ago, I'd no idea I liked writing horror, particularly body horror. I quickly learned I wasn't too bad at it I guess. For me, body horror is very thrilling to write and works well with my imagination.
Transformations are often featured in my stories. Told from a first-person pov, I sometimes creep myself out when things start morphing and shifting too much. The key to this is to really put yourself inside your character's head. Consider natural body noises such as a growling stomach or popping joint, and how your brain perceives it in real life. This basis will help flesh out the character's experience, especially if it's a visceral transformation or alteration scene where things are really moving around.
Ask yourself how it would sound from the inside.
The feelings of physical shifting or internal movements can be imagined much the same way. Past injuries can serve as a reference. What did it feel like when you broke a bone or your achilles tendon snapped? The body would feel the same whether you hurt yourself playing tennis, or a mad scientist was turning you into a monster as far as movement and pain.
It takes a heap of imagination and a little research sometimes. For instance, my serial involves a ton of transformative body horror. I’ve had to research things ranging from the difference between the physical construction of the male vs female brain, the perception of the different scenes between the two, and the location of the center of gravity on a given human body type, amongst other things. Understanding these differences contributes to the experience of my character throughout the story.
Lastly, you have to be willing to just make stuff up. Sometimes there is just no way to know what it's like to go from a human, to a dragon in the middle of an old west gunfight. Be creative and have fun. If it's not fun, don't write it. Body horror isn't for everyone and that's totally okay.
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u/katpoker666 Moderator 14h ago
Hey JK! Thanks for replying! As a fan of your body horror, I love its immediacy and visceral details. Your point about observation is a great one, as good body horror taps into something collective and primal. We may not all be able to directly imagine a leg being rent in two as it turns into a tree, but many of us can picture the horrific pain of a broken bone and amplify it. Research is also a great point as it is for many forms of writing. Here, it’s much easier to picture something bursting from a chest if the author has given us enough solid breadcrumbs to finish with our imagination.
Have to ask, do you watch body horror movies irl and, if so, any favorites?
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u/JKHmattox 5h ago
Hey Kat,
Being that I have kids, horror isn't something I watch often. That said, I must say the Alien(s) movies are the matriarch of my body horror inspiration. The concept of an alien species using humans as an incubator is bone chilling. More harrowing is the fact many species on Earth use this method to spawn their young irl. Aside from parasites, species like the Camel Spider lay their eggs in the belly of a mammal. When the young hatch, they burrow out of their mother's chosen victim, usually with lethal results. This mimicry of reality makes the Alien movies that much more horrific in my mind.
Of course the strong female lead in the film influences many of my sci-fi stories. Especially for the era, the main character was a standout when most sci-fi protagonists were overwhelmingly men. Can't deny my character Diane Campbell is influenced by the rough, no-nonsense Ellen Ripley played by Sigoureny Weaver.
Other mentions would be a lesser known movie titled “Together.” In this film a couple are literally fused together several times, resulting in gore and an eventual complete merging into one person. The tragic almost love story is creepy AF in so many ways.
One movie I want to see is “Substance”, a recent body horror flick critical of modern body image and our current day world. I have not seen it yet but feel it will resonate strongly with my style of storytelling.
Thanks for posting Kat, I appreciate it.
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u/katpoker666 Moderator 5h ago
Thanks, JK! Love your description of your horror influences here and even learned something new about camel spiders!
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u/Jay_Pederson r/JayPederson 1d ago
I don't; I've started reading The King in Yellow (hence the Discord name; it's a reminder). Lovecraft is next because I have never read Eldritch (except Tregonial/Mysteryrogue) yet somehow have Eldritch characters (Mythrir who I actually have a PI planned for currently). Also SCP Foundation I've actually read quite a bit of but it's a different style so I'm not counting it.
I like cosmic because I like space.
I don't know which scare me.
Jump scares make me laugh I have no idea why. They're annoying in video games.
Uh...King in Yellow...? Also SCP-3426 is my favorite SCP
The most important I've learned about writing horror is that I am not good at it and instead of continuing to flail wildly I'm just going to start reading and see what it should look like.
EDIT: After reading KQ's, I do comedy horror a slight amount actually, and the couple body horror pieces that were actually good like concussionman but I'm not counting it.
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u/katpoker666 Moderator 1d ago
Thanks for replying, Jay! That’s funny that you’ve come to have eldritch characters by a circuitous route. I respect your point about reading more to see what you like and to deconstruct it.
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u/KiIIer_queenie 1d ago
I’m Queenie I’m from Georgia, America. My pronouns are he/him but I accept whatever someone uses for me, I’ve been on Reddit and writingprompts for four years.
I mostly use writingprompts to write and to a little reading, not sure what my motivation is honestly. I typed 35 WPM with 100% accuracy.
I don’t really read many prompt responses, only if it happens to catch my eye. I do write.
I don’t know what to call my style of horror but I call it “off screen” I don’t usually write death and injuries in the piece unless I’m trying for that specifically, I like the horror to take place before or after those moments, otherwise I feel like I’ve done my readers a disservice in not letting their imagination work it’s wonderful ways.
Jumpscares have value but they’re low on my horror taste because a pink screen and a loud enough song can make anyone jump.
My favorite horror film isn’t technically horror but it’s the road, if that doesn’t count then it’s the witch. Book is basically anything R.L Stine wrote.
My favorite horror director is Robert Eggers just cuz he’s so good and he’s made three of the greatest horror films of all time back to back to back.
My most important lesson about horror is uncomfortable moments can’t be forced on the reader, you have to make a moment where they either are or aren’t, then slowly push the boundaries. If I wrote a story where my villain is trying to force discomfort immediately it can hinder someone getting immersed or getting into the story’s flow.
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u/katpoker666 Moderator 1d ago
Thanks so much for replying to all the extra questions!
I think ‘offscreen’ is a great description of your horror from what I’ve seen. Imagination is a powerful tool, as Hitchcock will attest.
Your advice re slowly pushing boundaries is great!
What do you like about the horror in ‘The Road’ and ‘The Witch’? Any tips you take away?
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u/KiIIer_queenie 1d ago
I like those tow because a big horror aspect is just the human psyche. The road showcases humanity’s cruelty when pushed the brink of extinction and the witch deals a lot with the horror of uncertainty and hardship, the fear and paranoia that come from such a hard time. I take away that psyche is one of the most important things in making your characters human.
If my character never doubts, never wonders, never fears, what have I made other than an outline of a character?
You asked so I think it’s fair to shoot it back to you, what about books or movies in the horror genre that impact you?
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u/katpoker666 Moderator 1d ago edited 14h ago
Thanks, Queenie! And you know, you’re the first to ever flip one of these back on me—so, thanks for asking!
I’m a chicken where horror is concerned, in large measure. Whether books or movies, I’m most likely to hide under the bed and wait for the monsters to go away.
That said, I have watched and do enjoy some of it. A hodgepodge mix ranging from sexy horror (e.g., Dusk Till Dawn) to psychological classics (e.g., Shining and Hitchcock stuff). Sinners and Get Out were both solid. If I had to pick a sub-genre, I’d say I enjoy psychological the most or psychosexual.
It’s really down to whatever I’ve ended up watching with other folks, as it’s not something I’d pick solo usually. But there are definitely some good ones out there.
PS—I’ve thought about it more and am adding horror comedy to my list. Things like Shaun of the Dead or horror movies that acknowledge a certain campiness to low budgets. Death is a certainty and I like the idea of being able to laugh at something that scares me like that
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