How to Write a Horror Story with a Twist

Before writing a horror story, we have to take something very important into consideration: who is our target audience? It is not the same to write a story for children as it is for an adult reader; the choice of characters, plot, and ending will differ as we select them based on our target audience. So, the first step is to decide your target audience before starting writing your script.

It is also important that, before you write these types of stories, you familiarize yourself with some of the best stories in the genre. You could start off with Halloween stories, for instance, as they often showcase diverse techniques for building suspense and fear.

Now we have to start by imagining our characters. Since your aim is to write a short story, not a novel, you must outline a basic and credible character profile. That means it is not necessary to delve into their entire background, dreams, or frustrations to make a good story, but you'll need to build a realistic and believable character with passions, who makes logical decisions that are credible.

So, to create characters in stories, we have to ask questions such as:

• What do they look like physically? (Age, color, height, weight, if they have scars, etc.)
• Who are their family? (Parents' jobs, if they come from a poor or rich family, where they grew up, etc.)
• What is their greatest fear? This is crucial to determine our character in a horror story because we need to dig a little into their mindset to establish a good plot and develop it well.

Depending on the type of character you want to create, you have to delve a little deeper into their past, what frustrates them, or any traumatic experiences in order to invent a compelling horror story. For instance, a character’s fear of darkness can be rooted in a childhood incident, adding depth to their persona.

If we have decided that the fear factor in our horror story is a person, we must go through the same process we described in the previous step but for the "scary character," who needs to have a logical and natural authenticity. It's not enough to show that they've had a difficult life; it is advisable to get away from the stereotypical clichés and opt for a careful psychological portrait that the reader can empathize with and understand the motives. By delving into their psyche, you can explore what drives them to cause fear, making the story more engaging.

Now it is time to start thinking about the plot of our horror story. What will happen exactly? What is the chronological order of the story? This last point is important because often, scary stories don't begin with the main event; they have a background (the death of someone, abandonment, etc.). So, in order to create a logical plot without inconsistencies, we recommend you make a timeline of the events that have taken place up until your story.

Creating an outline of the plot and background will help you write and avoid making any mistakes such as inconsistencies or loose ends. Remember that a scary story needs all its elements to be well explained and linked together for it to end up being a good story. So, structure your information and have your outline in mind when you type. Moreover, consider intertwining subplots that can enrich the main narrative, adding layers to your story.

Tip: although we have recommended that you do a detailed outline of your story, don't be afraid to unleash your imagination when you're writing. Letting your characters do something that you didn't expect is natural and good for a writer because it means you've created characters with life. Therefore, don't close the door of your creative freedom and let your mind explore the edges of your outline; just don't lose sight of what you had previously planned because otherwise, the result can be chaotic. Sometimes, a spontaneous twist can add an unexpected yet delightful layer to your story.

As with mystery stories, when setting up a horror story, we also have to work very carefully on the suspense of the plot. Edgar Allan Poe, one of the masters of the genre, says that in order to create a compelling story, you don't need to describe blood, knives, or murder itself. Instead, you should play with psychological fears—those kinds of fears that create a terrifying atmosphere without revealing every detail. It is better to evoke than to show; that's the premise you have to follow to write a good horror story.

Another trick you can use to create the atmosphere of fear that holds the reader's soul in suspense is writing a story in the first person. Making our narrator the protagonist of the story gives it immediacy, freshness, and a personal experience, making it easier for you to convey the character's feelings to the readers. Additionally, a first-person perspective can immerse readers more deeply in the narrative, making the fear more palpable.

In order to succeed in creating a story that genuinely scares the reader, we advise that you stay away from the legendary classic horror stories based on legends of vampires, zombies, and ghosts. Instead, opt to create atmosphere in an everyday environment. Placing the scenes of your story in recognisable environments for the reader will increase the effect you are looking for and make your story triumph. So, choose to place your character in a parking lot at night or in a half-empty street rather than transferring them to enchanted castles or abandoned mansions. By doing so, you tap into the readers’ own fears of familiar settings turned sinister.

Finally, to write a horror story, you have to work specifically on the ending. Not just what the plot development will be, but rather how to reveal it to the reader. The way in which the characters realize the solution to the conflict can be subtle, by dropping clues throughout the story. It should be noted that a well-crafted ending often leaves a lasting impression on the reader.

Remember that you don't need to work out a happy ending, but don't fall into the cliché of wanting to create a grand finale. The best advice is to let yourself go with the story and see what possibilities you have. Remember that happy endings are never a success, but artificial and forced endings are also not advisable. The best advice is to let yourself go with the flow and let the story guide you. Crafting an ending that lingers in the reader’s mind, perhaps with a thought-provoking twist, can elevate the entire narrative.

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