descriptive essay about zombies

Zombies in the Real Life Essay

Today, the public discuss zombies as part of the popular culture, although during the decades, these creatures were associated only with frightening religious practices typical for the African and Caribbean cultures and traditions. That is why, now zombies are the topic for the active discussion in different cultural, social, and religious fields. If the persons interested in horror films and video games discuss zombies as made-up creatures, the followers of the Voodoo religion state that zombies are the part of their reality as witches and different evil spirits. Thus, although the concept of ‘zombie’ is discussed by the adherents of the Voodoo religion as reflecting the real creatures, zombies are made up mythical creatures which represent the people’s religious visions, fears of the death and abuse, and the aspects of the people’s opinion on such a type of social relations as slavery.

Zombies are usually defined as the revived corpses which move and act because of the use of magical means. Following the traditional presentation of zombies in films and video games, it is possible to note that “zombies do not think or speak – they simply act, relying on purely physical manifestations of terror” (Bishop 197). As a result, modern filmmakers rely on the concept of ‘zombie’ to create an effective horror film to evoke the audience’s fears. Today, zombies, as made-up creatures, play a significant role in the popular culture, and the history of the word ‘zombie’ can demonstrate the development of the people’s attitude to the concept. The word ‘zombie’ comes from the Kimbundu term meaning ‘the ghost,’ and it appears in the Creole language with the spread of the slave trade. In this case, the word ‘zombie’ means the mindless labor force (Bishop 197). The modern connotations of the word ‘zombie’ are numerous because this concept is used to discuss the part of the Voodoo religion, the monsters depicted in the media, and the tired persons who act automatically. Thus, the word ‘zombie’ does not reflect the real creatures which eat humans, but this made-up concept describes the set of features typical for mindless and ill persons as well as for slaves.

From this point, the concept of ‘zombie’ has changed significantly because modern meanings of the word have few similarities with the traditional visions. The word ‘zombie’ became actively used in the 18th century to represent the slaves and the nature of the power relations in the Haitian culture (Murphy 53). Furthermore, the word described the spirits of dead persons who could act as slaves after the revival of their corpses as a result of the Voodoo priests’ actions. The myth of zombies based on the idea of the mindless slavery formed quickly, and more details were added to this vision. For instance, in the Haitian myth, a zombie was “a person bodily raised from the grave and turned into a slave worker” (McAlister 459).

As a slave worker, a zombie had few chances to become free. Thus, “the zombie breaks the master’s spell when it ingests salt and can die, once again, but this time free” (Murphy 53). In other situations, zombies as the revived corpses remain to be traumatized and mindless creatures punished for leaving their owners. If the myth of zombies contributed to the development of slavery and power relations in the Haitian culture two centuries ago, today this myth is revised and presented in the horror films in the form of the cannibalistic walking dead.

Modern zombies are only the symbolic representations of the people’s fears of dead persons, corpses, and spirits. Literature cannot be discussed as the source of information about zombies because of their nature, and the public develops its knowledge of zombies mainly referring to films and video games because the visual media develop the zombie idea more effectively. The zombie depicted in films is the mystical walking dead, the monster which eats people and can be controlled only with the help of magical means (Bishop 197). Thus, modern zombies as the symbolic structures developed from the Voodoo religious vision are not real, but they are the reflections of powerful myths manipulating the people’s fears. From this perspective, a zombie today is “a ghoul who lumbers around trying to eat people” (McAlister 460).

George Romero focused on depicting zombies in his films in the 1960s, and the era of ‘zombification’ started. More zombie films are produced each decade, and the popularity of this theme in films even influenced literature, and the parody novel Pride and Prejudice and Zombies became the bestseller (McAlister 460). Today, ‘zombie’ is the popular concept actively used in different types of zombie-themed images and captions spread in the media, including social networks and newspapers. Thus, focusing on zombies, filmmakers, and journalists follow the trend, but these zombies are only symbolic images to represent the cannibalistic corpses.

However, many researchers support the idea that zombies are real because, in the Haitian culture and Voodoo religion, priests can use different substances to make people become zombies. Thus, according to these views, zombification can be discussed as the result of pharmacology and the Voodoo priests’ use of powerful neurotoxins (Bishop 197). Nevertheless, the experiments and surveys cannot prove the presented hypotheses, and the secret of the Haitian zombies remains to be unsolved. People are inclined to focus more on the promotion of the traditional vision of zombies used in the horror films, and these zombies are only symbolic monsters and mystical images which differ significantly from the original vision of zombies as slaves. From this point, the concept of ‘zombie’ traditionally reflects the unequal nature of the slavery institution with references to the mystical explanations. As a result, zombies are only part of the cultural and religious myth.

Although the idea of zombies is actively manipulated in the Haitian culture, zombies are real only in people’s fantasies and myths. That is why, the made-up zombies depicted in films and video games are not associated with the Haitian culture, and only the followers of the Voodoo religion are fearful of being punished for becoming a zombie. Nevertheless, researchers cannot provide reliable evidence to prove the fact that people can be turned in zombies. That is why zombies can be discussed only as of the products of the human minds and imagination, which became popular because of their intriguing nature. From this point, the notion of ‘zombie’ is usually not discussed as reflecting the real creature because of the idea’s complex mystical and symbolic nature. Thus, modern zombies are only monsters depicted in visual media.

Works Cited

Bishop, Kyle. “Raising the Dead”. Journal of Popular Film and Television 33.4 (2006): 196-205. Print.

McAlister, Elizabeth. “Slaves, Cannibals, and Infected Hyper-Whites: The Race and Religion of Zombies”. Anthropological Quarterly 85.2 (2012): 457–486. Print.

Murphy, Kieran. “White Zombie”. Contemporary French and Francophone Studies 15.1 (2011): 47-55. Print.

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How to Describe a Post-Apocalyptic World: 5 Descriptive Writing Tips

by Brandon Cornett | October 10, 2022

Describing a Post-Apocalyptic Setting in Fiction

When you write post-apocalyptic fiction, you have the opportunity the erase the old world order and create something new.

Maybe you’ll describe a barren “nuclear winter” kind of setting, as in Robert McCammon’s Swan Song . Or maybe you’ll create a kind of post-apocalyptic utopia where plants and animals, no longer restrained by human encroachment, thrive and flourish like never before, as in Richard Jeffries’ After London .

You’re the creator. You have a blank slate to work with. That’s what lures a lot of writers to post-apocalyptic fiction in the first place.

But no matter what kind of story you tell, you can improve it through the power of description . You can describe your post-apocalyptic setting in a way that paints a picture in the reader’s mind. By doing so, you’ll pull the reader deeper into the story — and keep them turning pages.

Here are some time-tested tips, ideas and suggestions for describing your post-apocalyptic world.

1. Create a reference document (or poster) for consistency.

Have you created a reference document and/or poster for your fictional setting? If so, you’re ahead of the class and may skip ahead to the next section. If you haven’t, now is the time to start.

The idea here is simple. You create a document or poster to compile important details about the post-apocalyptic world you’ll be describing. You don’t necessarily have to use all of those details in your story. But you need to know them. Before you can describe a post-apocalyptic setting in your writing, you have to see it in your mind.

This technique can improve your descriptive writing in several ways. It’s a kind of brainstorming technique, which means it helps generate ideas for your story. More importantly, it helps you remain consistent with your descriptions and other details.

I’m a fan of posters, myself. When I was writing The Holdbacks , the first book in my ongoing post-apocalyptic series, I had to describe an enormous high school. Most of the story takes place inside the school, with students moving from one area to another in survival mode.

I found it nearly impossible to hold that setting in my mind, with imagination alone. Too many classrooms, hallways, practice fields and parking lots. So I created a blueprint poster to keep myself straight ( see photo ).

This is a simple example. The Holdbacks begins in the “regular world,” as the apocalypse is unfolding. So I didn’t have to do much world-building.

If you’re going to recreate civilization in your story, you’ll need to include more information in your reference document or poster. You might have to draw a map to keep yourself oriented. You might have to research (or conceive) native flora and fauna, climate conditions, geographical features, etc.

The idea here is to get all of this information down in one place , so you can easily refer to it when describing your post-apocalyptic setting and world. Consistency is key.

2. Describe select details and let the reader fill in the rest.

When it comes to descriptive writing, details matter. They paint a picture for the reader, allowing them to become fully immersed in the story.

But you don’t have to paint the entire picture for your readers. In fact, it’s probably better if you don’t. It’s often better to sketch in a few lines, and let the reader take it from there.

For example, let’s assume you’re describing a city that has been destroyed by fire, an important setting in your post-apocalyptic story. Instead of describing every little detail of the buildings, the streets, and the gray skyline, you could make a few broad brush strokes.

You might write something like:

The buildings stood like charred logs, some of them leaning precariously. The pavement below was cracked and crumbling. Even now, after all this time, ash still drifted through those streets.

Just three sentences, and we have a pretty clear picture of what this place looks like. We can then fill in the rest with our imagination, conjuring the scene in our own way.

When it comes to descriptive writing, sometimes less is more.

3. Feel free to get poetic — once in a while.

When describing a scene or setting, you might find yourself using poetic language. If that happens, I would encourage you to embrace it … but sparingly .

Novels and short stories are very different from poems. But sometimes they can overlap, even if only for a sentence or two.

When you think about it, it makes sense to use poetic techniques when describing a post-apocalyptic world, scene or setting. Poetry is all about expressing an idea or portraying an image with the fewest words possible. It packs a punch and gets to the point. These are good traits for descriptive writing in general, and for post-apocalyptic fiction in particular.

Here’s a passage from Cormac McCarthy’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Road , where the protagonist sees some kind of animal in a cave:

And on the far shore a creature that raised its dripping mouth from the rimstone pool and stared into the light with eyes dead white and sightless as the eggs of spiders. It swung its head low over the water as if to take the scent of what it could not see. Crouching there pale and naked and translucent, its alabaster bones cast up in shadow on the rocks behind it.

Eyes dead white and sightless, like spider eggs. Alabaster bones. There’s a lot of poetic writing in this brief passage. But it’s still prose. It’s a novel, not a poem.

So feel free to employ this technique, if your instincts lead you there. Just do so sparingly. If you get poetic too often in your short story or novel, you’ll wander into purple prose territory . And that kind of writing gets tiresome after a while.

4. Describe beauty, when and where you find it.

Many post-apocalyptic stories have a dark and heavy tone, especially those where the catastrophic event(s) happened recently. Even the word “apocalypse” spells doom and gloom. It refers to an event involving destruction or damage on a catastrophic scale.

But it can be all bleakness, all the time. That becomes wearying.

The best post-apocalyptic novels offer a ray of light once in a while, something to give the characters hope. Because guess what? When the characters can envision a better world, so can the reader. And that will keep them engaged and curious.

On the other hand, if the world is nothing but doom and gloom, with not even a spark of light at the end of the tunnel, readers have less reason to continue the story.

In fiction, beauty can take many forms. One character helping another. A sunrise after a hard night. Nature reestablishing itself. Hope. Love. Friendship. Find a home for these things in your fiction, and you’ll make it more engaging for the reader.

5. Study post-apocalyptic movies with good setting and cinematography.

Descriptive writing in fiction starts in the real world. We see and hear things every day of our lives, and our brain files them away. This happens subconsciously. When describing a scene or setting in your post-apocalyptic story, you draw upon these memories — sometimes without even realizing it.

So your next task (and clearly the easiest one on this list) is to feed your mental library with visual imagery. And you can do this just by watching movies! Specifically, you want to watch post-apocalyptic movies with good cinematography, like the ones listed below.

Here are some movies to start with, and the scenes that might offer inspiration:

28 Days Later (2002) — The scenes of an empty and silent post-apocalyptic London. The pastoral moment when the characters observe some galloping horses. The country mansion that becomes a military compound.
A Quiet Place (2018) — The early scenes that show the family walking silently through a small town, and then through the quiet woods.
Escape from New York (1981) — The scenes where Snake Plissken goes into Manhattan to rescue the President.
I Am Legend (2007) — The scene showing Robert Neville in the streets of Manhattan. (Side note: What is it with Manhattan and post-apocalyptic movies?)
The Matrix (1999) — The scenes that occur outside the Matrix, where it shows a world controlled by machines and artificial intelligence.
The Road (2009) — Every scene in the movie. And read the book, too!
The Road Warrior (1981) — The scenes involving the walled and fortified “oil town.”
Snowpiercer (2014) — The frozen wasteland outside the train, and the caste-based dystopia inside the train.

I hope this article helps you create vivid descriptions in your post-apocalyptic story or novel, and I wish you all the best. Keep writing!

What is a Descriptive Essay? How to Write It (with Examples)

A descriptive essay is a type of creative writing that uses specific language to depict a person, object, experience, or event. The idea is to use illustrative language to show readers what the writer wants to convey – it could be as simple as a peaceful view from the top of a hill or as horrific as living in a war zone. By using descriptive language, authors can evoke a mental image in the readers’ minds, engaging readers and leaving a lasting impression, instead of just providing a play-by-play narrative.

Note that a description and descriptive essay are not the same thing. A descriptive essay typically consists of five or more well-written paragraphs with vivid imagery that can help readers visualize the content, as opposed to a description, which is typically one or more plain paragraphs with no particular structure or appeal. If you are still unsure about how to write a compelling descriptive essay, continue reading!

What is a descriptive essay, types of descriptive essay topics.

Characteristics of descriptive essays

How to write a descriptive essay using a structured outline

Frequently asked questions.

A simple descriptive essay definition is that it is a piece of writing that gives a thorough and vivid description of an object, person, experience, or situation. It is sometimes focused more on the emotional aspect of the topic rather than the specifics. The author’s intention when writing a descriptive essay is to help readers visualize the subject at hand. Generally, students are asked to write a descriptive essay to test their ability to recreate a rich experience with artistic flair. Here are a few key points to consider when you begin writing these.

Look for a fascinating subject

You might be assigned a topic for your descriptive essay, but if not, you must think of a subject that interests you and about which you know enough facts. It might be about an emotion, place, event, or situation that you might have experienced.

Acquire specific details about the topic

The next task is to collect relevant information about the topic of your choice. You should focus on including details that make the descriptive essay stand out and have a long-lasting impression on the readers. To put it simply, your aim is to make the reader feel as though they were a part of the experience in the first place, rather than merely describing the subject.

Be playful with your writing

To make the descriptive essay memorable, use figurative writing and imagery to lay emphasis on the specific aspect of the topic. The goal is to make sure that the reader experiences the content visually, so it must be captivating and colorful. Generally speaking, “don’t tell, show”! This can be accomplished by choosing phrases that evoke strong emotions and engage a variety of senses. Making use of metaphors and similes will enable you to compare different things. We will learn about them in the upcoming sections.

Capture all the different senses

Unlike other academic articles, descriptive essay writing uses sensory elements in addition to the main idea. In this type of essay writing, the topic is described by using sensory details such as smell, taste, feel, and touch. Example “ Mahira feels most at home when the lavender scent fills her senses as she lays on her bed after a long, tiring day at work . As the candle melts , so do her worries” . It is crucial to provide sensory details to make the character more nuanced and build intrigue to keep the reader hooked. Metaphors can also be employed to explain abstract concepts; for instance, “ A small act of kindness creates ripples that transcend oceans .” Here the writer used a metaphor to convey the emotion that even the smallest act of kindness can have a larger impact.

Maintain harmony between flavor and flow

The descriptive essay format is one that can be customized according to the topic. However, like other types of essays, it must have an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The number of body paragraphs can vary depending on the topic and available information.

It is crucial to remember that a descriptive essay should have a specific topic and goal, such as sharing personal experiences or expressing emotions like the satisfaction of a good meal. This is accomplished by employing exact language, imagery, and figurative language to illustrate concrete features. These language devices allow the writer to craft a descriptive essay that effectively transmits a particular mood, feeling, or incident to readers while also conjuring up strong mental imagery. A descriptive essay may be creative, or it may be based on the author’s own experiences. Below is a description of a few descriptive essay examples that fit into these categories.

Personal descriptive essay example

A personal essay can look like a descriptive account of your favorite activity, a place in your neighborhood, or an object that you value. Example: “ As I step out of the front door, the crisp morning air greets me with a gentle embrace; the big chestnut tree in front, sways in the wind as if saying hello to me. The world unfolds in a symphony of awakening colors, promising a day filled with untold possibilities that make me feel alive and grateful to be born again”.

Imaginative descriptive essay example

You may occasionally be required to write descriptive essays based on your imagination or on subjects unrelated to your own experiences. The prompts for these kinds of creative essays could be to describe the experience of someone going through heartbreak or to write about a day in the life of a barista. Imaginative descriptive essays also allow you to describe different emotions. Example, the feelings a parent experiences on holding their child for the first time.

Characteristics of descriptive essay s

The aim of a descriptive essay is to provide a detailed and vivid description of a person, place, object, event, or experience. The main goal is to create a sensory experience for the reader. Through a descriptive essay, the reader may be able to experience foods, locations, activities, or feelings that they might not otherwise be able to. Additionally, it gives the writer a way to relate to the readers by sharing a personal story. The following is a list of the essential elements of a descriptive essay:

Sensory details
Clear, succinct language
Organized structure
Thesis statement
Appeal to emotion

How to write a descriptive essay, with examples

Writing an engaging descriptive essay is all about bringing the subject matter to life for the reader so they can experience it with their senses—smells, tastes, and textures. The upside of writing a descriptive essay is you don’t have to stick to the confinements of formal essay writing, rather you are free to use a figurative language, with sensory details, and clever word choices that can breathe life to your descriptive essay. Let’s take a closer look at how you can use these components to develop a descriptive essay that will stand out, using examples.

Figurative language

Have you ever heard the expression “shooting for the stars”? It refers to pushing someone to strive higher or establish lofty goals, but it does not actually mean shooting for the stars. This is an example of using figurative language for conveying strong motivational emotions. In a descriptive essay, figurative language is employed to grab attention and emphasize points by creatively drawing comparisons and exaggerations. But why should descriptive essays use metaphorical language? One it adds to the topic’s interest and humor; two, it facilitates the reader’s increased connection to the subject.

These are the five most often used figurative language techniques: personification, metaphor, simile, hyperbole, and allusion.

Simile: A simile is a figure of speech that is used to compare two things while emphasizing and enhancing the description using terms such as “like or as.”

Example: Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving – Albert Einstein

Metaphor: A metaphor are also used to draw similarities, but without using direct or literal comparisons like done in similes.

Example: Books are the mirrors of the soul – Virginia Woolf, Between the acts

Personification: This is the process of giving nonhuman or abstract objects human traits. Any human quality, including an emotional component, a physical attribute, or an action, can be personified.

Example: Science knows no country, because knowledge belongs to humanity, and is the torch which illuminates the world – Louis Pasteur

Hyperbole: This is an extreme form of exaggeration, frequently impractical, and usually employed to emphasize a point or idea. It gives the character more nuance and complexity.

Example: The force will be with you, always – Star Wars

Allusion: This is when you reference a person, work, or event without specifically mentioning them; this leaves room for the reader’s creativity.

Example: In the text below, Robert Frost uses the biblical Garden of Eden as an example to highlight the idea that nothing, not even paradise, endures forever.

Then leaf subsides to leaf.

So Eden sank to grief,

So dawn goes down to day.

Nothing gold can stay

– Nothing Gold Can Stay by Robert Frost (1923)

Descriptive essays need a combination of figurative language and strong sensory details to make the essay more memorable. This is when authors describe the subject matter employing senses like smell, sound, touch, and taste so that the reader can relate to it better.

Example of a sensory-based descriptive essay: The earthy fragrance of freshly roasted chestnuts and the sight of bright pink, red, orange fallen leaves on the street reminded her that winter was around the corner.

Word choice

Word choice is everything in a descriptive essay. For the description to be enchanting, it is essential to utilize the right adjectives and to carefully consider the verbs, nouns, and adverbs. Use unusual terms and phrases that offer a new viewpoint on your topic matter instead of overusing clichés like “fast as the wind” or “lost track of time,” which can make your descriptive essay seem uninteresting and unoriginal.

See the following examples:

Bad word choice: I was so happy because the sunset was really cool.

Good word choice: I experienced immense joy as the sunset captivated me with its remarkable colors and breathtaking beauty.

Descriptive essay format and outline

Descriptive essay writing does not have to be disorganized, it is advisable to use a structured format to organize your thoughts and ensure coherent flow in your writing. Here is a list of components that should be a part of your descriptive essay outline:

Introduction
Opening/hook sentence
Topic sentence
Body paragraphs
Concrete details
Clincher statement

Introduction:

Hook: An opening statement that captures attention while introducing the subject.
Background: Includes a brief overview of the topic the descriptive essay is based on.
Thesis statement: Clearly states the main point or purpose of the descriptive essay.

Body paragraphs: Each paragraph should have

Topic sentence: Introduce the first aspect or feature you will describe. It informs the reader about what is coming next.
Sensory details: Use emphatic language to appeal to the reader’s senses (sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell).
Concrete details: These are actual details needed to understand the context of the descriptive essay.
Supporting details: Include relevant information or examples to improve the description.

Conclusion:

Summarize key points: Here you revisit the main features or aspects of the subject.
Restate thesis statement: Reinforce the central impression or emotion.
Clincher statement: Conclude with a statement that summarizes the entire essay and serve as the last words with a powerful message.

Revision and editing:

Go over your essay to make sure it is coherent, clear, and consistent.
Check for logical paragraph transitions by proofreading the content.
Examine text to ensure correct grammar, punctuation, and style.
Use the thesaurus or AI paraphrasing tools to find the right words.

A descriptive essay often consists of three body paragraphs or more, an introduction that concludes with a thesis statement, and a conclusion that summarizes the subject and leaves a lasting impression on readers.

A descriptive essay’s primary goal is to captivate the reader by writing a thorough and vivid explanation of the subject matter, while appealing to their various senses. A list of additional goals is as follows: – Spark feeling and imagination – Create a vivid experience – Paint a mental picture – Pique curiosity – Convey a mood or atmosphere – Highlight specific details

Although they both fall within the creative writing category, narrative essays and descriptive essays have different storytelling focuses. While the main goal of a narrative essay is to tell a story based on a real-life experience or a made-up event, the main goal of a descriptive essay is to vividly describe a person, location, event, or emotion.

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How to Write Great (Awful) Zombies

By Melanie Karsak

It’s October, my favorite month of the year. Without fail, I always get in the mood to write something spooky this time of year. Over the summer, I completed the fifth and final book in The Harvesting Series. The Harvesting series begins with an outbreak that leads to a zombie apocalypse. Once mankind is mostly dead, the survivors learn that we weren’t as alone as we thought we were. The fey, vampires, and other supernatural creatures and powers always existed in our world, we just didn’t know it. Writing five books in a zombie series pushed me to constantly innovate and look for new ways to write scary creatures. Just how many ways are there to describe a zombie? In the end, I found the best was to go back to basics. Hit the readers right in the senses:

1) Zombies smell like…

I spent a lot of time considering how a zombie might smell. From the harrowing bouquet of the rotted corpse to the whiff of an entire horde of the decaying undead, zombies stink. When writing zombies, you will get your readers into the scene more completely if you can help them envision what it would be like face-to-face with breath that smells like the “soup” at the bottom of a trash can. On The Walking Dead , characters can grimace and cover their mouths. Our characters should do that too, but describing the scents of rancid, pussy sores, molding clothing, and maggot-filled chunks of bloody flesh can bring your zombies to…life? Zombies should smell so bad you can taste it. Speaking of…

2) Zombies taste like…

Okay, no one is going to go around and taste a zombie, but you should get the reader’s taste buds thinking. My favorite taste description is of the bloody saliva my zombies drool all over everything. Imagine that sharp salty and metallic taste of blood in your mouth. Imagine the wash of stomach acid that will burn up your esophagus and into your mouth when you see one of my stinking zombies. Image a scent so putrid you can taste it. Yes, zombies taste bad too.

3) I hear zombies…

The groan of the undead, the sound of them dragging their body parts down the street behind them, the spitty hiss they make as their decayed teeth, yellowed and full of pulpy bits of bloody flesh, snap as they try to bite you, all make up the beautiful chorus that is the zombie apocalypse. Zombies moan like no other monster. Their terrible hunger evokes painful sounding moans as they hiss and snap at their meal: you. The zombie really makes a music all its own.

4) Zombies feel like…

Imagine a rotted corpse had just lunged at you. You try to push it away find only pulpy, decayed flesh. Your fingers sink into the meat. The skin peals back like the casing of a sausage to reveal rotted sinew and tissue now softer than mud. The decaying flesh slips off the still-solid skeleton underneath until your down to the very bone. Zombies feel gross. Describing how zombies feel is best imagined as that feeling you get when you reach into a bag, box, or cupboard only to find something wet, soft, and suspect—where it shouldn’t be. If you have kids, you’ve experienced this for sure. You’re immediately repulsed by the unknown. Add in some great taste and smell descriptions, and you have a perfect recipe for the grotesque.

5) Zombie look like…

Describing how a zombie looks is where writers can take the most liberties. Are your zombies fast or slow? Do they decay or do they not? It’s pretty standard fare to have zombies in tattered clothes, from I am Legend ’s thinking and hairless undead to 28 Days Later’s fast zombies, a bad wardrobe is the norm. Zombies can have red eyes, black eyes, white or decayed-looking eyes, or more. You zombies might be able to communicate or even seem more human than undead. Playing with just what your special brand of zombie will look like, and making is as scary as possible, is what makes writing zombies entertaining.

Evoking the senses when trying to scare the reader is really fun—and maybe a little evil—way to pull the reader into the moment and get their hearts racing. The best way to imagine what will be scary to the reader, what will repulse and frighten them, is to question what you find repulsive and frightening. Play on common human fears. Manipulate the fears of the dark, unknown sounds, and all manner of deeply held unconscious worries.

Of course, I didn’t write a zombie dressed as a clown spitting out spiders while giving a speech, but if I did, he definitely would have smelled like rancid meat, his entrails falling out of a fresh wound as he tried to claw off some poor innocent’s face with his yellowed fingernails, pressing those boney fingers into their flesh. I didn’t write that scene…yet.

The Harvesting

More about Melanie Karsak

9 responses to “How to Write Great (Awful) Zombies”

It was good and helpful

Exceptional detail given here. Two thumbs up! I feel inspired for my own “zombie book”.

Thank you so much this will really help with my creative writing in class. Thanks again.

What does it mean to ‘write like Zombies’?

Your suggestions certainly are helpful for writers of fiction. What would you do differently in a zombie/western screenplay?

I love this article thank you!

Your article was amazing so inspiring thank you!

I find this very helpful and inspiring for my creative writing. Thank you.

This was very helpful with my story! I felt it was bland before, but after some revising with these tips in mind, I like it a lot more!

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Home — Essay Samples — Literature — Short Story — Short Story Of A Zombie Apocalypse

Short Story of a Zombie Apocalypse

Categories: Short Story

About this sample

Words: 652 |

Published: Mar 6, 2024

Words: 652 | Page: 1 | 4 min read

Introduction, the outbreak, fight for survival, loss and despair, hope amidst the chaos.

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Home / Essay Samples / Entertainment / Zombie / The Story About Zombie Apocalypse

The Story About Zombie Apocalypse

Category: Life , Entertainment
Topic: Survival , Zombie

Pages: 1 (505 words)

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Zombies in the Real Life Essay

Works Cited

How to Describe a Post-Apocalyptic World: 5 Descriptive Writing Tips

Describing a Post-Apocalyptic Setting in Fiction

1. Create a reference document (or poster) for consistency.

2. Describe select details and let the reader fill in the rest.

3. Feel free to get poetic — once in a while.

4. Describe beauty, when and where you find it.

5. Study post-apocalyptic movies with good setting and cinematography.

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What is a Descriptive Essay? How to Write It (with Examples)

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How to write a descriptive essay, with examples

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How to Write Great (Awful) Zombies

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