creepy character creative writing

How to Write a Creepy Character Realistically

Sometimes, a story just needs a creep. Whether you need to creep out your characters for a brief moment, or foreshadow the development of a major antagonist with creepy behaviors, you need to be able to effectively write a creepy character. However, that isn’t always as easy as it sounds. How can you create a character that’s so creepy that you don’t even need to acknowledge that for your readers to pick up on it? And where should you draw the line to keep the character realistic? Well, fortunately, there are some simple behaviors that you can give your creepy characters to make your readers squirm.

What Does it Mean for Someone to be “Creepy?”

First of all, you need to understand what exactly it means for someone to be “creepy,” or more accurately, what it means when you get creeped out by someone. Basically, when you get creeped out by someone, that means that there is something about them that is making you (consciously or unconsciously) perceive them as a threat to your personal safety. It is your brain’s way of warning you that there is something unpredictable, unsettling, or dangerous about that person, and it is unable to decide if that person should be feared. This typically manifests in awkwardness, confusion, or unsettlement, and you typically resolve it by getting as far away from the creepy person as possible. 

This works a little differently in a fictional story. Readers cannot form that same connection with written characters that they can with real people, or even actors in movies. Instead, you need to make readers suspicious of the intentions of the creep in regards to the characters they are interacting with. You need to make your readers afraid on behalf of the main character, regardless of if the character is aware of, or oblivious to, the creepy behaviors of the other character. 

Different Kinds of Creeps

Now that that’s out of the way, you need to understand that there is more than one way to write a creepy character. Creeps come in all shapes and sizes, and their reasons for their creepy behavior could be sinister or entirely accidental. In addition to that, many factors that people perceive as creepy are things that people cannot help, such as appearance or gender. For example, men are far more likely to be considered creepy than women, and physical attractiveness plays a large role as well. People can even disagree about what they consider to be creepy.

Depending on the character, the setting, and the story you are writing, being a “creep” could have wildly different connotations. In one story, a creep might be a suspect in a murder case, while in another, a woman could feel threatened by her creepy blind date. Or, the creep in question could simply be a teenage boy trying to fit in at high school.

Creepiness can even be a good thing! Some of the most beloved characters in media come across as creepy characters, such as Stein from Soul Eater or the entirety of the Addams Family . Misunderstandings can also work in your favor, as your protagonists can experience character development as they learn to accept and befriend those who appear different from themselves.

Regardless of the reasons for acting creepy, there are a few techniques you can use to really make your creep give readers and other characters the chills. 

The Most Important “Creep Factor”

Before we move on to the vague list of traits and behaviors you could attach to your creepy character, I wanted to set aside a space to talk about the single most important factor for making a character creepy. 

Unpredictability.

When a character is unpredictable, that inherently creates a sense of potential danger, and therefore makes them creepy. If you never know what they are going to do next, then you cannot ever trust them. You won’t ever know what’s going on in their head, if they are thinking about what they are doing, or if their behavior is completely accidental and impulsive. The most dangerous kind of creep is the one that you cannot predict. 

Just don’t fall into the cycle of making them predictably unpredictable. If they always act like a disaster, or if all their decisions follow a similar way of thinking, then it won’t have the same effect on readers as the story progresses. You need to make sure that you are effectively surprising your readers (and your characters) every time, otherwise, it’ll lose its effect. 

How to Design a Character that Gives Your Readers the Creeps

Now, when you are creating a character that you want your readers to perceive as creepy, you can’t take the easy way out. DO NOT have your characters tell your readers what to think by saying things like “there was something off about him” or “he was acting weird.” If you have to tell your readers that explicitly, then you need to rewrite your draft. 

No one wants to be told what to think about a story; they want to experience it for themselves and make their own inferences about the characters and the storyline. There is something rewarding about reaching a point in a story and being able to exclaim “I knew it” when a foreshadowed plot point finally gets revealed. 

DISCLAIMER: It is important to keep in mind that this list is curated from interviews and people’s accounts of what they consider to be “creepy.” Unfortunately, many of these traits align with symptoms of depression, anxiety, Autism, OCD, BPD, and many other conditions. This is because society generally views anything outside the scope of what is considered “normal” to be wrong, scary, or upsetting. Remember that these traits alone are not enough to make a person creepy—they are only part of the strategy.

To make a character a bit more unsettling and potentially reveal more about their creepy nature, consider giving them one, two, or many of the traits and behaviors listed below:

• Erratic and unpredictable emotions 
• Unapologetic non-conformance to societal norms
• A careless appearance; especially messy or greasy hair
• A habit of standing too close to people or not respecting personal boundaries
• Weird or inappropriate expressions
• Always appearing too tired or too energetic
• Repeated quirks, such as fidgeting or licking their lips
• Obsessing over a single idea, person, group, or topic (usually of a taboo nature, such as sex or death, though it doesn’t always have to be. Teenage girls can be creepy in the way they obsess over musical idols or bands.)
• Avoiding eye contact
• Conversational awkwardness, or an inability to pick up on social cues
• Oversharing in conversation, especially about really personal topics
• Showing too much or too little emotion (or the wrong emotion in a situation, such as finding humor in a funeral)
• Collecting things, especially things that are usually deemed inappropriate to keep, such as fingernails, animal skulls, or other people’s trash (bonus points if the creep brags about their collection in conversation)
• Having a hobby that involves watching something, such as bird watching (binoculars are an inherently creepy image)
• Having unrealistic expectations for, or even idealizing, other people (often to the point of obsession)
• Knowing too much about something or someone, and remembering way too many details
• Staring, either into space, at animals, people, their own hands, etc. Staring is often just creepy

This is in no way an exhaustive list. There are countless different ways to make a character seem creepy. One way of generating ideas is to think about real creepy people from your own life, from the news, or even other fictional stories. Think about the behaviors that, if you saw in real life, would make you keep your distance from someone. Think about the behaviors that frighten you, and use those. 

Too much intelligence surrounding a particular topic, especially a topic that is considered to be “taboo” by most of society, could give your character a creepy vibe. My other article Simple Tips for Writing Genius Characters could help you craft a unique genius character that you could use to freak out your readers and other characters alike. Who knows? Your story might just need a creepy scientist or unhinged inventor.

How to Make a Moderately Creepy Character

Now, this might all feel a little extreme to you, especially if your character doesn’t fit the description of being your average run-of-the-mill creep. Maybe they’re more suave, and their creepiness comes from a slight inkling of their bad intentions. Maybe they’re wise to their own creepiness, and they use that to their advantage. Or maybe, you just want to make a character who is only sort of creepy, but you don’t want to get too extreme.

Here are a couple of tamer ideas for behaviors to keep your creeps realistic and subtle:

• Acting too calm under pressure
• Having too much knowledge regarding a particular topic
• Smiling at inappropriate times
• Giving off the impression of knowing more than they let on
• Being too friendly
• Having a nonchalant attitude towards death and suffering
• Phrasing things in a way that seems unnatural for a native speaker
• Being insistent about getting what they want
• Having or showing a lack of sympathy or emotion
• Not taking anyone seriously, or taking people way too seriously
• Evidence of trauma or a mysterious event in their past
• Any peculiarities in attitude, attire, and hobbies

If you keep things in moderation, you might not have the same immediate effect on readers, but you have the opportunity to slowly build the creepiness up over time. Choose whatever you need for your character, to make them what you need them to be in the story. 

Other Techniques for Making a Character Seem Creepy

This might come as a surprise, but the character’s individual personality and behaviors are not the only aspects that matter when it comes to making them appear creepy. There are several other ways you can manipulate a reader’s subconscious to make them perceive a character as creepy. 

One of the ways you can do this is with the words you use to describe them. Everyone knows that some words with similar definitions have wildly different connotations. For example, “coerce” and “compel” mean the same thing—to persuade an unwilling person to do something. However, “coerce” has much more aggressive connotations, and seeing it used can automatically influence your reader’s perceptions of the scene. 

There are many ways this can apply to a character. You can use unsavory words to describe their behavior, the way they speak, and even their surroundings. 

Take a look at these two examples:

“His face lit up with a grin”

“A smile stretched across his face.”

The first example’s use of the phrase “lit up” likens the character’s smile to sunshine, which is bright, warm, and familiar. This creates a subconscious, positive impression of the character. Alternatively, the second example’s use of the word “stretched” creates an uncomfortable image, and can even give off the impression that the gesture isn’t genuine. This contributes to a more suspicious impression, which can make a character seem creepier.

Another thing to consider when making a creepy character is their knowledge of the story so far. If a character knows too much about the characters, their quest, or their past exploits, then it will seem like they have been stalking the characters. It’s always creepy when someone knows something they shouldn’t. Likewise, when they appear in the story can also impact their creepiness. If they only appear when the main character is alone or particularly vulnerable, that’s going to give off “creepy” vibes. The setting and context of the creepy character’s appearances in the story can have a massive impact on how they are perceived.

Be Careful with Your Creeps

As always, I’m going to leave off with a word of caution. Just because someone is different does not mean they are dangerous. If you aren’t careful about how you present your creepy characters, you could end up spreading harmful misinformation about real mental and neurological conditions. By associating certain behaviors with dangerous or suspicious characters, you participate in altering your readers’ perceptions of those behaviors. Whether you intend for this or not, this association can end up further stigmatizing Neurodivergent people and those who suffer from mental illnesses. You could play a part in demonizing the behaviors of people who often just need help and understanding. So—tread carefully.

You never know how impactful your story could end up being.

The Writer's Guide to Creating Horror Characters

Listen here, you twisted, messed-up author: I know you want to write something terrifying. Something so scary it haunts your reader for days—or, rather, sleepless nights—after they’ve finished the last page.

Maybe you have an incredible idea for a story, something fresh and exciting yet utterly awful or even depraved. And perhaps you even have some important theme that’s Socrates-levels of deep you want to share.

But your characters just aren’t cutting it.

Whether your monster or hero are bland or you just want to make them the best that you can, it’s important to understand not only how to craft spooky characters, but how they can help your story, too.

Because, when it comes down to it, your characters are what bring your story—and your scares—to life. And that’s why we’re here, right?

So we’re going to look at:

• Understanding horror
• The key characters in horror
• Developing backstories
• Designing how your characters look
• Forming unique abilities and weaknesses
• Some extra tips for making horror characters

Now turn down the lights, make sure the doors are locked, and let’s figure out how to write horror characters.

Understanding the Horror Genre

Before you can write great horror characters, you need to understand how the horror genre works.

There are a number of reasons people theorize we like horror movies and stories. It can be an outlet for negative emotions, an invigorating feeling of watching a helpless hero defeat a seemingly insurmountable foe, an adrenaline-fueled sense of adventure , or simply because some of us weirdos (myself included) just love being scared.

Whatever your reader’s why , horror books are there to generate suspense and, ultimately, fear.

Because when it boils down to it, fear is the thing that makes your horror novel work. Your themes are brought into focus because of fear. Your plot is driven forward because of fear. Your characters make their decisions based on fear. And your reader will devour your book because of fear.

When you’re writing in this genre, you need to think about fear in everything you write. Even in the slower-paced scenes where you’re finally giving your hero time to breathe, how is fear affecting their short reprieve?

If you want a complete guide to integrating fear into you’re writing, check out this link . Here are a few things to keep in mind, in the meantime:

• Make the stakes big – Sure, losing your job is scary. But not horror scary. Dying, torture, pain, insanity… make the punishment for failure worth fearing.
• Limit time and breathing room – The longer the protagonist has to figure out their problem or even regroup, the lower the stakes and the fear become.
• Increase the obstacles – Things should get progressively more difficult for the protagonist, not easier, until the very end.
• Keep them guessing – Don’t feed the reader enough hints to figure things out. End chapters on cliffhangers. Make their jaws drop. Use the unknown to your advantage.

The Key Characters in a Horror Story

While your story will host a cast of characters once everything is said and done, there are two main characters that are extra important, especially in a horror story:

• The protagonist
• The monster/ghost/creature/scary villain (who I’ll be referring to mostly as the monster going forward)

For most of the remainder of the article, I’ll be dividing up each section into these two main characters.

Supporting and tertiary characters will support or hinder these two characters throughout your book, but you want to devote your energy to these two (and can learn about writing supporting characters here ).

The Protagonist: The Hero and Their Journey

Alright, let's shine the spotlight on the unsung heroes of horror stories—the protagonists. These brave souls are the ones who bear the weight of our fears and embark on treacherous journeys that keep us on the edge of our seats. They are the ones who face the darkness head-on and carry the hopes and fears of readers.

The main protagonist in a horror story serves as the vehicle of fear, the conduit through which our deepest nightmares come to life. They become our eyes and ears in a world tainted by terror, guiding us through the sinister corridors and haunting landscapes. We root for them, relate to their struggles, and experience their triumphs and tribulations.

What makes these protagonists so compelling? It's their vulnerabilities and strengths that draw us in. They are not invincible superheroes; they are ordinary people thrust into extraordinary circumstances. Their vulnerabilities make them relatable—they fear, they doubt, and they make mistakes, just like us. It is through their vulnerability that we connect with them on a human level and feel their plight.

However, it's not just their vulnerabilities that define them; it's their strengths as well. They possess qualities that enable them to confront the horrors that lurk in the shadows. Whether it's intelligence, resilience, resourcefulness, or sheer determination, these strengths propel them forward and give us hope amidst the darkness. They become beacons of courage in the face of overwhelming fear.

As the narrative unfolds, we witness the growth and transformation of the protagonist. They evolve from ordinary individuals into warriors battling the forces of evil. We see them confront their fears, overcome obstacles, and discover inner strengths they never knew they possessed. Their journey is not just about survival; it's about self-discovery and the triumph of the human spirit.

Now, let's turn our attention to the other side of the coin—the monstrous forces that lurk in the shadows. It's time to explore the role and impact of the monster in your horror story.

The Monster: Their Role and Impact

In the dark abyss of your horror story, there lies a figure that strikes fear into the hearts of readers—the monster. This primary antagonist, whether it's a supernatural entity, a vengeful spirit, a bloodthirsty creature, or a memorable villain, embodies the essence of terror and becomes the driving force behind your written nightmare.

Monsters are a source of fear—the embodiment of all that is terrifying and grotesque. It not only brings the hero’s fears to life, but it is the source of your reader's fears, too. Its presence looms over the narrative, its mere existence evoking a sense of unease and foreboding, setting the stage for spine-chilling, dangerous encounters.

Understanding the motivations and objectives your monsters is crucial to crafting a compelling (and frightening) horror narrative. What drives this creature of darkness? Is it seeking revenge, driven by a thirst for power, or simply reveling in chaos and destruction? By delving into the depths of their motivations, you can add layers of complexity to the monster, making it more than just a one-dimensional source of terror.

The significance of the monster lies in its ability to evoke fear and suspense. It plays a pivotal role in keeping readers on the edge of their seats, eagerly turning the pages to discover the fate of the protagonist.

The monster's relentless pursuit, its ominous presence, and its capacity for violence and malevolence intensify the atmosphere of terror, creating a sense of helplessness and vulnerability.

But the monster isn't just a mindless force of evil. It can also serve as a reflection of our own fears and anxieties. It is the darkness that resides within us, the primal instincts we suppress, and the consequences of our actions. Through the monster, we confront our own inner demons and explore the boundaries of our fears.

So let’s bring these crucial characters to life.

Developing Backstories for Your Horror Characters

All great characters have thorough backstories, even if parts of those histories are never explicitly shown to the reader. But you, the author of nightmares, need to know what your characters have been through, where they’ve come from, and what drives them forward.

For your monster, the backstory might be explained when the protagonist finds a book of lore or an obscure blog detailing an old folktale.

For your protagonist, odds are they are just a person who has lived a fairly normal life up until now. “Normal” means different things to different people. It could mean they work a 9-5 before coming home to their kids. It could mean they’re a contract killer.

Let’s dive into a few backstory specifics.

The Protagonist’s Backstory

Every hero has a story, a past that shapes who they are and influences their journey through the horrors that await them. In the realm of horror, the protagonist's backstory is crucial in establishing their fears, motivations, and resilience in the face of terror.

When crafting your hero’s backstory, consider the following:

Keep them relatable – Even if they aren’t as ordinary as you and me, your protagonist’s backstory should give a reader something relatable to latch on to.

Their source of fear – The protagonist's fears are often rooted in their past experiences, traumas, or personal demons . Perhaps they have survived a childhood encounter with the supernatural or witnessed a gruesome tragedy that haunts their nightmares. These past terrors serve as fuel for their determination to confront and overcome the horrors that they now face.

What motivates them? – While “not dying” is a pretty common motivator in horror, their backstory will influence what else drives the protagonist forward. Did they fail as a parent before and thus risk it all to save a child from the monster? It should be something meaningful enough to outweigh their fear… eventually.

Reveal gradually – The protagonist's backstory should be revealed gradually, layer by layer, through introspective monologues, conversations with other characters, or even eerie flashbacks that shed light on their past.

Remember, the protagonist's backstory is not just a mere collection of events. It's a mosaic of emotions, scars, and growth. It provides the foundation for their journey and offers insight into the choices they make in the face of fear.

Note: Given the nature of this genre, some character backstories might have some terrible events or trauma. Your subgenre and style will dictate how you write that, but always write traumatic events with respect rather than exploiting them.

The Monster’s Backstory

Behind every monstrous presence in a horror story lies a history, an origin that shapes their terrifying nature and fuels their nefarious objectives. Understanding the backstory of your monster is crucial for creating a memorable villain that evokes fear and suspense in your readers.

Consider the following when developing your monster's backstory:

Origins of darkness – Uncover the origins of your monster's existence. Were they born out of ancient curses, scientific experiments gone wrong, or supernatural forces? Delve into the dark forces that brought them into being.

Traumatic events – Hero’s aren’t the only ones who have suffered. Did your monster face a great injustice, betrayal, or a personal tragedy that twisted their perception and transformed them into a creature of terror? These past traumas can explain their malevolent actions and provide a glimpse into their motivations.

Goals and objectives – Define the monster's goals and what they seek to achieve. Are they driven by vengeance, an insatiable hunger, or a desire for power? Understanding their objectives helps you craft a more focused and formidable antagonist.

Symbolic meaning – Consider the symbolic meaning behind your monster. Does it represent a specific fear, societal anxiety, or psychological concept? It should! A monster's backstory can be an opportunity to infuse deeper meaning into your narrative, adding layers of symbolism and thematic resonance.

Reveal fragments of your monster's backstory strategically throughout your story, gradually building intrigue and heightening the sense of dread.

By understanding the origins and history of your monster, you can craft a more nuanced and captivating antagonist that leaves a lasting impression on your a reader.

Creating Unique Abilities and Weaknesses for Your Horror Characters

Your characters also need strengths and weaknesses to not only set them apart from other characters but to give them obstacles to work through or succumb to.

When I say strengths or abilities, those can be supernatural or magical (obviously, depending on your monster, and if your hero is something like a psychic or you’re writing dark fantasy). For your protagonist, strengths might mean something more mundane, like they have a photographic memory or a knack for picking locks.

Let’s dissect your horror characters’ abilities and weaknesses a bit.

Abilities and Weaknesses for the Protagonist

In the treacherous world of your horror story, the protagonist must possess a unique set of abilities and weaknesses that shape their journey and determine their fate in the face of unimaginable terror.

These qualities not only distinguish them from other characters but also provide the necessary tools and vulnerabilities to confront their fears.

When crafting the abilities and weaknesses of your protagonist, consider the following elements:

Developing strengths, skills, and resources – As the hero of your horror story, your protagonist should possess strengths and skills that enable them to stand up against the horrors that await. These can range from physical prowess, such as combat training or survival instincts, to mental capacities like intelligence, intuition, or problem-solving abilities. But these shouldn’t be enough to succeed at first and instead develop over the course of their arc.

Incorporating vulnerabilities – To intensify the stakes and create a compelling narrative, it’s crucial to incorporate vulnerabilities into your protagonist's character. These vulnerabilities make them more relatable, human, and susceptible to the terrors they encounter. They could be emotional vulnerabilities, such as unresolved traumas, fears, or doubts, which the monster can exploit. Physical weaknesses or limitations can also add an extra layer of tension, as the protagonist must overcome or work around these weaknesses while facing their fears.

The journey of growth and empowerment – As your protagonist confronts their fears and battles the monster, their character should undergo a transformation and growth. Through their experiences and encounters, they develop resilience, learn valuable lessons, and discover hidden strengths within themselves. This journey of empowerment adds depth and richness to their character arc , making their ultimate triumph over the darkness even more satisfying… unless you kill them off in the end.

Remember, the abilities and weaknesses of your protagonist should be intricately woven into your story, providing opportunities for both triumph and vulnerability. Balancing their strengths and weaknesses will create a dynamic and engaging character who captivates readers as they navigate the treacherous path of horror.

Abilities and Weaknesses for the Monster

Every memorable monster, whether an alien or a madman with a knife, possesses a unique set of abilities and weaknesses that contribute to their menacing presence. When crafting your monster's characteristics, consider the following elements to make them truly fearsome.

Distinctive abilities – Your monster should possess strength that set them apart and make them formidable adversaries. Whether it's supernatural powers, shapeshifting abilities, heightened senses, or grotesque physical attributes, these traits contribute to their frightening capacity for evil. Think about how these abilities will work with the fear you’re focusing on and how they interact with the plot.

Consistency in abilities and weaknesses – Ensure that their abilities and weaknesses remain consistent throughout the story. This consistency adds depth to their character and allows readers to understand their strengths and vulnerabilities. For example, if your monster has regenerative abilities, make sure it remains a consistent aspect of their nature.

Direct ties to the protagonist – One effective way to intensify the conflict between the protagonist and the monster is to create a direct link between their abilities and weaknesses. Consider giving the monster a strength or ability that directly exploits or preys upon the protagonist's weakness, like a snake-like monster and a protagonist with ophidiophobia. This connection not only raises the stakes but also enhances the psychological and emotional impact of the confrontation between the two.

Take the time to truly develop these aspects so you can create one hell of a creepy antagonist.

Tips for Creating Memorable and Iconic Horror Characters

We’ve covered a lot of ground for crafting your two most important horror characters, but there are still some things you should keep in mind.

Whether you're working on your protagonist or your monstrous antagonist, these guidelines will help you shape characters that will linger in readers' minds and evoke spine-chilling reactions. Here are some dos and don'ts to consider:

DO tap into universal fears: Identify fears that resonate with a broad audience and infuse them into your characters. The best horror villains use things like the fear of the dark, claustrophobia, or the fear of the unknown can create a deep emotional connection with readers.

DON'T rely solely on clichés: While familiar horror tropes can be effective, be careful not to rely too heavily on clichéd character traits or storylines. Strive for originality and surprise your readers with unexpected twists.

DO give your characters depth: Develop multi-dimensional characters with complex personalities, motivations, and backstories. Adding layers of complexity will make your characters more relatable and engaging.

DON'T make them invincible: Flaws and vulnerabilities humanize your characters and make them more relatable. Invincible characters can diminish tension and suspense, so ensure that your characters have weaknesses and limitations.

DO create internal conflicts: Explore internal struggles within your characters. Conflicting emotions, moral dilemmas, or wavering beliefs can add depth and complexity to their journeys.

DON'T underestimate the power of subtlety: Sometimes, the most terrifying aspects of a character lie in the subtle nuances. Use restraint in revealing all the details, allowing readers' imaginations to fill in the gaps and amplify the horror.

DO establish unique mannerisms: Give your characters distinct physical or behavioral traits that contribute to their unsettling presence. Unusual quirks or repetitive gestures can leave a lasting impression.

DON'T forget the power of silence: Sometimes, silence can be more frightening than explicit dialogue. Use pauses and silence strategically to build tension and anticipation.

DO create a compelling visual image: Craft vivid descriptions that paint a striking and unforgettable visual image of your characters. These visuals will enhance their impact and leave a lasting imprint on readers' minds.

DON'T shy away from emotional resonance: Horror is not just about fear; it can also evoke other powerful emotions. Explore the range of human emotions within your characters, such as grief, guilt, or desperation, to create a more profound and resonant experience for your readers.

Your last do? Focus on the fundamentals. If you’re looking for advice to up your character game, not just in a horror story but in all writing, check out the links below:

• 14 Common Character Archetypes You Should Know
• How to Describe Characters
• 20 Original Questions to Ask Your Characters
• How to Write a Good Villain
• Character Development Questions That Aren’t About Eye Color
• How to Give Your Characters Personality
• Giving Your Characters Fears
• Fleshing Out Characters
• Things You Need to Know About Your Characters
• How to Write a Character Sketch
• A Character Development Worksheet
• The Best Character Template Ever

And subscribe to our non-spammy newsletter to get all the latest articles about characters, plot, themes, conflict, marketing, and so much more delivered right to your inbox. Happy writing!

Doug Landsborough can’t get enough of writing. Whether freelancing as an editor, blog writer, or ghostwriter, Doug is a big fan of the power of words. In his spare time, he writes about monsters, angels, and demons under the name D. William Landsborough. When not obsessing about sympathetic villains and wondrous magic, Doug enjoys board games, horror movies, and spending time with his wife, Sarah.

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Strange is the new normal, how to write creepy scenes to make your readers squirm.

Most writers who delve into horror hit the prose with a bag of clichés and heavy handed stage props—swirling fog, glowing eyes, wicked laughs. Don’t get me wrong, camp can be great (if it’s intentional). However, a more subtle approach can work wonders.

Add Details One by One

Use disturbing details or reversals when describing your scenes. Each one, taken by itself, does little, but in combination, they imbue the reader with unease. Consider Cold Skin by Albert Sánchez Piñol. Here an unnamed narrator just inhabited a weather station on a deserted island.

Just then, I heard a pleasing sound far off. It was more or less like a heard of goats trotting in the distance. At first, I confused it with the pattering of rain; the sound of heavy and distinct drops. I got up and looked out of the closest window. It wasn’t raining. The full moon stained the ocean’s surface in a violet hue. The light bathed the driftwood lying on the beach. It was easy to imagine them as body parts, dismembered and immobile. The whole thing brought to mind a petrified forest. But it wasn’t raining.

Reversal : The narrator thinks it’s raining, but then there’s no rain. We wonder what’s creating that pattering sound, and the not knowing makes us uneasy.

Disturbing details : The water is stained violet, a bloodlike color. This idea is cemented in the reader’s skull with the driftwood, described as dismembered limbs.

Let the Character Freak Out

Nothing creeps out a reader faster than letting the protagonist freak out. Ever wonder why there are so many screams in horror movies? It’s the same thing. As an author, you must find the written equivalent to the scream.

In Bag of Bones by Stephen King, the protagonist, Mike Noonan, begins to believe that his house is haunted. He’s in the basement and hears the sound of someone striking the insulation, but no one else is home.

…every gut and muscle of my body seemed to come unwound. My hair stood up. My eyesockets seemed to be expanding and my eyeballs contracting, as if  my head were trying to turn into a skull. Every inch of my skin broke out in gooseflesh. Something was in here with me. Very likely something dead.

King lays it on thick here. Instead of one physical reaction, he dumps the whole bucket on us. He doesn’t dazzle us with a etherial decaying corpse. We won’t even see the ghost till the final chapters. No. He tells us how Noonan feels just in the presence of the thing and that’s what creeps us out.

Another example of the character freaking out can be seen in Shirley Jackson’s  The Haunting of Hill House .

Now we are going to have a new noise, Eleanor thought, listening to the inside of her head; it is changing.  The pounding had stopped, as though it had proved ineffectual, and there was now a swift movement up and down the hall, as of an animal pacing back and forth with unbelievable impatience, watching first one door and then another, alert for a movement inside, and there was again the little babbling murmur which Eleanor remembered; Am I doing it? she wondered quickly, is that me? And heard the tiny laughter beyond the door, mocking her.

Here the character doubts herself and what she sees. This is essential to any horror story. When weird things happen, the character mysteries react accordingly. The stranger the situation, the stronger the reaction. And most of us would doubt our sanity in creepy situations.

Let The Reader Do the Imagining

Why should you, the author, do all the heavy lifting. Your reader’s imagination will often fill in the blanks for you. Take this example from Stephen King’s The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon .

As she reached the driver’s door of the cab, which hung open with vines twisting in and out of its socket of a window, lightning flashed again, painting the whole world purple. In its glare Trisha saw something with slumped shoulders standing on the far side of the road, something with black eyes and great cocked ears like horns. Perhaps they were horns. It wasn’t human; nor did she think it was animal. It was a god. It was her god, the wasp-god, standing there in the rain.

Notice that the monster is only vaguely described. It’s called “something” twice. This lets the reader fill in the blanks. There is enough description that we at least know it’s a big hulking creature. This is the literary equivalent of when Ridley Scott only showed glimpses of the alien in Alien .

Use Strong Verbs

Finally, strong verbs will help any writer to shine, but they can also allow one character to shine over another. Take this excerpt from William Blatty’s The Exorcist .

Regan’s eyes gleamed fiercely, unblinking, as a yellowish saliva dribbled down from a corner of her mouth to her chin, to her lips stretch taut into a feral grin of bow-mouthed mockery.

“Well, well, well,” she gloated sardonically and hairs prickled up on the back of Karras’s neck at a voice that was deep and thick with menace and power. “So, it’s you … they sent  you !” she continued as if pleased. “Well, we’ve nothing to fear from you at all.”

“Yes, that’s right,” Karras answered; “I’m your friend and I’d like to help you.”

“You might loosen these straps, then,” Regan croaked. She had tugged up her wrists so that now Karras noticed they were bound with a double set of leather restraining straps.

“Are the straps uncomfortable for you?”

“Extremely. They’re a nuisance. An  infernal  nuisance.”

The eyes glinted slyly with secret amusement.

Karras saw the scratch marks on Regan’s face; the cuts on her lips where apparently she’d bitten them. “I’m afraid you might hurt yourself, Regan,” he told her.

“I’m not Regan,” she rumbled, still with that taut and hideous grin that Karras now guessed was her permanent expression. How incongruous the braces on her teeth looked, he thought. “Oh, I see,” he said, nodding. “Well, then, maybe we should introduce ourselves. I’m Damien Karras. Who are you?”

“I’m the devil!”

Notice the verbs that Blatty uses with Reagan — gleamed, dribbled, gloated, croaked, rumbled. In contrast, the more calm individual in the scene, Karras, responds with simple verbs like “answered” and “saw”. The contrast allows the reader to see Reagan as disturbing.

If you want to make your readers squirm, reading only in daylight hours, shy away from the obvious gore and claptrap. Rather, take the quieter road of tiny disturbing details built up over pages and chapters. Show how your character reacts to what’s happening, and the reader will feel it too.

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13 Creative Writing Prompts for Psychological Thrillers and Horror

• by Lauren du Plessis @lauren.duplessis

Get inspired for your Halloween writing projects with these warm-up exercises and ideas from pro writers

From campfire tales to creepypastas, scary stories have taken many forms over the years. While a thriller tends to have a fast pace, and horror focuses more on suspense and tone, these two genres have a lot in common, like high tension and unsettling effects.

From haunted houses to serial killers to ancient monsters, there seems to be a limitless well of ideas out there for thriller and horror writers. But if you’re looking for somewhere to start with your Halloween creative writing , we've rounded up 13 prompts shared by professional writers below .

These prompts can be used for any narrative fiction, whether you write short stories, novels, screenplays, or just about anything else .

What is a writing prompt and how do I use it?

Writing prompts are everywhere online nowadays, with sites like Pinterest and Instagram being packed with aesthetically-pleasing bullet point lists of story ideas. They provide a core concept that you can base your own original work around . Not only can this help to beat writer’s block , it can also open your creative mind .

There are many reasons why writers might turn to these exercises. Some choose to do “morning pages”, or free writing sessions to warm up, with no intention of showing the work to anyone. Others might be looking for fresh ideas during the research phase for a project they hope to work on. Finally, some might use writing prompts for fun, trying them out with friends or a workshop to find out how everyone responds differently.

Halloween creative writing prompts

It’s the perfect time of year to get cozy at your desk or in a café, and lose yourself in composing a spooky story. That’s why we teamed up with some of Domestika’s writing teachers to get you started with creepy characters, scary scenery, and unsettling situations .

Our three teachers are screenwriter and indie author Mark Boutros ( @mboutroswrites ), who wrote The Craft of Character ; award-winning novelist Emily Barr ( @emily_barr ), who writes thrillers for adults and young adults; and Raquel Castro ( @raquelcastrom ), author of teen horror novels, essays, short stories, and much more.

Without further ado, find their prompts below, and start writing!

Opening sentence prompts

Let’s start with two chilling opening scenes from Mark, which could form the beginnings of a “whodunnit” or mystery thriller. Try considering what plot beats or key moments would follow, and what the end point might be.

1. Sarah searched through the final dusty box, the last of her dead mother's belongings, and while she couldn't find her mother's will, there was a photo album, and in it, several photos of her mother with a child that wasn't Sarah nor her sister, Bronagh.

2. He hadn't had any visitors for years, ever since he'd told everyone in the village exactly how he felt about how they'd treated his wife before she passed away. So who could be ringing the doorbell at this hour? He limped towards it, his slipper souls slapping against the wooden floor. He called out but nobody answered, so he opened the door forcefully, but nobody was there in the darkness, but on the doorstep, a cassette with a sticker and a nickname he hadn't heard since school, 'Stinger', written on it.

Meanwhile, Emily offers this intriguing opener...

3. I was sleeping soundly, for the first time in years, when I was woken by a bang on the door, an urgent shout, and barking dogs.

Setting and situation prompts

Here, think about your own strong opening image, then consider whether flashbacks, dialogue, or action scenes will reveal key information.

Raquel shares three imaginative exercises.

4. A certain classic horror story starts with the words “It was a dark and stormy night”. But how exactly does a “dark and stormy night” look? Describe it in as much detail as possible.

5. Imagine you are in a place where you usually feel comfortable and safe. Only now it’s totally in the dark. There’s no light that you could use. And then, you hear a noise that frightens you because it seems completely out of place there. What was that noise? What could be its source?

6. Look around your neighborhood and find a place that looks strange or eerie. Dream up (and then write) a story that could be told as the disturbing legend of that place.

7. Imagine that, near a crime scene, you find a backpack. When you open it, you sense it belongs to the criminal. Why is that? What does the backpack look like, and what’s inside it?

Emily offers the following ideas…

8. You go to visit your friend, but the person who opens the door tells you your friend moved away ten years ago. That can’t be true, because you saw them last week.

9. You’re standing at the top of a tall building, clinging on to a window frame to stop yourself falling, and you don’t know you got there.

10. You’re walking in your neighborhood, when a stranger hands you a package. You take it without thinking, and are immediately arrested.

11. You’re staying in a secluded holiday cottage by the beach. On the first morning you go out onto the terrace, and find that someone has spelt out the word MURDERER in stones on the ground. How did they know?

Finally, Mark offers these two prompts…

12. A young girl who keeps seeing a black, mangy dog every night when she looks outside the farmhouse window, ever since she overheard her parents discussing divorce.

13. A man in a broken marriage walks along a quiet beach when he finds a message in a bottle. It simply reads: Kill her.

These protagonists appear to hold dark secrets, or stand on the edge of huge discoveries. If you choose to turn one of these prompts into a story, feel free to link it in the comments below!

Craft chilling stories with these writing resources

If you’re keen to start but want a step-by-step guide to help you become a confident storyteller, check out these resources.

1. Master the tension and big reveals of horror writing for teens with this introductory course by Raquel Castro.

2. Character is key: learn about motivations, arcs, and more in this character development course by Mark Boutros.

3. To learn how to weave travel-inspired thriller narratives , discover Emily Barr’s course on psychological thrillers .

4. Unmask your fearless creativity with this Halloween-inspired Domestika courses pack .

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Bringing the Macabre to Life: Techniques for Writing Effective Horror Scenes

by Stuart Conover · Published February 22, 2023 · Updated February 28, 2023

From building suspense and tension to crafting memorable characters and using setting and atmosphere to enhance the horror, we will cover everything you need to know to bring the macabre to life in your writing. As you read through this guide, think about your favorite horror scenes and the elements that made them so frightening and effective. The techniques covered in this article will help you to replicate that same level of terror and suspense in your own writing.

Building Suspense and Tension

Suspense and tension are critical components of effective horror writing, as they are what keep readers engaged and on the edge of their seats. Suspense is the anticipation of a future event or outcome, while tension is the emotional stress that results from that anticipation. When used effectively, these elements can create a sense of unease and uncertainty that will keep readers invested in the story and the characters.

There are several techniques that writers can use to create suspense and tension in their horror writing. Foreshadowing is one of the most effective ways to build suspense, as it gives readers a hint of what is to come without giving away the full story. Misdirection is another technique that can be used to create suspense, as it keeps readers guessing and wondering what will happen next. Building tension through pacing and atmosphere is another important aspect of creating suspense and tension in horror writing. Slowing down the pace of the story and creating a creepy or unsettling atmosphere can increase the level of tension and suspense in a scene.

In order to build suspense and tension effectively, it is important to pay attention to pacing, tone, and mood in your writing. By controlling the pace of the story, you can increase or decrease the level of tension and suspense, and by establishing a consistent tone and mood, you can create a creepy and unsettling atmosphere that will keep readers engaged. For example, in Stephen King’s “The Shining,” the slow build of tension and suspense as the main character descends into madness is masterfully done, with the creepy atmosphere and ominous tone contributing to the overall feeling of unease. Similarly, in Shirley Jackson’s “The Haunting of Hill House,” the use of misdirection and foreshadowing keeps readers guessing, while the slow and steady build of tension creates a sense of unease that lasts throughout the novel.

In conclusion, building suspense and tension is a critical part of writing effective horror scenes. By using techniques such as foreshadowing, misdirection, and controlling pacing and atmosphere, writers can create a sense of unease and uncertainty that will keep readers engaged and on the edge of their seats. Whether you’re writing a suspenseful scene or an entire horror novel, paying attention to pacing, tone, and mood is essential for creating a successful and terrifying story.

Crafting Scary Characters

Characters play a crucial role in horror writing, as they are the ones who drive the story and create the suspense and tension that make horror so effective. Whether it’s a villain, monster, or simply a character who finds themselves in a terrifying situation, characters are what bring horror to life and make it truly frightening.

To create effective horror scenes, writers must craft memorable and frightening villains and monsters. This can be achieved through a combination of physical description, character motivation, and psychology. Physical description is important in creating an image of the villain or monster in the reader’s mind, but character motivation and psychology are what truly make a character frightening. By exploring the motivations and fears of your villains and monsters, you can create complex and terrifying characters that will keep readers engaged.

Character motivation and psychology are key components in creating effective horror scenes. By understanding what motivates your characters, you can create a sense of realism and credibility that will make the story more frightening. For example, the character of Pennywise the Clown in Stephen King’s “It” is a classic example of a frightening and memorable horror character. By how we were able to view Pennywise’s motivations and psychology, King was able to create a character that was both terrifying and believable.

In conclusion, crafting effective and memorable characters is an essential part of writing effective horror scenes. Whether you’re creating a villain, monster, or simply a character who finds themselves in a frightening situation, paying attention to character motivation and psychology is critical for creating a successful and terrifying story. By exploring the motivations and fears of your characters, you can create complex and frightening characters that will keep readers engaged and on the edge of their seats.

Using Setting and Atmosphere to Enhance Horror

Setting and atmosphere play a crucial role in horror writing, as they are what create the creepy and unsettling environment that makes horror so effective. The right setting and atmosphere can enhance the suspense and tension of a scene, making it more frightening and memorable.

There are several techniques that writers can use to create a creepy and unsettling environment in their horror writing. These include using sensory details to create a rich and immersive atmosphere, such as describing the scent of decay or the sound of creaking floorboards. Using foreboding imagery, such as dark and twisted trees or abandoned buildings, can also add to the creepy atmosphere. Additionally, exploring the history and backstory of a setting can add depth and credibility to the story, making it more frightening.

The use of sensory details is critical in creating a rich and immersive atmosphere in horror writing. By describing the sights, sounds, and sensations of the setting, writers can create a vivid and frightening environment that will keep readers engaged. For example, in Shirley Jackson’s “The Haunting of Hill House,” the use of sensory details, such as the sound of ghostly whispers and the feel of cold, clammy hands, creates a rich and immersive atmosphere that is both creepy and unsettling.

In conclusion, using setting and atmosphere to enhance horror is a critical component of writing effective horror scenes. By using sensory details and foreboding imagery, writers can create a creepy and unsettling environment that will keep readers engaged and on the edge of their seats. Whether you’re writing about a haunted house, a dark forest, or any other frightening setting, exploring the history and backstory of the setting, and using sensory details to create a rich and immersive atmosphere, are essential for creating a successful and terrifying story.

Writing Scary Scenes

Scenes play a crucial role in horror writing, as they are where the action takes place and where the horror unfolds. Effective horror scenes are what make a story truly frightening, and are what keep readers engaged and on the edge of their seats.

There are several techniques that writers can use to write effective horror scenes, including using jump scares, gore, and suspenseful action. Jump scares are sudden and frightening moments that are designed to make readers jump, while gore is the use of graphic violence and bloodshed. Suspenseful action is the use of tension and anticipation to build up to a frightening moment. By using these techniques in combination, writers can create truly frightening and memorable horror scenes.

It’s important to avoid overused cliches and tropes in horror writing, as they can make a story feel stale and unoriginal. To write effective horror scenes, writers must be creative and inventive, using their own unique voice and perspective to create something truly frightening. Instead of relying on cliches and tropes, writers should focus on creating unique and original scenes that will keep readers engaged and on the edge of their seats.

In conclusion, writing effective horror scenes is essential to creating a successful and frightening horror story. By using jump scares, gore, and suspenseful action, writers can create truly frightening and memorable scenes that will keep readers engaged. However, it’s important to avoid overused cliches and tropes in horror writing, and instead focus on creating unique and original scenes that will make your story stand out. Some of the best scary scenes from popular novels include the opening scene of Stephen King’s “It,” where the young Georgie is lured into the sewer by Pennywise the Clown, and the climax of Shirley Jackson’s “The Haunting of Hill House,” where the main character, Eleanor, is confronted by the ghostly presence of the house.

Tips To Helping Enhance Your Scary Scenes

In the following section, we will explore the various techniques and tips for creating successful horror scenes. Writing horror can be a challenging task, but by understanding the elements that make a scene truly frightening, writers can craft memorable and effective horror scenes that will keep their readers on the edge of their seat. From building suspense and tension, to crafting scary characters, using setting and atmosphere to enhance horror, and writing scary scenes, this section will provide a comprehensive guide to creating successful horror scenes. So, whether you’re a seasoned horror writer or just starting out, this section will provide you with the tools you need to create the perfect horror scene.

• Foreshadowing: Use subtle hints and clues to build suspense and create a sense of unease. Foreshadowing can be used to suggest that something frightening is about to happen, even before the reader is fully aware of what that might be.
• Misdirection: Use misdirection to keep readers guessing and create a sense of unpredictability. This can be done by having characters react in unexpected ways, or by using false leads and red herrings to keep the reader on their toes.
• Pacing and Atmosphere: Pay attention to pacing and atmosphere to build tension and create a creepy and unsettling environment. Slow down the action to build suspense, or speed things up to create a sense of urgency. Use sensory details, such as sound, smell, and touch, to create a rich and immersive atmosphere.
• Character Motivation and Psychology: Create characters with believable motivations and psychology to make them more frightening. Villains and monsters that have a clear reason for doing what they do, or that have a unique and twisted psychology, are more frightening and memorable than those that are simply evil for evil’s sake.
• Memorable and Frightening Villains and Monsters: Create memorable and frightening villains and monsters by giving them unique abilities, appearances, and personalities. Whether it’s a vengeful ghost, a sadistic serial killer, or a bloodthirsty monster, make sure your villains and monsters are truly frightening and unforgettable.
• Immersive Atmosphere: Use sensory details to create a rich and immersive atmosphere that will make the reader feel as though they are in the story. Describe the sights, sounds, smells, and textures of the environment to create a creepy and unsettling environment.
• Terrifying Settings: Choose settings that are naturally frightening, such as abandoned hospitals, dark forests, or creepy old mansions, or use your imagination to create a unique and frightening setting that is tailored to your story.
• Jump Scares: Use jump scares to create sudden and frightening moments that will make the reader’s heart race. However, be careful not to overuse jump scares, as this can make them lose their impact.
• Gore: Use gore judiciously to create frightening and memorable scenes. Too much gore can be overwhelming and detract from the story, while too little can make the horror seem less frightening.
• Suspenseful Action: Write suspenseful action scenes that will keep the reader on the edge of their seat. Create a sense of urgency by having characters race against the clock, or make the stakes high by putting them in immediate danger.

By using these tips and techniques, writers can create effective horror scenes that are truly frightening and memorable. Whether you’re a seasoned horror writer or just starting out, these tips will help you create the perfect horror scene that will keep your readers on the edge of their seat. So get ready to bring the macabre to life in your writing!

The Art of Crafting Frightening Fiction: Final Thoughts on Writing Effective Horror Scenes

In this article, we have discussed the various techniques for writing effective horror scenes, including building suspense and tension, crafting scary characters, using setting and atmosphere to enhance horror, and writing scary scenes. We have explored the role of suspense and tension, characters, setting and atmosphere, and scenes in horror writing, and provided tips and techniques for creating frightening and memorable horror stories.

Effective horror scenes are what make a horror story truly frightening and memorable. Whether it’s a jump scare, a suspenseful action sequence, or a frightening encounter with a monster, effective horror scenes are what keep readers engaged and on the edge of their seats. By using the techniques discussed in this article, writers can create truly frightening and memorable horror scenes that will make their stories stand out.

Writing horror can be both challenging and rewarding, and it’s important for writers to experiment with different techniques and find their own unique voice in the genre. Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or just starting out, there’s always room for growth and improvement in horror writing. So don’t be afraid to try new things, explore different techniques, and find your own unique voice in the world of horror.

In conclusion, writing effective horror scenes is an essential component of creating a successful and frightening horror story. By using suspense and tension, crafting scary characters, using setting and atmosphere to enhance horror, and writing scary scenes, writers can create truly frightening and memorable horror stories that will captivate and terrify their readers. So experiment with different techniques, find your own unique voice, and let the macabre come to life in your writing.

• About the Author
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Stuart Conover is a father, husband, published author, blogger, geek, entrepreneur, horror fanatic, and runs a few websites including Horror Tree!

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How to Write Horror — Horror Writing Tips for Fiction & Film

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S o, you want to learn how to write a good horror story? Whether you want to know how to write a horror movie or how to write a horror book, the four steps outlined in this guide will get you started on the appropriate course of action and help you to align your creative goals. Writing horror isn’t all that different from writing for other genres, but it does require the right mindset and a creepy destination to work towards. Before we jump into the first of our four steps, let’s begin with a primer.

How to write horror

Before you get started.

The steps outlined in this ‘how to write horror’ guide assume that you already have a grasp over the fundamentals of writing. If you do not yet understand the basic mechanics of prose, screenwriting , or storytelling, then you might not get everything you need out of this guide. Luckily, we have a litany of informative resources that can bring you up to speed on everything you need to know.

If you intend to tell the  horror story  you have in mind as a screenplay, then the best way to fast track your screenwriting education might be to read through some of the  best screenwriting books  or to enroll in one of the  best online screenwriting courses .

Our guide to writing great scenes  is another good place to start, and our  glossary of screenwriting vocabulary  is a great resource if you encounter any unfamiliar terminology. When you’re ready to start writing, you can get going for free in  StudioBinder’s screenwriting software .

Now, we’re ready to jump into step one of our how to write horror guide. But, be warned, if you don’t already have a basic story concept in mind, you should consider that Step Zero.

There’s no concrete way to generate story ideas, but you can always look to creative writing prompts  and  indie films to kickstart inspiration .

HOW TO WRITE A HORROR MOVIE

Step 1: research and study.

Writing horror often begins by consuming great horror . We look to the stories of the past when crafting the stories of the present. Someone who has never read a horror novel or seen a horror film is going to have a much harder time writing horror than someone who is a voracious consumer of horror stories. By watching and reading, you can pick up plenty of tips for writing scary stories.

Before writing your opening line, be sure to do your research. It can be worthwhile to explore all manner of horror media. But for the purposes of this step, it’s best to focus in on the type of material you wish to create.

If you want to learn how to write a horror novel, then read as many horror novels as you can get your hands on. Our list of the  greatest horror films  ever made is a good place to conduct your research if you plan to write a horror screenplay. You can also check out our rundown of  underrated horror films for even more research.

Here are tips on how to write horror from the master himself, Stephen King. And, while you're at it, might as well catch up on the best Stephen King movies and TV based on his work!

How to write good horror  •  Stephen King offers horror writing tips

It’s important to go beyond simply reading and watching horror and to begin to analyze the material. Drill down into why certain decisions were made by the writer and try to figure out why certain elements work or don’t work. It can often be worthwhile to explore material you consider bad as well as what you consider good, so you can learn what not to do.

Check out our analysis of Midsommar   below for an example of how you can break down and explore the horror films that inspire you. You can also download the Midsommar script as a PDF to analyze the writing directly. You should check out our Best Horror Scripts post for more iconic script PDFs.

How to Write Horror  •   Read Full Midsommar Script

When consuming material to learn how to write a horror story, pay particular attention to the pacing and structure of the stories you’re inspired by. For example, if the style you find yourself most drawn to is slow-burn horror, then you might want to aim for a much slower pace than average with your story as well, but the build-up will become even more important.

Horror story writing

Step 2: decide your type of horror.

So, you’ve decided you’re writing horror, congratulations, you’ve settled on a genre. Now, it’s time to pick your sub-genre (s) and to decide on the specific avenue of horror to explore. There are many horror sub-genres to choose from. Just take a look at our ultimate guide to movie genres for quick rundown. And, check out the video below to see horror sub-genres ranked.

Ranking subgenres for inspiration  •  Horror story writing

Keep in mind that genres and subgenres can be mixed and matched in a multitude of combinations. For example, The Witch blends together the horror and historical fiction genres. From Dusk Till Dawn fuses action, crime-thriller, and vampire elements. And Shaun of the Dead fuses the horror and comedy genres by way of the zombie subgenre.

Our video essay below offers insights into Shaun of the Dead director Edgar Wright’s creative process. Check out our ranking of Edgar Wright’s entire filmography if you want even more.

How Edgar Wright writes and directs his movies  •   Subscribe on YouTube

Step Two is also the time to decide on the specific avenue you will exploit when writing horror. By “avenue of horror,” we mean the primary source(s) of tension and scares. Witches? Zombies? Cosmic horror? Body Horror ? Social Horror? These are all different avenues that your horror story can take on, and just like with genres and sub-genres, mixing and matching is encouraged.

A horror story that exploits kills and gore as its avenue of horror will be written in a much different manner than one that focuses on a sense of creeping dread and leaves more to the viewer or reader’s imagination.

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Step 3: Mine your fears and phobias 

You have decided on your genre and your avenue of horror, now it’s time to get more specific and drill deeper. For Step Three, go beyond asking what makes a story scary and instead figure out what makes your story frightening.

Depending on what you chose in Step Two, this might already be baked into your sub-genre and avenue of horror. For example, the home invasion sub-genre by nature mines a very real phobia that many people share.

The best home invasion films

However, if you chose to go with the zombie subgenre for example, you may need to work a little harder to discover what it is about your story that will scare audiences. Zombies on their own certainly hold the potential to be frightening, but audience overexposure to them throughout the years has gone a long way to lessen the scary impact they once had.

For examples of how to do it right, check out our rundown of the best zombie films ever made . And, for a different yet equally effective take on the sub-genre, check out our list of the  best zombie comedies .

How to write a horror story  •  Exploit common phobias

The above video breaks down the statistics surrounding a number of phobias. One common piece of writerly wisdom is “write what you know.” When writing in the horror genre, we can tweak that advice to, “write what scares you.” Mine your own fears and phobias when crafting your horror story; there are sure to be others out there who get creeped out by the same things.

This is also the step where you should try to discover your X-factor. What is it that sets your story apart from similar horror stories? If the answer is “nothing really,” then it might be time to take your concept back to the drawing board.

How to write a horror story

Step 4: keep your audience in mind.

From this point on, you are ready to start writing your horror story. Much of the writing process will be carried out in the same way as you would write a story in any other genre. But there are a few extra considerations. Put all that research you did in step one to work and ensure that your prose or screenwriting is well balanced and doles out the scares at a good pace.

You will want to find a good middle ground between sacrificing story and character development and going too long without something to keep your audience creeped out.

Narrative pacing is important in every genre, but horror writers also need to worry about pacing their scares, similar to how someone writing an action film needs to deliberately pace out their big action sequences.

How to write a horror story  •  Keep pacing in mind

Decide on who your target audience is from the jump and keep them in mind while you write. There can be a significant difference between horror aimed at teens vs. horror aimed at a mature audience. In film, this can mean the difference between shooting for a PG-13 rating instead of an R rating.

In fiction, this decision might manifest as a plan to market directly toward the young-adult crowd. Horror aimed at children, like Frankenweenie or The Nightmare Before Christmas , is drastically different from other types of horror aimed at older audiences.

Use your target audience as a guiding star that informs all of your narrative decisions as you write. Now, it’s time to put everything you just learned about how to write good horror stories to use.

The Greatest Horror Movies Ever Made 

If you are stuck on step one and looking to find some inspiration, our list of the greatest horror films ever made is a great place to look. You are sure to find something to get your creative juices flowing within this lengthy list. Writing great horror starts with consuming great horror, coming up next.

Up Next: Best Horror Movies of All Time →

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How to Write a Scary Story: 3 Strategies for Terrifying Scenes

by David Safford | 0 comments

For many of you, Halloween is a time to dream up frightening stories with scenes that thrill and startle your readers. It's the perfect moment to practice how to write a scary story.

Yet writing a scary scene is easier said than done. To truly scare your readers, you need to be one step ahead of them. If they can predict what's coming, or if the story doesn't  feel  scary, then your writing won't work.

Here's how to write a truly scary scene that your readers will love!

How to Write a Scary Story: 3 Keys for Frightful Scenes

The key to a well-written scene that frightens your readers isn't just about gore or shock value. And despite the popularity of modern horror movies, jump-scares don't really work in book form. (I personally find them to be cheap, poor storytelling tricks.)

Rather, you need to capture the essence of the fear and portray it with authenticity. Gore for gore's sake inspires disgust, not fear. Jump scares cause the fight-or-flight reflex, not terror. And monsters are a dime-a-dozen these days, as computer graphics can render practically any nightmare in stunning high-definition.

So let's look at three aspects of fear, and how to use it in your scary scenes.

1. Trust Betrayed Is Terrifying

If your goal is to create fear, what is the  opposite  of fear?

Perhaps the most fertile ground for a scene of terror is a trusting relationship. Spend time in your story creating a relationship between characters where trust is a key ingredient, and then use your scary scene to betray that trust.  That's how to write a scary story that truly delivers .

Avoid the predictable (or frustratingly unpredictable) betrayal twist (think Hans from  Frozen ), and instead look at ways that the horror can undo this trust from within. The more your monster, disease, haunting, or murderer can fray the trust between characters, the more genuinely frightening your scenes will be.

A story that does this better than practically any other is  The Shining.  At its heart,  The Shining  is a story about a family riddled with mistrust. Each relationship is made or broken by trust, including relationships within each character's own mind. There are almost no cheap jump-scares in  The Shining,  either, and the film leaves the viewer horrified not just because of the violence or creepy imagery, but because of the frailty of the human psyche.

So build your scary story relationships on trust and find clever, creative ways to make them unravel. A killer from within is much more frightening than one from without.

2. Fear the Patient Killer

One of my favorite villains is the T-1000 from  Terminator 2: Judgement Day.  Slow, methodical, and patient, this murder-machine knows it has an eternity to fulfill its mission. He watches, studies, and inexorably paces forward. And when he skewers his victims to interrogate them, he asks his questions with dreadful patience.

This is  terrifying. 

While the chaos of a drooling, ravenous monster is certainly frightening, there's something about the patient killer that works on a psychological level to produce  dread.

The patient killer isn't just a force of death — it's a force of death that's morbidly curious about it. 

As the Joker, another powerfully written monster, says in  The Dark Knight,  “Do you want to know why I use a knife? You see, guns are too quick. You can't savor all the little . . . emotions.”

This is why jump-scares feel so cheap to me. There is definitely a time and place for them, and they work best when used rarely. But for my money, nothing is more terrifying than a killer, monster, or pestilence that creeps slowly toward its prey, or waits in the darkness, and delights in studying the heinous act it's about to commit.

Wondering how to write a scary story? Make your killer patient and menacing, forcing your protagonist — and your readers — to endure their impending doom for an age rather than a moment.

3. Don't “Tell” the Fear

When the big scary moment in their story arrives, many writers make the mistake of leaving their protagonists behind. They've been dreaming of this moment, when the monster or killer reveals itself in all its horror, and forget about the needs of their reader.

I've read a lot of these scenes as a contest judge, and it's disappointing to see so much potential wasted.

The key for how to write a scary story is stay intimately focused on the protagonist's experience, and to pace the scene in a way that the reader can follow and feel fear with  your protagonist.

Start with the moment of revelation . What does the protagonist see, hear, or feel as the scary event begins to happen? What does he or she think, and want to do in order to learn more to begin escaping?

Then escalate the situation  hard.  This is where things can get really horrifying. Someone's head pops off. Blood gushes from the air ducts. Flesh melts away. A lover unveils an ax. You get the idea.

But show it from the point of view of the protagonist , and don't use any adjectives or descriptions that are inconsistent with your protagonist's character in the rest of the story.

Finally, show the protagonist's choice or action to deal with the situation. Like before, keep the point of view with the protagonist.

This advice seems obvious until you actually sit down to write the scene. It's easier said than done because the temptation to “tell” these details, and to bust out your MFA with shiny imagery and such, is overwhelming. We forget the most important job of a writer: To tell a story  for  your reader.

And one way to ruin an otherwise scary scene is to abandon your protagonist and simply make him or her an observer, watching something gory or disturbing. Don't fall victim to this amateur trap. Keep the scene intimate to your protagonist's experience to produce something truly horrifying!

Go Scare Somebody!

Practically every great scary story has these three things in common.

The story focuses on a situation or relationship where everything seems fine and trustworthy, but slowly erodes into horrifying chaos. The best monsters, from the creature in  Alien  to the serial killer John Doe in  Se7en,  are patiently cunning in their evil deeds. And these stories stay close to their protagonist, forcing the reader or viewer to experience everything through this character's eyes and ears.

Now, it's your turn to practice how to write a scary story. Skip the cheap jump-scares and dodge the gratuitous gore. It's time to scare somebody!

Have fun, and Happy Halloween!

Do you have any tips for how to write a scary story? What frightens you most in a scary scene? Let us know in the comments .

Take fifteen minutes to practice the third principle, protagonist intimacy. Write a scary scene where your protagonist is in a terrifying and dangerous situation. Remember to focus on the details your protagonist would notice, keeping the scene entirely in their point of view.

Here's a prompt to get you started: Jane knew she was alone in the house. So where was that long, slow creak coming from?

When you're done, share your writing in the comments below . Then, be sure to leave feedback for your fellow writers! What scared you about another writer's scene?

David Safford

You deserve a great book. That's why David Safford writes adventure stories that you won't be able to put down. Read his latest story at his website. David is a Language Arts teacher, novelist, blogger, hiker, Legend of Zelda fanatic, puzzle-doer, husband, and father of two awesome children.

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Master List of Ways to Describe Fear

People have been asking me for this list for such a long time! If you write horror, suspense, mystery, or any kind of fiction with a scary scenes, you need to know how to describe fear.

This list can get you started. It’s a lot of phrases describing fear, including physical reactions, physical sensations, facial expressions, and other words you can use in your novel or in other creative writing.

I’ve included some that can work for uneasiness or anxiety, but most of these are for real terror. You can alter them to fit your sentence or your story, and they’ll likely inspire you to come up with your own descriptions.

Bookmark or pin this page for your reference—it might save you a lot of time in the future. I’ll probably add to it now and again!

fear paralyzed him

his terror mounted with every step

she fought a rising panic

fear tormented her

her heart was uneasy

her heart leaped into her throat

his heart hammered in his chest

his heart pounded

terror stabbed his heart

his heart jumped

her heart lurched

a fear that almost unmanned him

his body shook with fear

she trembled inside

he suppressed a shiver

panic surged through him

her fear spiked

he was in a complete state of panic

she could feel nothing but blind terror

his legs were wobbly with fear

she sweated with fear

his hands were cold and clammy

she was weighed down by dread

dread twisted in her gut

his stomach clenched

fear fluttered in her stomach

her belly cramped

he felt like he might throw up

she was sick with fear

she was frightened down to the soles of her shoes

he was icy with panic

her body went cold with dread

raw panic was in her voice

her voice was thick with fear

his voice was edged with fear

terror thundered down on him

fear caught her in its jaws

fear clawed up her throat

terror sealed her throat

fear gripped her throat

his throat tightened

then she knew real terror was

he was frantic with fear

she was half mad with terror

the color drained from her face

his face was ashen

she blanched

dread gnawed at his insides

dread had been growing in him all day

fresh terror reared up within her

fear choked him

terror stole her words

he was mute with horror

her voice was numb with shock

his voice was shrill with terror

her defiant words masked her fear

her body felt numb

his blood froze in his veins

terror coursed through her veins

fear throbbed inside her

his panic fueled him

adrenaline pumped through his body

adrenaline crashed through her

fear pulsed through him

her scalp prickled

the hairs on the back of her neck stood up

his mouth went dry

his bones turned to jelly

her bones turned to water

she froze with horror

he didn’t dare to move

terror struck her

he was too frightened to lift her head

she was too frightened to scream

his mouth was open in a silent scream

he cringed with fear

she cowered

he shrank back in fear

she flinched

a bolt of panic hit her

terror streaked through him

her terror swelled

his panic increased

anxiety eclipsed his thoughts

panic flared in her eyes

his eyes were wild with terror

her eyes darted from left to right

she feared to close her eyes

he lay awake in a haze of fear

she walked on in a fog of fear

his eyes widened with alarm

she tried to hide her fear

he struggled to conceal his shock

fear crept up her spine

fear trickled down her spine

panic seized his brain

she felt a flash of terror

fear took hold of him

fear flooded through her being

she ordered a drink to drown the panic

he arranged and re-arranged the items on his desk

a nameless dread engulfed him

I bet you came up with other ideas as you were reading!

For more writing lists, check out my book Master Lists for Writers , if you don’t have it yet! A lot of writers use it to make writing go faster, especially when it comes to descriptions.

And if you’re not following the blog already, sign up below—I share lots of writing resources. Thanks so much for reading, and happy writing!

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30 thoughts on “ master list of ways to describe fear ”.

Thank you, Bryn. I can certainly use this list as I go through and clean up my novel. There are some places that need a stronger element of fear.

Hi Bonnie! So glad this was coming at the right time! 🙂

Love the book and the above list! Thank you for taking the time to compile all of it. So appreciated!

Oh thank you! I’m so glad you like it!

I just love your lists. I often refer to them when I’m stuck. That book is right next to the dictionary and thesaurus when I write.

I’m so glad you like them, Erin! I’m honored. 🙂

I was searching for the perfect list to describe fear. I stumbled across your blog and I am glad that I did, you literally saved my butt out there!!? I got an A* because of you ! Thankyou!!❤❤

Aww, I’m so glad to hear this! 🙂

Thanks for compiling this list. Much needed.

Aw thanks, Ezekiel! So glad you like it!

What a terrifying, fantastical list. Thank you, Bryn

Haha, thanks, Bryan! When I read back over it, I did feel a little creeped out. 🙂

I have a scene coming up that this will be perfect for. Thank you for sharing. Bookmarking now!

Hi Sarah! So glad it’ll be useful! Sounds like you have an exciting scene coming up 🙂

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This is a great list! Thank you, Bryn.

Wow! When I read it, I was SO / COMPLETELY creeped out!???

Ha! You know what, when I make these lists, I always start feeling the emotions, too!

I’m thankful for your help. It is great to see these lists. Many blessings ❤️

I have been a bibliophile since long, but never before did I read so many blogs in a sequence. I am really amazed to have found them.Thanks a ton . Superb work .

You saved my life ! Thank you a lot ???

So glad to hear that! Happy writing 🙂

Thanks… It’s good to know tath someone is making life easier for those interested in writing.

ohhh ,how grateful i am for this list it will come in handy so thankyou

• Pingback: Master List of Actions That Show Fear

Thank you so much for this list! It is exactly what I was looking for. I ordered the book 🙂

Thanks for ordering the book, Laila. I hope you like it! And glad this list worked for you!

This is an amazing list. I saw in your other comment that you have a book…?

I wanted to tell you that I often return to this page when I am stumped coming up with a way to write some specific reaction. Sometimes I just use one of the ideas you offer directly, and other times something here gives me an idea I riff off of to create something new. Thank you so much for compiling this list!

I riffed this time (last line): “Still feeling the sadness of Manzoa’s fate and wondering what this place was and why he was here, Goff cautiously walked over to the desk. A quill still wet with thick black ink rested next to a sheet of parchment filled with writing in a language he couldn’t read. Crude drawings made with heavy strokes were set within the words. Some of them were disturbing — a bleeding hand cut open with a knife and a person floating lifeless below a ghoul with black eyes poised to attack. He stared at the words, hoping that just like when he traveled back in time to Monstraxen, he would be able to understand them. As he stared, the ink on the page disappeared like water soaking into a sponge. A spider of panic crawled up his spine.”

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Home » Blog » 132 Best Horror Writing Prompts and Scary Story Ideas

132 Best Horror Writing Prompts and Scary Story Ideas

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Horror stories send shivers down our spines. They are gruesome, shocking, and chilling. Scary stories are meant to horrify us, and there are many ways to make a powerful impact on the reader. The element of surprise is crucial to make the readers’ blood freeze.

There are different types of horror stories. They often deal with terrible murders, supernatural powers, psychopaths, the frightening human psychology and much more.

Although many horror writing prompts and scary ideas have been written, the following 132 horror writing prompts can spark great creativity in aspiring writers of the horror genre.

• A family is on a camping trip. The parents are walking with their two children, a daughter and a son. The little boy trips and falls into a dark river. His father jumps to rescue him. Somehow the boy manages to swim to the surface. The father is nowhere to be found. When the mother gets a hold of the boy, she can’t recognize him. She tries holding him, but the moment she touches his wet body, her hands start burning.
• A young girl goes missing in a nearby forest. The whole town is searching for her. Her parents find her sitting and smiling in a cave. Her eyes are completely white.
• A woman starts watching a movie late at night. The movie seems all too familiar. Finally, she realizes that it is a movie about her own life and that she might be already dead.
• A house finds a way to kill every visitor on its premises.
• A child makes her own Halloween mask. She glues a lock of her own hair on her mask. The mask comes to life and threatens to take over the girl’s body.
• While digging in her backyard, an old lady discovers an iron chest. She opens it and finds a pile of old photographs of her ancestors. All of them are missing their left eye.
• A priest is trying to punish God for the death of his sister. He is getting ready to burn down the church, when supernatural forces start to torture him.
• Every year a woman goes to the cemetery where her husband is buried, and when she looks at his tombstone, she notices her own name carved in it.
• A woman puts a lipstick on in the bathroom when she hears a demonic voice saying to her: “Can’t you see?”
•  A mysterious child psychiatrist promises parents to cure their children if they give him a vile of their blood.
•  A group of 10 friends decide to rent an old English castle for the weekend. The ghosts are disturbed and seek their pound of flesh.
•  A photographer travels to an Indian reservation for his next project. He starts taking photos, but there are only shadows in the places where people should have been.
•  A young married couple decide to renovate an abandoned psychiatric hospital and turn it into a hotel. Everything is going well until their first guest arrives.
•  Three sisters are reunited for the reading of their grandmother’s will. She has left them a diamond necklace, but they have to fight psychologically and physically for it.
•  An old woman pretends to be lost and asks young women to help her get home. She offers them a cup of tea and drugs them. When the women wake up, they are chained in the basement. The old woman gives them tools and boards, so that they can build their own coffin. If they refuse, she inflicts pain on them.
•  A mysterious stranger with a glass eye and a cane commissions a portrait. When the portrait is finished, the painter turns into stone.
•  A little girl’s sister lives with a monster in the closet. She exits the closet on her sister’s birthday.
•  The demons under the nuclear plant get released after an explosion and start terrorizing the families of people who work at the plant.
•  A woman gets trapped in a parallel universe where every day she dies horribly in different ways.
•  A cannibal hunts for pure children’s hearts hoping they will bring him eternal youth.
•  A politician hides his weird sister in the attic. She’s had her supernatural powers after their family home burned to the ground.
•  A 16-year-old girl wakes up on a stone-cold table surrounded with people in black and white masks. They are chant and start leaning forward. All of them carry carved knives.
•  A boy hears screaming from his parents’ bedroom. He jumps and hides under his bed. Suddenly, everything becomes quiet. A man wearing army boots enters his room. He drags the boy from under the bed and says: “We’ve been searching for you for 200 years.”
• A husband and his wife regain consciousness only to see each other tied to chairs, facing each other. A voice on the radio tells them to kill the other, otherwise, they would kill their children.
•  A mysterious altruist gives a kidney to a young man, who has potential to become a leading neuroscientist. After a year, the altruist kills the young man because he proves to be an unworthy organ recipient. The following year, the mysterious altruist is a bone marrow donor.
•  A group of friends play truth or dare. Suddenly, all the lights go out and in those ten seconds of darkness, one of the group is killed.
•  A young man becomes obsessed with an old man living opposite his building. The young man is convinced that the old man is the embodiment of the devil, and starts planning the murder.
•  Concerned and grieving parents bring their 8-year-old son to a psychiatrist after their daughter’s accident, believing that the boy had something to do with her death.
•  A woman is admitted to a hospital after a car crash. She wakes up after three months in a coma, but when she tries to speak, she can’t utter a sound. When the nurse sees that she is awake, she calls a doctor. The last thing the woman remembers is hearing the doctor say: “Today is your lucky day,” right before four men in black robes take her out.
•  A small-town cop becomes obsessed with a cold case from 1978. Three girls went missing after school, and nobody has seen them since. Then one day, in 2008, three girls with the same names as those in 1978 go missing. The case is reopened.
•  After his parents’ death a cardiologist returns to his small town where everyone seems to lead a perfect life. This causes a disturbance in the idyllic life of the people since none of them has a heart. 
•  A man is kidnapped from his apartment on midnight and brought on a large private estate. He is told that he will be a human pray and that ten hunters with guns will go after him. He is given a 5-minute head start.
•  A strange woman in labor is admitted in the local hospital. Nobody seems to recognize her. She screams in agony. A black smoke fills in the entire hospital. After that, nobody is the same. A dark lord is born.
•  A young girl finds her grandmother’s gold in a chest in the attic, although she isn’t allowed to go there by herself. She touches the gold and she starts seeing horrible visions involving her grandmother when she was younger.
•  An anthropologist studies rituals involving human sacrifice. She slowly begins to accept them as necessary.
•  A family of four moves in an old Victorian home. As they restore it, more and more people die suddenly and violently.
•  An old nurse has lived next door to a family that doesn’t get older. Their son has remained to be a seven-year-old boy.
•  A girl wakes up in her dorm and sees that everybody sleepwalks in the same direction. She acts as if she has the same condition and follows them to an underground black pool where everybody jumps.
•  A bride returns to the same bridge for 50 years waiting for her husband-to-be to get out of the water.
•  An old woman locks girls’ personalities in a forever growing collection of porcelain dolls. Parents of the missing girls are in agony and they finally suspect something. When they tell the police, their claims are instantly dismissed.
•  A chemistry teacher disfigures teenagers who remind him of his childhood bullies. One day, he learns that the new student in his school is the son of his childhood’s archenemy.
•  A girl starts digging tiny holes in her backyard. When her mother asks her what she is doing, the girl answers: “Mr. Phantom told me to bury my dolls tonight. Tomorrow night I am going to bury our dog. And then, you, mother.”
•  Twin brothers were kidnapped and returned the next day. They claim that they can’t remember anything. The following night, twin sisters disappear.
•  A boy has a very realistic dream about an impending doom, but nobody believes him until during a storm all the birds fall dead on the ground.
•  Room 206 is believed to be haunted, so hotel guests never stay in it. One day, an old woman arrives at the hotel and asks for the key to room 206. She says that she was born there.
•  A genius scientist tries to extract his wife’s consciousness from her lifeless body and insert it into an imprisoned woman who looks just like his wife.
•  Two distinguished scientists develop a new type of virus that attacks their brains and turns them into killing machines.
•  A woman steps out of her house only to find four of her neighbors dead at her doorstep. Little does she know that she isn’t supposed to call the police.
•  A bachelor’s party ends with two dead people in the pool. Both of them are missing their eyes.
•  A young woman wearing a black dress is holding a knife in her hand and threatening to kill a frightened man. She is terrified because she does not want to kill anybody, but her body refuses to obey her mind.
•  A strange religious group starts performing a ritual on a playground. The children’s hearts stop beating.
•  A woman discovers that her niece has done some horrible crimes, so she decides to poison her. Both of them take the poison, but only the aunt dies.
•  A man encounters death on his way to work. He can ask three questions before he dies. He makes a quick decision.
•  An older brother kills his baby sister because he wants to be an only child. When he learns that his mother is pregnant again, he decides to punish her.
•  A husband and his wife move to a new apartment. After a week, both of them kill themselves. They leave a note saying: “Never again.”
•  A man is trying to open a time portal so that he could kill his parents before he is ever conceived.
•  A famous conductor imprisons a pianist from the orchestra and makes him play the piano while he tortures other victims, also musicians. Every time the pianist makes a mistake, the conductor cuts of a finger from his victims.
•  A popular French chef is invited by a mysterious Japanese sushi master for dinner. A powerful potion makes the French chef fall asleep. He wakes up horrified to learn that he is kept on a human farm, in a cage.
•  A nuclear blast turns animals into blood-thirsty monsters.
•  A mysterious bug creeps under people’s skins and turns them into the worst version of themselves.
•  A kidnapper makes his victims torture each other for his sheer pleasure.
•  Four friends are invited to spend the afternoon in an escape room. A man’s voice tells them that they have won a prize. They happily accept and enter the escape room. They soon realize that the room was designed to reflect their worst nightmares.
•  Two sisters have been given names from the Book of the Dead. Their fates have been sealed, so when they turn 21, dark forces are sent to bring them to the underground.
•  A mother-to-be starts feeling severe pain in her stomach every time she touches a Bible. Despite the fear for her own life, she starts reading the New Testament out loud.
•  A literature professor discovers an old manuscript in the college library. He opens it in his study and suddenly a black raven flies through the window.
•  You are the Ruler of a dystopian society. You kill every time your control is threatened.
•  You are an intelligent robot who shows no mercy to humanity.
•  You are a promising researcher who discovers that all the notorious dictators have been cloned.
•  A nomad meets a fakir who tells him that he would bring agony to dozens of people unless he kills himself before he transforms into a monster.
•  A most prominent member of a sect goes to animal shelters to find food for the dark forces.
•  A man hires unethical doctors to help him experience clinical death and then bring him back to life after a minute. Little does he know that one minute of death feels like an eternity full of horrors.
•  You travel home to visit your parents for the holidays. Everything seems normal until you realize that demons have taken over their consciousness.
•  A mysterious woman moves into your apartment building. One by one, all of the tenants start hallucinating that monsters chase them and jump into their own deaths.
•  Divorced parents are kidnapped together with their son. Both of the parents have been given poison, but there is only one antidote. The boy needs to decide which parent gets to be saved. He has 30 seconds to make that decision.
•  A patient with a multiple-personality disorder tells you that you are one of six characters.
•  You wake up in bed that is a blood-bath.
•  The Government abducts children with genius IQ and trains them to fight the horrors in Area 51.
•   A woman who has just given birth at her home is told that the baby is predestined to become the leader of the greatest demonic order in the country.
•  A man signs a document with his blood to relinquish his body to a sect.
•  A woman enters a sacred cave in India and disappears for good.
•  A man opens his eyes in the middle of his autopsy while the coroner is holding his heart.
•  You look outside the windows in your house only to see that the view has changed and there is black fog surrounding you.
•  The gargoyles from the Notre Dame have come to life and they start terrorizing Paris.
•  Somebody rings your doorbell. You open the door and a frightened girl with bloody hands is standing at your doorstep. “You’re late,” you reprimand her.
•  You wake up in the middle of the night after a frightful nightmare, so you go to the kitchen to get a glass of water. You turn on the light and a person looking like your identical twin is grinning and pointing a knife at you.
•  A renowned book editor receives a manuscript elegantly written by hand. The title grabs her attention and she continues reading page after page. When she finishes, the manuscript spontaneously starts burning, and the editor is cursed forever.
•  The last thing you remember before losing consciousness is fighting a shady Uber driver.
•  You find yourself in a cage in the middle of a forest and black mythological harpies hovering above the cage.
•  A woman wants to quit smoking, so she visits a therapist who is supposed to help her with the use of hypnosis. She goes under and when she wakes up, she feels like a born killer.
•  Five hikers get stranded during a horrible storm. One of them kills the weakest and starts burning his body.
•  A mother goes in the nursery to check up on the baby and discovers that the baby is missing and, in her place, there is a baby doll.
•  A killer is willing to pay a large sum of money to the family of a volunteering victim. A cancer patient contacts the killer. The killer ends up dead.
•  The sacred river in a remote Asian village fills up with blood. The last time that happened, all the children in the village died.
•  A tall, dark, and handsome stranger invites a blind woman for a romantic date in his botanical garden. The garden is full of black roses in which women’s souls have been trapped. He tells her that she will stay forever with him in his garden.
•  A frightened man is trying to lead a werewolf into a trap and kill him with the last silver bullet.
•  An architect designs houses for the rich and famous. What he doesn’t show them is that he always leaves room for a secret passageway to their bedrooms, where they are the most vulnerable.
•  A man’s DNA was found on a horrible crime scene and he has been charged with murder in the first degree. He adamantly negates any involvement in the crime that has been committed. What he doesn’t know is that he had a twin brother who died at birth.
•  Every passenger on the Orient Express dies in a different, and equally mysterious way.  
•  A magician needs a volunteer from the audience in order to demonstrate a trick involving sawing a person in half. A beautiful woman steps on the stage. The magician makes her fall asleep, and then he performs the trick. In the end, he disappears. People in the audience start panicking when they notice the blood dripping from the table. The magician is nowhere to be found. The woman is dead.
• A mother discovers that her bright son is not human.
• Specters keep terrorizing patients in a psychiatric hospital, but nobody believes them.
• A man’s mind is locked into an immovable body. This person is being tortured by a psychopath who kills his family members in front of him, knowing that he is in agony and can’t do anything to save them.
• A bride-to-be receives a DVD via mail from an unknown sender. She plays the video and disgusted watches a pagan ritual. The people are wearing masks, but she recognizes the voice of her husband-to-be.
• A man turns himself to the police although he hasn’t broken the law. He begs them to put him in prison because he had a premonition that he would become a serial killer.
• Jack the Ripper is actually a woman who brutally kills prostitutes because her own mother was a prostitute.
• A ticking noise wakes her up. It’s a bomb, and she has only four minutes to do something about it.
• After a horrible car crash, a walking skeleton emerges from the explosion.
• A world-famous violinist virtuoso uses music to summon dark forces.
• A philosopher is trying to outwit Death in order to be granted immortality. He doesn’t know that Death already knows the outcome of this conversation.
• A beautiful, but superficial woman promises a demon to give him her virginity in exchange for immortality. Once the demon granted her wish, she refused to fulfill her end of the deal. The demon retaliated by making her immortal, but not eternally youthful.
• A voice starts chanting spells every time somebody wears the gold necklace from Damask.
• Three teenagers beat up a homeless man. The next day all of them go missing.
• Thirteen tourists from Poland visit Trakai Island Castle in Vilnius. Their bodies are found washed up the next morning. They are wearing medieval clothes.
• A group of extremists ambush the vehicle in which a head of a terrorist cell is transported and rescue him. They go after anybody who was involved in his incarceration.
• A hitman is hired to kill a potential heart donor.
• A man is attacked by the neighbor’s dog while trying to bury his wife alive.
• A woman disappears from her home without a trace. He husband reports her missing. The police start to suspect the husband when they retrieve some deleted messages.
• After moving to a new house all the family members have the same nightmares. Slowly they realize that they might be more than nightmares.
• A psychopath is drugging his wife, pushing her to commit a suicide so that he could collect the life insurance.
• A woman loses her eyesight overnight. Instead, she starts having premonitions.
• A vampire prefers albino children.
• A man commits murders at night and relives the agony of his victims during the day.
• A black horse carriage stops in front of your house. A hand wearing a black glove make an inviting gesture. Mesmerized, you decide to enter the carriage.
• Demons rejuvenate by eating kind people’s hearts.
• People are horrified to find all of the graves dug out the morning after Halloween.
• Men start jumping off building and bridges after hearing a mysterious song.
• A voice in your head tells you to stop listening to the other voices. They were not real.
• A severed head is hanging from a bridge with a message written in the victim’s blood.
• A delusional man brings his screaming children to a chasm.
• A 30-year-old woman learns that a baby with the same name as her died at the local hospital 30 years ago.
• A vampire donates his blood so that a child with special brain powers can receive it.
• A teenager is determined to escape his kidnapper by manipulating him into drinking poison. He doesn’t stop there.

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365 Horrifying Horror Writing Prompts

November 14, 2023 by Richard Leave a Comment

Here are 365 Horrifying Horror Writing Prompts to inspire your writing every day of the year. Darkness falls. Shadows lengthen. The hair on the back of your neck prickles as the last rays of light fade away. Something stirs in the darkness. You can feel unseen eyes watching, evil lurking just out of sight—the night beckons, hungry for new terrors to unleash.

Within these pages await 365 prompts to inspire bone-chilling tales filled with the creepy, twisted, and macabre. Let your imagination wander into dark and haunted places, conjure nightmarish creatures from terrifying depths, and explore the disturbing boundaries of human depravity.

Summon vengeful spirits, stalk feral beasts through moonlit woods, or open forbidden doors that should stay locked. But beware, these prompts may awaken fears you never knew existed as you walk the line between spine-tingling thrills and nightmare-inducing horror.

With so many prompts, the possibilities for crafting your own horror stories are endless. You may never sleep soundly again after lingering in realms of psychological suspense, paranormal unease, and visceral horror. Don’t say we didn’t warn you. The terror is about to begin…

Open the door, leave the light off, and prepare to confront your deepest fears. Once you immerse yourself in these 365 prompts, any shred of comfort or safety will be shattered. There is no escaping the darkness that awaits within these pages. Let the horror commence…

• You glimpse what looks like your neighbor transforming into a hairy beast under the full moon through your window at night.
• A vampire lures you into his gothic mansion under the pretense of a date. You’re trapped inside overnight.
• You notice your reflection’s eyes glowing in the dark whenever you glance away from the mirror. Fangs slide from your mouth when you smile.
• A mysterious stranger with hypnotic eyes seduces you at a nightclub. You wake up with bite marks on your neck.
• You find a secret passage in your basement leading to an underground lair filled with sleeping coffins.
• A feral werewolf stalks the woods surrounding your cabin on the night of the full moon. You’re trapped inside.
• You discover an ancient book with rituals for summoning demons. Shadowy figures emerge from your closet after you read an incantation aloud.
• A decrepit old manor deep in the woods is said to be inhabited by vampires. You decide to investigate at night and become trapped inside.
• A dating app match invited you over for a “nightcap.” You wake up disoriented with bandages on your neck.
• A creepy stranger at a carnival offers to tell your fortune. He predicts you’ll become a powerful vampire under the next full moon.
• A scientists performs experiments splicing human and animal DNA. Escaped beast-men now hunt locals at night.
• A tunnel in your basement leads to a vast underground metropolis populated by creatures of the night.
• On a guided tour, you get lost in the ancient catacombs beneath the city. You hear inhuman howls in the labyrinth of tunnels.
• A blood bank is robbed of all its plasma bags. The technician was found drained of blood.
• You wake up to find bite marks and fur all over your body after a lunar eclipse. Your reflection is more beast than human.
• A creepy stranger at a nightclub disappears with your friend. You find your friend unconscious behind the club, neck bandaged.
• You glimpse what appears to be your neighbor transforming into a wolf under the moonlight through your window at night.
• A dating app match invited you to their gothic mansion in the woods for a romantic evening. You’re unable to leave as the sun sets.
• Howls echo outside your rural cabin on the night of the full moon. Inhuman, glowing eyes stare back from the treeline.
• A tunnel in your basement leads to a vast subterranean city of the undead. You accidentally become trapped overnight.
• On a campus ghost tour, you get lost in an off-limits section said to be stalked by a vampire. Escaping after nightfall will be nearly impossible.
• An ancient ritual book instructs you how to open a portal to a hellish dimension. You read the incantation aloud as a test.
• A creepy carnival worker warns you to avoid the house of mirrors. You glimpse beastly figures staring back from the glass.
• A strange infection transforms residents into ravenous zombies after nightfall. You’re stranded downtown past sunset.
• Local blood bank technicians are found drained of blood with mysterious neck punctures. A wave of vampirism overwhelms your town.
• A tunnel in your basement leads to a vast underground metropolis populated by creatures of the night. You become trapped after sundown.
• On the night of a lunar eclipse, you get lost hiking and stumble upon what appears to be a meeting place for warped beasts.
• A dating app match invites you to their mansion deep in the woods for a steamy night. You arrive to find coffins lining the great hall.
• You wake up in the middle of the night to see your neighbor staring back at you through the window with glowing eyes and elongated fangs.
• A strange infection transforms residents into feral beasts when enraged. Quarantine protocols trap you downtown after nightfall.
• Howls and shrieks echo from the old asylum at night. You sneak inside to investigate and become trapped with the creatures that dwell within.
• A tunnel in the cemetery leads to a secret gathering place for ghouls and vampires beneath the city. You stumble upon their nightly meeting.
• A creepy stranger warns that a demonic beast hunts the woods during the blood moon. You’re forced to take shelter in a nearby cave.
• On your hotel balcony, you spot a figure across the street make an inhuman leap to the rooftop. A creature is stalking the city.
• A dating app match invited you back to their place. You wake up disoriented with bite marks all over your neck.
• An ancient ritual book instructs you how to open a portal to another dimension. You recite the incantation as a test, and a clawed hand reaches through.
• You get lost on a ghost tour of the old city catacombs. Howls echo from the labyrinth of tunnels as the sun sets above.
• A creepy carnival worker warns you to avoid the house of mirrors at night. You glimpse your beastly reflection staring back.
• A mad scientist performs experiments splicing human and beast DNA. You help one of his tortured experiments escape.
• On the night of a lunar eclipse, you witness what appears to be your neighbor transforming into a fanged beast under the blood moon.
• While exploring the old cemetery, you discover a tunnel that leads to a secret underground meeting place for vampires and ghouls.
• A dating app match invites you to their secluded manor deep in the woods for a romantic evening. You arrive to find it’s overrun with werewolves.
• Howls echo outside your rural cabin on the night of the full moon. Glowing eyes stare back from the darkness. The wolves have your scent.
• A strange infection transforms people into rabid beasts when enraged. You’re trapped downtown past nightfall as residents begin to turn.
• Local blood banks are robbed of all plasma. Overnight, the city is overrun by a wave of vampirism.
• You wake up after a night you can’t remember covered in bites and fur. Howls echo outside under the full moon.
• You stumble upon what appears to be a gathering place for warped creatures deep in the woods at night. They spot you observing their ritual.
• While exploring the old asylum, you become trapped inside overnight. Feral shrieks and howls echo through the abandoned cellblocks after sunset.
• A dating app match invites you to their gothic mansion in the woods for a romantic evening. You arrive to find coffins lining the great hall.
• You wake up to find your bed swarming with spiders. Their glowing red eyes stare back as they crawl towards you.
• While exploring a cave, you stumble upon a giant egg sac filled with thousands of fist-sized spider eggs about to hatch.
• You discover an old journal describing rituals to summon shadow demons. You read an incantation aloud as a test. Clawed hands reach from the darkness.
• You wake up paralyzed as a shadowy ghostly figure looms over your bed, staring directly into your eyes.
• Your reflection in the mirror becomes possessed, snarling and threatening you with a demonic voice telling you all the ways it plans to mutilate your body.
• You get trapped overnight at an insect research facility. Mutated super-sized ants and roaches swarm through the halls, sensing fresh prey.
• While camping, you wake to find yourself cocooned inside a giant spider web. The creature that spun it approaches from the trees, hungry for its trapped prey.
• You stumble upon an abandoned mansion infested with rabid rats. They quickly surround you, squealing and baring their bloodied teeth.
• On a dare, you play a chant from an old book said to summon a vengeful spirit. You glance up to see the ghostly girl from the story standing behind you in the mirror.
• You discover your attic is infested with hundreds of spiders. Their webs coat every inch. At night you hear them skittering in the walls, ceiling, and vents.
• You get bitten by a strange insect while exploring a remote island jungle. Soon you develop odd cravings, inhuman strength, and a thirst for flesh.
• Home alone at night, you hear skittering and clacking sounds from the dark basement. Giant insectoid shadows creep up the stairs towards you.
• You accidentally step on an ant hill during a hike. They swarm up your legs, stinging and biting relentlessly as you scream in agony.
• Near an abandoned mine, you glimpse what looks like a giant spider dragging a human body back to its lair. But when you follow it, there’s no trace.
• You wake paralyzed at night with a creepy crawly sensation. Peering into the darkness, you see hundreds of spiders emerge from under your bed and covers.
• You discover a hidden chamber under your house containing grisly remains wrapped in webbing. At night you hear skittering in the walls and vents.
• Home alone, you hear scratching and fluttering coming from the chimney. A colony of bats suddenly floods into the living room, swarming around you.
• You find an old shack filled with strange cocoons and webbing that seems to pulse with life. Shadowy shapes shift inside them.
• You accidentally unleash a cursed swarm of locusts while reading an ancient text. They voraciously devour every living thing in their path.
• On a camping trip, you wake up to find yourself strapped down in the massive web of a building-sized spider. Its shadow looms over you as it descends from the trees.
• You get trapped in a cave filled with giant cocoons twice your size. They begin to split open, birthing horrific winged creatures.
• You find an old dollhouse intricately decorated with dead insects in miniature scenes. At night you think you glimpse them moving inside it.
• You discover an oddly-shaped cocoon pulsing with life attached to your house. It splits open at night, birthing a terrifying creature.
• You accidentally bring a cockroach home from a trip. It escapes and breeds, soon infesting your entire home with ravenous mutant roaches.
• You wake up buried alive with just a faint glow stick, cell phone with no signal, and a handwritten note that says “Nobody will find you here.”
• Your baby monitor picks up the sound of a maniacal voice whispering “I’m inside your house” when you’re home alone.
• You find a hidden trap door under a rug in your basement. It leads to a soundproof underground room stained with blood.
• Your front door security camera captures a masked man crawling out from under your bed while you sleep just inches away.
• You glimpse people with blurry, staticky faces standing silently in your peripheral vision. When you turn, no one is there.
• Your young daughter keeps talking about her new “imaginary friend” who visits her bedroom closet at night. You hear faint whispers from inside when home alone.
• You wake up to find yourself strapped to an operating table in an abandoned hospital surrounded by disturbing medical tools. No one is around.
• You find an old Polaroid of yourself sleeping on the porch steps of your childhood home. You lived alone and the photo was taken at night through the front door.
• You glimpse grinning corpses propped up around the dinner table when you walk through the dark house at night. But when you turn on the lights, the bodies vanish.
• You notice a bloody, clawed handprint appear on the bathroom mirror after you shower. It drips down the glass, leaving a red trail.
• You wake up in a pitch black room chained to a cold metal chair. A child’s voice says, “It’s time to play the hunting game.”
• You find an old unmarked VHS tape with “Watch Me” scribbled on it. It shows grainy night vision footage of a shadowy figure watching you sleep.
• You glimpse people you know with jet black eyes and fanged smiles beckoning you to come closer out of the corner of your eye. But when you look directly they seem totally normal.
• You come home to find the power cut and the words “I’m already inside” painted in blood on every mirror.
• You wake up to find yourself floating over your own sleeping body. Something else now inhabits your physical form and is living your life.
• You start finding creepy/threatening notes written in red ink on your bathroom mirror when home alone. The writing matches your handwriting perfectly.
• You glimpse grinning corpses of your loved ones sitting around the dinner table out of the corner of your eye. But when you look directly, the bodies vanish.
• You come home to find your front door wide open and bloody child-sized footprints leading from your bedroom to the hallway closet before disappearing.
• You wake up to the sound of screaming coming from inside your own body, but you are paralyzed and cannot move or make a sound.
• You notice a puddle of fresh blood pooling under your bed at night. But by morning, it has mysteriously vanished leaving no trace.
• You start hearing faint cries for help behind your bedroom wall at night. The next morning, you find bloody scratch marks inside the wall.
• You glimpse people with your face but with soulless black eyes staring at you from around corners and darkened doorways whenever you’re home alone.
• Your young son keeps wanting to play a “staring game” where he gazes deeply into your eyes without blinking for uncomfortably long amounts of time.
• You wake up to find your bedroom window open and child-sized, clawed footprints burned into your ceiling above your bed.
• You glimpse faceless people wearing your clothes pointing up at your bedroom ceiling at night. Bloody words appear above your bed spelling out a death threat.
• Your new puppy stares wide-eyed at your basement door while growling at an unseen entity. You start hearing faint whispers and scratching sounds from behind the door.
• You glimpse a shadowy, humanoid creature with long limbs and jagged teeth prowling on all fours around your bedroom at night when you wake up. But when you turn on the light, it’s gone.
• Your young niece keeps asking you to play a staring game, promising that something amazing will happen if you don’t blink for one full minute while gazing into her eyes.
• You wake up to find yourself strapped to an operating table in a morgue. The chilling sound of a bone saw powering up echoes from the darkness.
• A little girl in antique clothes appears weeping in the corner of your bedroom at night, warning you never to sleep again.
• Your baby monitor camera pans by itself to show a dark figure hunched over your child’s crib before the screen goes black.
• You wake up to find yourself bone thin and trapped inside a coffin-sized cage hanging from the ceiling of an empty room.
• You glimpse a doppelgänger of yourself staring back from inside the bathroom mirror whenever you look away.
• Your doorbell camera captures a hyper-realistic puppet-like version of you entering your house at night while you sleep.
• You glimpse an empty baby stroller rocking itself back and forth outside your front door when home alone at night.
• You start finding cryptic notes written in what appears to be blood hidden around your house saying things like, “I’m already inside” and “Let me in.”
• You wake up to find yourself suspended high above your bed with shadowy hands gripping your arms and legs to hold you in place.
• Your home phone rings in the middle of the night. You hear only high-pitched static, yet your caller ID displays your name and number.
• You come home to find all the lights on, puddles of muddy footprints around the house, and the faint smell of rotting meat coming from the vents.
• You notice a puddle of fresh blood pooling under your bed each night. One night you glimpse a small, clawed hand briefly grasp the bedframe before disappearing back under into darkness.
• You glimpse a shadowy doppelgänger mimicking your movements when you look in the bathroom mirror at night. If you stop moving, it grins back with a mouthful of pointed teeth.
• You wake up unable to move and see a dark figure crouched on your chest staring back with reflective, animal-like eyes.
• Your front door security camera footage shows people that look just like you entering your house at night while you sleep. By morning, there’s no sign of intruders inside.
• You glimpse an empty baby cradle rocking itself in the darkness of your living room when home alone at night. But when you turn on the light, it vanishes.
• Your young niece keeps asking if she can “play” with your pet hamster. Sometimes you hear faint squeaking coming from inside her room.
• You wake to find yourself strapped to a chair in a dark, empty warehouse. A child’s voice echoes, “Let’s see how long you can keep your eyes open during our little game…”
• You glimpse a shadowy hooded figure standing silently in your peripheral vision. When you turn to look directly, it screams inches from your face before vanishing.
• You notice a puddle of fresh blood pooling around your bathroom sink each night. One night you glimpse a clawed, rotting hand clutching the faucet before disappearing down the drain.
• Your front doorbell camera shows an old woman standing motionless on your porch steps, staring directly into the camera lens without blinking while holding an unlit candle. She seems blurry, staticky, and translucent.
• You wake up unable to move and see a shadowy humanoid creature crawling on your ceiling. It slowly creeps down the walls upside-down toward your paralyzed body smiling with a mouthful of needle-like teeth.
• You wake up in a dark room strapped to a stretcher. A faceless surgeon slowly approaches you holding a gleaming scalpel.
• You glimpse grinning, corpse-like versions of your loved ones beckoning you closer with clawed hands out of the corner of your eye.
• You notice a puddle of blood seeping from beneath your closet door at night. Something seems to be slowly scratching its way out.
• Your baby monitor camera zooms in on a pale hand reaching into your infant’s crib during the night. You rush in to find the crib empty.
• You glimpse people you know with milky white eyes and stitched-together body parts shambling toward you, arms outstretched, when you look away.
• You wake up chained to a filthy tiled wall in a shadowy basement. Scratch marks cover the walls and the faint sound of whimpering echoes from the darkness.
• Your front door security camera shows a hyper-realistic version of you prowling around the porch on all fours at night, unnaturally contorting its body to fit.
• You notice a puddle of blood pooling beneath your bed each night. One night you glimpse a snarling, clawed hand grasp the bed frame before disappearing back under.
• You wake up to find yourself buried alive in a small wooden box. Dirt sifts through the cracks as you begin to claw your way out.
• You glimpse demonic versions of your family seated around the dinner table, forked tongues wriggling from their grinning mouths whenever you look away.
• You notice empty baby carriages and children’s toys rocking or spinning on their own in the darkness whenever home alone. But they vanish when you turn on the lights.
• Shadowy doppelgängers of you stand motionless in doorways and mirrors whenever you look away, screaming when you make eye contact.
• Your young daughter keeps whispering that her new “imaginary friends” visit her in her closet at night and want to meet you.
• You wake up unable to move with a hunched figure sitting on your chest staring back with soulless black eyes and grinning razor-sharp teeth.
• You notice clawed handprints and blood streaks on the bathroom mirror after taking a shower, as if something was trapped behind the glass trying to get out.
• You glimpse people you know with pale skin, black eyes and stitched-together body parts shambling toward you when looking away. They plead for help before vanishing.
• You hear high-pitched crying and clawing sounds coming from behind your bedroom wall at night, along with faint whispers pleading “let me out.”
• You wake up chained to the moldy tiled floor of a shadowy subterranean room. Glowing red eyes stare back from the darkness.
• You notice your reflection blinks or moves on its own whenever you glance away from the mirror. It smiles with a mouthful of needles when your eyes meet.
• You glimpse corpses of your loved ones with sunken features seated around the dinner table whenever you look away. They beckon you closer with skeletal hands.
• You wake up in the woods, barefoot with your ankles and wrists bound together. You hear faint hunting horns and hounds barking in the distance.
• You notice your shadow detaching itself and moving on its own under the gap of your closet door at night. The doorknob slowly begins to rattle.
• You glimpse your doppelgänger going about your daily routine whenever you look away. It stares back with soulless black eyes when your gazes meet.
• You wake up to find yourself strapped down in an abandoned, decrepit hospital room. A faceless figure in a long coat slowly approaches holding a rusted scalpel.
• You notice clawed, rotting hands grasping from inside your bedroom closet whenever you look away. They retreat back inside when your eyes are on them.
• You glimpse a shadowy creature with elongated limbs and off-kilter body movements prowling around your bedroom just outside your field of vision at night whenever you’re home alone.
• You wake up in a sterile white room strapped to a metal chair with IVs pumping unknown fluids into your body. Faceless people in suits watch through a two-way mirror.
• Your young daughter keeps talking and singing nursery rhymes to “the people who visit her closet” late at night when she thinks you’re asleep.
• You notice your reflection rapidly ages, decays, and becomes skeletal whenever you glance away from the bathroom mirror at night.
• You glimpse doppelgängers of your loved ones with sunken features shuffling toward you pleading for help when looking away. They scream when your eyes meet.
• You wake up unable to move and see a hunched figure sitting on your chest with its face obscured by tangled black hair. It slowly raises a rusted blade toward your throat.
• Your baby monitor cameras pans by itself to show a shadowy figure looming over the crib, rocking your infant’s empty cradle before the screen goes black.
• You notice your shadow detaching itself and creeping along on its own, just outside your peripheral vision whenever you’re home alone at night.
• You glimpse a pale little girl in a tattered nightgown standing motionless in your peripheral vision. She screams and points at you when your eyes meet.
• You wake up in a sterile white room strapped to an operating table as a figure in surgical garb approaches you slowly wielding a long, gleaming saw.
• Your front doorbell camera shows a blurry, shambling figure that looks just like you prowling around the porch late at night, contorting its body unnaturally.
• You notice handprints and faces pressing against your bedroom window from outside at night when you’re home alone. But when you blink, they vanish.
• You glimpse your loved ones seated around the dinner table with elongated smiles filled with jagged teeth whenever you look away. They beckon you closer.
• You wake up in a small, enclosed space. You push against the satin lining and realize you’ve been buried alive inside a coffin.
• Your baby monitor camera zooms in on its own at night to show a spindly hand reaching into your infant’s crib over the edge of the railing.
• You notice your reflection rapidly decays into a grinning corpse whenever you glance away from the mirror. Maggots wriggle from its empty eye sockets when your eyes meet.
• You wake up and all the mirrors in your home are covered with sheets. You live alone. Muffled crying echoes from behind the covered glass.
• You glimpse shadowy, hunched figures crouched in your peripheral vision. They skitter just out of sight whenever you turn to look directly.
• Your front doorbell camera shows you arriving home hours before you actually returned. The footage shows you glancing up at the camera and grinning with solid black eyes.
• You notice clawed handprints appear on foggy bathroom mirrors after you shower. They slowly drag down the glass leaving trails of blood before vanishing completely.
• You glimpse doppelgängers of loved ones standing motionless, staring at you from dark corners and doorways whenever you’re home alone. They scream when your eyes meet.
• You wake up to find yourself alone in a sterile white room strapped to a metal chair. A faceless figure in a lab coat slowly approaches holding a power saw.
• Your baby monitor camera zooms in and pans by itself at night to show a spindly hand reaching over the edge of the crib, rocking your infant’s empty cradle.
• You notice your shadow standing independently and watching you from across the room whenever you glance away. It creeps closer when your back is turned.
• You wake up to find yourself chained to a cold metal table in a shadowy basement. Glowing red eyes stare hungrily at you from the dark corners.
• You wake up in a dimly lit room strapped to a gurney. You hear faint whimpering and smell rotting flesh. A door creaks open and shuffling footsteps approach.
• You glimpse doppelgängers of loved ones with pale skin and soulless black eyes standing in doorways whenever you’re home alone. They scream when your eyes meet.
• You notice clawed handprints appear on foggy bathroom mirrors after you shower. They slowly drag down the glass, leaving trails of blood before fading away.
• Your baby monitor camera zooms in and pans by itself at night to show a spindly hand reaching over the crib, rocking your infant’s empty cradle.
• You wake up unable to move. A shadowy figure sits on your chest staring back with glowing red eyes and rows of razor-sharp teeth grinning.
• You glimpse blurry, shambling figures just out of sight whenever you’re home alone. They stand motionless staring when you look directly.
• You notice your shadow detaching itself and creeping along the walls just outside your peripheral vision whenever you’re alone at night.
• Your young son keeps whispering that “the thing in the closet” talks to him at night and wants to meet you after bedtime.
• You wake up in a sterile white room strapped to a metal chair. A faceless figure in a lab coat slowly approaches wielding a power saw.
• You glimpse grinning corpses seated around the dinner table whenever you look away. They beckon you closer with skeletal hands before vanishing.
• Your reflection rapidly decays into a mangled corpse whenever you glance away from the mirror. It screams when your eyes meet.
• You notice handprints and pleading faces press against your bedroom window from outside whenever you look away. They vanish when stared at.
• You wake up unable to move and see a shadowy figure sitting on your chest staring back with glowing red eyes. It slowly raises a long, gleaming blade.
• Your front doorbell camera shows you arriving home hours before you actually returned. Your doppelgänger glances up at the camera, grinning with soulless black eyes.
• You glimpse a pale little girl in a tattered nightgown standing silently whenever you look away. She points at you and screams when your eyes meet.
• You notice clawed, rotting hands grasp from inside your closet whenever you look away. They slowly retreat back into darkness when stared at.
• You wake up chained to a moldy tiled wall in a shadowy basement. Glowing red eyes stare hungrily at you from the darkness.
• Your young daughter keeps whispering she sees “other mommies and daddies” that visit her bedroom closet at night.
• You glimpse your loved ones seated around the dinner table with elongated smiles filled with jagged teeth whenever you look away.
• You notice your shadow standing independently across the room whenever you glance away. It creeps closer when your back is turned.
• Your reflection turns and stares back with solid black eyes and a wide unnatural smile whenever you look away from the mirror.
• You wake up unable to move with a hunched figure sitting on your chest. It stares back with glowing red eyes as it slowly raises a rusted blade.
• Your front door security camera shows a blurry, shambling figure that looks just like you prowling around on all fours late at night.
• You glimpse pale ghostly figures standing silently whenever you look away. They reach toward you screaming when you make eye contact.
• You notice your shadow detaching itself and creeping along the walls just outside your peripheral vision when home alone.
• You wake up in a sterile white room strapped to an operating table as a figure in surgical garb approaches wielding a gleaming bone saw.
• Your young son keeps whispering that “the thing under my bed” talks to him at night and wants to meet you after you tuck him in.
• You glimpse doppelgängers of loved ones standing motionless and staring at you from dark corners whenever you’re home alone.
• You notice handprints appear on foggy bathroom mirrors after you shower. They slowly drag down the glass leaving trails of blood before fading away.
• Your baby monitor camera zooms in and pans by itself at night to show a spindly hand rocking your infant’s empty cradle.
• You wake up unable to move and see a shadowy figure crouched on your chest. It stares back with glowing eyes as it slowly lifts a gleaming scalpel.
• Your young niece keeps whispering about her new “imaginary friends” that visit her bedroom closet late at night when she thinks you’re asleep.
• You glimpse pale ghostly children staring silently whenever you look away. They reach toward you screaming when your eyes meet.
• You notice your shadow detaching itself and creeping along the walls just outside your peripheral vision when you’re alone at night.
• Your reflection turns and stares back with milky white eyes and an unnaturally wide smile whenever you glance away from the mirror.
• You wake up chained to a rusted metal chair in a dim concrete room. Heavy footsteps approach from the darkness.
• Your front door security camera shows you shambling up to the porch on all fours late at night. Your doppelgänger glances up at the camera and grins.
• You glimpse your loved ones seated around the dinner table with blank stares whenever you look away. They reach toward you silently when your eyes meet.
• You notice empty rocking chairs, strollers, and children’s toys slowly moving on their own in the darkness whenever you’re home alone.
• You wake up unable to move and see a hunched shadowy figure sitting on your chest, slowly raising a gleaming blade toward your throat.
• Your baby monitor camera zooms in and pans by itself at night to show a spindly hand reaching over the crib railing, rocking your infant’s empty cradle.
• You glimpse pale ghostly faces staring from the darkness whenever you look away. They scream and vanish when your eyes meet.
• You notice your shadow standing independently across the room whenever you glance away. It skitters behind you when you turn to look.
• Your reflection turns and snarls back with gleaming pointed teeth whenever you look away from the mirror. It bangs against the glass when your eyes meet.
• You wake up in a sterile white room strapped to a metal table as a faceless figure in a lab coat approaches holding a serrated blade.
• Your young daughter keeps whispering about “other mommies and daddies with red eyes” that visit her bedroom closet at night.
• You glimpse empty rocking chairs, strollers, and toys slowly moving on their own in the darkness whenever you’re home alone.
• You notice pleading faces and hands banging against your bedroom window from outside whenever you look away. They vanish when stared at.
• Your front doorbell camera shows you prowling around the porch late at night. Your doppelgänger crawls on all fours glancing up at the camera.
• You wake up unable to move and see a shadowy figure sitting on your chest. It stares back with glowing red eyes as it wriggles a long, forked tongue.
• You wake up in a dark basement chained to the wall. Faint screams echo from the shadows as heavy footsteps approach.
• Your reflection smiles back with rows of jagged teeth whenever you glance away from the mirror. Bloody claws smear the glass from inside.
• You notice your doppelgänger going about your daily routine whenever you look away. It stares back with soulless black eyes when your gazes meet.
• You glimpse grinning corpses seated around the dinner table whenever you look away. They reach toward you with skeletal hands before vanishing.
• Your front door cam shows you returning home hours before you actually did. Your blurry doppelgänger looks up and smiles with empty black eyes.
• You wake up unable to move. A hunched figure sits on your chest and stares back with glowing red eyes as it wriggles a long, forked tongue.
• Your baby monitor camera zooms in by itself at night to show a spindly hand reaching over the crib, rocking your infant’s empty cradle.
• You notice your reflection rapidly decays into a skeletal corpse whenever you glance away from the mirror. Maggots pour from its empty eye sockets.
• You wake up in a sterile white room strapped to a metal chair. A faceless figure in a lab coat approaches wielding a gleaming power saw.
• Your young son keeps whispering about “the thing in his closet” that talks to him at night and wants to meet you after bedtime.
• You notice clawed, rotting hands grasp from inside your closet whenever you look away. They slowly retreat into darkness when stared at.
• You glimpse your smiling friends with milky white eyes and stitched-together body parts shambling toward you when looking away.
• You wake up unable to move. A shadowy figure crouches on your chest and grins back with rows of needle-like teeth as it lifts a serrated blade.
• Your reflection turns and snarls at you behind the glass whenever you glance away from the mirror. Bloody claws smear down the surface from inside.
• You notice your shadow detaching itself and creeping along the walls just outside your peripheral vision whenever you’re home alone.
• You glimpse pale ghostly children standing silently whenever you look away. They scream and vanish when your eyes meet theirs.
• Your baby monitor camera zooms in by itself at night to show a spindly hand rocking your infant’s empty cradle back and forth.
• You notice empty rocking chairs, strollers, and toys moving slowly on their own in the darkness whenever you’re home alone.
• Your reflection turns and smiles back with solid black eyes and a wide, unnatural grin whenever you look away from the mirror.
• You wake up in a shadowy room restrained to a gurney. You hear whimpering from the darkness as shuffling footsteps approach.
• Your young niece keeps whispering about her “new friends” that visit her bedroom closet late at night when she thinks you’re asleep.
• You glimpse soulless black eyes staring back from around corners and darkened doorways whenever you’re home alone.
• You wake up unable to move and see a hunched figure perched on your chest, slowly raising a gleaming blade toward your throat.
• Your front door camera shows you prowling around the porch late at night on all fours. Your doppelgänger glances up at the camera and grins.
• You glimpse ghostly faces staring back from the darkness whenever you look away. They scream and vanish when your eyes meet.
• You notice your doppelgänger going about your daily routine whenever you look away. It stares back with glowing red eyes when your gazes meet.
• Your reflection turns and snarls, clawing at the glass whenever you glance away from the mirror. Its flesh rapidly decays before your eyes.
• You wake up in a sterile white room strapped to a metal chair. A shadowy figure slowly approaches you wielding a long, gleaming surgical blade.
• You glimpse rotting versions of your loved ones shambling toward you with arms outstretched whenever you look away. They vanish when stared at.
• Your young daughter keeps whispering about “other mommies and daddies with black eyes” that visit her bedroom closet at night.
• You notice your shadow detaching itself and creeping along the walls just outside your peripheral vision when you’re home alone.
• You wake up unable to move and see a dark figure perched on your chest, staring back with red glowing eyes as it lifts a needle toward your eye.
• Your front door cam shows you arriving home hours before you actually did. Your grinning doppelgänger looks up at the camera with bleeding black eyes.
• You glimpse your rotting loved ones seated around the dinner table whenever you look away. They reach toward you with skeletal hands.
• Your reflection turns and smiles back with jagged blackened teeth whenever you glance away from the mirror. Clawed hands smear down the glass from inside.
• You notice pleading faces and hands bang against your bedroom window from outside whenever you look away. They quickly vanish when stared at.
• You wake up in a damp basement chained to a moldy brick wall. Glowing red eyes stare hungrily at you from the darkness.
• You glimpse shadowy figures standing silently whenever you look away. They reach toward you screaming when your eyes meet.
• You notice your doppelgänger going about your daily routine whenever you look away. It stares back with soulless black eyes and grins.
• You wake up unable to move and see a hunched figure perched on your chest, slowly dragging a rusty blade across your throat as you bleed out.
• Your baby monitor camera zooms in by itself at night to show a spindly hand rocking your infant’s empty, blood-stained cradle.
• You glimpse your loved ones seated around the dinner table with jagged smiles whenever you look away. They beckon you closer with clawed hands.
• Your reflection turns and snarls, clawing at the glass whenever you glance away. Its sunken eyes begin rapidly bleeding black.
• You notice empty rocking chairs, strollers, and children’s toys moving on their own in the darkness whenever you’re home alone.
• You wake up in a sterile white room, restrained to an operating table as a figure in surgical garb approaches wielding a bloody chainsaw.
• Your young daughter keeps whispering she sees “other mommies and daddies” with glowing red eyes that visit her bedroom closet late at night.
• You wake up levitating above your bed. An unseen force holds you in place as you helplessly float higher toward the ceiling.
• You glimpse shadowy spirits standing silently whenever you look away. They scream when you make eye contact before vanishing.
• The ghost of a murder victim appears in your bedroom pleading for help in solving their unsolved case before vanishing.
• You notice objects moving on their own and furniture rearranging itself in the darkness whenever you leave a room in your haunted house.
• You hear singing, laughing, and children’s voices whispering your name although you live alone in your isolated rural home.
• Your baby monitor camera pans by itself at night to reveal a ghostly figure standing over the crib, staring down at your sleeping infant.
• You glimpse the spirits of dead loved ones seated around the dinner table whenever you look away. They vanish when you stare.
• Your reflection in the mirror becomes possessed and starts talking to you on its own, threatening to steal your soul.
• You wake up to find yourself floating above ancient rune markings etched on your bedroom floor as ghostly figures chant around you.
• You notice your shadow moving on its own and detaching itself from your feet, taking on a life of its own.
• Strange singing and whimpers echo from within the walls and vents in your new home that only you can hear.
• You glimpse shadowy, featureless figures standing silently in your peripheral vision. When you turn, they vanish.
• Your baby monitor picks up two ghostly figures standing over your crib whispering unintelligibly to your infant.
• Items start vanishing from your home only to reappear in bizarre places with no explanation. Poltergeist activity escalates.
• You wake up unable to move and see a shadowy ghostly figure sitting on your chest, staring directly into your eyes.
• The ghost of your deceased relative appears to deliver an urgent warning about your future before vanishing.
• You hear scratching, knocking sounds from inside your walls and floors that seem to follow you from room to room.
• Strange glowing mists manifest in your home and coalesce into ghostly humanoid forms before vanishing.
• You glimpse spirits of the dead seated silently around your dinner table whenever you look away. They reach toward you screaming.
• You wake up to find yourself floating above your bed as a shadowy ghostly figure looms over you.
• The power goes out and you spot ghostly civil war soldiers marching through your living room before vanishing.
• You glimpse the spirits of dead children playing in your yard whenever you look away. They vanish laughing when spotted.
• Your reflection becomes possessed and starts talking to you through the mirror with a distorted demonic voice.
• You notice handprints and faces materializing in mirrors and windows before fading away when stared at.
• Strange symbols, words, and messages start appearing on steamy bathroom mirrors when you shower.
• You glimpse shadowy spirits standing silently down the hallway whenever you look away. They vanish screaming when spotted.
• You hear a child’s giggling echoing through your home although you live alone. Footsteps run behind you.
• The ghost of your dead relative appears in your dreams to give an urgent warning about your future.
• You wake up to find yourself levitating over your bed as a ghostly figure looms over you.
• Your baby monitor camera moves by itself to show the shadowy figures of two children standing over the crib whispering.
• You hear singing, laughter, and playing coming from inside your walls although you live alone.
• Objects start levitating and flying across the room on their own, barely missing your head.
• You glimpse the spirits of dead loved ones silently seated around your dinner table whenever you look away.
• Strange symbols and messages appear on foggy bathroom mirrors after you shower as if written by an unseen presence.
• You notice your shadow moving independently of you and shifting into ghostly shapes on its own.
• You hear scratching sounds, knocking, and pitter-pattering footsteps following you from room to room in your isolated rural home.
• The power goes out and you glimpse ghostly figures dancing in your living room before vanishing.
• Your reflection becomes possessed and starts talking back to you through the mirror in a distorted voice.
• You wake up paralyzed in bed with a shadowy ghostly figure looming over you, staring directly into your eyes.
• Handprints, faces, and pleading messages start materializing on steamy bathroom mirrors after you shower.
• You hear whispering voices, singing, and laughter echoing from inside your walls although you live alone.
• Strange glowing mists manifest in your home, taking on ghostly humanoid shapes before vanishing.
• You glimpse the spirits of deceased loved ones silently seated around the dinner table whenever you look away.
• Your reflection becomes possessed and starts threatening you through the mirror in a sinister voice.
• You wake up levitating over your bed as ghostly figures stand below, staring up and chanting.
• The ghost of a murder victim appears pleading for you to bring their killer to justice before vanishing.
• You notice your shadow moving independently and detaching itself from your feet, taking on a life of its own.
• Strange symbols, words, and messages appear on foggy bathroom mirrors after you shower as if written by a ghostly presence.
• You hear giggling, playing, and pitter-pattering footsteps of ghostly children following you throughout your isolated home.
• You glimpse shadowy spirits standing silently down your hallway whenever you look away. They vanish screaming when you spot them.
• You wake up with bite marks all over your body after a night you can’t remember. Howling echoes outside your window.
• While exploring the woods, you stumble upon an abandoned cabin overrun with unnatural webbing that seems to throb and grow before your eyes.
• You get trapped overnight at an insect research lab. You soon hear clicking and fluttering in the vents as mutated test subjects escape and search for prey.
• You play a chant from an old book said to summon spirits. Behind you in the mirror, the tormented ghost of the book’s author appears screaming.
• You find yourself strapped down in the massive web of a giant spider. It descends from the trees above, fangs dripping venom as it prepares to feast.
• You discover your basement is infested with thousands of venomous spiders. At night you can hear them creeping through the walls and vents all around you.
• While camping, you wake to find yourself wrapped tightly in webbing inside a giant cocoon. You feel the creature that spun it approaching.
• You accidentally unleash a cursed swarm of locusts while reading an ancient text out loud as a joke. But the joke is on you as they voraciously consume all life in their path.
• You get trapped in a massive spider’s lair. All around you are pulsing egg sacs ready to burst and release thousands of flesh-eating spiderlings.
• Wandering through an abandoned shack, you stumble into a web-filled room. Inside the webbing you glimpse human shapes shifting and struggling to break free.
• You play a chant said to summon spirits as a dare. Behind you, the mirror becomes a portal and a clawed hand reaches through grabbing at your throat.
• You discover your son’s bedroom is infested by thousands of tiny spiders. At night you hear them creeping through the vents and walls all around you.
• While exploring a remote island jungle, you are bitten by a strange insect. Soon you are overwhelmed by a ravenous hunger for living flesh.
• An odd cocoon attached to your home splits open, birthing a terrifying spider-like creature with glistening fangs. It stalks you at night.
• You accidentally bring home a mutated cockroach from a trip. It breeds, unleashing an infestation of voracious mutant roaches.
• Home alone at night, you hear skittering coming from the chimney. You glimpse an inverted giant spider crawling down the flue towards you.
• You play a chant from an old book said to summon spirits as a joke. Behind you, the tormented ghost of the book’s author appears howling.
• You discover your basement is infested with cocoons that seem to throb and pulse with life. At night they finally split open, birthing horrific creatures.
• While camping, you wake wrapped tightly in webbing inside a massive cocoon. You feel the giant spider that spun it approaching for its helpless prey.
• You get trapped overnight in an insect research facility. Mutated test subjects swarm through the halls, sensing fresh meat.
• An abandoned cabin you explore is overrun with strange webbing that seems to grow before your eyes, coating everything like a living organism.
• You accidentally bring home a parasitic insect from a trip. At night it lays eggs under your skin. You feel the hatchlings wriggling beneath the surface.
• You play a chant said to summon spirits as a joke. Behind you, the enraged ghost it conjures begins strangling you with icy spectral hands.
• While hiking, you stumble into a giant web stretching between trees. At its center waits the massive spider that spun it, mandibles clicking with anticipation.
• You glimpse what looks like a giant spider dragging a human-sized cocoon into its lair. But when you work up the nerve to investigate, there is no trace.
• Home alone at night, you hear scratching coming from the fireplace. You glimpse a human hand reach down the chimney, trying to unlock the flue.
• You discover your attic is infested with pulsating cocoons that throb with unnatural life. At night they finally burst open, birthing nightmarish creatures.
• You play a chant said to summon spirits on a dare. Behind you in the mirror, a clawed hand reaches through the glass trying to grab you.
• You hear skittering and fluttering coming from your walls and vents at night. Peering closer, you glimpse swarms of spiders massing in the shadows.
• You explore a remote cave filled with massive, pulsating cocoons. As you touch one, it splits open, birthing a winged horror.
• You accidentally unleash a cursed plague of locusts while reading an ancient text aloud. They voraciously consume every living thing in their path.
• Home alone, your power goes out. You hear skittering coming from the basement. In the darkness, you glimpse yellow insectoid eyes approaching.
• You discover your son’s room is infested with spiders. At night you hear them through the vents and walls, creeping closer when he sleeps.
• Near an abandoned shack you find a human rib cage wrapped in web. Following the trail, it leads to the giant spider’s lair. But you arrive to find it freshly abandoned.
• You explore an abandoned research lab where they bred insects. You accidentally release the mutant specimens which search for living prey.
• Playing a chant said to summon spirits, you jokingly invite them to manifest. Behind you, a ghostly hand reaches through the mirror trying to drag you to the other side.
• You wake paralyzed in bed to see a shadowy ghostly figure standing over you, staring directly into your eyes.
• You find a hidden chamber pulsing with unnatural organic cocoons. At night they finally split open, unleashing the horrors growing inside.
• Home alone, you hear scratching coming from the chimney as spiders swarm down the flue into the fireplace towards you.
• You play a chant said to summon spirits as a prank. Behind you, the tortured ghost it conjures begins trying to possess your body.
• You discover your son’s closet is infested with pulsating, throbbing cocoons. At night they finally split open, birthing ravenous spiderlings.
• Exploring a remote jungle, you stumble upon an ancient temple filled with giant cocoons. You hear shrieking and scratching coming from inside them as they begin to rupture. 

The final pages turn and the last prompt beckons. Another chilling journey into terror draws to a close. But the horrors conjured within these pages will haunt you, lingering in the shadowy recesses of your mind. Though you may close the book, the unease will remain as you lie awake pondering the darkness that lurks within human nature, the malevolence that stalks the unknown, and the fear of what is to come.

While you may feel relief at having navigated the full spectrum of horrors within these 365 prompts, the experience will leave its mark. You’ve glimpsed the sinister possibilities that await when imagination crosses into darkness. But until next time, keep the lights on and don’t look behind you, for the things that go bump in the night are never far away. The terror ends for now, but other prompts await whenever you dare to confront the shadows once more. 

If you are interested in other writing prompts , we have many on our site. Also, if you want to share what you’ve written please leave us a comments.

Related posts:

• 1000 Writing Prompts
• Daily Writing Prompts every writer should try
• Daily horror writing prompts 
• 31 Creepy Writing Prompts for Every Day of October
• Daily Writing Prompts for November

About Richard

Richard Everywriter (pen name) has worked for literary magazines and literary websites for the last 25 years. He holds degrees in Writing, Journalism, Technology and Education. Richard has headed many writing workshops and courses, and he has taught writing and literature for the last 20 years.  

In writing and publishing he has worked with independent, small, medium and large publishers for years connecting publishers to authors. He has also worked as a journalist and editor in both magazine, newspaper and trade publications as well as in the medical publishing industry.   Follow him on Twitter, and check out our Submissions page .

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110+ Horror Writing Prompts (With A Twist)

Give yourself the chills with this list of over 110 horror writing prompts. From scary ghost stories to creepy stories about animals and monsters. Now is the time to write your own horror story , just like Goosebumps or The Haunting of Aveline Jones. 

From the gory to the scary, from the monstrous to the supernatural, from the humorous to the wacky, we have it all! Use this horror writing prompts generator to get a random horror writing idea to write about:

Keep on reading for a list of horror story prompts.

Most horror stories are based on one thing, fear. And it’s always a good idea to have a bit of that in your own life. Fear makes us all think differently, it makes us do things we wouldn’t normally do. And it’s the same thing that makes horror stories so scary. It’s a good idea to think of something that scares you, and then write about it. As a starting point, we have provided you with this list of horror prompts. For some of these gory ideas, we have included a twist, while for others it’s up to you how the story goes!  Feel free to use any of these prompts in your writing, and to expand on any of the ideas.

List of Horror Writing Prompts

This list of horror writing prompts will you give you the well-needed inspiration for a good horror story:

• The Haunting Hospital: A small girl named Julie is walking down a country road when she finds a cemetery and realises it is her home town. She goes to her house and finds that it has been turned into a hospital. She finds her father and her mother there. Her father tells her that she is now a part of the hospital and that she must work to be paid. Julie and her mother go to work as nurses.
• Chasing Shadows: A girl named Becky is walking in her neighbourhood when she sees a little boy playing in the street. Becky runs over to him and asks him what he is doing. He tells her that he is a little monster and that he will kill her if she does not leave him alone. Becky takes off running and the little monster chases her.
• Park of Peril: A little girl named Melissa is walking through the park when she finds a little boy who tells her that he will eat her if she does not take him home. Melissa takes off running and the little boy chases her.
• Claws of the Night: This one involves a kid named Angela. One night she goes to sleep and when she wakes up the next morning her hands have turned into the claws of a cat.
• The Poisoned Harvest: A boy named Billy is walking down the street one day when he sees a homeless man. He notices some fruit by the man. When the homeless man is not looking, Billy steals the fruit. Later on, he goes home and eats this piece of fruit. The fruit is poisoned, and Billy goes blind.
• Carnivorous Confrontation: A story of a kid who loves to eat the flesh of dead animals, but one day a man appears and tells him not to eat them.
• Invisible Menace: Write a story about a young boy who is terrorized by an invisible monster.
• Nightmare Room: The invisible monster is eating kids and it is in their room all the time.
• Enchanted Chaos: A handsome prince on a quest to learn magic wants to marry the beautiful princess, but the kingdom is being attacked by demons, ghosts, and…his dad.
• Insanity’s Feast: The whole little town goes insane. They start killing people with their mouths. They kill them in the most gruesome way.
• Shuttered Nightmares: A serial killer is taking photos of their victims. He is telling them how he is going to kill them. And then he starts his killing.
• Witch’s Chains: Two kids named ‘Bud’ and ‘Chip’ got separated from their parents. They live next door to a witch and are unable to leave the house. One day, the witch makes their parents get into a container, and leaves them in the backyard, chained to a tree.
• Enchanted Camp: A summer camp where a powerful wizard casts a spell on the children to make them do his bidding.
• The Weeping Specter: A ghost that follows you around and cries on your shoulder and if you get sad it gets angry and turns into a ghostly voice that spooks people.
• Haunted Truths: The lead character is haunted by a ghost who knows the truth about their past.
• Distrustful Shadows: A girl named Dana, who works at a daycare centre, doesn’t trust anybody. This causes her to make sure she does everything she can to stop any other person from ever entering her place.
• Realm of Nightmares: One day, the princess wakes up in a terrible nightmare. She is being chased by something, she cannot see what it is. And then she hears the voice of her mother, telling her to run away. She goes to her room and sees that the covers on her bed are in a shape that reminds her of the monster she just saw. She knows she cannot sleep in this place. She goes to the other side of her room and sees a window. She goes to the window and finds that it is an opening to a new world…
• Witch’s Wrath: A girl named Misty lives with her parents and their next-door neighbour who is an evil witch. One day her father and the witch get into a fight and the witch accidentally kills him.
• Brief Awakening: A boy named Sam is suffering from a terrible disease and he only has days to live. He’s in a coma, and he’s not responding to any medical treatments. Until one night he starts to experience some new changes…
• Vengeful Wishes: A little girl named Mina finds a genie. The genie grants her 3 wishes. Because Mina has been a victim of bullying, she uses all her wishes to punish her bullies with ghoulish consequences. 
• Jar of Horrors: One day, a boy named Marcus went out to take a walk, and he found a jar that he thought was full of gold. Marcus had also found a bag that was heavier than he could lift, but he drags it home anyway. When he opens to bag he discovers something disgusting…
• Game Over: A creepy character named Nemesis is trying to kill Luke, who plays video games and lives in his basement. At night, Luke hears voices telling him to hide. He goes to the basement and a creature knocks him out. He ends up as a character in his gruesome game. 
• Bracelet of Resurrection: A boy named Josh loses his best friend to a freak accident. He finds the other half of a bracelet he gave his friend that day. He hangs on to it until one night the bracelet brings his best friend back to life.
• The Ghost Writer: Write a story titled, The Ghost Writer. Write about the ghost of someone who haunts you.
• Eternal Specter: Write a scary ghost story about a man who is cursed to spend eternity as a ghost.
• Hidden World: A boy named Brody is having problems adjusting to life in his new home after his parents divorced. He tries to see his dad, but they don’t want him around. One day he discovers a secret passage to a hidden underground world where his father now lives.
• Stuttering Shadows: A story about a young man named Kenny, who works as a garbage man. He also has a terrible stuttering problem that he has to deal with. One day he discovers that his stuttering is getting worse and worse and he becomes scared to death because of it. He thinks that the talking squirrel next to him is a demon.
• Haunted Corner: Write a story about an object in your room that becomes haunted. 
• Ghostly Deception: A boy named Bryce has been hiding out from his abusive father. One day his father is gone and his dad’s new girlfriend walks into the house. He thinks it’s the ghost of his dead mother. The ghost shows him that his dad’s new girlfriend has been lying to him about how his birth mother died.
• Trapped in Terror: A young boy named Spencer and his sister Sarah, are on a camping trip when they find a box of mysterious objects. When they open it, one of the items shoots at them, striking Sarah and trapping her in a pod inside a tree. While locked inside the tree, Sarah meets an evil doll named Alice.
• Possessed Playtime: A young girl named Cassandra is babysitting her neighbour’s two kids. One day the kids eat some forbidden foods and a demon spirit possesses one of the kids and turns him into an evil creature who haunts the neighbourhood.
• Eyes of the Bunny: A little girl named Hayley discovers a secret house that no one in the neighbourhood knows about, and is welcomed inside by a red-eyed white bunny. One day when Hayley goes to a party, her newfound friend kidnaps her and traps her inside this mysterious house. 
• Eternal Echo: Write a horror story about a horrible accident or a nightmare that has haunted you your whole life.
• Drowning Destiny: A boy named Joshua falls into a river and is about to drown when he gets rescued by a beautiful mermaid. She tells him that he will die the next day because that is his destiny. 
• Keys of Madness: A young boy named Alex finds a set of glowing door keys and uses them to enter a huge abandoned mansion. When he explores the mansion, he is visited by a dark spirit who attacks him and drives him insane.
• Alien Abduction: A boy named Sam wakes up one day to find that his parents have been missing for over a year. The day he discovers them, they tell him that he was kidnapped by aliens, and they built an experimental human brainwashing machine. 
• Dreams of Stella: A young boy named Toby starts having strange dreams of a girl named Stella. One day, he sees Stella when he’s on a roller coaster, but it turns out to be a ghost who is trying to take over his mind. 
• Eye of the Leaf: A little boy named Ben is playing outside one day when he finds a strange leaf. When he picks it up, it turns into a leaf with a red eye and starts to follow him. 
• Vengeful Spirit: Write a horror story about a ghost who just wants to kill the person who called him a monster when he was alive. 
• Nightmare Adoption: A young girl named Annabelle is adopted by a family that lives in a very old house. One day when is playing outside, she is kidnapped by a scary man named the Nightman.
• Stuffed Shadows: A young boy named Jack gets lost in the woods and finds an old abandoned house. He enters the house and finds a huge stuffed animal. When he touches it, it wakes up and attacks him.
• Depths of Fear: Imagine your worst fear and write a scary story about it.
• A Rude Awakening: Write a horror story titled, A Rude Awakening. What would you do if you woke up in a place that you weren’t familiar with?
• The Mysterious Case: What happens when someone goes missing and no one knows where they’ve gone?
• Dreamstalker : Write about a monster that might be stalking you in your dreams.
• Write a story titled, When The Wind Blows. This story could be about a sudden change in weather that comes with a new problem.
• Mirror Demon: Continue the following story: Suddenly, the demon in the mirror reappeared and she began to scream.
• Doctor’s Dread: When the doctor gave her the news, she screamed out loud and ran in circles.
• Safekeeping Shadows: In her final hours, she told me to be thankful that I had done my best to keep her safe. That I had made sure no evil would ever hurt her again. 
• Camping Secrets: Continue the following horror story: As I was growing up, every year our family went camping in the woods. My grandfather passed away a few years ago. He was a rich man, and I wanted to visit his grave at the cemetery. 
• Forest of Shadows: While walking around the forest, I came across a monstrous-looking creature. I was scared and ran back home. The next day, I decided to go back and see what the monster was doing. 
• Echoes of Dread: Write down your biggest fear. And then write a story based on this fear.
• Silent Stalker: When I looked in her file I saw that she had gotten five serious stab wounds. But, I could not see any sign of her attacker. Her wounds were all over her body and all over her arms.
• Arachnid Terror: After discovering that a spider was sleeping in her bed, a young girl named Amy screams and runs away, locking herself in the bathroom.
• Electric Fury: A scientific team is doing research on electricity. They find a very strong cell that could create many things when it is exposed to electricity. Suddenly the electricity static comes alive. It gets angry and attacks the scientists. 
• Imaginary Friend: A little girl named Amber loves to play with her new imaginary friend. She calls him “Giant” and she makes up stories about him. She believes that he is her friend for real.
• Melting Nightmare: Continue the following story: As it continued attacking, it even caused my teeth to start to melt off of my jaw. My skin would start to burn, and my hair would become brown. 
• Friday Night Terrors: It’s Friday. The TV is on, and you are wide awake. As you lie there listening, you begin to feel tired. And just as your eyes begin to close, you hear a creak of the floorboards. Your eyes snap open. What you see scares the living hell out of you.
• Blood Dawn: You wake up one morning to find your entire body covered in blood. What do you do? 
• Room of Despair: How would you react if you were locked in a room and told you could never leave?
• Haunting Memoirs: What is the scariest thing that has ever happened to you? Can you explain this in great detail?
• Chilling Chronicles: Make a top ten list of the creepiest books or stories you have ever read.
• The Gruesome Creation: Describe the most gruesome and disgusting creature you can imagine.
• Zoo’s Menace: Write a horror story where there is a threat of animals getting out of the zoo.
• Red-Eyed Pursuit: Continue the following starter: A red-eyed man of tall and dark build looms over a bus stop on a lonely, deserted country road, staring at me intently. I run like hell to get to the other side of the street, but it’s too late…
• Homebound Horror: A strange animal has been following you through your home. Have you been doing anything strange or dangerous that has made it freak out?
• Midnight Messages: Someone is leaving you messages in the dead of night. What’s the creepiest message you’ve received?
• Ghostly Watcher: Create a ghost story about a creature that watches and waits in the corners of dark, abandoned places.
• Jack and Jill’s Nightmare: Jack and Jill went up the hill, but they never came back down. Will they ever make it to the bottom? Write a horror story based on this idea.
• Dark Secrets: The history of your town has a long dark secret that nobody wants to talk about. What is it?
• Mutated Reality: Reality show participants get kidnapped and sent on a dangerous mission, where they must learn how to blend with mutated creatures.
• Beastly Intrusion: In a small community in Japan, a supernatural force enters the community through a sewer. To beat it, the village must learn to work as a team and think like a beast.
• School of Shadows: School kids don’t believe in ghosts until they’re suddenly being terrorised in their school at night.
• Vampiric Genesis: Someone is using a contaminated strain of bat DNA to create vampires in real life. And it’s up to a group of scientists to put an end to it.
• Promised Souls: The dead walk, and all they want to do is get what they were promised. Will you figure it out?
• Spellbound Silence: An aspiring rapper, who always dreamed of singing in front of an adoring crowd, becomes the target of a spell that makes him unable to sing, his most cherished talent. Will he survive the consequences of his initial desire to be a star?
• Mirror Man: Continue this story: You look into the mirror and see a man in black standing in the corner…
• Cryptic Chronicles: Imagine that you stumble upon a really creepy story in your local library and it leads you on a very strange and frightening journey.
• Lost in a Strange World: When night falls, people get teleported to an area far away, in a very different world! The only way to return home is by combining body parts with the different elements of the land.
• Wicked Takeover: A small town gets taken over by a wicked witch, who’s on a mission to suck the souls of all the inhabitants.
• Soul Seeker: When someone posts an ad online about finding a soul and bringing it home for a price, things get really interesting.
• Human and Beast: What would happen if human DNA was spliced with that of a deadly monster?
• Unknown Beyond: A guy receives an advance warning from his friends in the afterlife to get ready for the afterlife, or something worse may happen…
• Death’s Present: A girl gets a letter that someone wants to give her a present before they die, but the present comes with a very specific clause. What happens when she follows the instructions?
• Dark Diary: As a local woman is trying to recover from the death of her husband, she discovers an old diary, in which she discovers something that happened in her past that has led to events that followed.
• Christmas Carnage: It’s beginning to look like Christmas! But there’s more to Christmas than Santa and presents. A deadly secret is hidden away in a child’s bedroom. And with a massive killer about to make an appearance, it’s a race against time to track him down.
• Empire of Evil: A ship sets sail for the distant colony of the Empire, but its mission becomes a mission to find the source of evil.
• Hell Town: Using a sinister new machine, a small-town mayor is convinced to turn his town into a hell-like world.
• Wild Dogs: A group of four friends are lured into an abandoned house by a pack of wild dogs.
• I Went To A Party: Complete the following sentence in three different spooky ways: I went to a party and…
• Sea’s Claw: The captain was anxious to get home, but the sea was so rough that his ship could not make it. Suddenly, from the fog, a giant black claw appeared. The giant black claw grabbed the ship and then brought the ship to the bottom of the ocean.
• Dybylu’s Awakening: A monster named Dybylu wakes up one morning, alone in her room. She can feel it in the air; her pet cat is afraid. She goes to look in the mirror and see’s a human staring back at her. 
• Murdered Spirit: A little boy is asked to help a spirit of a man who was murdered, but as he hears the story, it sounds weird and a bit confusing, and he begins to wonder if the story is even true.
• Playground Horrors: In a playground near an orphanage, there are many playgrounds where kids play. The best playground is found next to an abandoned asylum. 
• Barn Cat’s Secret: A drifter named Mick goes to a farm with his friend Sam, and the owner of the farm is a creepy scientist. Mick climbs a barn ladder and sees a strange cat in there…
• Cape Creature: A sweet girl named Annie and her sister, Charley, are having an adventure in their neighbourhood. Suddenly, Annie spots a strange black cape creature lurking in the distance. It was the most feared and horrible creature Annie has ever seen.
• Island of Souls: The main character goes to an island that no one has visited before. He is enjoying his vacation, but one night he finds out that his home is being invaded by creatures who want to steal his soul.
• Spookie’s Nightmares: A witch known as ‘Spookie’ causes horrible hallucinations to victims of her nightmares. Her victims can’t scream or cry or run. All they can do is panic.
• Stick’s Mischief: A girl named Paige finds a stick that attracts a mysterious creature that will play a sick joke on her. 
• Black Blood: One day, a girl named Robin started having problems in school. Her parents, who are very smart and caring, see something is very wrong with Robin so they take her to the doctor. The doctor makes her go through a lot of tests, and everything is okay except for one last thing. Robin has black blood running through her veins.
• Mirror’s Curse: A teenage girl named Sarah who is obsessed with her appearance starts turning into an old, ugly witch every time she looks into a mirror. 
• Bee Killer: When bees start dying suddenly out of nowhere, the lead detective in a bee colony must find the culprit. 
• Demon’s Puzzle: A strange jigsaw puzzle holds a horrific secret… In it, a grinning demon holds a girl’s head in its giant mouth.
• Forbidden Drawing: A little boy sees a drawing of him in a forbidden book he had found. He is then transported to a never-ending forest, lost forever…
• When the Past Comes Back: An adult is being haunted by their younger self.
• Beast of the Woods: A reporter goes into the woods where there was a fierce animal attack. In this attack, five women and a little boy were killed. He decides to search for evidence on who this killer creature might be…
• Letters of London: A man lives by himself in a flat in London. A mysterious person starts sending him letters which talk about how scary things will happen if he doesn’t leave his flat. 
• The Ghost in Her Friend’s Mother: A 7 year old girl is having a sleepover at her friend’s house. Her friend’s mom leaves them alone, but they soon find out that she was poisoned, and that a ghost has taken over her body.
• Creepy Crawlies in Your Kitchen: The first animal the kids see is a snake that eats people’s brains. It sneaks around in people’s kitchens.
• Revolving Nightmares: The story starts off with a character telling the readers about the night he and his parents got stuck in a revolving door. The night would haunt him for the rest of his life.
• Tommy’s Window: A long time ago there was a man named Tommy, who was lost in a forest. Tommy thought he heard a ghost calling him. Tommy went in the direction of the noise and found a scary-looking house that has windows that never opened. Tommy finds out that the house belongs to a witch and that if he opens the windows, the witch will turn Tommy into a puppet. 
• Tommy the Dog: This is a story about a little boy and his dog.  The little boy goes to a big park, and he sees a dog that is alone. He walks over to the dog, but it just barks and then runs away. The next day Tommy starts turning into a human-sized dog. 

Fear no more! Just use this list of horror writing prompts to start writing your own fantastic horror story! Use any of these scary prompt ideas to take the story from your mind to your computer screen.

Looking for more creepy horror prompts? Check out this list of Halloween writing prompts , as well as this scary Halloween picture prompts . 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are the 5 elements of a horror story.

Every good horror story contains the following five elements: Character, Setting, Action, Horror and Resolution. You can’t write a good horror without these elements.

How do you write in creepy writing?

To write in creepy writing, you need to immerse yourself in the world of horror. You think to think exactly like your main character or antagonist. Imagine yourself as a ghost, a demon, a monster, or a murderer. You can be a ghost who haunts people in their dreams or a monster who stalks them in the real world. Use extreme details to describe scenes of horror with gory and disgusting elements.

How do you get inspiration for horror?

Most horror stories are based on fear. Think about the things that scare you or haunt you in your nightmares. You can also get inspiration from watching scary movies or reading about scary stories. Finally, horror stories can also be inspired by real-life situations. For example, a girl who is bullied decides to take revenge on her bullies in a gruesome way. Of course, you can also use this list of horror writing prompts to inspire you too!

What are common horror themes?

Horror themes can be based on personal experiences, fears, or nightmares. Here are some common horror themes to explore:

• Stalker: Someone who stalks you in your dreams or in the real world.
• Monsters: Someone or something who appears to be human, but isn’t.
• Revenge: Someone who is still haunted by a past event, and needs to seek revenge to overcome it.
• Secrets: A deadly secret that could shake the lives of anyone involved.
• Psychopaths: People who just kill or hurt others for the fun of it.

Did you find this list of over 110 horror writing prompts useful? Let us know in the comments below.

Marty the wizard is the master of Imagine Forest. When he's not reading a ton of books or writing some of his own tales, he loves to be surrounded by the magical creatures that live in Imagine Forest. While living in his tree house he has devoted his time to helping children around the world with their writing skills and creativity.

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Fearful Whispers: Crafting Descriptions of Fear in Creative Writing

My name is Debbie, and I am passionate about developing a love for the written word and planting a seed that will grow into a powerful voice that can inspire many.

Have you ever found yourself so immersed in a chilling novel that you couldn’t help but feel a shiver crawl up your spine? Or stumbled upon a short story that left you with a lingering sense of unease long after you closed its pages? It’s the power of fear, intricately woven within the tapestry of the written word, that has the ability to captivate readers and keep them yearning for more. Crafting descriptions of fear is an art that takes both finesse and creativity, allowing writers to summon emotions that stimulate the senses and send our imaginations into overdrive. In this article, we’ll explore the intricacies of fear-inspired writing, diving deep into the realm of fearful whispers, and uncovering the secrets to crafting spine-chilling descriptions that will haunt your readers long after they’ve put down your work. So, grab your pens and prepare to delve into the chilling labyrinth of fear that lies within creative writing.

– Understanding the Power of Fear in Creative Writing

Understanding the power of fear in creative writing, physical sensations:, – crafting vivid imagery: describing fearful environments and atmospheres, – tapping into the senses: painting fear through descriptive language, – portraying fear through characters: facial expressions, body language, and dialogue, – utilizing narrative techniques: building suspense and tension in fearful moments, utilizing narrative techniques: building suspense and tension in fearful moments, – transforming fear into art: balancing descriptions and reader imagination, – mastering the art of fear: tips and tricks for conveying authentic emotions, mastering the art of fear: tips and tricks for conveying authentic emotions, frequently asked questions, insights and conclusions.

When it comes to creative writing, fear is a force that holds incredible power. It has the ability to captivate readers, ignite their imaginations, and keep them on the edge of their seats. Fear is a powerful emotion that can be harnessed to create intense and memorable stories. Here’s a closer look at why fear is such a potent tool in the world of creative writing:

• Evoking empathy: Fear has a unique way of tapping into our deepest emotions and vulnerabilities. By incorporating elements of fear into our writing, we can make readers feel a profound and genuine connection to the characters and situations they encounter. Whether it’s a gripping horror story or a thrilling suspense novel, fear sows the seeds of empathy, allowing readers to experience the narrative on a visceral level.
• Building suspense: Suspense is a crucial ingredient in any compelling story. Fear creates tension, and tension keeps readers hooked. From building anticipation with eerie descriptions to gradually revealing the unknown, fear drives the pace and rhythm of a story, leaving readers eager to uncover what lies ahead. By skillfully weaving fear into our writing, we can create a rollercoaster of emotions that keeps readers eagerly turning pages .
• Exploring the human condition: Fear is a fundamental part of the human experience. By delving into its depths within our writing, we can tackle universal themes such as mortality, vulnerability, and the pursuit of survival. Fear allows us to explore the complexities of human nature and confront the dark aspects of ourselves and society. Through this exploration, we provide readers with a mirror to reflect upon their own fears and, ultimately, find solace or inspiration within the narrative.

Fear is a powerful tool that should not be underestimated in the realm of creative writing. By understanding its allure and impact, we can effectively harness its power to create unforgettable stories that resonate with readers long after they’ve turned the final page.

– Exploring the Anatomy of Fear: Emotions, Physical Sensations, and Actions

Fear, an intrinsic part of the human experience, manifests itself in a myriad of ways. Understanding the anatomy of fear involves delving into the complex interplay between our emotions, physical sensations, and subsequent actions. Let’s explore this intriguing phenomenon further:

• Paranoia: Fear can often induce an overwhelming sense of paranoia, causing individuals to perceive potential threats where none exist.
• Anxiety: One of the most common emotions associated with fear, anxiety can lead to restlessness, unease, and an intense apprehension regarding future events.
• Terror: At the extreme end of the spectrum, terror overwhelms our senses, paralyzing us with an acute and visceral fear that can be debilitating.
• Racing Heart: When fear takes hold, our heart rate tends to spike, flooding our body with adrenaline and preparing us for a “fight or flight” response.
• Sweat-soaked Skin: Fear stimulates our sweat glands, leaving us with clammy skin as our body tries to regulate temperature amid heightened anxiety.
• Dilated Pupils: Our eyes become windows to our fear, dilating to allow more light in, sharpening our vision but making us hyperaware of our surroundings.

The actions we take while experiencing fear are as diverse as the individuals themselves:

• Avoidance: Fear frequently triggers a deep-seated instinct to avoid the source of our fear, be it a situation, place, or person.
• Fight: Some individuals may choose to confront their fears head-on, summoning the courage to face the threat and combat it with determination.
• Freezing: Fear can immobilize us, leaving us frozen in our tracks, momentarily unable to make any decisions or take action.

Crafting vivid imagery is a powerful tool for evoking fear in readers and creating an atmosphere of tension and unease. To describe a fearful environment, it’s important to engage the senses and paint a detailed picture that allows readers to immerse themselves in the scene. Use the following techniques to masterfully describe fearful environments and atmospheres:

• Choose descriptive and evocative words: Opt for words that convey darkness, foreboding, and danger. Words like “ominous,” “chilling,” and “sinister” can set the tone for a fearful environment.
• Engage the senses: Describe the sights, sounds, smells, and even tastes that amplify the feeling of fear. Depict the flickering shadows, the echoing footsteps, the acrid scent of decay, or the metallic tang of blood in the air.
• Create contrast: Contrast can heighten the sense of fear. Describe how a sliver of moonlight barely illuminates the sinister silhouette of a gnarled tree or how the silence is shattered by a sudden, bone-chilling scream.
• Utilize figurative language: Metaphors, similes, and other forms of figurative language can evoke fear by creating powerful associations and comparisons. For example, you can liken the relentless footsteps to the beating heart of a predator, or describe the dark woods as a labyrinth of nightmares.

By employing these techniques, you can skillfully describe fearful environments and atmospheres, transporting readers to the heart of terror and immersing them in a world filled with apprehension and suspense.

Fear, a powerful emotion that can consume us, has the ability to transport us into worlds of frightening uncertainty. And what better way to harness this power than through the art of descriptive language? By skillfully employing vivid and evocative words, an author can tap into our senses, painting fear onto the canvas of our imagination.

One of the most effective ways to evoke fear is through tactile imagery. Describing the sensation of cold sweat trickling down one’s spine or the clammy touch of fear on the skin, these physical sensations make the reader empathize with the characters, experiencing their fear firsthand. Furthermore, expertly incorporating visual imagery allows readers to visualize eerie scenes. For example, the moon casting long, haunting shadows on an abandoned street or the flickering candlelight revealing only glimpses of a mysterious figure lurking in the darkness.

• Tactile Imagery: Describing the sensations of fear through touch, such as cold sweat or trembling hands.
• Visual Imagery: Painting fear by creating vivid and eerie visual scenes, like sinister shadows or dimly lit environments.
• Sound Imagery: Utilizing sounds such as creaking floorboards or distant whispers to heighten the atmosphere of fear.
• Olfactory Imagery: Appealing to the sense of smell by describing the acrid stench of fear or the musty odors of decrepit settings.

Fear is a powerful emotion that often drives the actions of characters in a story. When it comes to portraying fear convincingly, various elements such as facial expressions, body language, and dialogue play crucial roles in creating a gripping narrative.

Facial expressions can effectively convey fear to the audience. A character’s widened eyes, furrowed brows, or trembling lips can instantly communicate their sense of terror. By emphasizing these facial cues through vivid descriptions or illustrations, writers and artists can immerse readers or viewers deeper into the character’s state of fear.

Body language is another vital aspect in portraying fear. When a character is scared, their body tends to react instinctively to the stimulus. Trembling hands, a clenched jaw, or a hunched posture can demonstrate their vulnerability and heightened state of anxiety. By incorporating these subtle physical cues into a character’s description or illustration, storytellers can add depth to their portrayal of fear.

Dialogue can also contribute significantly to the portrayal of fear. Through their words, characters can reveal their inner worries and express their apprehensions. Stuttering, rapid speech, or shaky voices can accentuate their fear and help the audience connect with their emotional turmoil. By using descriptive language and emphasizing tone, writers can effectively convey the intense emotions that accompany fear in a way that resonates with readers or viewers.

Mastering the art of portraying fear through characters requires a combination of nuanced facial expressions, body language, and well-crafted dialogue. By artfully utilizing these elements, storytellers have the power to evoke a sense of fear that lingers with the audience long after the story is told.

When it comes to creating engaging and thrilling stories, mastering the art of building suspense and tension in fearful moments is essential. By utilizing narrative techniques, writers can effectively captivate their audience and keep them on the edge of their seats. Here are a few techniques that can heighten the suspense and tension in your storytelling:

• Effective pacing: Alter the pace of your narrative to control the emotional intensity of the scene. Slow down the tempo during crucial moments, offering detailed descriptions and diving into the character’s thoughts and emotions. Conversely, quicken the pace during action-packed sequences to generate a sense of urgency and unease.
• Well-placed cliffhangers: Ending a chapter or scene with a suspenseful revelation or unresolved conflict can leave readers desperate for answers. By providing them with just enough information to pique their curiosity, you can ensure they keep turning the pages, eagerly awaiting the resolution to the tension-filled moment.
• Building anticipation: Foreshadowing and hinting at future events can generate a sense of anticipation and dread. By dropping subtle clues throughout your narrative, you can plant seeds of unease in the reader’s mind, preparing them for a fearful moment that is yet to come.

Implementing these techniques can significantly enhance the suspense and tension in your storytelling, immersing readers in a world where fear lurks around every corner. Remember to balance these moments with periods of relief to prevent overwhelming your audience. By skillfully weaving suspense into your narrative, you can create an unforgettable reading experience that will leave your readers gripping the edge of their seats.

When it comes to writing, description plays a vital role in engaging readers and bringing the story to life. However, it’s often a challenge to strike the right balance between providing enough detail to captivate the reader’s imagination and allowing them to fill in the gaps with their own creativity. One area where this challenge is particularly evident is when it comes to describing fear.

Transforming fear into art requires finesse and careful consideration. Rather than explicitly telling readers what to fear, skilled writers use evocative language and sensory details to convey the emotions associated with fear. By relying on the power of suggestion, writers allow the reader’s imagination to take over, creating a more personalized and immersive experience. This approach not only enhances the emotional impact of the story but also allows readers to connect with the protagonist on a deeper level. Through skillful balance, writers offer just enough description to guide the reader’s imagination while leaving room for their own interpretation.

• Use vivid language and strong adjectives to create a sense of unease without explicitly describing the fear itself.
• Focus on describing the physical sensations and reactions of the character, such as racing heartbeats, trembling hands, or heightened senses.
• Utilize metaphors and similes to evoke a strong emotional response in the reader.

By employing these techniques, writers can transform fear into art, engaging the reader’s imagination and allowing them to actively participate in the storytelling process. Remember, the goal is not to dictate every aspect of the reader’s experience but to provide a framework that allows them to interpret and engage with the fear in their own unique way.

Fear is a powerful emotion that can captivate an audience and truly immerse them in a story. Whether you’re an aspiring actor, writer, or simply someone looking to better convey fear in your everyday life, mastering the art of expressing authentic fear can be a game-changer. Here are some invaluable tips and tricks to help you tap into this emotion and leave a lasting impact:

• Understand the source: To convey fear convincingly, delve deep into the source of the fear your character or situation is experiencing. By understanding the underlying reasons behind the fear, you can create a more genuine portrayal that truly resonates with your audience.
• Physicality matters: Fear manifests itself physically, so pay attention to both your body language and facial expressions. Use your body to your advantage, allowing it to tremble or become tense, while maintaining eye contact with intensity. Showcase fear through your posture and gestures, creating an authentic portrayal that will evoke a genuine emotional response from your audience.
• Breath control: Fear can result in shallow or erratic breathing. Practice controlling your breath to mimic the effects of fear, such as quickened breaths or even holding your breath momentarily. This deliberate control will enhance the believability of your performance and allow your audience to truly connect with the emotions you’re expressing.

Mastering the art of fear is not about simply pretending to be scared; it’s about evoking genuine emotions within yourself and your audience. Remember, practice makes perfect , so take the time to experiment with different techniques and discover what works best for you. By incorporating these tips and tricks into your repertoire, you’ll be well on your way to truly mastering the art of fear and creating memorable and authentic emotional experiences for everyone involved.

Q: What is the purpose of crafting descriptions of fear in creative writing? A: Crafting descriptions of fear allows writers to evoke emotions in readers, creating a more immersive and engaging reading experience. It helps to build tension and suspense, making the story more realistic and relatable.

Q: How can writers effectively describe fear in their writing? A: By using sensory details, such as sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch, writers can paint a vivid picture of fear in the reader’s mind. Additionally, incorporating strong verbs, metaphors, and powerful language can enhance the impact of the description.

Q: Are there any specific techniques that writers can employ to describe fear? A: Yes, writers can make use of similes to compare fearful situations to something familiar, creating a stronger connection for the reader. They can also employ foreshadowing or create a sense of anticipation to build fear gradually throughout the narrative.

Q: What are some common mistakes writers should avoid when describing fear? A: Writers should avoid relying on clichés or overused phrases, as it can detract from the originality and impact of their writing. It is also important not to overlook the emotional and psychological aspects of fear, as these elements can greatly enhance the believability of the description.

Q: Can you provide an example of a well-crafted description of fear? A: Certainly! Here’s an example: “Her heart pounded in her chest like a relentless drum, each beat echoing the terror coursing through her veins. The darkness enveloped her, suffocating any semblance of comfort, as she strained her ears to catch any sound that might reveal the lurking danger nearby.”

Q: What role do pacing and sentence structure play in describing fear? A: Pacing and sentence structure significantly impact the portrayal of fear in writing. Short, fragmented sentences and quick-paced descriptions can convey a sense of urgency and panic, while longer, more complex sentences can build tension and apprehension.

Q: How can writers ensure that their descriptions of fear have an emotional impact on readers? A: To have an emotional impact, writers should tap into the character’s internal thoughts and feelings associated with fear, balancing physical and emotional descriptions. By revealing the character’s vulnerability and vulnerability, readers can better empathize and connect with the experience of fear.

Q: Can readers experience fear through descriptions alone? A: Yes, skilled writers can make readers experience fear through descriptions alone. Through effectively painting a vivid and intense picture in readers’ minds, along with immersing them in the characters’ emotional journey, writers can evoke fear even without any tangible threats or danger.

Q: Is there a limit to how much fear can be described in a story? A: While fear can be a powerful tool in storytelling, overusing it can desensitize readers and dilute its impact. It is crucial to balance fear with other emotions, character development, and plot progression to maintain the desired effect without overwhelming the reader.

Q: Are there any valuable exercises or resources for writers looking to enhance their description of fear? A: Absolutely! Writers can benefit from practicing free writing, allowing their thoughts and emotions to flow freely without judgment. They can also read books or stories known for their captivating descriptions of fear and analyze how the authors construct scenes to evoke emotions in readers.

In conclusion, mastering the art of crafting descriptions of fear in creative writing adds depth and intensity to our stories, leaving readers feeling truly captivated and unsettled.

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taariya Member

Writing creepy characters.

Discussion in ' Character Development ' started by taariya , Jun 17, 2016 .

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_a7c52101333af81aac9ec5aaa03259d3'); }); I'm currently writing a villain who's meant to be extremely charismatic (he's a cult leader, after all) but by his own admission tends to creep people out at times. The way I'm thinking it's because a person, whether or not they know about his "leadership experience", can't help but pick up on something predatory in his mannerisms/the sense that he has ulterior motives. It shouldn't be a staple of every interaction with him (he's supposed to be likable so if everyone constantly got bad vibes from him it wouldn't fit that they seek out his presence), it should just shine through occasionally but brightly. I'm trying to avoid having the protagonist just outright state there's something wrong with the character ("There was just something off about him" "I got a bad feeling from him"). I know intuition and gut feelings are a thing that can usually be trusted, but personally when I read a character just magically "knowing" something about another character's morality based on a gut feeling, I can't help but feel it's a bit lazy on the author's part. I'm also trying to avoid it being too obvious that this guy is weird without the protagonist voicing that, for the reason I stated and because once you make it clear enough that a certain likable character isn't as they seem, then you run the risk of pressing the "obvious villain is OBVIOUS" button and making the protagonist look like an absolute idiot for not picking up on the signs. Any input is welcome!  

izzybot (unspecified) Contributor

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_a7c52101333af81aac9ec5aaa03259d3'); }); Well, going off people I've met who were incredibly charismatic, I'd say the tipping point is when they're too charming. Somehow they always know exactly what you need to see or hear to trust them. You find out everyone had the same experience with them, too. At first it just seems like they really are that kind and likable, but maybe you start to find out they're offering strikingly different things/viewpoints to different people. Everybody feels like their favorite, but everybody can't be. They're never mad, even about things they obviously should be. Ultimate peacekeepers - if you have a disagreement with someone else who's following them they'll find a way to make it sound like you're both right; if you have a disagreement with them they'll find a way to make it sound like you're actually saying the same thing. They use a lot of vague/positive words, big smiles, and reassuring hand movements. You end up confused and maybe feeling like the conflict hasn't been solved, but the reason for fighting doesn't make sense anymore. Still, in almost every interaction with them they come across as charming and friendly, so the cases where they come off as weird tend to get buried - they're always adept at subtly reminding people of their virtues (with actions, not words). They've giving, even if they seem to have nothing; they'll do anything for you so you feel like you should do anything for them, too. They suffer just the right amount - nothing too severe - for you to feel bad for them, while still respecting their abilities. They just have bad luck. The rare people who see through them right away are painted as the villains in their lives - the ex-wife who took him for everything even though he was so good and faithful, the landlord who just won't be reasonable, the old friend who stabbed him in the back out of nowhere. They have a past of people who seemed to just 'flip' on them, if you hear about their past at all, and they never, ever did anything to deserve it. They want your sympathy and if you question why people would treat them this way, it's because they were the shady, predatory ones. Eventually you get the sense that they're a step ahead of you, and they're aware of it and actively using it to manipulate you. If that's not creepy, I don't know what is. In a way, they almost start to seem like a 'character' themself, which might complicate writing someone like this and them coming across as realistic, but if you do it well then when the curtain's pulled back on them, it should suddenly make a lot more sense to the reader.  

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_a7c52101333af81aac9ec5aaa03259d3'); }); izzybot said: ↑ Everybody feels like their favorite, but everybody can't be. Click to expand...

Auger Member

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_a7c52101333af81aac9ec5aaa03259d3'); }); A character who remains calm and collected in situations that would normally elicit some kind of human emotion would be pretty terrifying.  

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_a7c52101333af81aac9ec5aaa03259d3'); }); taariya said: ↑ Is it creepier (to an outsider at least) if they clearly do have a favorite and then the dynamic is not so much everyone feeling as if they are already the favorite but instead competing to be? Or does this sort of rivalry threaten his image as a charismatic, universally magnificent and kind person, as people who feel like they're not the favorite might become resentful over time? For example, the protagonist comes in at a time when one member of the cult has fallen out of favor with pretty much everyone. Do the other members of the cult react to the sudden appearance of the protagonist with hostility, as if he is a competitor, or are they completely obedient and accepting of the leader's choice of admitting him? Which one reflects worse on the leader in terms of weirdness? I've never been in this sort of group based around a central charismatic person so I don't understand the dynamics. Sorry if these questions seem obvious. Click to expand...

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_a7c52101333af81aac9ec5aaa03259d3'); }); izzybot said: ↑ That's gaslighting; if you haven't yet you should read up on how it works, actually. Click to expand...

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_a7c52101333af81aac9ec5aaa03259d3'); }); Auger said: ↑ A character who remains calm and collected in situations that would normally elicit some kind of human emotion would be pretty terrifying. Click to expand...

Cave Troll It's Coffee O'clock everywhere. Contributor

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_a7c52101333af81aac9ec5aaa03259d3'); }); Peal me at the flesh slowly, methodically, inch by inch in symmetrical fashion. I will not give you a response nor beg for you to cease. And when is all is said and done ,I will amuse myself with your death. (Skin crawling?) There are many ways to make your villain creepy. The way he openly speaks about horrific things he has done, should be deadpan and without emotion. Cavalier if you will. Although you can have them say something really dark or disturbing randomly during normal conversation, and act as if they had just added something to the conversation that the other person would be too afraid to point out (or disgusted to want to point it out). Though in all honesty having them act like a cult leader is more than enough. Cult leaders start out being cool and charismatic. But when they impose their agenda on the followers, they will have little trouble in exacting it. (Its all psychology of heard mentality, and mind games of manipulation. Every body wants to be involved/appreciated, and will do whatever is asked to receive affections from the Cult leader, as well as a place of status within the community.) Good luck on creepy guy #1 and all the best.  

mashers Contributor Contributor Community Volunteer

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_a7c52101333af81aac9ec5aaa03259d3'); }); People who flout rules of social interaction can make others feel uncomfortable in a way which can be hard to define. For example, unspoken rules of proximity, physical contact, eye contact and use of personal and intimate language can make for a very creepy interaction if such rules are broken, either intentionally or unintentionally. Psychopaths are often quite adept at manipulating others by deliberately breaking these rules.  

FireWater Senior Member

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_a7c52101333af81aac9ec5aaa03259d3'); }); One tactic of abusers (be it abusive parents, toxic romantic partners or sketchy authority figures) is that they're often very kind and likeable in groups, but if you're with them alone, that's when their true colors come out. This way, because they build such a good image in the public eye, no one would believe that they could ever do anything cruel, and it makes the victim look like the dishonest one. In this case, perhaps he's not suspicious at all when in the presence of others, but the MC is alone with them and that's when he says/does something with a more malevolent undertone. Not anything huge, necessarily. Just maybe they say a hateful comment or show disdain in a way that normally would never have come out of their mouth.  

Buttered Toast Active Member

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_a7c52101333af81aac9ec5aaa03259d3'); }); Why not have the protagonist catch him doing something strange, like he saw him through a crack in the door mulling over whatever bad thing he is working towards or talking to some dodgy person he shouldn't have any dealings with? Or he walks in on him doing something out of the ordinary? Or the protagonist might have been asked to pick up some of his paperwork and something odd might fall out of it that shows he has ulterior motives?  

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_a7c52101333af81aac9ec5aaa03259d3'); }); Creepy body language too. For instance, look at Ted Cruz'z facial expressions, where his mouth is smiling but his eyes turn down in a frown-like manner. You don't want to be too obvious though, or it will seem cheesy and forced.  

Mckk Member Supporter Contributor

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_a7c52101333af81aac9ec5aaa03259d3'); }); I once befriended someone this manipulative at uni and didn't see through it till two friends from the same group began seeing through him and telling me about it. Some common phrases this guy used: "Everyone is saying/thinking/doing this..." "I'm telling you this because I care about you." "I don't want to see you excluded. We don't want the group to lose you. But you've got to play your part..." "You're my best friend, you know that. No one would tell you this stuff but I'm telling you because I care..." "I'm just looking out for you." The "everyone" concept is a big one, by the way. Then my two smarter friends basically came to me in private and told me outright what they thought this guy was doing, made me realise the guy was telling us all the same things, clarifying with me that the "issues" that "everyone" has with me were not true for them, at least, that they had no such issues with me as the guy claimed and if they ever had issues with me, I'd certainly hear about them directly from them. You can always tell when someone's being completely blunt with you or if they're just a little sly. What someone else above said about leaving you confused from the conversation is very true - and there was no confusion with these friends. Thanks to them, eventually I broke away from that guy too.  

Mikmaxs Senior Member

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_a7c52101333af81aac9ec5aaa03259d3'); }); In my opinion, the best way to make someone unsettling is to treat them differently without being overt about it. Make it something subtle, that the reader won't pick up on conciously - Use different dialogue tags (or no dialogue tags at all,) be oddly specific about the way he moves, just think about how you present all your characters and present him differently. Is he a little *too* charming? Mention that he's smiling whenever he does anything. My favorite example of this subtle action is The Happy Mask Salesman from Majora's Mask: He never gets transition animations, instead popping from one pose to another without space in between. There's nothing specifically wrong about that, but it's weird, and puts the player on edge just because it's off a little bit.  

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_a7c52101333af81aac9ec5aaa03259d3'); }); I really like the suggestions so far. Some of them fit my story/character better than others but they're all good material.  

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_a7c52101333af81aac9ec5aaa03259d3'); }); taariya said: ↑ Wouldn't it just be a reason for a lot of people to admire them even more? Like "wow, he's a really strong person, he's keeping it together. if that were me I would've lost it". Click to expand...

theoriginalmonsterman Pickle Contributor

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_a7c52101333af81aac9ec5aaa03259d3'); }); @taariya I mean could you give an example of a situation that you believe that this "charismatic" character acts creepy? Like write it as it was a passage from your story.  

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_a7c52101333af81aac9ec5aaa03259d3'); }); theoriginalmonsterman said: ↑ @taariya I mean could you give an example of a situation that you believe that this "charismatic" character acts creepy? Like write it as it was a passage from your story. Click to expand...

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_a7c52101333af81aac9ec5aaa03259d3'); }); He certainly seemed quite intimidating to me. The way you described his unwavering gaze made me feel quite uncomfortable. It was quite clear be was also highly manipulative from the way he wouldn't take no for an answer. I also liked the way he formed requests as commands: "You'll call me Frans, I hope". I think you're on the right lines here. Since this is the first time Elias is meeting him, you may want to keep it subtle. Over time you can have him carry out more of these behaviours to gradually have him become more and more creepy and manipulative over time. Perhaps as Elias gains confidence and begins to resist the Baron, he will have to up the ante and become more obviously manipulative!  

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_a7c52101333af81aac9ec5aaa03259d3'); }); mashers said: ↑ He certainly seemed quite intimidating to me. The way you described his unwavering gaze made me feel quite uncomfortable. It was quite clear be was also highly manipulative from the way he wouldn't take no for an answer. I also liked the way he formed requests as commands: "You'll call me Frans, I hope". I think you're on the right lines here. Since this is the first time Elias is meeting him, you may want to keep it subtle. Over time you can have him carry out more of these behaviours to gradually have him become more and more creepy and manipulative over time. Perhaps as Elias gains confidence and begins to resist the Baron, he will have to up the ante and become more obviously manipulative! Click to expand...

John Kirk New Member

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_a7c52101333af81aac9ec5aaa03259d3'); }); I think you've done a great job in creating a creepy character, there. As a rule of thumb, if you're going for creepy rather than scary, what you need to do is create an aura of uncertainty around a character as to whether he or she is dangerous. If someone's coming at you with a knife, that's not creepy. That's dangerous and your brain is able to immediately provide you with a definite course of action: protect yourself. One good way to make something creepy is to juxtapose two normal everyday concepts in a way that is unfamiliar. For example: a cuddly walking teddy bear with a big-wide grin of apparently human teeth seems creepy, not because teddy bears or human teeth are creepy in themselves, but because they don't ordinarily go together. You wouldn't immediately know what to expect or how to react if you were to see such a thing. As another example. having a character act in ways inappropriate for their age or social role can be creepy as well. Describing a character as collecting Barbie Dolls in and of itself isn't the least bit creepy. But, if you describe the Barbie-collecting character as also being a Youth Minister at a local church, that suddenly seems creepy. You begin to wonder what the motivation of the character is in collecting Barbie Dolls. Do they really have an interest in Barbie Dolls, or do they use Barbie Dolls as a way to manipulate children? Does this indicate the character is dangerous? Maybe, but maybe not. There are hints that something is off. But, you don't know for certain. The ambiguous juxtaposition of two such clashing aspects in a single character is creepy. I'm a RPG game designer, rather than a fiction writer. But, I've used this concept to good effect in my games. One of the best examples or my own use of this juxtaposition principle was when I introduced the ghost of a toddler into a game session. I described a small tomb containing a child-sized coffin. As they entered the chamber, they saw nothing unusual, but heard the light-hearted giggles of a child and the pitter-patter of little feet running by them. It totally creeped out the players. They didn't know how to react to such a thing. In their minds, ghosts are usually dangerous and scary. But, playful children are the exact opposite. This sent chills down their spines as they were uncertain about how to handle the situation.  

Son Gon New Member

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_a7c52101333af81aac9ec5aaa03259d3'); }); It's really easy. You need distractions, a "top layer" of story that hides the true "bottom layer". An audience will immediately look for the purpose in every scene you give them, so if you have a character act in a creepy way, the reader will instantly know you plan to do something creepier with them later. Since the reader knows what you have in store the minute they hear creepy talk, your best bet is to admit it, BUT have have his creepiness serve an immediate smaller purpose in order to satiate the reader. Think of it like as a vaccine meant to put the illness out of reader's mind. Never act like you're not hiding something when it's obvious it'll be re-implemented later. Reader's get mad when they're treated like babies. DIFFERENT METHODS: 1. Serve an immediate purpose: Put a problem in the Hero's way that only the villain can solve using creepiness. Think about it. By solving a problem you've been actively building up and thus serving a purpose with his behavior, you've justified the need for his creepy trait and now the reader won't dig any deeper. 2. Don't fucking play: The hero simply shouldn't say anything about the secret villain that even slightly eludes to a greater purpose for his character. The reader knows how setup works, and they'll see right through you.  

Middie New Member

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_a7c52101333af81aac9ec5aaa03259d3'); }); My freshman year of college, I met a couple people who (without going into too much detail) wanted me to join a group that they were in and ended up being pretty manipulative in doing so. Its definitely a different situation than your story, but maybe a personal experience might offer something? I'll keep it vague as to which organization it was. One of the first things the first girl did was ask for my phone number, even though I had only talked to her for a couple of minutes. She made it seem pretty casual -- I was on my way to class, so she asked for my number so that we could continue our conversation later -- and I gave it to her because she was so friendly and I didn't want to be rude. That was mistake #1. Another thing they did was only give me part of the information, but make it seem like they weren't trying to mislead me. The girl I met invited me to an event on campus, but when I showed up, it was just me, her, and one other girl from their organization. Again, not wanting to be rude becuase they were so nice, I decided to stay and talk to them for a while. I'm almost certain now that they knew I was expecting more people to be there, because I was more likely to show up that way, but I was convinced that I just misunderstood. They would also make it seem like we were always on the same page, even when we were not. If I would say something regarding the main topic of our conversations, they would almost always agree with me, but with a strange form of reasoning -- I would say something, they would take it and connect it to something else, and state that they believed that same thing. The most manipulative thing they did, however, was take my own words and twist them to fit what they were saying. I remember they would make pretty simple statements that I thought were pretty obvious, and ask if I agreed. Later on, however, they would connect these statements together. They came to a conclusion that I didn't agree with, but they reminded me of what I agreed to earlier. "Didn't you say you thought _____?" "Didn't you say you believed ______?" "Didn't you say that _______?" "Well, these statements all lead to the conclusion that ______, and if you agree with those statements..." It wasn't until this last part that I realized what they were doing: they tried to get me to say something that I didn't beleive. They didn't want a head nod, or an "I guess...", they wanted me to state the exact words as if I believed it myself. It was meant to be subtle, I'm sure. They never said "repeat after me," or "read this sentence back." They would say something along the lines of: "You agree that ____, you agree that ____, and you agree that ____. Therefore..." and expect me to finish the sentence. That was when red flags began waving like crazy, and I realized I needed to get out of that situation. So, from my experiences, people like that will always try to make it seem like you're on the same page, and that everything they're saying was your idea, or something that you agreed with. They'll give you only part of the information, and when you realize they meant something different, you assume it's because you just misunderstood, that it was your mistake. They'll have you agree to things that seem simple, but then twist your own words to make it seem like you said something you didn't. They'll also make sure they have a way to contact you pretty early on, which can make it pretty hard to get out of the situation once you're in. In addition to it all, they always act incredibly friendly, so you don't question their intentions and don't want to be rude by arguing. It's definitely something that's quite unnerving to look back on.  

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_a7c52101333af81aac9ec5aaa03259d3'); }); One other thing I could suggest would be to read The Unconsoled by Kazuo Ishiguro. It's quite a frustrating book to read with a loose, meandering plot and the main character constantly being thwarted. However, the other characters are obsequiously charming and yet manage to manipulate the MC constantly into following their agenda. They are a great example of characters which are controlling and manipulative, and the way they communicate this so charmingly makes them seem very, very creepy. I had to read the book on bursts as there was a constant sense of doom around the MC which made it quite a depressing book to read, but it might help you even if you just read some extracts.  

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_a7c52101333af81aac9ec5aaa03259d3'); }); Sorry to keep posting, but I keep having ideas about this. It's an interesting thought experiment for me. What has just occurred to me is the perception of disappointment. Manipulative people make other people do what they want by expressing that they will be disappointed if they don't. Initially this can be indirect ("Oh, it wouldn't be the same without you!") but over time, as the character gets more of a hold over the 'victim', they can become more direct about it, making statements about the other person to make it hard for them to say no ("I know you wouldn't want to let me down").  

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