9 Tips for Writing Bite-Sized Horror
Cover Story from Writer's Digest
I love writing Threads on Twitter. But I get it, not everyone enjoys using Twitter. No worries! Now you wonāt miss a thread cause theyāre all right here. Enjoy!
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Latest issue of Writerās Digest waiting in the mail & it covers all things horror writing-related. Just in time for their Early-Bird submission to the Short Shorty Story Contest. Did I mention Iām entering?
Here are 9 tips for writing scary microfiction:
š§µĀ aheadā¦
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Tip #1: Make sure the story fits the word count
Too often we write an idea telling how we would scare a reader (if we had more words at our disposal) when we should be showing the reader the actual scare.
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Tip #2: Focus on the moment where things shift
Keeping it short means donāt start before the thing happens but right smack dab in the middle of when it happens. That Stephen King moment when youāre terrified? Start your terror there.
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Tip #3: Create atmosphere by setting
Every word counts in a short story. This is no time to wax poetic on your surroundings. Unless it will truly serve to add to the scare factor without overshadowing the plot or characters.
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Tip #4: Lean into dark imagery and your readersā collective imaginaton
Sometimes less is more. Let your reader infer what you mean about your main character feeling like someone in the forest is staring at them. Leave some of it on the cutting room floor.
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Tip #5: Think about what scared or unsettles you and pinpoint why it has that effect
The āexpertsā will say if you donāt know what to write, or where to start, write what you know. What scares you? Truly terrifies you? Write that. If you dareā¦
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Tip #6: Read horror fiction of various lengths
This is probably the biggest & in the case of short fiction, easiest, tip to follow. Shirley Jacksonās The Lottery has her works accessible online for our reading pleasure. Take a few minutes to learn how it's done & do it yourself.
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Tip #7: Read horror poetry
Yep, poetry. Why? Well, thereās a raven somewhere thatās wishing you would. A short piece should have some sense of rhythm to it. Doesnāt mean it has to rhyme but every word, like that in a poem, needs to count.
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Tip #8: Draw ideas from all around you
Iām sure youāve been out late at night and your imagination went wild about a pair of lights that couldāve been eyes, staring and waiting to come and get ya!