What exactly is the perfect horror story? There are so many different genres of horror story out there today that it is becoming increasingly difficult to define the genre. However, there are a few basics that unite all and will help you in perfecting that horror story waiting to be unleashed.

Obviously your horror story needs to be scary and include a scary plot line. Zombies and the introduction of zombies is a sure fire hit in gaining the reader’s attention as the mix of zombies and humans is truly terrifying. However, if your story does not involve zombies, another option is that of every day horror such as a normal couple doing normal things who are suddenly put inside a place where there are monsters, or flesh eating creatures, or other inhuman inhabitants. The clash of normal and monster is always a way to grab the reader’s attention. In a way, the more normal and ordinary the story is, the more frightening and chilling it becomes, mainly because the reader is aware that it could happen to them.

As already mentioned, you need to juxtapose the ordinary with the horror taking place, but for this to be accomplished you need to have fully rounded characters with flesh on their bones, so to speak. You need to spend a little time in allowing your reader to get to know the characters; they need to be able to identify with them before the big horror occurs. If readers do not relate to them and empathise with them, then no matter what horror occurs you will have lost the reader. They need to be truly concerned for the characters and want them to stay safe and, in essence, be fighting in their corner. So you really do need to think carefully about your characters and make them appear believable.

Read your most treasured horror books to give you inspiration for both plot and characters. You will gain ideas by doing so and this will also help to give you that much needed lift when writing.

You need to keep your readers interested so there needs to be many twists and turns and heart stopping moments. You cannot afford to be static or complacent. Change always needs to be happening and you need to keep the reader guessing as to what will happen next.

Once you have finished writing your story, read and edit, and then read and edit again. If you can pay someone to edit it for you then do so. It is incredibly hard sometimes to see the flaws in your own work as it has become an intricate part of you, so get someone else to do this for you and ask for their honest opinion.

Finally, just get all of your ideas down on paper and start writing as this is the only way to start. Just make sure that you have all of your characters, plot and horror devices clearly defined and that you know what will happen throughout the story  - and don’t forget to enjoy the journey.