Every reader wants to enjoy a good horror story from time to time. Whether one wants to adopt a storytelling style that is grandiose, foreboding or subtle, becoming a good writer of horror stories is easy. Provided, of course, that one keeps a few writing tips in mind.

Pick Your Brand of Horror

There are a few horror genres out there to choose from and each has its own set of readers. Depending on the target demographic, horror stories may have sexual overtones like Interview with a Vampire or take on a more psychological theme like Silence of the Lambs. Since there are many horror sub genres out there, it is necessary to pick the one that you are most comfortable with in writing.

Make It Personal

A horror story is all the more terrifying if it touches a reader on a personal level. When writing a story, you will have the option to look back on those events and memories that made you afraid of going into the dark, real or otherwise. Using these as references, you can create a story that will feel so personal the reader will think that they, too, are embarking on a terrifying trip into the dark.

Mind the Mythology…

In creating your story, it is necessary to understand the mythology that every character in the story’s universe will have to abide by. When you pick the supernatural horror genre, it would be a good idea to do some research on how mythological creatures act and what their supposed weaknesses are.

In psychological horror stories, reading several books on psychology and mental health will give the writer an idea of how people with certain mental illnesses act and behave. Regardless of what genre you pick, doing research will make your story all the more authentic.

…Or Create Your Own

There is the option to create a different kind of horror genre altogether so as to prevent your story from becoming too predictable. However, keep in mind that further research will be required in this option in order to write a compelling conflict and background to the story.

For instance, when creating his vampire novel Dracula, Bram Stoker had to look into the vampire folklore in Eastern Europe, the historical records of Vlad “The Impaler” III, and the behavior of nocturnal predators. The end result is a truly terrifying and violent presence in the book’s titular character and a horror sub genre that still remains in the public’s consciousness until this day.

Keep Raising the Stakes

Conflict is a necessary element to stories, especially in the horror genre. It is important to remember that the horror is not over until the last page of your story. When the problem is seemingly solved in the middle of the book, you might add a twist or “write out” (kill) central characters to make the readers wonder what will happen next. As long as the series of events follow the rules you have set and have a satisfying conclusion, the quality of the story will not be compromised.