Answer:
Step-by-step explanation:
1
Describe something that scares or revolts you. Think about your greatest fear or fears. This could be the fear of losing a friend, a fear of heights, a fear of clowns, or even a fear of velcro. You can then tap into this fear and explore it as an idea for your story.[1]
Use your fear as material for a story about something scary or revolting. Consider how you would react as a character if you were forced to confront these fears.
Another option is to ask family, friends, and partners what scares or revolts them the most. You can then use their fears as an idea for your story.
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2
Turn an ordinary situation into something horrifying. You can also take a normal, common situation like going for a stroll in the park, preparing a meal, or visiting a friend and add a terrifying element to the situation. Use your imagination to add a horrifying spin to a normal, everyday activity or scene.[2]
For example, maybe you come across a severed ear during your morning stroll in the park or perhaps a vegetable you are cutting up for dinner turns into a finger or a tentacle. Get creative and consider how you can skew or twist around a situation that seems commonplace.
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3
Trap your characters in a terrifying setting. You can also limit or trap your main character in a setting that is terrifying and scary. Restricting your character’s movements will allow you to build tension and terror in the story using setting.[3]
Consider a confined space that scares you or frightens you. Ask yourself where you would dread or fear being trapped in the most.
Maybe you trap your character in a confined space like a coffin, a cold dank cellar, an abandoned police station, an island or an abandoned city. Trapping your characters in a scary setting will introduce fear into the story right away and create immediate tension and suspense.
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4
Create distinct main characters. You can also start your horror story by focusing on character development. You should strive to create a main character or several main characters that are distinct and detailed. You may create a character study for each character so you can get a sense of how they live, how they think, and how they might react in a conflict. Even if every detail in your sketch doesn't show up in your story, they can still impact how you write the character and how your readers perceive your character. A well-rounded character will be noticeable and memorable for your readers. Start your sketch by asking yourself about things like:[4]
The character's age and occupation
The character's marital status or relationship status
The character's view the world (cynical, skeptical, anxious, happy-go-lucky, satisfied, settled)
Any specific or unique physical details, such as a physical trait like a certain hairstyle, a scar, or a certain style of dress
The character's speech, dialect, or language spoken around others