Ambassador Newsletter | October 2024

WRITING WORKSHOP

Halloween Horror Writing Workshop: Embrace the Fear

As the nights grow longer and Halloween draws near, it's the perfect time to delve into the depths of darkness, let loose your deepest fears, and bring them to life on the written page. Welcome to a horror writing workshop where creativity knows no bounds and rules are left at the door. It's just you, your boundless imagination, and the lurking terror waiting to be unleashed. [Please, follow Wattpad Guidelines and Rules]

During this workshop, we will venture into the shadowy recesses of our minds, allowing fear to take the lead as we "put pen to paper". Whether you're a seasoned horror writer or an enthusiast eager to explore the genre, this is your opportunity to experiment with the eerie, the bizarre, and the spine-tingling. Together, we will unravel the secrets of what makes a story truly unsettling, bone-chilling, and impossible to forget.

So, You Want to Write a Good Horror Short Story? Here's What You Need.

First of all—let's be real—writing horror is hard. Not just because it's challenging to scare people, but because it forces you to tap into something raw, something uncomfortable. It's about getting personal with fear, with the things that unsettle us in the middle of the night when we're lying in bed and our minds won't shut up. That's where the magic of a good horror story comes from.

If you're reading this, chances are you want to write a horror short story that actually creeps people out. And let me tell you, it's not just about blood and jump scares. Horror, especially in a short format, is about atmosphere, tension, and most importantly, connecting with the reader's most primal fears.

Start with What Scares You

Forget about what you think other people are scared of. Start by asking yourself: What scares me? It could be anything—an irrational fear, something from your childhood, or even a recurring nightmare. The more personal, the better. The truth is, if something gets under your skin, it'll probably have the same effect on someone else.

It's not about giant monsters or serial killers with chainsaws (though if that's your thing, go for it!). Sometimes, the scariest things are small—like a sound you can't explain, or the feeling that something's wrong but you can't put your finger on what it is. Write what haunts you. Your fear will give the story authenticity.

Build Atmosphere, Not Just Scares

A good horror story doesn't just hit you with scares right from the start. It's like a slow burn—something that builds and builds until you're completely absorbed in the world of the story. The atmosphere is key.

Take your time setting the mood. Describe the creak of the floorboards, the smell of dampness in the air, the way the light flickers for just a second too long. These small details create tension and make the reader feel like they're there. You don't need to hit them over the head with fear from the first sentence. Let it simmer.

Focus on the Character's Emotions

Here's the thing: horror doesn't work if your reader doesn't care about the characters. We need to feel what they're feeling—their fear, their confusion, their panic. Get inside your character's head. What are they thinking when the strange noise starts in the other room? How do they react when they realize they're not alone?

In a short story, you don't have a lot of time to develop characters, but even a few lines about their backstory, or the way they think about their situation, can create a connection with the reader. Once we care about your character, we'll be invested in their fate. And that makes the fear hit harder.

Fear of the Unknown

One of the most powerful tools in horror is ambiguity. Sometimes, what we don't see is scarier than what we do. It's that feeling of something lurking just out of sight, something you know is there but can't quite identify. When you leave certain things to the reader's imagination, their mind will fill in the gaps with what scares them most.