  Horror/Scary
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How do you start a horror story?
Like any other genre, everyone has their own style. Some like to start with descriptions: of the character, of the setting, of the background situations. Some like to begin subtly, giving the reader no clue as to the content of the story.
My own style is to start out with a bang, drag the reader in, and surround him with steps building to the ultimate mental smash down. Or, to start with a bang, lead the reader in, and then weave the background around the progressing action.
Personally, I think my forte in writing is my character development, so I tend to rely on that rather heavily in most of my work. Horror is no exception to that. For me, the feelings, rather than the situation create the horror. Blood, guts, and gore are only so many accessories if there is no reaction to them. Ditto creepy settings and/or people.
Since I rely so heavily on character development to tell my stories, I try to pack that into a dynamic first sentence that (hopefully!) creates enough interest to make the reader want to go on. I try to do this by jarring emotions if I can, laying out something the reader is going to react to.
I also usually separate that first `grabber’ sentence from the ones following. This isn’t necessarily proper English Composition format, but for me, setting it apart like this gains instant attention and focus.
So how do I do this? Sometimes with one simple word, followed by descriptions evoking emotions.
Example 1:
Hate.
Crawling through the soul, wrapping around the mind, and laughing through a mouth that dares not scream.
Example 2:
Murder.
So simple, so complicated, so present in front of Allison’s terrified nose.
Of course it is hoped that the reader will be intrigued enough to want to know the who, what, and why of the hate and the mouth and why the mouth does not dare to scream. Or, in the second example, why murder is simple, why it’s complicated, and what it’s doing in front of Allison’s nose.
Try the technique. Maybe you’ll like it!
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Horror/Scary: July 13, 2005 Issue [#491]
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