By Katie Arden
Fear is an element that, whether we like to admit it or not, we seem to crave. There's a certain desire associated with it and, as a result, various forms of media have been able to incorporate this for the future. In order for these types of media to truly be brought to the forefront, creative writing has to take place. For those art students who would like to effective write horror, here are 3 of the best creative writing tips to take into consideration.
To start off with, make sure that your characters are written well enough for readers to stick with them. One of the biggest problems that I have with many horror-themed works is that the protagonists are not developed well enough for me to care about them. As a result, I find myself drifting along while reading, not truly caring about what their fates were. It's a problem that can be solved through not only effective creative writing but an understanding of social behavior in general.
Be descriptive when it comes to your surroundings. Creative writing serves to bring about visuals, which means that you must utilize enough terms in order to bring a certain sense of clarity to said surroundings. They could be dark and condensed or broad yet tense. Whatever the case may be, you have to be able to paint pictures for the audience to make on their own. This can be done through descriptions, the details being some of the best when considering creative writing.
If you are set to write with horror in mind, it's important to focus on the element of time. You want to be able to focus on how these details are dragged out, since you do not want to give readers everything in a single go. Keep in mind that many deaths in horror films are conducted when it seems like they have been dragged out beforehand. This helps to build tension - an important asset in horror - and it helps to highlight every moment in order to further its worth as well.
As stated earlier, many of us enjoy horror-themed media because of how it is able to scare us. We enjoy the thrill that comes from this type of media, so it's not unlikely that we will continue to focus on it for the future. In order for creative writers to perfect their craft, though, certain methods have to be taken up. The talking points mentioned above are just a few, which means that more help can be attained with the right amount of research.
To start off with, make sure that your characters are written well enough for readers to stick with them. One of the biggest problems that I have with many horror-themed works is that the protagonists are not developed well enough for me to care about them. As a result, I find myself drifting along while reading, not truly caring about what their fates were. It's a problem that can be solved through not only effective creative writing but an understanding of social behavior in general.
Be descriptive when it comes to your surroundings. Creative writing serves to bring about visuals, which means that you must utilize enough terms in order to bring a certain sense of clarity to said surroundings. They could be dark and condensed or broad yet tense. Whatever the case may be, you have to be able to paint pictures for the audience to make on their own. This can be done through descriptions, the details being some of the best when considering creative writing.
If you are set to write with horror in mind, it's important to focus on the element of time. You want to be able to focus on how these details are dragged out, since you do not want to give readers everything in a single go. Keep in mind that many deaths in horror films are conducted when it seems like they have been dragged out beforehand. This helps to build tension - an important asset in horror - and it helps to highlight every moment in order to further its worth as well.
As stated earlier, many of us enjoy horror-themed media because of how it is able to scare us. We enjoy the thrill that comes from this type of media, so it's not unlikely that we will continue to focus on it for the future. In order for creative writers to perfect their craft, though, certain methods have to be taken up. The talking points mentioned above are just a few, which means that more help can be attained with the right amount of research.
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