I’ve got writers block – I cant start my scary/horror story?
Please help…
- Rainbow
Tags: Horror Story, Scary Horror, Scary Story, Writer's Block
Category: Writer's Block.
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October 15th, 2008 at 9:10 am
Well, you have just written something – that is a start. Now spend a few minutes suplimenting your question with a rough account of what you want to write about.
If that does not work, spend 10 minutes writing about how horrible writers block is.
If you ever crack writers block completely, tell me how you did it!
October 16th, 2008 at 4:08 am
well seeing as its a scary story a graveyard is always a good place 2 start because it sets the mood
hope i was a help
October 17th, 2008 at 5:13 pm
hmm, do you intend following a system, such as Todorov’s theory. Starting with equilibrium and then something breaks it? or do you wish to create suspense from the start. You need to build the tension of the piece and create the atmosphere of a horror if that’s the case
October 18th, 2008 at 11:45 pm
Don’t write a scary/horror story. They’re gross anyway. Try something completely different. You’ll have to decide for yourself what it should be about. If it involves something that you’ve got some interest in it should be easier. Just to pick something out of the air, for example, if you like cycling, try a murder/mystery using a bike race as the background. You know what I mean: Something you wouldn’t normally write about. Good luck, and whatever you do, don’t give up. The story’s there, keep going and it ‘ll come out.
October 22nd, 2008 at 11:36 am
how about a girl that uses a chat site,but a user keeps e mailing her,slowly stalking her around different sites.then she starts receiving letters to her house and phone calls…………hes found her
October 24th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
An author’s advise! You say you are writing a scary story? Okay here is how to start. BE SCARED, BE HORRIFIED!!! And after doing so, write how you felt. That is how to start it my friend.
October 27th, 2008 at 9:15 am
It helps to get in the “mood” for it… Watch a few scary movies, reread some of your favorite scary books, and you might get some inspiration.
October 29th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
The best start of any story is right where the conflict begins. I find that whenever I get writer’s block, I work on something else, work on another scene, or work on bio information for characters, or use some techniques to break through the block.
Free-writing- set a timer and write nonstop regardless of grammar, spelling, or topic. Sometimes this helps inspire a creative spark.
Sometimes using ritual can help, like lighting a special candle, wearing a special sweater, or even listening to some music when writing.
October 31st, 2008 at 8:50 pm
Applaud yourself for actually beginning to write a story. I mean, it takes a lot of creativity and stick-to-it-ivity to want to write one. As for writer’s block tips for beginning a story, try to start off with a really attention getting first paragraph such as:
“I never thought that I would have ended that way. But then again, what did I know?”
OR
“(character’s name) never thought that he/she/it would end that way. Bad luck never seemed to run in the family, let alone to (charater’s name). Of course, that was all about to change.”
Now, you got yourself a first paragraph! Yay! The other thing you need to consider is how you want you story to begin and end. Try writing and thinking ahead of how you want your story to be by writing a basic outline of major things or events that occur in the story. This really helps me stay on track because I know what’s going to happen, but I also don’t know the little details that sort of come to me while writing the story.
Now, about the characters. Here are some tips on developing characters to make them seem real:
1.) Make them talk a certain way. Have their own dialect and catch phrases maybe.
2.) Describe. Describe. Describe. Make sure you write in your story how you want other characters to look like so that way the reader knows exactly what the character is all about. As for the main character (if in first person), you could leave out details so the reader can step into his or her shoes.
3.) Actions. Make sure their actions are a certain way. If they are clumsy, say that they trip a lot. If they are graceful, say they walk gracefully or something to that effect.
4.) Emotions. Sometimes these are the hardest to write for a character, but you really need to these can seriously help a character know what kind of personality they have.
As for other tips for writer’s block, here are some to name a few:
1.) Go out and relax and give your brain a rest. Try to look at different things that you normally wouldn’t. It’ll come to you.
2.) Make a little plot and list of characters you want, their descpition, and their role in the story.
3.) Make sure you make it really descriptive since it’s a horror story. Have it play with people’s senses and emotions, making them not want to go to bed a night.
4.) Short sentences. This adds a lot of tension and suspense to a horror story. For example, here’s an instance when there are long sentences during a scary scene:
The stairs were creaking underneath by feet as I etched past a door which made a noise. I couldn’t help but feel afraid of what was to come, though I didn’t know what to expect.
Now, here’s the same scene with short, choppy sentences:
The stairs creaked. I walked past a door. The door made a creepy noise. I was afraid. I didn’t know what to expect.
5.) Still stuck? Try drawing or doodling your noodle. This helps!
6.) STILL??? Haha, well listen to music. It usually gets me in the mood of writing.
Good Luck!
November 1st, 2008 at 8:42 pm
A story, whether it’s a novel, short story, or screenplay, is started with some of the following:
1. Premise This is when you ask, “What would happen if?” Anything can get you started with it. The author of “Lord of the Rings” started his when he wrote about a hole in the ground on a piece of paper. He had no clue what it meant, he simply wrote it. Then he started asking “what would happen if…” something lived in it? Then it grew into “The Hobbit” and “Lord of the Rings”. Brainstorm, read the news, and start asking what if questions to develop the premise of your story.
2. Setting You can set your story anywhere, on Mars, in the past on Earth, in the future on a starship, anywhere. Even thinking about the setting can help you to develop the premise.
3. Multiple Characters Almost all stories contain multiple characters to play off of the values of the others. Start thinking about characters and what they want and this will also help you to develop your story. Ask lots of “what would happen if?”
4. Inciting Incident This is where you story begins that turns your story’s world upside-down and forces your character to set it straight. Then your character will begin a quest to reach an object of desire. Thinking about an inciting incident can also be your premise: “What would happen if a shark ate someone and the partially-eaten body ends up on the beach?” Jaws.
These points should help you to get started
Story Wiki:
November 2nd, 2008 at 12:34 am
Some exercises for you:
listen to a lot of dark, “scary” instrumental music that gives you goosebumps (I suggest Requiem for a Dream); take a walk at night (or better, in fog); turn out all the lights in the room and light a bunch of candles- focus on the flickering and slithering of the flames; adjust the AC/Heat to make it really cold; sit by the fire; read Edgar Allen Poe!; listen to the aforementioned music, close your eyes, and dance slowly
Close your eyes and bring your character into your mind’s eye. Good. Now, what is he/she doing? Is she running? Is she being watched? Are you seeing he/she from another character’s perspective or are you actually looking through the characters eyes. Are you watching he/she being hunted? OR are you hunting him/her? What is your character wearing?
If that doesn’t work. Bring in the setting to your mind’s eye. Does it look like a crime scene? What details can you make out?
Deep breaths.
November 5th, 2008 at 6:05 am
Brainstorm ideas. I have writers block and it’s horrible! I usually just type up information on the characters used in my story to get a better idea of the story. Or watch a lot of horror movies to get ideas for yourself? Or look up horror stories on google to get ideas from there. And my Mum used to say if you get writers block, just leave the story and come back to it later, but I don’t know if that helps!
Good luck! x
November 8th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
Turn off your light and imagine there is a dead person in the room.
November 9th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
read Dean Koontz he will give you some ideas.
or get a United States news paper there are some real scary/horror stories in there that might give you some ideas. (for reals)