A Horror How To: The Art of Writing Short Horror Stories

When you are writing a short story intended to scare your reader into the next decade, there are some key elements to include and a few pitfalls you will want to avoid. We will cover the best ways to ensure you craft your narrative with the right dose of suspense to keep readers engaged all the way though. Read on for writing tips and excellent horror authors both classic and contemporary to get you in the right frame of mind to thrill your audience.

What plot elements does a horror story need?

When writing horror there are some key ingredients you won’t want to miss. Let’s examine a few of the finer points of horror stories before you roll up your sleeves to write your own. 

A Protagonist Worthy of Empathy

Any good horror writing needs a main character (protagonist) who evokes empathy in the reader. Show your audience that this character is not perfect, but good and therefore relatable. Readers respond best to a main character they have a reason to root for before the sinister sets in or they don’t have buy-in for caring about what happens to them. 

A Sinister Setting That Delivers The Sensory

Now is the time to let your figurative language muscles show off for your readers. A strong scary story will immerse its audience in powerful imagery and veritably ooze sensory details. Really dig in here; don’t shy away from painstakingly precise descriptors of sounds, smells, tastes, textures, and sights. 

The Right Ratio Of Tension And Terror

It’s essential to slowly ramp up the fear you are sending into your readers’ hearts. A slow reveal will give your readers reason to keep coming back for more and stay engaged until the end. Think of it like a wave or a recipe; you want to layer in the tension like chocolate chips in cookie dough. 

What To Avoid When Writing Horror?

Avoid revealing it all too soon. Gripping horror stories plan their plot well so that suspense is built up over time. This keeps the readers engaged over the course of the narrative rather than spilling the proverbial beans in the first few scenes. Resist the temptation to show your hand too early on in your writing. 

Where To Find Inspiration

You can find inspiration in an unlikely place: horror poetry. Poems excel at delivering powerful imagery and sensory details that set the scene so well. If that is not enough to get words on the page, brainstorm on your own deepest fears and phobias. What is it exactly about snakes, spiders, ghosts, bumps in the night, the dishwasher needing to be emptied again (just me?) that gives you the creeps for days? Lean into that and gather as much precise lingo as you can to mold your own narrative around it.      

Six Classic Horror Stories to Set the Mood 

1. “Children of the Corn” by Stephen King

Set in cornfields of Nebraska, King’s classic chronicles what happens when Burt and Vicky run over a little boy. On further examination, he has sustained prior injuries, and when they go looking for someone to report his death to they only uncover more horrifying finds. Things escalate quickly when they discover a cult hellbent on punishing anyone they deem to have sinned.

2. “Casting the Runes” by M.R. James

In this story, M.R. James pits Dunning against Karswell the magician in a suspenseful game of tag. The protagonist Dunning receives a paper written in runes and must return it to Karswell within three months or he will die. The caveat is that Karswell must voluntarily accept the runes. Karswell is easily angered and feels slighted when Dunning gives him a poor review. Will Dunning follow through on his promise?

3. “The Human Chair” by Edogawa Rampo

Part fantasy, part humor, this story investigates what it would be like to inhabit a chair and be in close contact with humans, particularly women. Many readers reported a heightened distrust in chairs after finishing this short story. Maybe that’s a bonus for you if you need motivation to get your steps in today, grab a copy and explore the darker side of an everyday object. 

4. “The Events at Poroth Farm” by T.E.D. Klein

Klein’s novella follows a college lecturer, Jeremy, on his summer vacation in New Jersey. He rents a building from Deborah and Sarr Poroth and strange things start happening around him. Bonus points for the gothic horror reading list included as Jeremy prepares for his course on Gothic Literature next semester. Jeremy grows apprehensive and leaves after dead animals return and Sarr disappears. 

5. “The Colour Out of Space” by H.P. Lovecraft

No list would be complete with H.P. Lovecraft. Readers note his excellent worldbuilding abilities. Written in 1927, it’s based in a fictional Massachusetts town, where a strange object falls from the sky and contaminates well water on several farms. This story excels at slow buildup and is a great model for dosing the tension throughout the narrative. 

6. “The Veldt” by Ray Bradbury 

Originally published under another title, “The World the Children Made,” is a science fiction tale that examines what happens when we let technology do too much for us. A suspenseful narrative that has helped up well over time. Readers note its fitting nature in 2025. Read it and let us know @inkoatlitmag what you think. 

Ten Contemporary Horror Stories by LGBTQ and BIPOC Authors

1. Patricia Wants to Cuddle by Samantha Allen

Patricia lives on a remote island in the Pacific Northwest, and looks on as a film crew and contestants for a reality show set up shop in her town. Have you ever wanted to read a lesbian Bigfoot story? Voila. 

2. Burn Your Gays by Chuck Tingle

Misha is a scriptwriter in Hollywood, who encounters unanticipated difficulties when his bosses tell him to write a gay character’s death into the show. In unraveling these challenges, Misha revisits his own queer coming of age and infuses the story with not only the right dose of gore, but pressing social justice topics (queer erasure). If you enjoy this one, be sure to check out his other titles, like Camp Damascus. 

3. White is for Witching by Helen Oyeyemi

Set in Dover, the Silver family is in mourning, when their house starts dialing up the spooky vibe. Little do they know, the house is home to women in the walls and another Silver is soon to join them. Things go south when Miranda, suffering from pica, starts to eat chalk. 

4. The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor LaValle

Readers familiar with Lovecraft’s “The Horror at Red Rock,” will have the context needed for this new take from a minor character’s perspective. LaValle has other horror hits favored by his fans, including The Changeling and The Devil in Silver. 

5. Ring Shout by P. Djèlí Clark

Maryse Boudreaux and friends stand up to the KKK in Macon, Georgia. They face off with Butcher Clyde as the KKK does their utmost to set loose Hell on Earth. Who will succeed? 

6. The Weight of Blood by Tiffany Jackson

YA novel prom night horror story. Madison Washington does not fit in at high school and when things take a turn for the worse on prom night, locals blame her. Set in Springville, Georgia, this story deals with themes of racism, bullying, and identity. Readers hail this retelling of King’s classic, Carrie, with a twist. 

7. Never Whistle at Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology

This collection brings together voices across indigenous cultures who share a common belief that to whistle at night calls forth evil spirits. Stephen Graham Jones writes an introduction and provides background information to ensure an immersive experience for the reader. Get ready to imagine various malevolent creatures in the dark following you home. 

8. The Reformatory by Tananarive Due

Due sets this story in Gracetown, Florida during 1950s Jim Crow, where the protagonist, Robert Stephens Jr., finds himself at a racially segregated reform school chock full of horrors. Robert can see ghosts, and starts to encounter spirits of students who have disappeared, or worse. While it’s a work of historical fiction, it is based on extremely grim facts from a dark era in America’s history. Themes may be triggering for readers, please exercise caution. 

9. Linghun by Ai Jiang

In a strange town called HOME, ghosts live again and the mourning townspeople struggle to move on from their grief. Jiang infuses dystopian horror elements while drawing on Chinese culture for inspiration. If you have ever wanted to explore why we revere our deceased, this debut novel is for you. 

10. Out There Screaming: An Anthology of New Black Horror

This new collection features work by Cadwell Turnbull, P. Djèlí Clark, Tananarive Due, and many other talented authors. You won’t want to miss this deep dive into contemporary black horror writing. 

Five Horror Events in the Triangle 

Sometimes you need to interact off the page in order to steep yourself in enough gory details to finish your flash fiction piece. No worries, fam! We have you covered with these local events sure to keep you up all night. Note that some require advance registration. 

1. Novel Writing Workshop at North Regional Library in Raleigh on Tuesday October 28th from 6:30-8:00 p.m. You will need to register in advance at the link provided. Join a monthly writing group for peer review, share your latest piece, and work on a generative prompt.

2. Fright Nights Horror Movies Vs. Reality Wake County Libraries Virtual Program on October 20th at 7 p.m. Remember to register at the link to receive updates and the virtual program link to attend. Nicolle Morock will attend and share her insight from investigating and writing about the paranormal. Don’t miss out!

3. Friday the 13th & Popcorn at Durham County Library on October 22nd from 5:45-8:00 p.m. Registration is required. Visit the link to secure your spot! Ages 17 and up only. 

4. Page & Pen Writing Workshop at Durham County Library on October 27th from 4:30-5:30 p.m.  Registration is required. The focus for this meeting is on the protagonist. Find yourself struggling with making your main character relatable to your audience? Reserve your spot and get valuable feedback. 

5. Alien & Pizza at Durham County Library on October 29th from 5:45-8:00 pm. Registration is required. Ages 17 and up, unless a guardian is present to complete a permission form, made available at each showing. 

Conclusion 

There’s so many ways to strike the right tone and get your brain in the horror writing zone. Try reading some horror poetry or rewatching a favorite thriller movie, then plant yourself at your desk for a serious writing sesh (unless you read The Human Chair) and submit your work to Ink and Oak. 

FAQ

What Makes Horror Writing Good?

Remember to construct a protagonist who is likable and relatable to the audience. Then when you plop them in a suspenseful setting and things start to go sideways, readers have buy-in and feel invested in the story. Layering in tension at spaced intervals in the plot keeps things moving at an appropriate pace and builds up to the climax. 

What pitfalls should I avoid when writing horror?

Unveiling too much too soon is a common mistake for beginner horror writers. Just remember to stick to your pacing and ramp up to the height of the action as you go. This will keep your readers engaged throughout the narrative as they await the next revelation, rather than bored that it’s all been given away at the outset.