The Elements of Horror

Horror fiction is defined as any work meant to inspire fear, dread, or anxiety in the reader/viewer, often with inexplicable or supernatural elements.

Horror Fiction elements include:
 * The protagonist is an aver age person without any special skills or abilities, whom suddenly finds himself thrust into an overwhelming situation.
 * Protagonists of Horro Fiction are often disturbed in some way. Perhaps they are being treated for mental illness, have a criminal background, or are already vis,tims of a supernatural event.
 * Writing is plain, written in a matter of fact way without use of purple prose or overusing metaphors.
 * Horror fiction quite often explores the malevolent or hidden, dark part of the human heart.

The engine for Horror Fiction is almost always The Monster in The House. Monster in the house means that the creature, villain, or beastie of your narrative is always a response to sin. The characters in the work have committed some offense and the monster is a sort of divine retribution. Examples include Jaws (human greed), A Nightmare on Elm Street (the victim's parents committed the murder of a man quite likely innocent of the charges against him), and Friday the 13th (lust). Horror Fiction often has moral themes such as be careful what you wish for or making bad choices have severe consequences.

The menace of Horror Fiction is almost always something supernatural, even if that "supernatural" is an unstoppable sociopath or psychopath. Personal note: No such thing as a 'psychotic' killer. Psychotics are almost never violent. As I am myself psychotic, I dot appreciate killers being presented as having a violent, murderous psychosis. Many common antagonists of Horror Fiction are:


 * The Undead: Vampires, ghosts, or zombies


 * Malevolent Entity: Demon, evil faerie.


 * Sentient, haunted objects


 * Sociopathic killers


 * Aliens or other-dimenional entities.

Homework: Write a creepypasta using no more then 3 pages.

Keep writing!