Writing Violence, Horror, and Gore in Your Story

Violence, horror, and gore are the mainstays of a horror writer's craft, but for the beginning writer who doesn't understand the psychology of readers, the violence, horror, and gore he uses can turn into something less pleasing than expected-a real borehole in the reader's skull.

Some of the best horror scenes are scenes that suggest horror, but don't show anything at all! Half the horror is waiting for the monster to climb the steps. The other half is the monster ripping the victim, but the time spent on getting there (on the suspense) should be many, many more words than being there (the gore). Ninety percent of your word count should be consumed in suspense building. The climax should be short and powerful, finished before the reader even realizes how horrified he is.

Violence and gore are best done when subtly put to the reader instead of shoved down their open throats. Why is this? People-readers-have a special ability for using their imagination, children, especially. And it doesn't take much to push them over the edge of fear, panic, or outright disgust.

Even Stephen King doesn't go into heavy detail. Beginning horror writers have a habit of overdoing or overly describing the scenes of horror, gore, or violence. A page of blood may be good, but a paragraph would be better. Less is more. Less blood on the wall is more the reader will enjoy thinking for himself.

Let readers construct much of the scene for themselves. Give the readers a visual image of what you want them to see in the shortest amount of space you can do it in. Build tension page after page; then release every ounce of that tension in a half page thriller.

Paint a picture, but don't dump the entire can of paint on the canvas. Don't over-dramatize a horror scene. The reader will, sooner than later, put the story down. He'll be bored reading the same thing over and over again.

To the skilled horror author, it's not about how MUCH blood there is on the walls, but whose blood it is. By making readers fall in love with a character, and then murdering them, horror writers hit the emotional nerves that spark the reader's total interest.

What readers want is story, character in the characters, and not just gory bloodshed. Of course, some readers do get off on their razor-blade-fests, but they are in a niche that every other reader will stay far away from. The only way you can capture general horror fans is by giving them what they want. Good stories, plots, characters, settings, and damn good horror scenes.

But horror in fiction is only as good as the other devices the author uses. Never let the horror, gore, or violence supersede any other part of the story. Balance is necessary when writing to keep the readers on their toes, and keeping them on their toes is the true essence of horror, because you never know when something will be lurking at the bottom of the stairs in the dark room below.