By Dr Charlotte Baker
I have spent many years defending horror as a genre; academically, professionally, personally and artistically. For me, there is significant value in the experience of feeling scared and experiencing horror that ultimately provides an emotional support and release I often need. Struggling to turn my brain off has always been difficult but, jump scares, atmosphere and gore have enabled me to immerse myself in the world and, for a moment, just breathe: to be fully present in that (terrifying) moment.
My love of all things spooky started as a child and it felt like there were so many spaces for me to engage in my interest. Yet, there seems to be significant change in the perception of spooky stories. People, understandably, do not want children to gain access to horror literature, something I absolutely support. But I will defend the age-appropriate spooky stories for a while to come; Alison Flood (2016) complied an article that claimed: A survey of 1,003 UK parents by online bookseller The Book People found that 33% would steer clear of books for their children containing frightening characters. While a slightly older piece, the implication is that scary stories and frightening antagonists are not desired. Yet, I wouldn’t be writing if it hadn’t been for Goosebumps and Point Horror. Scary stories can provide space for children to develop resilience, empathy, acceptance, awareness of danger, self-exploration and emotional security, alongside the benefits of imaginative play, reading and storytelling.
Without scary stories, even as a child, my life would have been a lot harder and a lot less fun. I mention this because horror, encapsulates a feeling, something that I have sought out, as a child, teen and adult-alike. The atmosphere that horror provides is unnerving, challenging and certainly thrilling; that’s why we all go back, right? For one last thrill. I’ve been continuously seeking that thrill for over 25 years and in that time, have read a lot of books. Many have blurred narrative events and the ordering has become jumbled and fuzzy but, do you know what I haven’t forgotten? The way the book made me feel. I vividly remember the atmosphere created in every single book I’ve ever read!
The atmosphere in horror, like any genre, can dramatically change. Some have more humour and lightness, while others leave you searching a sliver of light in the damp, dark basement. And yet, the majority are connected by that sense of unease. So how do we create atmosphere that will stay with readers for a lifetime?
- Setting: The location in which your story is set. Let’s go for the haunted house trope; visual description isn’t enough. You want to get your characters interacting with the environment. Put the readers in their shoes and get action happening as quickly as possible. Treat the place as a character with a function in your story: what does it allow you to do? Is it rural and therefore, hinders any help or phone service when the ghosts come out to play? This will serve to make the atmosphere more tense and unavoidable.
- Threat and Fear: The threat and fear that is embedded within a story is likely to support the pace of your writing. We love our characters, but throw every stumbling block possible their way. The threats can be significant and place them in physical danger. There are also more subtle ways of keeping characters on edge. Make them recall that seen from Hitchcock’s Psycho (1960) as they just step into their hotel room’s shower as the strange shadows dance around the curtain.
- Antagonist: Every story has one. Create them effectively and we’ll never be able to forget the way they made us feel…. Remember the Child Catcher from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968)? Yes, make them as creepy as possible but, at the same time, give them depth, nuance and complexities that make them relatable and, therefore, even more terrifying.
- Word Choices: Consider the word choice in terms of tone, atmosphere and event. For example: She walked downstairs, and the lights flickered to, She felt the grains on the wooden banister across her fingers, as the splinters from the bare floor pricked her heels. A flash, then darkness. Another flash. The sparkling chandelier swung as if caught in a draft, unhinged from the ceiling.
Making the mundane scary takes a bit of practice, but being able to make their readers feel worried as they sit in their fluffy socks, large knitted blanket with their hot mug of hot chocolate is undoubtably a writers’ power. To get your reader to question whether they locked the back door, if that shadow across the room just moved or if the cat seemingly acting possessed (try not to worry about the last one, those spirits possessing cats have no idea the battle they are in for and tend to move on pretty quickly) – is not only great fun for both, but a skill that needs honing.
If you are interested in more information:
References: Flood, A. (2016) One third of parents avoid reading children scary stories, study finds. The Guardian. Available: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/aug/25/one-third-of-parents-avoid-reading-children-scary-stories-study-finds Last Accessed: 2nd October, 2024.
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Dr Charlotte Baker is running two workshops with Pen to Print in October – Crafting Atmosphere & Antagonists: The Spooky Edition.
When: 14 & 28 October, 6-8pm
Where: Online
How Much: £1.99
Book Your Place Session 1: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/pen-to-print-crafting-atmosphere-antagonists-the-spooky-edition-tickets-1664185767429
NB: To make the most of Crafting Atmosphere & Antagonists – The Spooky Edition Workshops, please ensure that you book your place for both sessions on Tuesday 14 and 28 October.
Session One: Crafting Atmosphere and Setting in Spooky Narratives
This session explores how atmosphere and setting contribute to the eerie and suspenseful tone of horror, crime, and paranormal genres. Participants will examine how these elements shape the reader’s experience and support the writer’s voice.
Session Two: Developing Spooky Characters
Building on the first session, this workshop focuses on character creation—especially villains and paranormal figures—within horror, crime, and ghostly narratives. It will also revisit atmosphere and setting as tools to enhance character impact.
Book Your Place Session 2: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/pen-to-print-crafting-atmosphere-antagonists-the-spooky-edition-tickets-1664221163299
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