Writing a scary story
Use the following to plan your scary tale:
Setting:
Main characters: (include important details about the character)
Conflict:
Planning a scary story
Fill in your rough ideas for how to develop the plot:
CLIMAX
resolution
exposition
Exposition:
Rising Action:
Climax:
Falling Action:
Resolution:
Point of
Pick an event in your story and write a few sentences about it from the following
points of view.
First person (protagonist’s view):
First person (antagonist’s view):
An omniscient narrator:
Setting is used to define the time, place and social environment of a story.
What time in history does your story take place? Why is this important?
What time of day does your story take place? Why is this important?
Is the social environment important? If so, how? (For example: if the story is set
during war time, people will be acting and reacting differently than during a time
of peace)
If setting is an important element of your story, brainstorm specific details you
can use to highlight its importance.
Atmosphere is the feeling or mood the writer wants to convey to the reader.
What type of atmosphere do you want to establish in your story.?
Atmosphere is established through description and the use of certain objects.
Brainstorm ways you can use the above to create the atmosphere you want to
achieve in your story:
There are many ways to hook a reader. You can:
• Start with dialogue that introduces the conflict
• Dive right into a pivotal moment in the story – you can flashback if you need to later
• Introduce a shocking fact, one that leaves the reader wondering
• Introduce a compelling aspect of the protagonist or antagonist
• Draw the reader in with description that pulls them into the story – don’t be too long, though!
• Pose an intriguing question
Experiment with different ways to open your story:
There are many ways writers create foreshadowing:
• Provide clues in the opening about important events to come – you could refer to unexplained
objects or events
• Use changes in the weather to hint at changes in the story
• An unexpected – and unexplained – reaction in a character
• Begin with a statement that leaves the reader wondering
• Use a symbol or an omen – go beyond the obvious like black cats!
Brainstorm ways you could create foreshadowing in your story:
Character will drive your plot, and each one’s actions and
reactions can add to the suspense, tension and fear that you need in a scary story.
Who is your protagonist?
What physical details are necessary to tell the story?
What personality traits will be important for this story?
What is their greatest weakness? Strength?
What is theirgreatest fear?
What motivates them?
When faced with adversity, how will they react?
Character will drive your plot, and each one’s actions and
reactions can add to the suspense, tension and fear that you need in a scary story.
Who is your antagonist/villain?
What physical details are necessary to tell the story?
What personality traits will be important for this story?
What is their greatest weakness? Strength?
What is their greatest fear?
What motivates them?
When faced with adversity, how will they react?
You have already done some initial planning for the plot of your story. Now, spend
some time really fleshing it out. Where do you need to make changes? Where do you need
more details?
Exposition:
Rising Action:
Climax:
Falling Action:
Resolution:
Your readers needs to feel satisfied at the end of the story. Don’t leave them
dangling…think about the following before you finish your tale:
What was the purpose of your story? Did you just want to scare the socks off
the reader, or did you want to teach a lesson? How could your ending illustrate
or achieve that purpose? Brainstorm ways you could come to a good end.
