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WritingQuestionsAnswered

Writing Questions Answered

Resources: Horror by Daylight
Anonymous asked:I always wanted to write a horror story that takes place in the day. Is it possible? What
are some things that I should focus on for it? I figure that maybe I can be unique by doing that. But my
concern is that if it was easy than there would have been more stories like that around.

Oh, I think you can absolutely pull this off. In a book, especially, because our connection between darkness and
horror is a visual one, which doesnt matter as much in a book since the daylight isnt in your face. Writing
allows you to focus in on other scary detailssounds, smells, quick movement at the edge of your vision, etc.
And, not only that, but you can demonstrate the psychological, emotional, and visceral reactions your
characters are feeling from theinside, rather than only from the outside. This is going to connect the audience
with what is going on in a much more personal way than watching it unfold on the big screen.
Things to focus on:
Sounds - such as a floor creaking upstairs when no one else is home, or an agonized wail echoing
through a windy forest.
Smells - like the acrid smell of rotting flesh, or the fading aroma of old urine.
Tastes - perhaps the metallic taste of blood, or the harsh taste of dried gasoline on a rag used as a gag.
Visuals - dappled sunlight falling across the stone face of an angel guarding the grave of a child in a

quiet old cemetery, or the shadow of an uninvited visitor silhouetted against the sunset light coming
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through the closed curtain of a back window.

Psychological - the terror of being in an empty room and knowing that, somehow, youre not alone.
Emotional - the heartbreaking knowledge, as the murderers ax falls, that your life is over.
Visceral - hearts pounding, breaths fleeting, stomach rolling.
I would recommend looking at photos of abandoned places (most of which are taken during the day), old
cemeteries, foggy forests and lakes, and vintage toys and objects. If you can, see if you can visit an old town
with a historic downtown area. Sometimes these have old buildings along the main street which are filled with
junk and antique shops. Just setting foot into one of these places can be an inspiration between the sound of
old floor boards and the musty smell of old objects. Plus, you can get a lot of inspiration from old objects from
creepy looking dolls to rumpled old hats. Most towns have cemeteries dating back to at least the 1950s, but
you can usually find older ones than that.
Here are some resources for you:
Fuck Yeah Abandoned Places
At Least We Tried (Abandoned Places)
Abandoned (Creepy Abandoned Places)
Fuck Yeah Abandoned Buildings
Abandoned (Best Abandoned)
Old Cemeteries (on Pinterest)
Cemetery Angels (on Pinterest)
25 Things You Should Know About Writing Horror (via Terribleminds)
Creepy Mood Music Playlist (YouTube)
The 25 Creepiest Places On Earth (YouTube)
Foggy Places (Google Image Search)

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