The challenge of writing horror has always been scaring the reader without it being too obvious. Authors like Stephen King or H.P. Lovecraft have a tougher job than movie directors since they can’t rely on cheap jump scares and music.

R.L. Stine has frightened thousands of children with his Goosebumps series and no matter how ridiculous the monsters may seem, he’s found a way to instill fear in our minds. Traditionally, Stine uses a first-person narrator to give readers the impression that they’re in the story and that it is them being attacked by a horde of evil garden gnomes.

A similar but different approach is what some call “the every man”. This technique is frequently used by Stephen King, the world-renowned king of horror. This approach doesn’t use a first-person narrator, but instead, frames the story around an average Joe. This technique reminds readers that if this horror could happen to a simple guy, then it could also happen to them

The best stories in the genre never include blood and gore because it’s difficult to visualize and therefore, hard to be unnerved by. Masterful storytellers know that the best way into a reader’s head is to let the scares quietly creep in. Horror will often start with a slow beginning that only hints at something eerie. This way, when spooky things finally start to happen, readers are already invested in the story and characters.

Perhaps the most common tool utilized by horror storytellers is to write as if it were happening today. Reading such a tale further increases our connection to the story. The goal for most horror writers is to fully immerse the reader in the action and experiences of their stories and this is definitely, in my opinion, one of the best ways to do it.

Nikki McKenzie is full of sarcasm and also positivity and the embodiment of when Jim from The Office looks into the camera.