Dare to Write
Calling all horror writers, from seasoned scream-makers to newcomers who dare to explore the shadows! This workshop will pull you deep into the dark corners of your imagination, helping you craft terrifying tales that linger long after the last word is read. Are you ready to unleash your darkest fears? Let’s get started—if you’re brave enough.
And don’t forget—we want to see your nightmares! Share your writing exercises in the comments below and let the fear flow.
Exercise 1: Confront Your Worst FearCan you face the things that keep you up at night?
Make a List: Take five minutes to write down your most gut-wrenching fears. Go deep. Is it spiders? Isolation? Something lurking beneath the surface? No fear is too small or too strange. Pick Your Poison: Choose the one that unsettles you the most. Challenge: Now, take that fear and throw your character into it. Write a 100-150 word scene where your character must confront this terror head-on. How do they react? Do they survive—or does the fear consume them?Dare to share? Post your fear-filled scenes in the comments below and let’s see what really scares you!
Exercise 2: Craft an Atmosphere That Creeps Under the SkinWhat makes a place terrifying?
Pick Your Setting: Choose a place that drips with dread—a forgotten asylum, a storm-battered lighthouse, or perhaps your own haunted house? Describe the Fear: In 150-200 words, set the mood by describing the atmosphere using at least three senses—what do your characters see, hear, and smell? Is the air thick with decay, or does silence press down like a suffocating fog? Add Tension: Use your setting to add to the growing terror. Is there a creak on the floorboards? Something watching from the shadows?Feeling bold? Drop your eerie descriptions in the comments below and give us chills!
Exercise 3: Build a Character We’ll Fear ForWhat makes a horror story hit home? A character we fear will never make it out alive.
Sketch a Profile: Name: Age: Biggest Flaw: Darkest Secret: Backstory with a Twist: In 100-150 words, write a backstory for this character. But here’s the twist—reveal how their flaw or secret might lead them straight into danger. Is their secret the key to surviving the horror, or will it be their undoing? Facing the Dark: How will your character face what’s coming for them? Will they stand strong—or fall apart when it matters most?Ready to give life to your doomed character? Post their profile below and let’s meet the next victim!
Exercise 4: The Final ConfrontationThe moment everything explodes. The climax where your reader holds their breath. Can you pull it off?
Build the Terror: Imagine your character is at the climax of their nightmare—whether it’s facing down a malevolent force, trapped in a desperate situation, or standing inches away from the thing they fear most. Write the Climax: In 200-300 words, craft that make-or-break moment. Tension is key here—does the horror slowly creep in, or does it strike like lightning? Keep your reader on edge until the very last line.Let’s see if you can stick the landing. Share your climax scenes below and make our hearts race!
Join the Horror: Share Your Nightmare Creations!These exercises are designed to bring your deepest fears and darkest ideas to life. But the real fun? We want to read what you come up with! Post your writing in the comments below and see how your work haunts others. Get feedback, connect with fellow horror lovers, and refine your terrifying craft.
Who knows—you might just write the next nightmare that keeps us all up at night…