Matt Hayward - Ideas for horror stories to write

1. How to Get Story Ideas for Writing Horror Matt Hayward

2. It can be challenging trying to come up with new ideas for horror stories. Although there is no simple fix for coming up with fantastic and original stories, there are methods you can use to help get your brain working. In this article, Matt Haywardwill talk about some considerations for getting new story ideas for writing horror.

3. Firstly it is important to know what it is you are looking for. Knowing what makes for a good horror story is half of the problem, and the easiest way to determine this is by taking horror stories you like and then to analyze them for elements you found most effective. This isn’t plagiarism, but merely getting to know what comprises a good story.

4. Once you understand some of the elements that go into a story, you will gain an appreciation for what kinds of ideas will work for your writing. Ask yourself what ideas were at the basis of the stories you have enjoyed. Do you think the effectiveness of the tale was more to do with the ideas themselves, or the execution of those ideas?

5. Try mixing up some familiar themes. For example, assign yourself the task of imagining what it might be like to blend supernatural and science fiction ideas. We might take a traditional myth. This could raise all kinds of fascinating questions. Might there be an alien equivalent of a ghost ship? Would an alien be afraid of evil spirits? Could a ghost be abducted by an alien?

6. Your story need not have anything to do with any of these themes. There is a veritable wealth of ideas to explore, redefine, and recombine. Think also about traditional stories, such as those in the mythology of different cultures as well as those creepy old folk tales from Europe.

7. What might happen if things had turned out differently in those stories from the Brothers Grimm, for example, and how could they be reinterpreted to fit into a different setting?

8. Reversal is another useful tool for generating new ideas. Take familiar stories and turn them inside-out. What if the people we are supposed to be able to trust were malevolent? What would happen if spiritual salvation was a devious trap to ensnare souls for a creator who was a devil in disguise?

9. Matt Haywardsays inspiration can come from unexpected sources, so keep an open mind. It could be something a child has said to you or even a strange product in a supermarket that got you thinking in dark and unconventional ways. 

10. Once you have your mind in the habit of hunting for inspiration, it can even become a challenge to stop having new story ideas for horror. Always keep a notebook and pen on you, and pay attention to everything, whether it is outlandish or completely ordinary. You never know what the macabre potential value of an idea could be until you let it knock around in your head.

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