How do you write a dark story?

Which leads me to my first tip about writing dark fiction:
  1. #1 – Stay true to your story and your characters no matter what.
  2. #2 Don't hold yourself back (but don't take that as a challenge or a carte blanche, either).
  3. #3 – Be self-aware.
  4. #4 – Never sacrifice emotional impact for action.
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How do you write a depressing story?

6 Tips for Writing a Sad Story
  1. Tap into your own emotionality. ...
  2. Know the difference between sentimentality and truth. ...
  3. Leave room to be surprised by specific detail. ...
  4. Pair strong emotions with ordinary ones. ...
  5. Use backstories to add weight. ...
  6. Use sad moments to further character development.
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How do you write dark literature?

Remember these three tenets: separate your gothic literature from other similar literatures, such as eldritch horror and body horror; deal with dark themes, and address them through the sensational or supernatural; have every element of your plot, and your character motivations, be motivated and constrained by the ...
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What does a dark story mean?

Dark fiction is another term for horror, a genre of fiction concerned with fear, death, and the sinister side of human nature. This is not limited to written literature, but encompasses a wide body of popular media, including movies and television series.
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How do you make a good black backstory?

Elements that make a story dark:
  1. Human nature.
  2. Uncomfortable subjects.
  3. Characterisation, especially deep, complex characters.
  4. Fears and insecurities and anxieties.
  5. Any underlying darkness must have meaning.
  6. Intense emotions.
  7. Dark themes.
  8. The real world - it isn't as pleasant as we think.
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10 BEST Tips for Writing DARK FICTION



How do you write a dark fantasy?

Some dark fantasy writers combine elements of horror with elements of fantasy to create a story set in an otherworldly place. Other dark fantasy writers apply psychological elements to a fantastical premise and create stories that are more about dystopia or the apocalypse.
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How do you write scary writing?

7 Tips for Scaring Your Readers
  1. Use the environment. ...
  2. Use your own fears. ...
  3. Write longer sentences. ...
  4. Make your readers breathe faster. ...
  5. Leverage fear of the unknown. ...
  6. Avoid clichés. ...
  7. Practice.
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What are some dark themes?

Issues like racism, mental illness, sexual abuse, rape, familial violence, religion, poverty, sexuality, suicide, and drug use are some common themes in challenged books.
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How do you start a horror story?

Here's a few pointers on how to write a scary story to start you off in the right direction.
  1. Explore what scares you. Start with one of your greatest fears—not to be confused with things generically considered scary. ...
  2. Identify your main character. ...
  3. Work the suspense. ...
  4. Warning: Avoid the tropes.
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What is a good story starter?

Wandering through the graveyard it felt like something was watching me. The eyes in the painting follow him down the corridor. Icy wind slashed at his face and the rain danced its evil dance upon his head as he tried to get his bearings on the isolated beach. Footsteps slowly creaked on every step of the stairs.
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How do you start a Gothic story?

Story starters
  1. I didn't mean to kill her.
  2. The air turned black all around me.
  3. Icy fingers gripped my arm in the darkness.
  4. Wandering through the graveyard it felt like something was watching me.
  5. The eyes in the painting follow him down the corridor.
  6. A shrill cry echoed in the mist.
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How do you make someone cry in a story?

  1. HOW TO MAKE READERS CRY.
  2. Create a character we care about, who has struggled with something we can identify with. ...
  3. Create primal stakes for that character. ...
  4. Plot a difficult journey. ...
  5. Surprise us. ...
  6. Create a moment. ...
  7. Deal authentically with human emotions.
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How do you hurt your character?

Fun Ways to Make Your Characters Suffer
  1. Create an adversary.
  2. Bring up the past.
  3. Make them choose between 2 bad situations.
  4. Make them face their fears.
  5. Challenge their worldview.
  6. Take away their control.
  7. Cause and effect.
  8. Find what makes them uncertain/off-balance.
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How do you write a crying scene?

To put us in the moment, bring the rest of it to life. Give us enough detail to physically remember crying or watching someone cry and you will put us in the moment so vividly that some readers may feel themselves welling up. In short, show us what crying feels like; remind us enough that we feel it.
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What is the shortest horror story?

The world's shortest horror story was originally published in 1948; it was written by Frederic Brown, and consists of two sentences. It reads: "The last man on Earth sat alone in a room.
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What are some words for scary?

scary
  • alarming,
  • dire,
  • direful,
  • dread,
  • dreadful,
  • fearful,
  • fearsome,
  • forbidding,
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What makes a story scary?

At their heart, scary stories share the qualities of any other story, including a main character with a goal and obstacles standing in that person's way. But they have several additional factors: a scary setting, creepy character(s), and a twist or “uh-oh” moment.
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What is dark fiction?

Dark fiction is fiction that contains dark elements. It deals with pain and death. Sometimes it elicits fear. Other times, it evokes despair. Dark fiction takes an unflinching look at the things that make us uncomfortable and doesn't sugarcoat them.
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How do you make a dark theme?

7 dark theme design tips
  1. Consider your brand. Dark backgrounds aren't for every brand. ...
  2. Avoid pure black. Dark theme design doesn't require a pure black background. ...
  3. Avoid heavily saturated colours. ...
  4. Make sure there is enough contrast in your colours. ...
  5. Soften white backgrounds. ...
  6. Match your colour to your message. ...
  7. Communicate depth.
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Which color is best for dark mode?

Properties link. A dark theme uses dark grey, rather than black, as the primary surface color for components. Dark grey surfaces can express a wider range of color, elevation, and depth, because it's easier to see shadows on grey (instead of black).
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How do I make my reader scared?

  1. You're Not As Safe As You Think You Are. I equate scaring the reader with making them feel unsure, or unsafe. ...
  2. Atmosphere And Pace. Scaring readers is not something I'm generally interested in doing. ...
  3. Scare Yourself. ...
  4. Tap Into The Reader's Psyche. ...
  5. Create A False Sense Of Security.
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How do authors create fear in stories?

Build Suspense

Suspense is arguable the most practised tool to invoke fear in writing. It is the knowing and foreboding feeling that a situation will not end with a positive outcome.
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How can I be scary?

How To Look Intimidating
  1. Stand in front of a mirror.
  2. Relax your facial muscles. As you practice this occurs more quickly.
  3. Lower your chin just a tad. This creates an even more threatening, maniacal look. Seriously. They've researched it.
  4. You'll know you've got it right when you have “dead eyes.”
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How do you become a dark writer?

Which leads me to my first tip about writing dark fiction:
  1. #1 – Stay true to your story and your characters no matter what.
  2. #2 Don't hold yourself back (but don't take that as a challenge or a carte blanche, either).
  3. #3 – Be self-aware.
  4. #4 – Never sacrifice emotional impact for action.
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Is Harry Potter a dark fantasy?

Some sources place Harry Potter and His Dark Materials in the low fantasy genre.
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