AFTER the Basic HORROR Story Idea

 

You have a cool Horror Story IDEA.
What's Next?

----- Original Message -----

You know the basic idea in a horror school story; terrible incidents occurred at school, mysterious accidents, disappearances, and murders. Mostly the stuff of bad memories and ghost stories… Our heroes think it's a good idea to test these stories and are dragged into an inner dimension of hell by the ruthless psychopathic ghost who's main goal in life was being her bullies sole murderer. (And killing other innocent people along the way.) Eventually through her interactions within the protagonists she begins to show a kinder and sweeter side behind closed doors and frees them.

 -- Wanna Write a Horror School Story

 

It sounds like you have a basic idea.
Now comes The Hard Part:

 

From: Another

Who the Main Point of View (POV) Character?
WHO is Telling the main overall Story?

Traditionally, stories are Not told from the Hero's POV, nor the Villain's POV. They're told from the Victim's POV; someone Wronged by the Villain (Monster) then eventually Betrayed by the Hero, or the POV of an Ally to either the Hero or the Villain (Monster); also Wronged by one then Betrayed by the other.

• Note: In Romances, the Adversary and the Hero are often the same character.

It's your story though, so do as you please. However....

If you choose to tell the story from a Monster's POV, you might want to consider using a Gothic story structure, rather than the ordinary Adventure plot; AKA: The Hero's Journey, that most common Horror stories use.

In a Nutshell:​

Horror Story: "There are Monsters! What do we do?!"​

Gothic Story: "I'm a Monster! What do I do?!"​

Gothics tend to focus on the Monster's struggle between their Human nature, and their Monster nature -- while dealing with people trying to kill them.

• Examples: The Wolfman, Frankenstein, The Count of Monte Christo, The Matrix, Spider-Man. For Anime: Ergo Proxy, Shiki, Another, Tokyo Ghoul, Darker Than Black...

If you're interested, here's a couple Links:

• Gothic Story Structure.
• So you Want to Write a Gothic - TV Tropes

How LONG do you want to make this story?
What is your target Word Count?

​

WHY is this Important?​

The shorter the Story, the smaller the cast of characters you'll need.​

• Short Story: 5000 to 10,000 words.
  • One POV character, one Ally, one Adversary
• Novelette: 10,000 - 20,000 words
  • One POV character, 2-3 Allies, one Adversary
• Novella: 20,000 - 40,000 words
  • One POV character, 2-5 Allies, 1 Main Adversary, 1 lesser Adversary
• Category/Light Novel: 40,000 - 60,000 words
  • 2 POV characters, 2-3 Allies for each POV character, 1 Main Adversary shared by both POV characters, and 1 lesser Adversary for each POV character.
• Novel: 60,000 - 100,000 words.
  • Up to 3 POV characters, 2-3 Allies for each POV character, 1 Main Adversary shared by ALL POV characters, and 1 lesser Adversary for each POV character.
• A series?

You CAN add more characters, but each POV character added = additional plot to be Solved before the story Ends.

• Remember: Each POV character is telling Their Own Story, which means Each of those stories need a satisfying END.

Also, Adversary simply means: the one that particular POV character is Against/Opposing.

Example: In a story told from Darth Vader's POV, Obi Wan Kenobi and Yoda are Minor Adversaries with Darth Sidious being the Main Adversary.​

 

Most Importantly:

 

 

 From: Another

 

What do you want to SAY with this Story? 

What point are you trying to Prove with this story? 

THIS is your Premise.

• Revenge?
• Redemption?
• Justice?
• All Three?

Want to make this story even more Complicated?

Make Each of the main characters have their own Personal Premise, Proving or Disproving them through the Results of their Individual Stories.

• Oh wait, you're supposed to do that. Never mind.

 

Once you know these things,
the story will practically write itself.