How to Write Horror by Stefanie Barnfather
How to Write Horror by Stefanie Barnfather
A craft article & interview
Horror is a genre that explores the parts of our world—both inner and outer—we don’t like to think about. The invisible part. The upside down. The unknown, perverse, dream-like reality that wiggles and writhes under the glaring light of truth. Capturing the essence of horror is a tricky feat because your stories must be incredibly honest and—at the same time—almost comically unreal. So—how do you rip the still-beating heart from your concept so its life-blood drips onto the page in a way that resonates with readers?
Boundaries.
If you want to write horror, you are probably well aware of the shadow aspect of human nature: the world that thrives when the light is out. But you may not feel equipped to authentically, and mercilessly, portray the darkness without letting it consume you. If you linger in the underworld too long, it might be hard to leave so you can share your discoveries; and boundaries create doors through which you can enter and exit as needed.
Door Number One: Time
Make specific, non-negotiable time within your day when you can research and write uninterrupted. Allow your ideas to flow in any direction they choose, and don’t be afraid of the conclusions you draw—or the imagery you access—during your drafting.
Door Number Two: Headspace
Engage in activities that transition you into and out of the world you’re shaping. Horror realities can be bleak—and I don’t recommend carrying them with you throughout your day—so listen to music, meditate, sing, dance, draw, or go for a walk to shake off the weight of your writing.
Door Number Three: Health
Navigating the underworld is a full body experience, so become robust. Develop your emotional intelligence. Get physically fit, and prioritize sleep. Drink water. Drink more water. Respect your health so you can create wild and woolly stories for as long as you’d like.
Door Number Four: Non-Judgement
Care for the creatures you’re representing. Remember: they have to have human aspects for readers to connect. Even if your world is inhumane, empathize with your monsters and rationalize their brutality. Love the beings that hide in the darkness; they’re more afraid of us than we are of them.
Finally, enjoy the work—and be proud! Writing horror takes courage and an infinitely compassionate soul.
About the Author:
Stefanie Barnfather is a Canadian author. Previously, she taught high school arts and inclusive education. Ms. Barnfather graduated with honours from Sheridan College's Music Theatre - Performance program, and has a BFA and BED in secondary fine arts from the University of Calgary. YOU KNOW WHAT I THINK? is her debut collection of short stories. When she isn't writing, she enjoys painting, hiking, and spending time with her husband and pug.
Ashley Holloway (AH): Hi, Stefanie Barnfather from Barnfather Books in Calgary, AB, Canada! Thanks for taking some time with Unleash. We were thrilled to share your narrative with our writers. Can you tell us a little about your journey as a writer?
Stefanie Barnfather (SB): Hi! I’m so glad you enjoy my work. I started writing fiction stories—and books—after spending most of my life in the performance world. I used to be an arts and inclusive education teacher (focusing on literacy), but I stumbled into writing when I rekindled my love of reading a few years ago.
AH: You write in a very niche market: dystopic horror. I’d love to know how you ended up writing in this genre.
SB: Dystopic horror was not a genre I was familiar with before I started writing, funnily enough. I love reading humour, fantasy, and thriller/mystery stories. But working in inclusive education lit a bit of a fire, and I felt compelled to explore why and how systems of power can so easily fail the most vulnerable demographics in our population. After deep-diving into psychology, global governance, and abusive relationship research (fun, right?) I combined my learning with my Surrealist creation background. That’s how I ended up with stories about sentient plants who feed on codependent humans to grow their world-consuming hedgerows. And other equally off-kilter tales.
AH: Tell me about your writing process; is there anything you do too much or too little of in a first draft?
SB: I overwrite dialogue and underwrite description in the first draft. I’m a talker. Process-wise, I try to get a first draft completed after lightly plotting around a central theme. Then I go into heavy revisions, send the work to beta readers, and revise again after receiving reader feedback. Then I edit-edit-edit-proofread and publish.
AH: Who do you think is the most effective dystopic horror writer and what do you think is necessary to write authentically in this genre?
SB: Ooo. That’s a tough question. Margaret Atwood immediately leaps to mind, but I have to give a nod to the King and Cormac McCarthy. Atwood’s intelligent world building is tight (I love how she uses human nature tropes to make our demise feel unavoidable) but Stephen King’s unflinching navigation of the grittier aspects of our psyche—and McCarthy’s confidence in portraying bleak, merciless realities—makes it a three-tiered podium tie for me. In order to write authentically in this genre I think you need courage, untethered internal boundaries, and the willingness to go BIG. Super big. When writing the first draft, you should squirm. If you feel nauseated reading back your work, you’re getting close. I recommend using sensory descriptions. The more visceral the better.
Photo by Thomas Willmott on Unsplash
AH: You write dystopic horror professionally. In your personal life, what scares you?
SB: Ahhhhhhhhhhhh, vulnerability? Hahahahaha, eeep!!! Okay, real o’clock time: I’m scared of being alone. For forever. Like, alone alone. Locked-in-solitary-confinement alone. Wandering-a-barren-landscape-for-eternity alone. My headspace is relatively pleasant, but my demons can be sarcastic, hypercritical jags when they aren’t around compassionate people. Also, I don’t like cantaloupe: I don’t trust fruit that tastes like sand.
AH: What kind of books do you read when you’re on vacation?
SB: Anything by Agatha Christie. Anything by Philipp Schott or Christopher Moore. Lots of romance. I’m a big fan of Julia Quinn.
AH: What are you working on next?
SB: I’ve just finished my upcoming release, Beneath the Birch Trees, which is a romantic tragedy (heavy on the tragedy) set in the futuristic alternate-reality world of Canuckia. Yes, ‘Canuckia’ is meant to be funny. BTBT is the second novel in the series, and I’m currently in the middle of writing the third. The world is grim, the people have maladaptive coping mechanisms, and the conflict resolutions vary. I try to write hopeful stories that provide examples of ways the characters could have behaved differently, but I also try to write real stories in which happy endings are subjective.