How to Develop a Scary Atmosphere for a Horror Story

Horror writers can take their scary stories to the next level by creating the right atmosphere. It can make the difference between an “okay” story and a “wow” story.

But what is atmosphere, in a horror writing context? And how do you go about creating it?

Grab your headlamp and lace up your mud boots. We’re about to explore some techniques for developing scary atmosphere in fiction.

Understanding Atmosphere in Fiction

Atmosphere is not the same as setting. That’s the first thing as...