Want to write horror that truly gets under your reader’s skin? Start with the psychology behind the fear.
The Psychology of Horror Fiction is your guide to understanding what frightens us—and why. More than just an exploration of horror’s greatest tropes and themes, this book helps you use that knowledge to create more powerful, resonant, and unforgettable stories. To put fear in fiction and write great horror fiction.
Learn how fear works on a psychological level. Discover why certain horrors—like isolation, the unknown, or betrayal—hit harder than others. Understand how culture and trauma shape what readers are afraid of, and how those anxieties evolve over time.
Whether you’re crafting a quiet ghost story or an all-out nightmare, or even a writing a screenplay, this book offers the insights you need to:
Study and harness common fears and triggers
Build tension using psychological techniques
Explore real-world anxieties through fictional horror
Create deeper emotional experiences for your audience
Write horror that resonates long after the last page
For creative writing, screenwriters, teachers, and students of the genre, The Psychology of Horror Fiction is an essential On Writing Horror tool in your scary storytelling arsenal. Learn what scares people—and how to use that fear to your advantage.
Start writing horror that truly gets under the skin.
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