How mysterious and scary is your monster? If your monster were to come to life and get lost in your town, would people’s hair stand on end when they saw it? Would they stop whatever they were doing and run from it? Would it cause them to fear for their lives? How do you make…
Phobias are wonderful to afflict your characters with. A phobia makes them seem more human. Possibly, a phobia will make your readers, especially those with phobias of their own, feel closer to one of more of your characters. Depending on what phobia you choose to bless, or curse, your character with, he can end up…
Does your character fear Christmas so much that he becomes a hermit at this time every year? Does he have a fear of elves? Does the thought of being stalked by brownies, dwarves, and gnomes fill him with terror? Does the mere sight of Christmas presents send him into a panic attack? The following phobias may…
The world can be full of scary things. What is out there that would scare a writer? Since there is a phobia for just about everything, it wasn’t hard to find specific phobias that would hinder a writer’s success. Some may even keep him from writing at all. If the thought of having one of…
Did you know that there are people who are deathly afraid of cows and horses? Goats, sheep, and pigs fill others with terror. Remember, each time a person with a phobia is confronted by what he or she fears, there are physical reactions. Dread, nausea, or breathlessness overcomes him. He sweats excessively and possibly loses…
What makes a mystery great? I grew up reading mysteries by Agatha Christie; I own each one she wrote. What about them appealed to me and millions of other readers? How does one write a great mystery? I don’t write mysteries, but I know what I like to read. Below I have listed things that,…
Even though some phobias may appear unreasonable or silly to those who don’t have any, they are no laughing matter. When someone encounters something he has an excessive fear of, he experiences the following: rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, trembling, anxiety, panic, terror, and/or dread. Phobias are a like a treasure chest full of gold…
Do you fear the bogeyman? Are you afraid he is underneath your bed waiting on you to fall asleep so he can jump out and get you? How do you feel about mirrors? What if you broke one? Snow, because of its beauty, brings many a feeling of peace and contentment. But what if you…
Phobias are constant, irrational fears that afflict some people. Their fear should be taken seriously. The person should never be made fun of or belittled because of their fear. But as writers, we can bless (or curse) our characters with phobias and make the story so much more interesting. What happens if someone encounters the…
If you turn and see a box of Lucky Charms, does the picture of Lucky the Leprechaun on the front of it cause you to panic? Do you shy away from parties where others might be dressed as leprechauns? If so, then you might have leprechaunophobia. The world can be a terrifying place to live…
