My Writing Process
How I’m learning to craft twisted tales
From Spark to Story
As an aspiring horror writer, I’ve discovered that creating a story with an effective twist isn’t just about being clever—it’s about patience, practice, and a deep fascination with fear. Every idea starts small, often with a single “what if?” that won’t let go of me.
My process is something I’m still shaping. Each new draft teaches me what works, what falls flat, and what lingers with readers. The goal is always the same: to write stories that haunt both me as the creator and anyone brave enough to read them.
1. Inspiration & Concept
Most of my stories begin with a fragment—a sound, a strange memory, or a question I can’t shake. What if technology developed a mind of its own? What if an everyday object carried a hidden hunger?
I keep a notebook of these sparks, knowing that not all of them will grow into stories, but each one teaches me to see the world through the lens of horror.
2. Research & Development
To make my stories believable, I dig into research—sometimes folklore, sometimes psychology, sometimes just observing how people respond to fear in real life.
This stage helps me learn how to ground even the most impossible ideas in enough reality that the reader feels unsettled instead of unconvinced.
3. Plotting the Twist
Since twists define my stories, I usually start with the ending in mind. I ask: how can I lead the reader one way while quietly preparing them for another truth?
I’m still practicing how to balance surprise with fairness—leaving clues in plain sight without giving everything away too soon.
4. Writing & Atmosphere
When I draft, I focus on mood. Short, sharp sentences when I want tension; slower, more descriptive passages when I want dread to sink in.
I try to make every paragraph do double duty: moving the story forward while hinting at the deeper unease beneath the surface.
Techniques I’m Practicing
Atmosphere
- • Using sensory details to unsettle
- • Hinting at danger through setting
- • Making safe spaces feel unsafe
Psychological Depth
- • Practicing unreliable narrators
- • Letting character fears drive events
- • Mirroring inner turmoil with outer threats
Twist Building
- • Planting subtle clues
- • Balancing surprise with logic
- • Creating multiple interpretations
Pacing
- • Building tension in waves
- • Revealing information gradually
- • Letting readers breathe before the next scare
Revision & Growth
Drafting gets the story out, but revision is where I learn the most. I go back to test whether the twist works, whether the pacing feels right, and whether the characters react in believable ways.
I sometimes share early drafts with trusted readers to see if they guessed the twist too soon or if I left them completely in the dark. Their feedback teaches me how to adjust.
This stage reminds me that writing is a craft—one I’m still learning, but one I love refining word by word.
See My Process in Action
Every story on this site reflects this process. As you read, notice the atmosphere, follow the clues, and watch how the twist takes shape.
Read My Stories