How do you make a story scary? I really want to write a horror/thriller story that’s actually scary, but I can’t think of a plot and I’m not very experienced with scary. It would be cool if it was a mystery, too, but it doesn’t have to be. Also what’s the difference between horror and thriller? Sorry this sounds dumb but they seem about the same to me. For the plot, I was thinking something really unique. Do you have any plot ideas or ideas to make it scary? Btw, I don’t really watch/read horror because I’m a scaredy cat, but I think it would be different writing it because I would know what’s coming. Thank you! 
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What subgenre are you aiming for? (Like if you want fantasy, splatter, psychology or something like that).
Horror is more visual. It’s easier to understand and it uses violence & a lot of blood. It can have jumpscares as well.
Thriller is more about the feelings it makes you feel. It plays everything on suspense and emotions.
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Oh thanks for the clarification! That makes sense. I’m okay with any subgenre as of now. I write a LOT of fantasy, though, so maybe I’ll try to do something different this time.
Well there are different types of horror.
Realistic would be more like serial killers things you can find in real life, this one would probably be harder than the mix of both styles as you can’t go into any detail of bodies or murder.
Supernatural is kinda like you’re just going along you’re way and then suddenly you’re caught up in this. (It can also be a common occurrence depends how you write it) In this one you could really write a ton of different things! Like a person has gotten used to walking alone in the bad part of town to get to work, on this certain day they come face to face with a vampire… then you decide what happens next.
My main advice is write what scares you, think what you would do in your characters shoes, read horror books and watch horror movies, and make sure to create a balance between fiction and reality.
The best horror stories are based off true ones 
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I haven’t really thought of any myself, and I never written a Thriller or a horror story at all… but hey I’d agree with you on the fact that it does pretty much sound the same
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Thank you for your advice! I’m not sure which one I’d do, maybe a mix of both. I’ll try to write what scares me and read and watch some to get a better idea. I agree that true stories and the scariest.
@Dawnitora I haven’t thought about it much until now either. Ikr they do seem a lot alike 
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(this is kinda more psychological but you can make it into whatever you want)
Mc sees a flyer advertising how scientists need some volunteers to test a new experiment and how the pay will be good, as a university student Mc needs the money so they apply. When they arrive at the lab they meet some other people who volunteered, a scientist then comes out and says how they will be taken to a room and stay there for an hour until the scientist comes back but inside the room time will seemingly move very slowly. The scientist also mentions that they should never leave the room or look outside for more than a few seconds. Mc and the group go inside the room and the scientist shuts the door, inside the room it is completely white with one grey door and two windows with curtains over them.
The one hour will feel like multiple years for those inside the room and you can decide what happens from there like if someone leaves the room before the scientist comes back or if someone looks outside will there be monsters or will it just be psychologically scary?
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Ooh that’s a good idea! That does sound like it has a lot of potential to be scary. Thanks for your help! If I decide to use it or a version of it, would you like me to credit you?
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Story Plot:
Paranormal Activity
MC is just a normal teenager.She is as a normal as anybody could be but that one night when MC wakes up ,MC sees someone sitting in a chair crying.It is a child,5 years old girl who doesn’t know anything about her parents. MC is scared of her so she starts screaming. Young girl just does an evil smile and fades away.
Nobody believes MC and MC is going to Mental Hospital. At 3 AM ghost appears again telling her like: “You are gonna die soon” or “Better don’t go to sleep, You will not wake up…”.Every night at 3 AM.But what happens if in Mental Hospital isn’t really a Mental Hospital and everything what MC was wrong…
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No way it’s totally cool all I want is you to tell me when your story is out so I can go give it a read
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Ooh I like that idea! I love ominous children in horror stories. That’s a really good idea! I’ll let you know if I decide to use it. Thank you!
@AshlynG Alright, thanks! I sure will
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