The 6 Key Scenes Every Horror Novel Needs

LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE AT: www.savannahgilbo.com/blog/horror-obligatory-scenes

If you're writing genre fiction, you'll want to know the key scenes that make stories of your
chosen genre unique. These obligatory scenes are the key events, decisions, and discoveries that
help move the protagonist along his or her journey from A-Z. They’re also what helps us craft a
story that works AND that will evoke emotional reactions in our readers.

The 6 Key Scenes Every Horror Novel Needs:

If you're writing a horror novel, you can use these key scenes as a framework to outline your
story or as a checklist to help you revise your first draft. Here they are at a glance:

A scene where the monster attacks or threatens the protagonist in some way.
A scene where the protagonist ignores a critical warning.
A scene where the protagonist understands the true nature of the monster.
A scene where the protagonist sets themselves up to be the final victim.
A scene where the protagonist is at the mercy of the monster.
A scene where the protagonist escapes or not.

Beyond these key scenes, there are a handful of conventions that are unique to the horror
genre, too. Conventions are the character roles, settings, micro-events, and values that are
specific to a work of genre fiction.

Learn more about them here: www.savannahgilbo.com/blog/horror-conventions

Notes, Insights, and Reminders:

FICTION EPISODE 17: THE 6 SCENES EVERY HORROR NOVEL NEEDS

WRITING
made easy www.savannahgilbo.com/blog/horror-obligatory-scenes

1
 Conventions of the Horror Genre

LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE AT: www.savannahgilbo.com/blog/horror-conventions

If you're writing genre fiction, you'll want to know the conventions that readers will expect to see
in a story like yours. Conventions are the character roles, settings, and events that are specific to
a genre. They’re also what help us craft a story that works AND what help us evoke emotional
reactions in our readers.

Conventions of the Horror Genre:

If you're writing a horror novel, you can use this checklist to help you brainstorm, outline, write,
or edit your first draft. Here are the genre conventions at a glance:

A monster (or antagonist) that can't be reasoned with.

The monster (or antagonist) is VERY strong or powerful.
A sin or past mistake that the protagonist (or the world) is being punished for.
The settings feel very claustrophobic.
There are multiple lives at stake (including your protagonist's).
The monster(or antagonist) stays hidden as long as possible.
There’s at least one shapeshifter character.
A ticking clock or deadline by which the protagonist has to stop the monster.
A speech in praise of the monster (or antagonist).
A false ending (and a sense that evil still lurks).

Beyond these genre conventions, there are a handful of obligatory scenes that are unique to the
horror genre, too. Learn more here: www.savannahgilbo.com/blog/horror-obligatory-scenes

Notes, Insights, and Reminders:

FICTION EPISODE 29: HORROR GENRE CONVENTIONS

WRITING
made easy www.savannahgilbo.com/blog/horror-conventions