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Step 1
Understand that Gothic is not synonymous with Horror. Though Gothic fiction may have some horrific elements, there is a surprising lack of the kind of gore that is a trademark of Horror. In fact, Gothic literature often relies heavily on the disturbing power of the unseen as opposed to the seen, and it taps into the primitive and deeply psychological to genuinely disturb the reader instead of just going for the cheap thrill. You're aiming to create terror through manipulating the undercurrents of the civilized mind.
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Step 2
Choose a setting that is appropriately Gothic. Ruins, ancient castles, lonely seaside shacks, or even modern building that have been left to crumble are all quite Gothic. The idea is that the physical setting is decaying to represent the decay of the character's physical, emotional, and psychological states.
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Step 3
Develop well-rounded characters like lusty but intellectual villains and innocent heroines who long to experience the world. All should be inclined to react to their negative emotions to propel the action forward. Anger, jealousy, fear, despair, revenge and the desire for power are good places to start.
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Step 4
Throw in some sex. Not the bodice-ripping kind of scenes that you find in cheesy romance novels, but the darker, taboo kind. Violence, incest, fetishes, forbidden relationships, obsessions and dysfunctional relationships all fall under this category.
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Step 5
Incorporate the supernatural. This is a primary step to a piece of fiction being truly Gothic. Ghosts are a favorite, but anything supernatural will do.
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Step 6
Have death make a cameo or make it a starring role. Whichever you choose make sure it appears in some manner. It could be the main character's death, someone close to the main character or maybe even just a terribly significant event in which one of the characters comes across a dead animal. Make sure it's there, and make sure it's poignant.
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Step 7
Revel in the "human-ness" of your characters. Exaggerate the wonder that is the body by making one of your characters strangely deformed or bring minute attention to biological functions like eating, drinking, defecation and anything else that the human body can do.
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Step 8
Embrace the taboo. If it makes someone uncomfortable, you're probably on the right track.
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Step 9
Appeal to all the senses. Gothic writing is very sensual in that it evokes images, smells, tastes, textures and sounds for the reader, spreading the experience around instead of offering something flat.
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Step 10
Wrap it all up in a story that exemplifies the uncanny or surreal. Remember that it must be something either just believable enough or well-written enough to provide for what critics call the "suspension of disbelief." Obviously if your audience doesn't buy into the story then it just won't work, but even the most fantastic things can be made believable with a strong, skilled writing style.
