How to Write Horror Fan Fiction

Write a story about Freddy Krueger or other horror icons.

Getting a job writing for big film franchises like "Friday the 13th," "A Nightmare on Elm St." and "Saw" may be nearly impossible, but you can take characters and stories from popular horror movies and spin them into your own fan fiction. Fan fiction is original writing based on the established lore and characters of pop culture, and has become incredibly popular with the growth of the Internet. If you want to create popular fan fiction of your own based on existing horror movies, there are a few guidelines you should follow.

Instructions

1. Research your topic as exhaustively as possible. Casual fans usually don't read fan fiction; you will most likely be read by die-hards who are looking to further their interest in a property they already know well. One flaw in your research could ruin the story for your readers.

2. Study your main character. Make a list of situations and decide what action your character would choose to pursue. Learn his motives and other details, like his weapon choice, method of killing and family history. For example, you would not usually see Jason from the "Friday the 13th" series sprinting towards a victim. He normally walks more slowly while stalking his prey.

3. Mix two different mythologies. Fans love to read “what if” stories like "Freddy vs. Jason." If you put your mind to it, you can create a great blend of horror stories for fans to enjoy.

4. Stick to the genre. Unless you are writing a spoof or parody, do not include passages in which Michael Myers does slapstick comedy all of a sudden. Stick to the characters' roots to be successful--but add a twist or two to make the story interesting. For example, the movie "Jason X" brought Jason to outer space instead of keeping him in his typical forest or camp setting.

5. Work on the supporting characters. Your main focus should be on the horror icons themselves, but if the victims are nameless and uninteresting, your story could get boring. Add imaginative subplots to keep the readers interested.