In the spirit of Halloween, I decided to do something fun - and frightening. Horror in literature can be the creepiest in the entire genre. Reading a scary novel allows the mind to conjure up terrifying imagery that could haunt you forever. A ghoulish passage or a devilish description has the potential to freak you out in ways a visual or audio format cannot. Certain aspects of lexicon and verbiage seep into our nightmares but not just any vocabulary will do. Listed below are some of the most blood-curdling words to use in a horror story.
Hair-raising: Okay, so this hyphenated and technically two words. This, of course, means double the chills. A classic descriptor of someone - or someone - so terrifying that the suspense and/or shock literally causes your body hair to raise.
Primary use: Werewolves. Or hairy goblins. Or a werewolf who happens to be named Harry Goblin.
Jack-o-lantern: Another hyphenated technicality. Admittedly, a carved pumpkin is more festive than spooky. In fact, the word spooky itself has been robbed of any legitimately scary properties. The jack-o-lantern, alongside the word spooky, are normally found among in-store displays or punny emails. While not much can be exhumed from “spooky,” the jack-o-lantern has the potential to resurrect its unique eeriness. Since this sliced pumpkin is typically associated with a kiddie-themed setting, a jack-o-lantern is ripe for a surprise reveal.
Primary use: Punny emails that somehow steal your soul.
Knock-knock: I promise, not all of these will be hyphenated. As the eponymous film demonstrates, an unexpected rapping at your front door is unsettling. Uninvited guests at your doorstep are truly unnerving because it’s in its own a way an invasion of privacy. Not an uncommon one, mind you, but still, if you were to hear a random knock at the door late at night, there would be cause for alarm - and suspicion. Perhaps, like in the titular film, a “knock-knock” at a late hour could result in a down on their luck person in need. A strange visitor could also be a long lost friend who waits until after they’re offered a drink to expose their true demon form. The possibilities unravel into an endless tangled web, all from a simple knocking.
Primary use: Jokes that include, “Who’s there?”
“…”: This isn’t even a word, I know. An ellipsis represents a lingering thought that sits in silence. This pregnant pause is a breeding ground for a multitude of hellish conclusions. Three little dots that indicate a dramatic beat leave the reader wondering what will happen next. For a brief moment, the uncertainty creates a quiet chaos. A character’s nonverbal response opens the door to suspense and inescapable dread.
Primary use: Getting out of finishing sentences.
With these wicked words, you’ll have your reader screaming, howling, and hissing. An odd reaction to a book, but language can be scary.
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Unsecret Identity: Eric Icarus - Book One is available now from the Amazon as a paperback and as an ebook.
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