Welcome to the Crafting Nightmares Workshop! Today, we’re diving deep into the art of creating unforgettable horror characters. Together, we’ll build protagonists who face their fears, villains who chill us to the core, and monsters that haunt our imaginations.

Let’s get started!

1. Understanding Fear: The Core of Every Character

Fear defines us—and it should define your characters too. To make your characters relatable and compelling, you need to understand what they’re afraid of and how it influences their actions.

Activity: Discovering a Character’s Core Fear

• Think of a character you’re working on (or create one now). Ask yourself:

  • What is this character’s greatest fear?

  • How did they develop this fear? Was it a traumatic event, a learned response, or something primal?

  • How does this fear shape their decisions, relationships, and actions in your story?

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Example:

Imagine a protagonist who fears abandonment because they were orphaned as a child. This fear drives their need to protect others but also makes them hesitate to trust anyone fully. This creates tension and emotional stakes for your story.

Now, write a short scene where your character encounters a situation that triggers their fear. Show how they react—physically, mentally, and emotionally.

2. Crafting Sympathetic Villains

Villains are at their most terrifying when we understand them. They don’t have to be likable, but their motives should be clear and relatable. The most effective villains believe they’re the hero of their own story.

Activity: Building a Villain’s Backstory

• Start by answering these questions for your villain:

  • What do they want, and why?

  • What trauma or event shaped their worldview?

  • What redeeming quality (if any) makes them human?

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Example:

Consider Dr. Frankenstein from Frankenstein. His desire to overcome death is rooted in grief, making him sympathetic even as his actions lead to horror.

Now, write a paragraph from your villain’s perspective. Let them justify their actions in their own words. How do they see themselves as the “good guy”?

3. Designing Monsters That Haunt

Monsters are more than just creatures; they’re symbols of fear, anxiety, or societal issues. To make your monster unforgettable, tie it to your story’s deeper themes.

Activity: Create a Monster

• Choose a theme or fear your story explores (e.g., grief, betrayal, or the fear of the unknown).

• Design a monster that embodies this theme. Consider:

  • What does it look like? How does its appearance evoke its symbolic meaning?

  • How does it behave? What are its strengths, weaknesses, and methods of attack?

  • Where did it come from? Is it supernatural, man-made, or something else?

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Example:

A monster representing grief might take the form of a shadowy figure that grows larger the more its victims try to ignore it, forcing them to confront their loss.

Sketch or describe your monster in detail. Share how it ties into your story’s themes.

4. Building Tension Through Dialogue and Action

How your characters speak and act can make or break the tension in your story. Subtle choices in dialogue and body language can hint at hidden fears or impending danger.

Activity: Write a Tense Exchange

• Pair your protagonist and antagonist (or monster) in a scene.

• Write a brief dialogue where:

  • The protagonist tries to mask their fear.

  • The antagonist uses subtle words or actions to intimidate them.

  • Subtext plays a key role—what’s left unsaid is as important as what’s spoken.

    
    

Example:

In The Silence of the Lambs, Dr. Hannibal Lecter’s calm, polite dialogue is terrifying because it contrasts with the underlying threat he represents.

Read your dialogue aloud. Does it create the tension you’re aiming for? Adjust as needed.

Wrap-Up and Sharing

Now that you’ve developed your characters, let’s share!

• Discuss your character’s core fear or villain’s motive.

• Describe your monster and how it ties into your story’s themes.

• Share your dialogue and get feedback on how it builds tension.

  
  

By the end of this workshop, you should have characters that are rich, layered, and perfectly suited to elevate your horror story.

Tags: #horrorwriting #characterbuilding #villainsinhorror #monstercrafting #darkfiction #writingworkshop #horrorstories