Horror is the genre of fear, suspense, and the unknown.

Some of the best horror stories bend or outright shatter traditional writing rules, leaving readers and viewers unsettled in ways they never expected.

If you want your horror story to be uniquely terrifying, you going to need to break a few horror-writing rules along the way!

A dark, eerie mansion stands behind an old wrought-iron gate, with a single glowing light shining from its open door. The sky is stormy, and twisted, barren trees add to the ominous atmosphere. Bold pink and red text reads, "HORROR WRITING RULES TO BREAK."

Let’s explore five common writing rules that horror stories can (and should) break—and why doing so makes them even more terrifying.

If you prefer to watch rather than read, check out my YouTube video on this topic below!

Top Horror Writing Rules to Break

Let’s get right into the rules you should break when you’re writing horror stories.

1. Describe Everything

A chef in a white uniform prepares food in an open kitchen, framed by greenery. A large chalkboard on a yellow wall reads, "Make your readers see, smell, and feel."

Writers are often told to “show, don’t tell.”

Vivid descriptions help immerse the reader in the world of the story. In most genres, providing detailed imagery enhances the experience.

Why Horror Should Break It

In horror, sometimes less is more.

Over-explaining the monster, the evil force, or the horror itself can actually weaken its impact. The unknown is often scarier than anything you could describe.

Think about H.P. Lovecraft’s stories. He often described creatures and horrors in ways that were intentionally vague or incomprehensible, forcing the reader’s imagination to do the heavy lifting.

A single whispered line like, “Something was watching me in the dark” can be far scarier than paragraphs of detailed description.

**Unusual Example: House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski**

This novel leans heavily on narration and telling rather than showing, yet it creates an overwhelming sense of dread and paranoia.

The unreliable narrator, shifting text formats, and fragmented storytelling force readers into a state of unease, proving that sometimes the unknown is the scariest thing of all.

2. Stick to a Three-Act Structure

infographic showing 3 act story structure

Most traditional stories follow a three-act structure: setup, confrontation, and resolution.

This format gives the audience a sense of progression and ensures that the story is well-paced.

Why Horror Should Break It

Horror thrives on chaos. Some of the most terrifying stories abandon a clear structure, leaving audiences disoriented and unsettled—just like in a nightmare.

Breaking structure removes the audience’s sense of security.
Unpredictability keeps tension high, as readers or viewers can’t rely on familiar beats.
Horror often mimics real-life fear, which doesn’t always follow a neat three-act arc.

Films like The Blair Witch Project or Skinamarink build tension without a traditional resolution, sometimes even without a clear plot.

This unpredictability makes the horror more real and disturbing.

**Unusual Example: Pontypool (2008)**

This horror film unfolds almost like a real-time radio broadcast.

Instead of a conventional climax, the terror grows through fragmented conversations and an ever-present sense of doom.

The lack of a structured narrative makes it even more disturbing, proving that horror doesn’t need a perfect story arc to be effective.

3. Your Main Character Must Be Likable

A frightened young woman in a dimly lit house stares in shock, her mouth open as if screaming. A grand staircase and eerie lighting add to the tension. Bold orange text reads, "YOUR MAIN CHARACTER MUST BE LIKABLE."

In most genres, we want to root for the protagonist. A likable main character makes it easier for the audience to connect with the story.

Why Horror Should Break It

Horror often works better with flawed, morally gray, or even downright unlikable protagonists.

Unlikeable or complex characters create deeper psychological horror.
Audiences may fear the protagonist as much as (or more than) the monster.
Watching a character descend into darkness can be just as terrifying as external threats.

Characters like Jack Torrance in The Shining or Patrick Bateman in American Psycho are far from heroes, but they’re fascinating to watch.

Sometimes, the scariest part of a horror story isn’t the monster – it’s watching someone become the monster or realizing they were one all along.

**Unusual Example: The Girl Next Door by Jack Ketchum**

The protagonist, David, is complicit in horrific acts, making for an unsettling and deeply disturbing narrative.

His hesitation, guilt, and failure to act turn his moral ambiguity into a source of horror itself.

4. Don’t Use Clichés

A pale woman in a flowing white nightgown stands in a dark, eerie mansion, her wide eyes and open mouth conveying fear. Ornate furniture and dim lighting add to the gothic horror atmosphere. Bold white text reads, "Horror Clichés."

Clichés are predictable, and predictability can make a story unoriginal. Writers are often encouraged to find fresh, unique ways to tell their stories.

Why Horror Should Break It

Clichés exist for a reason. The trick isn’t in avoiding them—it’s in twisting them into something unexpected.

Clichés build false security, making subversion more effective.
Readers expect them, so changing the outcome increases shock value.
Familiar setups lure audiences in before delivering unexpected horror.

Jordan Peele’s Get Out uses the well-worn “meet-the-parents” trope and racial clichés, then flips them into something terrifyingly fresh.

Horror works best when it takes something familiar and makes it unsettling.

**Unusual Example: The Cabin in the Woods (2012)**

This film intentionally plays with nearly every horror cliché, making them part of the horror itself.

By acknowledging and then deconstructing classic tropes—the final girl, the creepy location, the psycho killer, it keeps the audience engaged while turning their expectations against them.

5. Always Resolve the Story

A dilapidated house with broken windows and a eerie glow from inside has the words "ALWAYS RESOLVE THE STORY" painted in dripping red letters across its front. The dark, stormy sky and barren trees add to the ominous atmosphere.

Most stories provide a satisfying conclusion, wrapping up the narrative and answering key questions. This leaves the audience feeling like they’ve completed a journey.

Why Horror Should Break It

Horror lives in the unresolved. Some of the best horror stories leave lingering dread, unanswered questions, or the unsettling sense that the horror isn’t over.

Unresolved endings keep the fear alive in the reader’s mind.
Mystery fuels discussion and analysis, making the story memorable.
Real horror doesn’t always have a satisfying explanation or resolution.

Films like The Thing and It Follows tell complete stories but refuse to tie everything up neatly, leaving audiences haunted by the possibilities.

**Unusual Example: Session 9 (2001)**

This psychological horror film keeps the audience questioning what’s real and what isn’t.

By withholding key details and keeping things ambiguous, it ensures that the horror lingers in the minds of the audience.

Infographic featuring a collage of classic horror elements: a haunted house, a ghostly masked figure, vampires, zombies, and eerie faces. Bold text reads, "5 Horror Writing Rules You Need to Break!"

How to Break the Rules (the Right Way)

Writing rules exist for a reason—they work.

But once you understand why they exist, you can break them in ways that make your horror story even scarier. The best horror stories thrive on the unexpected, the unsettling, and the unknown.

So next time someone tells you to follow the rules when writing horror? Smile… and break them all!

Want to create characters that truly stand out in your horror story? Download my free Character Development Workbook to develop unique characters quickly and easily!

5 Horror Writing Rules You Should Break for a Better Story