What Kills Horror?

These are the most common features that annoy viewers and readers alike. These are elements found in many horror movies and books today that anger or frustrate viewers and readers. Does your material contain any of these qualities? If so, you should improve your story.

• One-dimensional- The audience has no reason to like or relate to them. Predictable- They are just like characters in 10 other movies. For example, "college kids find trouble." Countless movies have followed this same worn-out plot.
• Stupid- Your characters may have lived sheltered, secure lives, but they can't all be morons. Have some intelligent individuals in your book, too.
• Out There- Everything is just unbelievable. For example, your character has worked their way through college, but instantly falls for peer pressure when you know someone in that position would not.

Plotting Assassins: Elements that Ruin Your Story

• Unbelievable- Your story can't happen and the audience knows it.
• Jumping/Flashes- There are too many flashbacks or flash forwards to keep the story straight.
• Political- Politically or socially "harpy" when it isn't appropriate. Your fiction is a mode of entertainment, not a classroom. Your audience will not appreciate your condescension.
• Villains Too Cool- Your villains are more likeable than your characters.
• Poor Research- Your audience expects a few creative liberties, but watch out! You may come across as unconvincing and ignorant.
• Inconsistency- The Shining was an excellent book and film that had a glaring inconsistency that few noticed. As many will recall, the Overlook's boiler had to be fixed nightly (a.k.a. "dumped"), otherwise it would explode. Yet, in the book, the vengeful wraiths were always attempting to kill the caretakers. Common sense would tell you that if the caretakers were killed in December the hotel would explode long before May, when the staff returned. In the novel, the previous caretaker had been dead and his family massacred months before the staff returned.