You've watched every lame horror movie ever written. Now you're sure you
can write the next horror story that will have Wes Craven knocking at
your door. Horror movies may share many of the same elements, but
writing the right script around them can be a difficult challenge. Here
are a few tips on how to get started.
Instructions
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1
Choose a theme for the movie. It could be a classic good
versus evil thriller, or you could be just wanting to kill as many
characters as possible.
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2
Pick a setting for the movie. Get creative: Don't go with
the cliched abandoned house or campground. Try something never used
before like a kindergarten class or an animal hospital--the more offbeat
the better.
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3
Choose the villain or monster. A supernatural creature like a
vampire or wolfman is an option, but if you want your script to shine,
go with something never used before. Think Stephen King--he's the master
of creating villians out of thin air.
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4
Decide how the monster will be destroyed. Make sure the
heroes don't discover it until the end of the script. Or maybe the
monster won't be destroyed at all. What's most important is getting the
major plot points picked out so you can build off them.
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5
Write an outline of the story. Starting from the end and
going backward may work best, since the climax makes or breaks the
story. Be sure to include plot twists, usually around a third and
two-thirds of the way along. But remember, when you're in the process of
writing the script, don't be afraid to veer off your outline. A good
writer will know where to edit themselves as well as break away from
their original idea.
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6
Write the full script without stopping, don't worry if you
think it's good or not. Getting your first draft on paper is what you
want to do at this point. At that point, read it and tinker with it,
adding whatever else you think is needed and removing what isn't.
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7
Have a couple friends read the script and return it to you
with their notes. Make sure you tell them you want them to be brutally
honest. If their notes are good, work them into another rewrite.
Remember, any great script will go through many revisions, it's all part
of the process.