Crafting Nightmares: Software Tools for Aspiring Horror Authors
S.R. Beaston
Crafty with words, wit, and wisdom, just add caffeine to make it more interesting.
Welcome, brave souls and scribblers of the supernatural! If you've ever wondered how to turn your keyboard into a portal to the darkest corners of your imagination, you're in the right haunted library. We're about to dive into the spookiest, eeriest, and most bone-chilling writing software for all you horror novelists out there.
Writing horror can be a horror in itself. Autumnal atmosphere and pumpkin vibes alone cannot tackle the planning and frustration one falls into when writing a scary story. There’s a lot of planning, tricking, anticipation planting, and expectation dismantling that needs to go into your work to make a horror novel successful.
Let’s get into three of the best writing programs you can use to enhance the fright.
Autocrit
The main feature of this software is in its name. Autocrit provides real-time critique and editing suggestions for your work so you can learn and implement from the best in the genre. It covers a variety of elements, from word choice to dialogue.
This is possible due to the extensive research they do with horror authors and editors.
This platform prides itself on having a deep knowledge of the horror genre. One of the more useful things Autocrit provides is the ability to compare your writing to that of the most successful horror novels. This can be useful information to see what you may lack, or intentionally subvert.
Here’s a list of Autocrit benefits:
- Focused, genre-specific attention
- Voice reader
- Courses
- Grammar checker
- And much more
Prices:
- Free: fully-featured writing platform, digital noteboards, select editing tools, editing guidance, spelling and grammar check
- Professional: $30/month for everything in Free, plus summary report and editing recommendations, direct comparison scores with other authors and genres, 30+ editing tools, and more
- Annual Professional: $12/month (billed annually at 60% off): Everything in Professional plus 7 months free per year
Truby Writers Studio
The Truby site comprises add-ons for many genres, with a focus on screenwriting—horror included. The horror add-on has features built to help you write the scariest story you can.
It provides key story beats for horror, character maps, monster/nightmare maps, horror symbols, and even shines light on the struggles you might run into while writing this genre. These are only a few examples of what the software can grant you.
Though it is more geared for film, the beloved novelist's tool Save The Cat was also intended for film. As is the classic 8-point plot outline. Though the technique of writing between novels and scripts is different, the processes are much the same.
Truby offers:
- Errors in horror and how to avoid them
- Character map
- Ideal methods for writing horror
- Horror movie examples
- And much more
Price: $59
NovelPad
NovelPad has been my go-to writing software since I first trialed it. Objectively, the writing software caters to those who want to limit distractions and just write, but let’s see how NovelPad specifically benefits horror authors.
1. Dark Mode
It goes without saying that if the software you're using doesn’t implement ‘dark mode’, it’s a horror on its own, especially for writers, and extra especially for horror writers. NovelPad implements this feature seamlessly, so no matter what board you are in, it’s as dark as your spooky heart.
Okay, the dark mode feature was just for fun, but let's sink our teeth into how NovelPad can help you stay organized while planning your horror novel.
NovelPad has several ways to help keep organization simple for the complexities of your horror novel, be it the mystery, the red herrings, character psyche, or the plot twists.
2. Chapters Page
With other writing software, I was overwhelmed and my scene cards were lost in the void (if they had them at all). Here, everything is laid out in one place for easy viewing and quick accessing. If you’re playing with expectations, the organization for mystery points is great here.
3. Color Labels
In horror, we have to find a balance of scary scenes with other important elements like tension building, red herrings, and plot twists. Use NovelPad's customizable color labels to know which scenes are doing what at a glance.
4. Writing Groups and Community Support
Writers of any genre can benefit from a community to cheer them on, share resources, and help each other group in the craft. With your NovelPad subscription, you can sign up for a horror-specific writing group, where you can swap feedback and encouragement with other writers in your genre.
Prices:
- $15/month for full-access
- $120/year for full-access at a 33% discount
NovelPad has so many helpful, unique features that users say have rejuvenated their entire writing process. Give it a try $ here$ .
Conclusion
We hope these tools will up your horror novel game!
Don’t forget, there are always YouTube videos, horror movies, and simply reading other horror novels to help you grow as a writer in the genre, but a little push from these software suggestions can certainly help kick things into gear. Happy haunting!
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