Your Horror Subgenre Handbook: Where Does Your Terrifying Novel Fit in the Genre?
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Your Horror Subgenre Handbook: Where Does Your Terrifying Novel Fit in the Genre?

Updated: Dec 20, 2023


Your Horror Subgenre Handbook: Where Does Your Terrifying Novel Fit in the Genre, on The Writer's Cabin

Guide to Finding a Horror Niche for Your Horror Novel: Horror Subgenres


Horror possesses a unique power to tap into our deepest fears and unsettle us at our very cores. Sometimes, it introduces us to terrors that sit right at the root of our very being that we didn't even realize were there.


It can be cathartic and affect us on many levels. It's been shown to help us cope with the world and regulate our fears. It helps young men prove they are protectors and get closer to their crushes (who get the chance to play damsel in distress).



But it is also just plain fun. Horror is a good time, whatever form you consume it in.


But we are writing books here, yes?


The thrill of a well-crafted horror story lies in its ability to evoke a visceral reaction, send shivers down our spines, and make us question the boundaries of our fears.


However, there are a million and one ways to do that, and the genre provides writers with a variety of subgenres to insert themselves into. These subgenres serve as post signs for readers who are looking for scares just like yours.

No one says that you need to plant your novel strictly into either one. Actually, you should experiment with blending them and creating new ones. But there is something to be said about aiming your book toward readers in a familiar direction.


At least just to get noticed in the first place before you wow them with your unique creativity.

But that is another topic…forgive me; I'm especially distractable today.




This article explores these subgenres so you are better equipped to make those vital decisions. We will also unravel the key characteristics that define a narrative as horror—the elements that send chills down readers' spines.


Then, we will hop into the most loved subgenres of horror and what makes them unique.


Let's get to it then.

Contents:


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Key Characteristics of a Horror: What Makes a Story Horror?


Every horror story, regardless of subgenre, shares a few characteristics.


These are elements that all readers are looking for when they pick up a horror novel, and you'd do well to ensure that your story has all of these.


Vital Characteristics of a Horror Novel:

  1. Inducing Fear - This should be pretty obvious. If your novel doesn't check this one off the list, we have a major problem. A good horror taps into the primal fears of readers. The fears that lie deep, deep down in the psyche.

  2. Maintains Suspense and Tension - Building anticipation and maintaining a sense of unease keeps readers on the edge, heightening the fear factor. Horror novels are prime at this.

  3. Strong Atmosphere and Setting - Setting plays a crucial role in horror. These environments intensify the feeling of vulnerability and dread and should be fully immersive.

  4. Uncertainty and the Unknown - A good horror doesn't show too much all at once; it leaves certain elements shrouded in mystery to enhance the fear of the unknown and allows readers' imaginations to run wild.

  5. Relatable Characters in Peril - Good Horror also has iconic characters whom readers can relate to and root for; these characters often go through a transformation from weak victims to blood-soaked heroes.

  6. Morality-Centered - Horror is, to the surprise of many, a morally driven genre that makes bold claims about what is right and wrong, good and evil. It explores the repercussions of characters' choices and justifications for behavior.

  7. An Inescapable Force - Horror is created by developing the feeling that there is no escape for the characters from a specific force that looks to destroy them. Sustaining an atmosphere of dread around this force throughout the narrative keeps readers consistently uneasy (and reading).


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These foundational principles will be the same no matter what subgenre your story falls into. They serve as a compass to guide you through the genre and to success as a horror writer.




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Subgenres of Horror


Once you crack it open, it becomes readily apparent that the genre of horror is anything but a monolithic entity.

Instead, it offers a myriad of scare-inducing niches, each with its own unique flavor of fear and fascination. These subgenres are less strict guidelines for writing but rather allow writers to tailor their stories to specific themes and find readers looking for their brand of horror.

From the visceral and sometimes puke-worthy body horror subgenre to the cosmic dread of Lovecraftian nightmares, each subgenre is a distinct lens through which to explore the human animal and its twisted psyche.


Use this guide to find a home for your own fear baby or as inspiration to create something completely different.


Psychological Horror


Psychological horror lurks. It creeps into the reader's mind through the back door, as it were.


This is horror that preys on the fragility of sanity and the deep-seated fears that reside within us all.


Unlike traditional horror that relies on external threats, psychological horror delves into the internal, playing with perceptions, emotions, and the very fabric of our shaky identities. These stories rely on mind games and sometimes unreliable narrators to create a sense of unease.


It plays off trauma and deep psychological scars, using slow-burning suspense to build the dread. The tension often builds slowly, allowing readers to feel the creeping doom as the story unfolds.


Examples of psychological horror include:




Supernatural Horror


Supernatural horror includes the classic tales of otherworldly entities, ghosts, and forces beyond the veil.

Rooted in the inexplicable and the unseen, this subgenre weaves stories of the macabre where the boundaries between the living and the dead are blurred and where sitting alone in your own home with the doors locked can become a terrifying experience.


Books in this niche will include some kind of malevolent entity, whether ghosts, spirits, demons, or witches. Sometimes, it includes occult rituals or ancient curses.

Examples of supernatural horror include:




Gothic Horror


Gothic horror presents us with tales told from the ominous halls of decaying mansions and mist-shrouded landscapes.


This subgenre is all about the atmospheric gloom and haunted echoes of the past. It's unique in that it blends elements of horror with a distinct sense of romanticism. All together, this creates an ambiance that is both chilling and captivating.


Examples of gothic horror include:




Body Horror


Body horror is admittedly one of my favorite subgenres of horror. There is something about the visceral terror of grotesque and unsettling transformations of the human form that just gets me.

In this niche, the boundary between the familiar and the monstrous gets thin. Body horror explores the fears associated with physical decay, mutation, and the violation of the human body's natural order.


This is home to some of the most unnerving horror stories, and sometimes, they are just downright gross.


It can include graphic and disturbing transformations, mutations, and mutilations. Characters grapple with the horrifying loss of control over their own bodies, creating an almost unbearable sense of dread.


These stories can revolve around infections, parasites, bioengineering gone awry, identity crises, psychological turmoil, human centipedes, and more.

Examples of body horror fiction include:






Lovecraftian Horror


Lovecraftian horror is cosmic and abstract. This is where ancient gods slumber and eldritch horror tales unfold.

For those of you who aren't sure what that means, eldritch horror = horror focused on the otherworldly and uncanny, cosmic horror.


Lovecraftian stories are often existential. They explore the insignificance of humanity in the fate of cosmic entities and incomprehensible forces. The universe is very often depicted as indifferent or even hostile to human existence, amplifying a sense of dread and powerlessness.


These stories center around things like cosmic entities, ancient gods, forbidden knowledge, or unveiling hidden truths of existence, madness, and other unknowable horrors.


Characters struggle with the limits of human sanity when confronted with the unimaginable, and Lovecraftian horror often relies on the idea that some horrors are beyond human comprehension.


Examples of Lovecraftian horror include:




Monster Horror


Primal fears and nightmares take corporeal form in the monster horror subgenre.


Often featuring colossal creatures wreaking havoc on cities or landscapes, these monsters embody the fear of the uncontrollable and the…well…monstrous. Though not always massive beasts, sometimes the biggest scares come from the smallest of creatures.


Monster horror shows characters pitted against overwhelming odds, emphasizing the vulnerability of humanity in the face of these adversaries. But also, as characters struggle to survive, they awaken the instincts necessary to do it.


Monsters often serve as metaphors for societal fears or the consequences of unchecked human actions, but they can also embody our deepest psychological fears.


Examples of monster horror include:




Folk Horror


Folk horror weaves traditions, superstition, and folklore into unsettling and terrifying stories.


These books often unfold in remote, rural settings, far removed from the urban hustle and bustle, emphasizing the characters' isolation. They frequently revolve around tight-knit, insular communities with long-standing traditions and secrets (creepy ones, of course).


Folk horror incorporates elements of local folklore, superstitions, and ancient beliefs that shape the characters' worldview. Folk horror plays off the sometimes not-so-nostalgic views we have of the past—the customs we find hard to understand or even barbaric, and points of view that have long since evolved.


Examples of folk horror include:




Zombie Horror


Ok. Who doesn't know what zombie horror is at this point? I feel stupid explaining it, but I will anyway.


Here goes…ready?


Horror with zombies. Done.


No, seriously, that's it. No matter what way you want to approach it, zombies are zombies.

Examples of zombie horror include:




Survival Horror


Survival horror pushes the limits of human resilience against overwhelming odds. The subgenre places characters in the crucible of fear and desperation. It doesn't matter what the source of the threat is; the point is that those caught up can either choose to quit or risk it all to make it through.


Survival horror is the ultimate test. Characters are stripped of resources and placed in catastrophic or other unforgiving environments, where they are left vulnerable and very often totally alone.


This type of horror thrives on atmospheric dread—the fear of the unknown is often as potent as the immediate threat in front of them. Characters and readers alike are given limited information about the true nature of the threat, adding to the suspense.


Some of the most-loved and iconic horror stories are survival stories. Though I will say most horror stories involve some kind of survival element, these ones are much more pressing on the reader; they feel intense almost to the point of breaking you.

Examples of survival horror include:




Slasher Horror


Ah, the slasher. Another subgenre that hardly requires an introduction.


These books feature masked figures stalking the unsuspecting, visceral, and bloodcurdling suspense and, of course, gruesome violence.


Defined by psycho killers, a horrible variety of deaths on numerous sharp objects, and hapless victims who can't seem to make any good decisions, slasher horror holds a warm, nostalgic place in all horror fans' hearts.


Examples of slasher horror include:






Final Words


When crafting a horror, your mind must always be on the emotional impact, the pacing, and the delicate balance between suspense and revelation of your novel.


There is a hell of a lot that goes into creating something that is memorable and terrifying. But that also means keeping your eye on the reader and their expectations, at least a little bit.


This way, you know where to best position your work in the genre and find the right readers for your unique brand of terror. Luckily, horror has many subgenres to fit each type, and even within those subgenres, readers are always looking for something that will shock them.


Something new and intelligent and creative.


Explore the fears that resonate most with you, infuse your stories with authenticity, and let the terror unfold organically. In the end, no matter where you ultimately find your home in the genre, the power of horror lies not just in the monsters and baddies but in the ability to tap into the fears of your readers.


Knowing your subgenres will just help you find them, but you still have to do the work. So keep writing, my creepy little friends.

Are you making these horrifying mistakes? Don't write horror until you read this!


Horror is not easy. Ok, nothing really is. But there are certain things you must avoid if you are to ever have any success in this genre. These are things that I have learned over the years as a fiction editor and avid horror consumer.


Discover what these mistakes are and learn how to avoid them in my post outlining the 14 worst horror writing mistakes that will get your book rejected here.




About the Author: Tessa Barron, developmental fiction editor




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