10 BEST Tips for Writing DARK FICTION

Summary

In this engaging video, Jenna Moreci introduces her new studio and dives into the world of dark fiction, offering ten expert tips for writing compelling, emotionally resonant stories that explore humanity's darker side. She emphasizes the importance of tone, purpose, and psychological depth, while also discussing the role of fear and moral ambiguity in creating suspense. Viewers are also invited to celebrate the one-year anniversary of her best-selling dark fantasy romance novel, 'The Savior's Sister,' with a special live stream and a sale on a variety of dark fiction books, including her own.

Takeaways

• 🎉 The speaker is in a new studio and house, and they're still working out some kinks, asking for patience from the audience.
• 📚 Dark fiction is a broad term that includes any fiction with horrific elements like fear, dread, evil, and death, often exploring the darker aspects of humanity.
• 📖 Dark fiction encompasses various genres and subgenres, with horror novels typically being the darkest, but also including paranormal, dark fantasy, and some sci-fi novels.
• 📝 Dark fiction is popular among writers because 'dark' content is enticing to write, as it involves high-stakes conflict involving evil or death.
• 🔟 The speaker provides ten tips for writing compelling, engaging, and raw dark fiction, with personal favorites being tips six and nine.
• 🎉 The speaker announces a one-year book birthday celebration for their best-selling dark fantasy romance novel 'The Savior’s Sister' with a live stream event.
• 💰 There's a sale on dark fiction novels by various authors, including the speaker's own work, available for 99 cents, which is a great opportunity to expand one's dark fiction library.
• 🧩 Dark fiction doesn't require a high body count; the 'dark' qualifier is more about the tone of the story, which should evoke a sense of fear and the unknown.
• 💀 Death and scare tactics in dark fiction should serve a purpose and affect the plot, rather than existing for shock value alone.
• 🩸 While gore has its place in dark fiction, it should be used sparingly and should enhance the emotional impact of a scene, rather than overshadowing it.
• 🧠 Understanding human psychology is crucial in dark fiction to realistically portray how characters react to the ominous situations they face.
• 🔳 Moral grayness is a key element in dark fiction, where characters often behave in both good and bad ways, adding depth and complexity to the story.
• 🎢 Emotion in dark fiction should vary, with a mix of tension and calm to keep readers engaged and to make shocking scenes more impactful.
• 🤔 Writers should tap into their own fears to evoke genuine fear in their readers, as personal fears can be a powerful source of inspiration.
• ✍️ The speaker emphasizes that writing dark fiction should be about the story and its quality, not just about the writer's personal indulgence.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?

The main topic of the video is discussing tips for writing dark fiction, a genre that encompasses fiction with horrific elements such as fear, dread, evil, and death.

What does the term 'dark fiction' generally refer to?

Dark fiction is a broad term that includes any kind of fiction containing horrific elements, often exposing the more harmful or ominous aspects of humanity.

What are some genres and subgenres that can be considered dark fiction?

Horror novels, paranormal novels, dark fantasy, and some sci-fi novels can all be considered dark fiction.

What is the speaker's personal favorite part of the video content?

The speaker's personal favorite points are numbers six and nine in the list of tips for writing dark fiction.

What is the significance of the date mentioned for 'The Savior’s Sister'?

The date mentioned is the one-year book birthday of 'The Savior’s Sister,' which the speaker will celebrate with a live stream featuring games, Q&A, and special guests.

What special offer is available for dark fiction lovers according to the video?

A special offer where a range of dark fiction novels by best-selling authors, including the speaker, are on sale for 99 cents.

What is the importance of establishing a purpose for the dark elements in a story?

Establishing a purpose for the dark elements ensures that they serve the plot effectively, rather than existing for shock value alone, which can be gimmicky and less impactful.

Why is it advised to focus on emotion over blood in dark fiction?

Focusing on emotion over blood ensures that the violence and bloodshed in dark fiction have an emotional impact on both characters and readers, rather than merely being graphic for its own sake.

What is the role of psychology in writing dark fiction?

Psychology plays a crucial role in understanding how characters would realistically react to the dark and sinister situations they are placed in, adding depth and realism to their responses.

Why is moral grayness important in creating compelling dark fiction characters?

Moral grayness allows characters to behave in both good and bad ways, making them more complex and believable in a dark fiction setting where they are tested by morally challenging situations.

What advice does the speaker give regarding the use of fear in dark fiction?

The speaker advises tapping into personal fears to evoke genuine fear in readers, as it is likely that if something frightens the writer, it will also resonate with the audience.

What is the final tip the speaker provides for writing dark fiction?

The final tip is to prioritize the story's quality and clarity over personal indulgence, ensuring that every element, especially the dark ones, serves the plot and engages the reader.

Outlines

00:00

📻 Introduction to Dark Fiction Writing

The script begins with the host introducing their new studio and mentioning the challenges of setting it up. They then dive into the topic of dark fiction, a genre that includes horror elements such as fear, dread, evil, and death. The host explains that dark fiction is not limited to horror novels but also includes paranormal, dark fantasy, and some sci-fi novels. They express their enthusiasm for writing dark fiction due to the high-stakes conflict it offers. The host then teases ten tips for writing compelling dark fiction, hinting that tips six and nine are their favorites, and promises a challenging final tip. They also announce an upcoming live stream to celebrate the one-year book anniversary of their novel 'The Savior’s Sister' and mention a sale on dark fiction novels, including their own, available for 99 cents.

05:05

🔪 The Art of Writing Dark Fiction

This paragraph focuses on the nuances of writing dark fiction. The host emphasizes that dark fiction should not rely solely on shock value or the number of character deaths. Instead, each death and scare should serve a purpose in the plot, such as establishing a villain, conflict, or threat. They stress the importance of emotional impact over bloodshed and violence, advising writers to consider the emotional response they want to evoke in both characters and readers. The host also clarifies that darkness and gore are not the same, and while gore can be effective, it should be used sparingly and fittingly within the story's context. They encourage writers to embrace the darkness when necessary, but to also be mindful of the emotional journey they are taking their readers on.

10:08

🧠 The Psychological Depth of Dark Fiction

The host discusses the importance of psychology in dark fiction, suggesting that understanding the human mind is crucial for exploring the ominous aspects of the human experience. They advise writers to consider how their characters' backgrounds and moral codes would influence their reactions to the situations presented in the story. The paragraph also touches on the concept of moral grayness, stating that characters who exhibit both good and bad behaviors and motivations are more compelling in dark fiction. The host encourages writers to create morally ambiguous situations to keep readers engaged and to avoid one-dimensional portrayals of good and evil.

🎢 Emotional Dynamics in Dark Fiction

In this paragraph, the host talks about the importance of varying emotions in dark fiction to prevent reader fatigue. They explain that while fear and dread are common, relying solely on these emotions can be exhausting. The host suggests incorporating a range of emotions and using a roller coaster analogy to describe the pacing of the story, with highs and lows, tension, and moments of calm. They also advise writers to tap into their own fears to create genuine dark elements that resonate with readers, emphasizing that the story should not be about the writer's personal indulgence but should serve the plot and engage the audience.

Keywords

💡Dark fiction

Dark fiction is a genre that encompasses a broad range of stories containing horrific elements such as fear, dread, evil, and death. It often delves into the darker aspects of humanity. In the video script, the term is used to describe the main theme of the content being discussed, with the speaker sharing tips for writing compelling dark fiction. It's also mentioned that various subgenres can qualify as dark fiction, including horror, paranormal, and dark fantasy.

💡Horror novels

Horror novels are a specific type of dark fiction that typically contains elements designed to frighten, scare, or disgust the reader. They are often considered the darkest form of dark fiction. In the script, horror novels are mentioned as an example of a subgenre that is inherently dark and is a common subject for authors who enjoy exploring dark themes.

💡Tone

Tone in literature refers to the mood or emotional atmosphere that a writer creates for the reader. In the context of dark fiction, the tone is often sinister, ominous, or foreboding. The script emphasizes that the tone is a key qualifier for dark fiction, suggesting that it's not the quantity of violence or death but the feeling of darkness that characterizes the genre.

💡Emotional impact

Emotional impact refers to the effect that a story or scene has on the reader's emotions. In dark fiction, it's crucial to evoke strong emotions such as fear or dread. The script discusses the importance of focusing on the emotional response that dark scenes should elicit in both characters and readers, rather than simply relying on graphic descriptions of violence.

💡Moral grayness

Moral grayness describes characters who exist in a moral ambiguity, exhibiting both good and bad traits or motivations. The script mentions that such characters are common in dark fiction, as they add depth and complexity to the story, making it more compelling for readers who are intrigued by characters that are neither wholly good nor evil.

💡Gore

Gore in literature refers to graphic descriptions of violence, injury, or death, often involving blood and bodily harm. The script advises writers to use gore sparingly and only when it enhances the emotional impact of a scene. It's noted that excessive gore can desensitize readers and detract from the story's emotional resonance.

💡Psychology

Psychology, in the context of writing, involves understanding and portraying the mental processes and behaviors of characters. The script highlights the importance of psychology in dark fiction, as it helps writers to realistically depict how characters might react to the grim situations they encounter, adding depth and believability to their actions.

💡Fear

Fear is a fundamental emotion that dark fiction often seeks to evoke in readers. The script discusses the use of fear as a tool in storytelling, suggesting that writers should tap into their own fears to create scenarios that are genuinely terrifying. It's noted that personal fears can serve as a powerful source of inspiration for creating dark and compelling narratives.

💡Emotion

Emotion is a critical component of storytelling, especially in dark fiction, where the aim is to elicit strong emotional responses from readers. The script repeatedly emphasizes the importance of focusing on the emotions that scenes are designed to evoke, rather than simply relying on shock value or graphic content.

💡Self-indulgence

Self-indulgence in writing refers to including content for the author's personal enjoyment rather than for the benefit of the story. The script warns against this practice, especially for authors who intend to publish their work, emphasizing that the story's clarity and quality should take precedence over the writer's personal desires.

💡Purpose

Purpose in writing refers to the intentional reason behind including certain elements or events in a story. The script advises that every death or scare in dark fiction should serve a purpose, such as advancing the plot or developing characters, rather than existing merely for shock value.

Highlights

Introduction to the new studio and house, with ongoing adjustments to the studio setup.

Discussion on dark fiction, a genre that includes horrific elements such as fear, dread, evil, and death.

Dark fiction's broad range, encompassing horror, paranormal, dark fantasy, and some sci-fi novels.

The appeal of dark fiction for writers due to the high-stakes nature of evil and death in storytelling.

Announcement of the one-year book birthday celebration for 'The Savior’s Sister' with a live stream event.

Promotion of a sale on dark fiction novels by various best-selling authors, including the speaker's own works.

The importance of tone in dark fiction, rather than a specific body count or level of violence.

Establishing a purpose for dark elements in fiction, ensuring they serve the plot rather than existing for shock value.

Emphasizing emotion over bloodshed in dark fiction, focusing on the emotional impact on characters and readers.

Differentiating between darkness and gore, and the need for balance, believability, and emotional resonance.

Encouragement to write graphic scenes when necessary, without holding back for the sake of the story.

The role of psychology in creating realistic character reactions to dark and ominous situations.

The prevalence of morally gray characters in dark fiction, adding depth and complexity to the narrative.

The need for emotional variety in dark fiction to prevent reader fatigue and maintain engagement.

Using personal fears as a source of inspiration for evoking fear in readers, ensuring authenticity in dark elements.

The reminder that writing dark fiction should be driven by the story's needs rather than the author's personal desires.

Final reminder about the ongoing sale of dark fiction novels and the promotion of the speaker's own books.

A humorous command from Mousumi, a stern, polished female voice, urging subscription and bell ringing for the channel.

Transcripts

Hellooo, everybody! It's official, we're in a  new studio, in a new house, if you couldn't tell.  

We're still working out some kinks with this  studio, so just bear with us, okay? It takes a while.

In the meantime, today we're talking about  one of my favorite kinds of fiction.

Dark fiction!

Dark fiction is a broad term, encompassing  any kind of fiction that contains horrific elements.

This usually means fear, dread, evil and death. It often exposes some of the more harmful or ominous aspects of humanity.

Lots of genres and subgenres qualify as dark fiction.

Typically horror novels are considered the darkest of dark fiction. But some paranormal novels can be considered dark fiction.

Of course, dark fantasy is dark fiction. And there are sci-fi novels out 

there that could be considered dark fiction. Dark  fiction is particularly popular among writers,  

because content qualifying as 'dark' is really  enticing to write. Stories require conflict,  

and what's more high stakes than evil or death.  But just because we love to write dark fiction,  

doesn't mean we're doin' it right. And that's  where I come in. I'm breaking down the ten  

best tips for writing dark  fiction that is compelling, engaging, and raw.

My personal favorite points are numbers six and nine. However,  

I saved the hardest pill to swallow for last. Cuz I'm a bitch. 

(The sound of a pen scratching. LOGO.)

Before we get started, I have a couple  of announcements, and one of them is  

huge. First off, in case you missed it, my number  one best selling dark fantasy romance novel The  

Savior’s Sister will be celebrating it's one year  book birthday next week on Wednesday. And in order  

to celebrate this, I will be hosting a live  stream. We will have games, I will be answering  

your questions, I also have some secret special  guests. So if you wanna get in on the action,  

mark your calendars. It's Wednesday next  week, be there. Second and most importantly,  

if you are a dark fiction lover like myself, I've  got some super exciting news for you. Right now  

a ton of dark fiction novels by amazing, talented,  best selling authors are on sale for 99 cents. And  

we've got a massive range of dark fiction. Do you  like paranormal? We got it. Do you like horror?  

We got it. Do you like dark fantasy? We definitely  got it. There's young adult novels. There's adult  

novels. There's monsters, magic, steampunk, and  of course there's death. If you are interested in  

stockpiling your dark fiction library, now is  the time to do it. We've got books by horror  

mastermind Daniel Wilcox, the rebel queen herself  Sacha Black, and of course, we are booked by  

yours truly. Not only can you get my dark fantasy  romance novel, The Savior's Champion for 99 cents,  

you can also get its companion novel The Savior’s  Sister for 99 cents. The Savior’s Sister has  

never been on sale before, and who knows when  it'll go on sale again. If you're interested in  

picking up a bunch of incredible books for super  cheap, I have the link listed below. Get on it,  

because the sale is only going down for a limited  time. Don't forget to subscribe to my channel. I  

post new videos on Wednesdays. And if you wanna  be alerted as SOON as I upload, ring that bell.  

Is it still on this side of the page? This is a  new studio, so now, now I don't know which side  

is which. We'll just go with it. With that said,  here are my ten best tips for writing deliciously  

dark fantasy. Number One (1): One size doesn't fit  all. Dark fiction is a broad concept, it covers  

so many genres within speculative fiction. It can  be linked to subgenres within fantasy and sci-fi,  

you've also got horror, thriller, and paranormal  fiction. We could list dark fiction genres all  

day, and there will still be people who think  dark fiction is this highly niche label that is  

dependent on killing off a ton of characters.  You don't need a ton of death and destruction,  

there is no specific body count to aim for. The  dark qualifier relies heavily on tone. Is there  

a sinister feeling to your story? Think of the  literal idea of darkness when it's the middle of  

the night. It's easy to be frightened. Not because  you're being chased by a demon, but because  

you can't see what's around you. You have no idea  what's lurking in the shadows. It's the fear of  

the unknown, the dread of what could potentially  be hiding. Yes, you can absolutely murder a  

crap ton of characters in your dark fiction, but  remember, that tone is the qualifier. And you can  

achieve that tone in a variety of ways. Number Two  (2): establish a purpose. Darkness for the sake  

of darkness isn't entertaining. It's gimmicky.  It's really common for newbies to boast of how  

dark their fiction is. They kill characters left  and right. People think they're crazy. They're  

not a regular writer, they're a cool writer.  The fact is, death is commonplace in fiction.  

It's not new, it's not original, and killing off a  ton of characters isn't going to make your writing  

impactful. In fact, it might do the opposite.  If you're murdering your cast, there needs to  

be a purpose to it. Every death and scare needs  to affect your plot in some way. Death and scare  

tactics can establish the villain, the conflict,  or the threat. They can motivate, discourage,  

or break the main character. They can hinder,  obscure, or completely change the direction of  

the plot. But nowhere on this list did I say death  and scare tactics should exist for shock value.  

Yes, they can be shocking as a byproduct, but that  should not be their sole purpose. Pay attention to  

the purpose your darker elements serve in the  story. If they don't got a purpose, delete ‘em.  

Number Three (3): Emotion over blood. There is  absolutely a place for blood in dark fiction. I  

mean hello, dark fiction is about death. But the  bloodshed and violence should never overshadow  

the emotional impact. The point of dangerous  elements like torture, fighting, and suffering  

are to evoke emotion in the characters, and thus  in the readers. Your character may be scared for  

their life and your reader is anxious to figure  out whether or not they're going to survive.  

This is what your focus needs to be, on the  emotion you're evoking through the scene.  

For example, say you just kill the character in  a horrific way. If the character is a stranger to  

the MC you can potentially focus on the horrific  nature of their death: their blood and end trails,  

the way their corpse disgusts and terrifies the  MC. But if this character is your MCs best friend,  

going into lengthy details over the gorefest  and nothing else is only going to lessen the  

emotional impact. This is your MCs best friend,  how does this loss feel for them? They should be  

experiencing despair. Always remember what emotion  you're going for and lean into it. On a similar  

note, Number Four (4): Darkness and gore are not  synonymous. There's a time and place for gore.  

Sometimes it's effective, other times it's corny.  Finding the right balance relies on three key  

points. First is quantity. If you've got maggot  covered corpses on every other page, it loses its  

effect. Too much gore numbs the reader; they  become conditioned to expect it. Utilize gore  

sparingly, and only in moments when it can really  pack a punch. Second is believability. The gore  

needs to make sense with the world you've created.  If a masked murderer is pulling out every kind of  

weapon imaginable from their backpack, readers are  gonna roll their eyes. Make sure the gore fits the  

era, story, and capabilities of your character.  And last as we've already covered is emotion, be  

honest about whether or not gore will enhance the  emotional impact of the scene. It's not about what  

you want to write. It's about how your point of  view character should be feeling in that scene. If  

gore will enhance the main character's emotional  point of view, have at it. If not, for the love  

of God resist. On a related note to, Number Five  (5): Live a little. I know I just said resist, but  

if the moment requires some twisted writing, don't  hold back. A lot of writers say they're nervous to  

write a scene. It's necessary but they're afraid  it'll be too much. Bitch, if someone picked up  

a horror novel, they probably knew what they were  getting themselves into. Sometimes a torture scene  

is required. Sometimes you have to describe the  slow agony of a dull blade sawing through flesh,  

Do it! It’s dark fiction for a reason, because  it's dark. It's like choosing to write erotica,  

but then holding off on the sex Why are you even  here? Now is not the time to get shy, if you need  

to douse your character in blood, bring out the  hose. Number Six (6): Psychology is your friend.  

One of the biggest elements of dark fiction is  exploring the more ominous elements of the human  

experience. This is where understanding the human  mind comes into play. No, I'm not talking about  

making all of your characters psychopaths. I mean  paying close attention to the human experience,  

to nature versus nurture. Being realistic  about how your characters would react to the  

specific situations that you have created. Say  you've created a morally great character with a  

troubled past, who does what they need to do to  survive. In that case when faced with a life or  

death situation, they're probably going to be  more likely to resort to sinister tactics in  

order to stay alive. But if you've created  another character with a higher moral code,  

they probably won’t resort to sinister tactics,  or if they do, they may feel extremely guilty  

about it. Dive deep into your character's mind.  You are probably going to be putting them in  

really shitty situations. So you need to have a  good idea of how they would respond and react to  

them. Number Seven (7): Moral grayness or bust.  Dark fiction is where the morally gray come out  

to play. A morally gray character, more or less,  is a character that behaves in both good and bad  

ways and has both good and bad motivations. And  they thrive in dark fiction. Think about it, if  

you're trying to create a sinister tone, it's not  gonna land if all of your characters or do gooders  

with the most wholesome of intentions. Likewise  if your characters are evil for the sake of it,  

that doesn't have the most depth or believability.  That's not to say that none of your characters can  

be inherently good or evil, but putting them in  situations that test their morality or wickedness,  

makes for a very compelling read. Don't be  afraid to let the good guy be a little bad,  

so long as you're staying true to the  character and the situations presented,  

moral ambiguity will keep the readers on their  toes. Number Eight (8): Emotions vary. I've  

repeated ad nauseum that the emotion you evoke is  going to be the most important part of the story.  

And we've already discussed feelings like fear, or  dread, or horror. But just because these feelings  

are prevalent in dark fiction, doesn't mean they  should be all encompassing. Just like constant  

gore will make the reader numb, a constant  state of fear or terror can be very tiring.  

You can only keep the readers on the edge of their  seat for so long before they fall right off. This  

is in part why it's common to see dark fiction  represented in subgenres or multi genre work.  

For example, dark fantasy has elements of  darkness alongside elements of magic. This  

allows you to play with more than just the evil  and unknown. This doesn't mean you have to write  

multi-genre fiction, in order to write good dark  fiction. It just means that you can't rely on fear  

alone throughout the entire book. Think of your  story as a roller coaster with highs and lows,  

points of tension, and points of levity or calm.  Fast paced scenes, interspersed with slow pace  

scenes. This helps keep readers on their toes, and  makes the shocking scenes all the more unexpected.  

Number Nine (9): Tap into your fears. Well I don't  encourage you to use your book as a means of self  

diagnosis, I do encourage you to look within. If  you want to evoke fear, what frightens you? What  

would be a horrible, worst-case scenario in your  opinion? This is a great way to establish darker  

elements, because you know for a fact that someone  is scared of them. You bitch. There is no way  

that you are the only person on the planet who's  scared of clowns, or who would hate being stuck  

in a broken down elevator. I'm personally  terrified of deep sea life. So, when I was  

writing The Savior's Champion I created a scene  involving deep sea creatures when I was trying to  

create tension, fear, and terror. If you're  struggling to evoke emotion, tapping into your  

own fears can be a great source of inspiration.  And last but not least, Number Ten (10): It is  

not about you. If there's one thing you've learned  today I hope that it's this shit ain't about you,  

and what you wanna write. Yes, you should be  writing your passion project. Yes, you absolutely  

should be telling the story you want to read.  But there's a difference between writing what  

you love, and being completely self indulgent.  The latter is when you include content because  

it's fun, because you wanna write it whether or  not it serves the plot. If you're writing fanfic,  

or if you're a hobby writer, and this content will  never see the light of day, then you can do what  

you want because it's a hobby, and hobby is all  about self indulgence. But if you are planning  

on publishing this story and putting it out  there for readers to spend money on and consume,  

then you need to understand that your whims come  second to the quality and clarity of the story  

itself. Before you carve out your character’s  innards and splatter them across the wall,  

be honest with yourself. Are you doing it for you,  or for the benefit and forward movement of your  

plot? It better be the latter, or I'm coming  for you. So that's all I got for you today.  

Friendly Reminder, a bunch of amazing dark fiction  novels are on sale now for 99 cents. We've got  

so many amazing authors. Like Iona Wayland,  Caitlin Duncan, and of course yours truly.  

So be sure to check them out. The sale is lasting  for a limited time only, and it's linked below.  

Go pick up your copies right now. There's  a bunch of ‘em. And like I said, this is  

the first time The Savior’s Sister has been on  sale. And who knows when it'll be on sale again,  

so you haven't read it yet, get to it. Go,  right now. Don't forget to subscribe to my  

channel. I post new videos on Wednesdays. And if you wanna be alerted as SOON as I upload,  

ring that bell, or that bell. I don't know, I  don't know what side it's on anymore guys. I hav-I'm, I'm

all messed up, I'll figure it out. And be sure  to follow me on social media. I'm on Instagram,  

Tumblr, Facebook, BookBub and of course  you can tweet me @JennaMoreci! Bye!  

(Stern, Polished Female Voice) This is  Mousumi. Per orders, you must subscribe  

to Jenna’s channel and ring that bell. Your  Sovereign commands it. Any deviation from  

his word will be penalized harshly, so if  you know what's good for you, subscribe.