Anyone who reads these articles each month will know that horror fiction is something about which I care a great deal. With that said, I’m also able to recognise some of the flaws that can exist within my chosen field. At its best horror can be impactful, surprising, emotional and leave a lasting impression. At its worst horror can become almost a caricature of itself, drawing upon lazy stereotypes that have been seen in the genre time and time again, turning even the most hardened readers cold with overly familiar beats. Unfortunately, in my experience, that seems to be how many people outside the genre perceive it to be – so it’s incumbent upon horror writers to steer away from these stereotypes wherever they can. But how do you duck the old, overdone ‘classics’ in your horror fiction?
Location, location, location