Shriek and Shiver: Let's Write a Scary Story

Students in the class will learn valuable tips on how to write a scary story. Some of the tips discussed will be beneficial for other genres of writing, but most of the tips are specifically for the horror/suspense story. Each class is broken into two parts, the information portion and the discussion/writing portion.

Week 1: The Rules
- Journal writing -- Pick one of the prompts provided and start brainstorming for a scary story
- Discuss the formula for writing a scary story (elements of a scary story versus other stories)
- Discuss the six types of conflict in a story
- Workshop time -- Students will have time to work on developing the plot of their story in class and ask questions of other students and the teacher.

Week 2: Characters
- Journal writing -- Jot down some ideas about who the protagonist and antagonist is going to be in the story.
- Discuss the elements of a relatable character.
- Look at specific characteristics of the protagonist and antagonist in a scary story.
- Workshop time -- Students will have time to work on their story in class and ask questions of other students and the teacher.

Week 3: Scary story
- Discuss elements that will make a successful scary story (foreshadowing, suspense, plot twists, etc...)
- Discuss elements of the death scene
- Workshop time -- Students will have time to work on their story in class and ask questions of other students and the teacher.

Week 4: The Final Touches
- We will discuss the importance of dialogue and elements of good dialogue.
- Workshop time -- Students will have time to work on their story in class and ask questions of other students and the teacher.