With all the thrills and scares within our works, the difference between horror and
thrillers can prove to be a bit challenging. Here are a few tips that you can use to ensure that you can create the best possible story in each genre.
Plot
One of the many things that separate the two genres of horror and thriller really starts at the plot. At the most basic level, horror stories are meant to scare the audience while thrillers are
meant to excite the reader. However, dig a little beyond that, and you’ll see that there’s much more than the obvious. Think about the scariest story you’ve ever read. Are you thinking about it? Good. Now what made it so terrifying? Was it because of the monster that lurked in the shadows? Was it because of what it could do? Was it because you were alone? Well, it’s really a combination of all three things. Authors of the horror genre love to play off of an evolutionary trait that has kept us alive. That tingling sensation on the back of your neck when you stare into the dark or think something is right behind you is what they want to prey upon. It’s not solely the creature, or its abilities, or the fact that you’re alone. What keeps the horror genre so scary is that no matter
what book you’re reading or writing, the fear of the unknown is a constant that keeps raising the stakes. Where is the serial killer? Can he walk as fast as you run? Are you really alone? All it takes is one of those thoughts to dig into your head and then it holds on. It sticks there and never wants to let go. That’s what scares you. Now, when it comes to thrillers, these plots tend to be high-octane and suspenseful. When you read a James Patterson or a Tom Clancy novel, think about how you just devour the
pages. That has to do with how the book is constructed. When an author writes in this genre their main goal is to withhold answers and raise the stakes. By doing so, the reader is sucked into this story because we so desperately want to know what happens next. But, there’s something more. Think about all the thrillers you’ve read and you know that there’s something else that keeps you engaged. Some of the best novelists in this genre have mastered it and it takes a while to do so. They think about all the possible ways to pummel their character into the ground as hard as they can without breaking them. It’s not just about raising the stakes, it’s about putting the protagonist through such a mental and physical punishment that they’re emotionally drained and question whether or not this journey was worth it. If it’s done properly, both you and the main character will agree that it was worth it in the end.
Protagonists
In every story we love, we tend to love the character(s) as well. With the horror genre, it tends to be easier to relate to the protagonist. Usually, the main character in the novel is just some ordinary, everyday person that at times has or stumbles across a dark secret. We tend to relate to them more often because of those qualities. Now, most of us don’t have a dark secret, but we do have a secret of some sort. Not only that, but think about what the protagonist fears. Somewhere within that fright is something that the reader fears as well, and no one wants to be alone when they’re afraid. That’s what makes these characters so relatable. Think about the novel It by Stephen King. Why do we become so invested in those kids? Because not only are they terrified by a clown that calls himself Pennywise, but because we were once those kids in some shape or form. However, when it comes to thrillers, the difference is quite significant. Usually, the focus of the story tends to have some sort of expertise in a field. Whether they’re a spy or a person that seems ordinary, but has tremendous marksman or fighting or speaking abilities that can get them out of almost any situation. You don’t see that sort of stuff in horror because the moment that the protagonist can fight against the antagonist, the story is no longer scary. There’s a quote that says "If it bleeds, it can die,” and that takes away much of the fright. What will happen is that the reader will hide behind that talent and use it to push away the scares. The reason that characters in thriller novels can have a ‘super power’ of sorts is because so much is happening in the story that the protagonist can’t solve all their problems with it. As a reader then, we can’t hide behind that ability and are forced to deal with the problems that arise head on.
Antagonists
I believe that the third most important thing behind plot and protagonists are the
antagonists. Most stories, whether they’re novels, movies, or tv shows, have been suffering recently to weak villains. That’s why when we read or watch something, the works that stand out are the ones that have an opposing force unlike any other. In horror, the antagonist tends to be some paranormal creepy being that lurks in the shadows. However, notice that it’s the possibility that they could should up at any time, and not actually the fact that they’re in the scene, that we find the most frightening. For example, let’s go back to It, since quite frankly, it’s one of the best
horror stories written. Stephen King plays off a very real fear that many people face on a basic level. A fear of clowns. Now, most horror villains don’t have deep, philosophical reasoning behind their actions, but what makes them memorable really stems from their crookedness. That crookedness forces the protagonists to deal with a darkness that lurks within them and as readers, that’s what we want our antagonist to do. With It, whenever one of our beloved characters are in an area where Pennywise could be around, we find ourselves terrified that he literally could be anywhere. Now, when it comes to thrillers, this is where antagonists really get to shine. If you’re writing a thriller, and your antagonist is evil just for the sake of being evil, then your story will be forgotten. Every great villain in this genre has some sort of motivation that arises from a personal experience or philosophical belief. Let’s take a look at the Dan Brown novels. In his stories, the opposing force believes that they’re doing what’s right. Brown also does something very clever and uses history and religion to justify the actions of everyone because of how muddled and gray it can become. There’s an old adage and it states that the villain believes he’s the hero of his story. When you create an antagonist, you need to forget about your own convictions and write them as if they’re your favorite person in the whole world. You have to
believe that they’re correct but plant something in their justification that makes them wrong. That way, your two opposing forces tread a very thin line that separates them. However that one little flaw in their belief is what will make your protagonist the ‘good guy’.
Setting
In terms of this subject, this is where horror and thriller actually have many similarities. If you’ve read Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn or The Snowman by Jo Nesbø then you know that they take place in small towns. Now, that doesn’t mean that horrors or thrillers can’t take place in large cities, because they can. In fact, that’s what makes these two genres so dynamic. Unlike genres such as adventure, where those sort of stories tend to take place in exotic locations because
they need to, horrors and thrillers play off the vibe of any location. With the small towns, it adds a layer of suspense and mistrust because everyone knows each other. With cities, the fact that anyone or anything could be the antagonist adds a level of fright and uneasiness. Also, just look at the stories that take place in the woods. The idea of the hunter and the hunted translates to both genres and when utilized in different ways, it plays to either horror or thriller. That’s what makes
these two genres so flexible and enjoyable to write.
Supernatural Elements
This is where the two genres differentiate. If you ever have any confusion about what
you’re trying to write or what genre the book that you’re reading falls in, this aspect can really give you a clear line. With horror, many authors like to throw in characteristics of the supernatural to make their stories more frightening. By doing that, it adds another layer of adversity that the protagonist has to face, therefore making their journey much more difficult. On top of that, those sort of features add to the scares since so much more can be done that isn’t limited by the human body.
However, with thrillers, adding supernatural elements takes away from the work. They’re meant to have more serious qualities and force both the antagonists and the protagonist to use their minds in order to beat each other. When demons and such are brought into the mix, you’re not really nervous any more, instead you’re actually scared about the thing itself. Also, thrillers are meant to have us on the edge of our seat because of the reality of the situation. The fact that what happens in those stories could actually happen, is what allows us to have an emotional tie on a more personal level. So, I hope that helped you have a better understanding of horrors and thrillers. If there’s anything that you should take away from this article, it should be this: Write what you want to read and know when to bend the rules.
- A Solivagant Writer,
Adel
Thank you for joining us for this week's Solivagant Writers. Leave us a comment below and tell us what you thought. This week's Solivagant Writer was Adel. You can follow him on social @AdeltheAuthor. Give us some love and share this post if it helped you in your writing. Farewell until next week, and have a happy Monday!
Written by: Adel
Edited by: Sarah Robinson
Produced by: Bethany Lord