After a rather odd urge to consume some classic horror, I recently finished reading a wide array of H.P. Lovecraft stories. What I mostly discovered is that Lovecraft found a formula that worked well for him, and mostly stuck to it. Here’s how to write your very own Lovecraftian-style horror.
Setting
Your novella should include one of the following:
- Mysterious town in New England that people avoid
- Remote location in the world, preferably Antarctica or Australia
It is very important to use one of the two. Without it, your novella will be a fraud.
Character
Pick one, or mix-n-match if so inclined:
- Curiosity-seeking traveler who happens to stumble mysterious town
- Well-educated professor from Miskatonic University
General Plot
Again, pick one:
- If curiosity-seeking traveler, they will find themselves in the mysterious town, and find some horrible dark secret.
- If professor, go on some unrelated field expedition that stumbles upon an ancient and terrible place
- If professor, investigate some experience that links back to a mysterious town. In course of research, discover some terrible secret.
Ending
Main character either:
- goes crazy and is killed/died
- is the lone survivor in a twisted plot, and spends the rest of their days in silent horror and terror
Other Requirements
Your novella must include the word “Cyclopean” at least twice, and “non-euclidean” at least once. It would also be a good idea to mention the “Mad Arab” Abdul Alhazred and his book the Necronomicon.
That’s it!
Have fun writing your very own novel!
Nikky's Notes 