Board Thread:Writer's Workshop/@comment-33803324-20190201125749/@comment-25052433-20190211080126

If you have a reoccuring urge to write, you'll eventually do it. It's one of the intial hallmarks in artists. A simple desire, perhaps one that even seems out of our scope, that simply persists. As far as crafting a scary story, there are methods you can study and steps for reducing distractions while writing, but ultimately it'll be a matter of your creative process and your desire to complete this goal coming together long enough to develop a plot for your story and then converting it from your brain onto paper (or in most cases now, computer screen.)

I can't tell you what will work best for you, but I can share the methods that have worked for me, and maybe you can try them out, put your own spin on them and find a great process for yourself.

I develop my stories by walking around and talking to myself. Yeah, it sounds crazy but it works for me. (I get weird looks sometimes.) What I do is just go out for a stroll in my neighborhood and pretend as though I'm telling my story to someone walking besides me. I think the combination of physical excercise, endorphins from the speed walking I tend to do and the flow of creativity through the telling process just pulls the ideas out into the open.

Find your enviornment. I have to have complete silence and privacy to write. No music, no television, no one else in the room. Some people can write with music, some people can write while their friends and family are sitting around, but for me, I gotta have my own little bubble. Find what setting works best for you and try to create in the space.

Keep comforts nearby. I like coffee and cigarettes while I write. Stimulants to stimulate I suppose. So before I sit down to create, I brew up coffee, make sure I have a pack of smokes and then get into it. You don't want to stop and break your concentration, so have your comfort items on hand.

Don't rush yourself. If it takes you a day or a month to write a short story, that's fine. Sometimes I'll look at my portfolio and realize that it's been a long time since my last story. There is pressure there to stay relevant and not slip out of the conversation, but from my experience, rushing is the worst thing you can do.

There are also tons of great resources out there, totally free and just waiting for you to use them. The #writingcommunity tag on Twitter is a fabulous source of support. Facebook also has countless writing groups for all levels of experience, and those who haven't written anything before. Take advantage of those resources, network with experienced writers and never hesitate to ask for help when you need it.

Finally, don't get hung up on writing "creepypasta." Just write horror. Defining creepypasta is just about impossible, and the trends, tropes and standards have changed so much over the years that the original "creepypasta" model of story is a footnote in history. What was once short flash fictions meant to be copied and pasted are now bonafied short stories, novellas and even some novels. Authorship has replaced novelty. There is no verifiable "creepypasta" model, there is only scary stories on the internet. So write to that.

I hope this helps. If you have any questions or concerns don't hesitate to reach out!