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Do you want to give your story or writing project a dark or tragic turn? Are you unsatisfied with your ability to write anything but happy stories? With practice and planning, you can write a story that will chill and/or depress even your most lighthearted readers.
Steps
Writing Your Own Story
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1Get an outline. List the events of the story, and figure out the plot line.[1] It's best to know what you're writing about so you won't have to worry about it when you're trying to form the words. As your character goes through the bad events, come up with detailed images in your head. Using your creativity, form words to go along with that image.
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2Wait for a day when there is heavy rain. Once the raindrops start hitting the streets, go outside and walk around. This way, you'll achieve a sense of seriousness, a dramatic feeling, or inspiration.
- If you would prefer not to get wet, carry an umbrella with you.
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3Read some dark literature. Sometimes, seeing how other authors wrote their stories may help you write yours.[2] Don't be afraid to try out their writing style, but make sure you aren't plagiarizing.
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4Get a feel going. Play a very sad or depressing song. Often, music will unlock a feeling inside of you that cannot be brought out in any other way. You could also construct a playlist of depressing, sad songs so that you have a continuous loop of them playing.
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5Write in a place where you're all by yourself. Distractions often can divert your attention from writing the story. A loud, noisy environment where you cannot concentrate makes it harder for the words to come out, and you'll only end up with frustration. A quiet room is what you'll need in order to properly think.
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6Try to get the feel of what you're writing about. If your main character is a patient with terminal cancer, then go visit someone who has terminal cancer. If you can't find one, go online and look up some journals.[3]
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7Dim the lights when you write. You don't want any light to blind your sight into the words of your mind. This will also create a dark atmosphere in which you'll truly feel depressed.
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8Write as if you're taking all the sadness, desires, hate, frustration, and hurt in you and turning them into words. This can be immensely cathartic. Use a thesaurus if necessary in order to come up with heart-touching words.
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9Use good punctuation.[4] Full stops at the end of sentences. If you're not sure about the commas, have someone with the eye of an eagle and the heart of a grammar Nazi look it over for you. Don't overuse ellipses.
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10If you are taking in all the sadness of the world, you will be mocked beyond your comprehension. This act takes over your life. If you really want to save the world, or give the world resources to do such, ignore the world's mockery and resentment and write to the best of your ability.
Community Q&A
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QuestionIf I accidentally made my story happy, how do I turn it around and make it sad?
Community AnswerYou could write about a sudden accident or a illness that one of your characters suddenly has to deal with. A character who has to face a situation where a friend or family member is hurt or sick could cause your readers to feel very sad for them. The character doesn't need to die, the struggle will be enough to make the story sad. -
QuestionWhat if there isn't a quiet place in my house to write?
Stompy78Community AnswerYou could possibly write your story in the library or somewhere other than your house, or you could try putting in earbuds and listening to some classical music. -
QuestionHow do I know if my story is worthy?
Mikaela WertherCommunity AnswerLet a parent/teacher read it and ask for their advice and honest opinion. You may even get advice from them to make your story better!
Warnings
- Don't copy other people's work.⧼thumbs_response⧽
- Don't mock your own work.⧼thumbs_response⧽
- Don't use excessive detail where it isn't necessary; be judicious.⧼thumbs_response⧽
Things You'll Need
- Story.
- Outline.
- Emotions.
- Dictionary.
- Thesaurus.
- And yourself...
References
About This Article
When you’re writing a dark or sad story, you’ll want it to be as realistic and engaging as possible. Try listening to sad music and dimming the lights to set the mood for your writing session. You can also do research about whatever you’re writing. For example, if you’re writing about someone with cancer, read other stories about it or watch vlogs from people dealing with cancer for inspiration. Then, start to plot the main events of your story in a rough outline. Don’t worry if your story changes while you write it, since the outline should only be a guide. While you’re writing, try to put yourself in your character’s shoes and imagine everything they think and feel. For a sample gothic short story, read on!
