Why I Write Horror: The Allure of the Dark

Some folks swoon over romance, others crave the rush of adventure. Me? I’ve always been drawn to the things that lurk just out of sight—the ghosts, the monsters, the beautifully macabre.

Horror isn’t just a genre to me; it’s a way of seeing the world. I didn’t grow up with scary stories tucked under my pillow, but I was always captivated by the eerie and the inexplicable. The whispers of something unseen, the thrill of an unexplainable shadow, the way the unknown can be just as mesmerizing as it is terrifying. Maybe it was the ghost stories passed around in hushed voices, the lingering chill of a superstition, or the way folklore weaves fear and wonder into the same breath. Whatever the reason, I’ve always found myself drawn to the dark.

The Beauty in Fear

Fear is a powerful creature. It can freeze you in place, send chills racing down your spine, or—ironically—make you feel more alive than ever. But unlike the real-world horrors (looking at you, taxes), horror fiction puts us in control. We can shut the book, turn off the screen, dive under the blankets. And yet… we keep coming back. Why?

Because horror isn’t just about being scared—it’s about the fight. It’s about staring into the abyss and challenging it to blink first. It lets us poke at our deepest anxieties, waltz with our subconscious fears, and flirt with our darkest curiosities—all from the safety of a page or a screen.

Where It All Started

I still remember the first story that truly unsettled me. (Insert personal anecdote—maybe a childhood urban legend, a book that made you sleep with the lights on, or a real-life eerie encounter.) It didn’t just give me goosebumps—it lingered. It made me realize horror isn’t just about monsters under the bed; it’s about the unexplainable, the emotions we bury, and the shadows that stretch just a little too long.

The Stories I Want to Tell

When I write horror, I’m not just aiming for jump scares—I want to haunt. I want my stories to creep into your thoughts long after the last page is turned. Whether it’s gothic dread thick enough to drown in, a slow-burning psychological nightmare, or supernatural horror that worms its way into your bones, I want to craft tales that don’t just frighten, but linger.

To me, horror isn’t about cheap thrills—it’s about exploration. It’s about peeling back the layers of the human mind, confronting the things we’re told to ignore, and stepping into the darkness with wide, unblinking eyes.

And that’s why I write horror.

What About You?

Are you drawn to the dark side? What first lured you into the world of eerie tales and spine-chilling stories? Drop your favourites in the comments—I’d love to hear which books, films, or legends have carved their place in your nightmares.

🖤 Stay spooky,

Cailynn Brawffe