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Question: What makes a good horror novel!?
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
Suspense , compelling characters , a fast pace plot line,and of course a truly horrible antagonist that you pray to God that you never meet , Www@QuestionHome@Com

yep:

drama
tension/conflict
suspense
unexpected twists
realistic characters/situations (so you're not just reading the story, you're INSIDE it, as well)!.

Meh!.!.!.I'm actually trying to figure this out since I'm sort of working on a romance/horror novel!.

What I really like is twists and turns!. So, the author will make me think I know something, then, all of a sudden, it turns out I was completely wrong!. Having that, "Holy crap!" moment is always the sign of a well-written, suspenseful story, IMO!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Really good suspense, so that you HAVE to keep turning the pages, even though you've got to get up in two hours!.

also, I think that the biggest mistake most horror writers make is confusing grossness or gore with horror!. I'm not impressed if the writer is trying to scare me -- I'm safe in my chair with a book!. But, if the writer creates characters I truly care about and makes me scared for them, I am a fan for life!. Www@QuestionHome@Com

The antagonist whose motives are unclear and yet to be revealed!.
Not knowing what to expect!.
The flawed protagonist that we so desperately want to succeed, hoping that each turn of a page will act as a life-line!.
The blood-splattered climax!.
Suspense!.
Fear of the unknown!.

I love horror novels, my favourite being The Shining by Stephen King!.

:)


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Suspense
Drama
Humor
Romance!.
And realistic-ness!.
If its like The boogey man nobody will like it!. But
If its a man who kills people who falls in love with one of his prey, because the prey was his ex wife and the whole novel is about how she is trying to escape his clutches and love, Then thats a better book!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

drama
suspense
tension

but mostly, is the writing good enough to suspend the readers' disbelief!?Www@QuestionHome@Com