Every writer has a toolbox — and horror writers get some of the coolest tools of all.

Used well, these tools can pump up the creep factor, stretch a moment to a mile, and make that jump scare really hit home. But... think of the tools like hot sauce. A dash can take a meal from good to delicious, but a whole bottle will set your mouth on fire (in a bad way).

Use these tools wisely to enhance your scenes and immerse your reader in your story, but don’t overuse or you’ll give your reader burnout before they get to the good bits.