creative writing about a dark hallway

Tim Kane Books

Strange is the new normal, how to write creepy scenes to make your readers squirm.

Most writers who delve into horror hit the prose with a bag of clichés and heavy handed stage props—swirling fog, glowing eyes, wicked laughs. Don’t get me wrong, camp can be great (if it’s intentional). However, a more subtle approach can work wonders.

Add Details One by One

Use disturbing details or reversals when describing your scenes. Each one, taken by itself, does little, but in combination, they imbue the reader with unease. Consider Cold Skin by Albert Sánchez Piñol. Here an unnamed narrator just inhabited a weather station on a deserted island.

Just then, I heard a pleasing sound far off. It was more or less like a heard of goats trotting in the distance. At first, I confused it with the pattering of rain; the sound of heavy and distinct drops. I got up and looked out of the closest window. It wasn’t raining. The full moon stained the ocean’s surface in a violet hue. The light bathed the driftwood lying on the beach. It was easy to imagine them as body parts, dismembered and immobile. The whole thing brought to mind a petrified forest. But it wasn’t raining.

Reversal : The narrator thinks it’s raining, but then there’s no rain. We wonder what’s creating that pattering sound, and the not knowing makes us uneasy.

Disturbing details : The water is stained violet, a bloodlike color. This idea is cemented in the reader’s skull with the driftwood, described as dismembered limbs.

Let the Character Freak Out

Nothing creeps out a reader faster than letting the protagonist freak out. Ever wonder why there are so many screams in horror movies? It’s the same thing. As an author, you must find the written equivalent to the scream.

In Bag of Bones by Stephen King, the protagonist, Mike Noonan, begins to believe that his house is haunted. He’s in the basement and hears the sound of someone striking the insulation, but no one else is home.

…every gut and muscle of my body seemed to come unwound. My hair stood up. My eyesockets seemed to be expanding and my eyeballs contracting, as if  my head were trying to turn into a skull. Every inch of my skin broke out in gooseflesh. Something was in here with me. Very likely something dead.

King lays it on thick here. Instead of one physical reaction, he dumps the whole bucket on us. He doesn’t dazzle us with a etherial decaying corpse. We won’t even see the ghost till the final chapters. No. He tells us how Noonan feels just in the presence of the thing and that’s what creeps us out.

Another example of the character freaking out can be seen in Shirley Jackson’s  The Haunting of Hill House .

Now we are going to have a new noise, Eleanor thought, listening to the inside of her head; it is changing.  The pounding had stopped, as though it had proved ineffectual, and there was now a swift movement up and down the hall, as of an animal pacing back and forth with unbelievable impatience, watching first one door and then another, alert for a movement inside, and there was again the little babbling murmur which Eleanor remembered; Am I doing it? she wondered quickly, is that me? And heard the tiny laughter beyond the door, mocking her.

Here the character doubts herself and what she sees. This is essential to any horror story. When weird things happen, the character mysteries react accordingly. The stranger the situation, the stronger the reaction. And most of us would doubt our sanity in creepy situations.

Let The Reader Do the Imagining

Why should you, the author, do all the heavy lifting. Your reader’s imagination will often fill in the blanks for you. Take this example from Stephen King’s The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon .

As she reached the driver’s door of the cab, which hung open with vines twisting in and out of its socket of a window, lightning flashed again, painting the whole world purple. In its glare Trisha saw something with slumped shoulders standing on the far side of the road, something with black eyes and great cocked ears like horns. Perhaps they were horns. It wasn’t human; nor did she think it was animal. It was a god. It was her god, the wasp-god, standing there in the rain.

Notice that the monster is only vaguely described. It’s called “something” twice. This lets the reader fill in the blanks. There is enough description that we at least know it’s a big hulking creature. This is the literary equivalent of when Ridley Scott only showed glimpses of the alien in Alien .

Use Strong Verbs

Finally, strong verbs will help any writer to shine, but they can also allow one character to shine over another. Take this excerpt from William Blatty’s The Exorcist .

Regan’s eyes gleamed fiercely, unblinking, as a yellowish saliva dribbled down from a corner of her mouth to her chin, to her lips stretch taut into a feral grin of bow-mouthed mockery.

“Well, well, well,” she gloated sardonically and hairs prickled up on the back of Karras’s neck at a voice that was deep and thick with menace and power. “So, it’s you … they sent  you !” she continued as if pleased. “Well, we’ve nothing to fear from you at all.”

“Yes, that’s right,” Karras answered; “I’m your friend and I’d like to help you.”

“You might loosen these straps, then,” Regan croaked. She had tugged up her wrists so that now Karras noticed they were bound with a double set of leather restraining straps.

“Are the straps uncomfortable for you?”

“Extremely. They’re a nuisance. An  infernal  nuisance.”

The eyes glinted slyly with secret amusement.

Karras saw the scratch marks on Regan’s face; the cuts on her lips where apparently she’d bitten them. “I’m afraid you might hurt yourself, Regan,” he told her.

“I’m not Regan,” she rumbled, still with that taut and hideous grin that Karras now guessed was her permanent expression. How incongruous the braces on her teeth looked, he thought. “Oh, I see,” he said, nodding. “Well, then, maybe we should introduce ourselves. I’m Damien Karras. Who are you?”

“I’m the devil!”

Notice the verbs that Blatty uses with Reagan — gleamed, dribbled, gloated, croaked, rumbled. In contrast, the more calm individual in the scene, Karras, responds with simple verbs like “answered” and “saw”. The contrast allows the reader to see Reagan as disturbing.

If you want to make your readers squirm, reading only in daylight hours, shy away from the obvious gore and claptrap. Rather, take the quieter road of tiny disturbing details built up over pages and chapters. Show how your character reacts to what’s happening, and the reader will feel it too.

Strange News Signup

Arkane curiosities: five minute reads on mythology, legend, and supernatural history delivered monthly to your inbox.

Thank you for sign up!

Share this:, 3 comments on “ how to write creepy scenes to make your readers squirm ”.

Thank you so much, this was so useful

You are so welcome.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Discover more from tim kane books.

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Type your email…

Continue reading

• Writing About
• Tips For Writers

May 18, 2015

Writing about: an alley.

TIP: Dumpster is capitalized because it is a trademark. I learned that last year.

102 comments:

Thanks for the very vivid tips! It's a claustrophobic setting, particularly if the alley is a dead end. It can heighten the character's senses if they're cornered and have to look for an escape route.

Exactly! And in my story the alley is a dead end. ;)

Hi Chrys, loving the alley tips. In chapter 1of my wip there's an alley scene and would definitely use these and my senses to enhance that setting.

I'm glad I can help, Lidy. :)

Good tips! We had an alley behind our house where I lived for three years (grades 1-3) that was a neighborhood playground, but it could be seen easily from homes on both sides (so parents could keep an eye on us) and the only traffic was garbage (and you knew when they were coming) and utility trucks which were infrequent.

An alley that was a neighborhood playground? That's interesting.

Chrys, You use what you have as a playground. We used to play in the pasture and had to dodge the cow patties all the time, sometimes missing of course. Sunni http://sunni-survivinglife.blogspot.com/

Unless they figure briefly because somebody cuts through to get somewhere else, alleys seem to be rather disgusting places when used in books.

They sure can be disgusting places, which is why they are perfect for murder stories. ;)

An alley seems pretty limited in terms of the type of stories you can have there. If you're characters go into an alley, you know they're not going there to take an exam ;)

That's very true, Michael. Only certain stories...thrillers and mysteries will bring their characters to an alley. But...hey...it could be an exam or test of some kind if a gang is involved. See how that work? :P

See, that's why you're the published author and I'm not ;)

Hmmm...I don't think I've included many alleyways in my writing. I wonder why.

I think your type of stories could easily include an alley. I read Marionette and reviewed it on Saturday. I really enjoyed it and love your characters. :)

These are some great tips. I love the eagle photo, too. I've heard they are like pigeons in Alaska.

They're like pigeons in Alaska? That's hard to imagine.

Great tips! I'd never thought about using an alley in a story.

Thanks, Sarah! Any place can be a setting in a story. :)

I can tell you - I used to work third shift counselor at a rehab. The worse odor was someone in the last throes of Aids. I will never forget that. Someone can walk by me in a store and I know they have that disease. It's unnerving. Great post of ideas, Chrys, thank you!

That sounds disturbing, Dixie. I hope I never know what that smells like.

Alleys are great spots for events in urban fantasy. Dark and out of sight from the street. Lots of supernatural critters crawling around! That eagle picture is pretty neat. :)

Very true. I can picture all sorts of creepy critters in those shadows. *shutters* ;)

An alley can be a great set up indeed. But usually stuck with so much, unless there is a secret passageway in there haha

A secret passageway would come in handy for character in danger.

Smells in an alley can be quite interesting and very gross. lol

Haha. I agree. :P

I think I feature an alley in at least two of my books, including my WIP. It's set in Chicago, so there's plenty of back alleys to explore!

Yay for alley settings! :)

Dumpster is capitalized? Now I know.

It is. That was something I learned while reading a book last year. In 30 Seconds I didn't capitalize it, but now I know to do it.

I have one alley scene. Its not epic, just an SUV plowing through alleys full speed and sending people jumping back indoors and trash flying all over the place.

Oh, but that sounds pretty exciting.

Most interesting and vivid tips Chrys, enjoyed the post. Yvonne.

Thanks, Yvonne.

Dumpster Diving Eagles! I've never seen that before. And you're absolutely right. Alleys are an essential detail in any story with an alley involved.

Neither have I. I thought the picture was pretty cool and thought some readers could get a kick out of it.

My characters always find themselves in alleys. They usually end up doing something with the dumpster. Jumping on it, blowing it up. Ya know, things like that. ;)

Blowing up Dumpsters. I wouldn't want to be around when your characters do that. haha

These are great tips for writing any setting! I have yet to write an alley scene...perhaps eventually it'll pop up.

Yes, using all the scenes for any scene is important to set it up.

If my character tastes something I'm sure it will be awful.

No doubt about that. Ick!

I think my characters had a fight with some bullies in an alley once. I definitely think sensory images (especially with something like an alley) is definitely the way to go!

Fights usually happen in alleys, don't they? :)

Very vivid descriptions, Chrys! No, my characters haven't found themselves in an alley but I love the idea for suspense and or loneliness. You've described them so well here, just like our alleys downtown Vancouver. Sometimes you see a clean one which is always a pleasant surprise. Just finished Hurricane Crimes this morning! Loved it!! Will post reviews very soon. :)

A clean alley? I'd like to see one of those! ;P Thank you so much! Whenever I know someone is reading one of my eBooks, I get nervous. :)

You can really engage all of the senses with an alley setting!

Exactly. That's why I love alley settings!

Sad to say all my writing and reading have been alley free. I'm not sure why--you're right, it is a great setting. I hate the alley behind my house. I wish it didn't exist. That's really interesting about Dumpster. I didn't know that. And that pic of the eagles is awesome!

Well, maybe an alley...a spooky alley...will make it into one of your future stories. I bet you'd do a great job making it come to life.

I was in Birmingham last week, and participated in a Ghost Tour. We walked by an alley where 50 citizens charged city hall, and 20 people were killed. They say that investigators caught an EVP with a disembodied voice stating very clearly, "Count the bodies."

I have ALWAYS wanted to go on a Ghost Tour/Walk. I've also always wanted to use one of those EVP devices. :) That's creepy!

I've used an alley sometimes, but I can't recall having used it as a setting for a prolonged period of time. My character Urma Smart (née Pancake), the town psychopath, made up a story about being cornered in an alleyway by a drunken Mortez (her future husband and father of her child) to avoid telling her parents she'd willingly gotten drunk and had sex at fifteen years old. She eventually comes clean, but Mortez never forgets the lie she told about him. Then in my second Russian historical, Anastasiya catches antagonist Boris having sex with his clandestine girlfriend under a fire escape in an alley in the Upper East Side. Anastasiya is a bit of an antagonist herself, and rather light-headed, but this is one of the times she shows she's not some moron, and has quite a few choice words for Boris.

Well, because my story is short it was easier to make an alley a setting for most of it such as the beginning and the climax.

Chrys, I love alleys for all the reasons you describe. I think they work well in mysteries and thrillers. I do have an alley in my mysteries series and I do believe I've covered all the issues you describe. Hoping to publish my first in the trilogy this year. It's with an editor now. Good subject for your post. Sunni http://sunni-survivinglife.blogspot.com/

I have my fingers crossed for you, Sunni! I'd love to read your alley scenes. :)

An alley does allow for a lot of disgusting description. A perfect place for a thirller.

Ha! Yes, it certainly does. I guess because I like darker tones, that's why alleys appeal to me.

One of my opening scenes was in an alley and I wished I'd read your post before I wrote it. You came up with some images I didn't think of.

Thank you, Sandra, but I;m sure your opening scene is great. :)

I had never put that much thought into alleys as they are places I tend to avoid. I have never written about an alley but this would be great material to use if I did or about anything else really. Sean at His and Her Hobbies

I'm glad you think so, Sean. :)

There is something spooky about an alley. I can't say I've ever included one, although I did have a scene in a narrow hallway filled with lockers once. It was sort of alley-ish!

Haha. That is a little alley-ish. And schools can be nightmares.

I really liked the alley setting in your book. Alleys can be very creepy.

Thank you, Mary! :D

Oh yikes, I do not go into alleys often enough. And come to think of it, my main character does spend some time in one. Ick...

I don't think I've ever been in one. lol

Alleys can be creepy and scary. I have been in an alley with a friend and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. Urine, throw-up and gross things were all around so I got out of there in a hurry and then told my friend never again!

Yeah, I'm not sure if I'd ever want to be in an alley, but I like to put my characters in them. ;)

Great reminder of how important descriptions using all our senses are. I always wonder why that person went in to the alley. No, don't do it.

Ha! It is like watching a slasher movie when someone goes upstairs. :P

I try to stay out of alleys; now I think I know why. betty

Smart, very smart. ;)

Hi. Dark alleys have always creeped me out, and I couldn't resist using one in my novel. And it works so well in your short story too. I find it interesting that the same alley in the daylight wouldn't bother me at all....unless it's in a bad part of town. You can learn so much about a neighborhood this way.

I couldn't resist either! The best thing a writer can do is writer about things that creep him/her out.

Both my characters and I avoid alleys :) but your tips about engaging all the senses are good for every setting really.

Thanks, Nilanjana.

This has nothing to do with my writing, but I thought it was funny you posted about this, because we were just visiting Estes Park, CO this weekend, and we walked through an alley to get to the main street. My son, who is 10, exclaimed that he could officially say he'd walked in an alley now (he reads a lot, so I'm sure he's read about plenty of alleys). We then had an entire short conversation about alleys, and whether we'd been in any. Unfortunately (though fortunately for us that day), it was a clean alley. Pretty spotless, to the point that someone must have swept it. I've never been in an alley so clean.

I'm psychic, that's why I posted it. :P Your son has done more than I...I've never been in an alley, dirty or clean.

You sure bring an alley to life with your descriptions. I've never written about an alley, but want to now. :) I have read a couple of books where part of the action takes place in an alley. Great tips. Maybe an alley is in my future.

Thank you, Beverly! :)

Does anything good every happen in an alley? I don't think I've written a scene in an alley, but I must have read many. Not any particular one coming to mind except Stephen King's IT when Bev is running away from her possessed father near the end.

I don't think so, Tamara. That's why they are best to be avoided...unless you want a character to get into some trouble. ;)

I don't recall reading anything about alley's in any of the books I've read. Same goes for stories I've written. But your descriptions above does remind me of the alley scene in Dream Team. Sight of a dirty alley, Smell of urine, as others are encouraged to urinate in the alley. The sound of someone getting beat up, then murdered. An irate neighbour yelling down "what is going on down there". The course feel of the brick wall as Albert steadies himself to urinate, then sees his psychiatrist laying on the ground, feeling the cold pavement, blood in his own mouth. Your points above, certainly remind me of that scene.

That is a vivid scene. Even how you described it.

My characters have been in alleys before, but a part of me wants to always write them as normal and clean because it seems like everyone turns them into horrific, nasty places with bums fighting and people shooting up in the corner. I don't know. I mean, I've been in normal alleys before.

That's true, Madilyn. I've never heard of a clean alley in fiction. I think the dirty ones are more fun to write about in thrillers, though.

Yeah, I suppose you're right!

My first book had a murder take place in an alley. Great place to sneak up on someone with little chance of detection. Great tips!

Exactly! ;)

I did. My MC was trying to sneak away and used an alley to escape. I love the post and it looks like I'm not the only one. Well done! Anna from Elements of Writing

Thanks, Anna! In 30 Seconds, my hero and heroine use alleys to escape too. :)

No alleys for my books but I find them to be creepy places in real life. At least in cities. They're okay in small towns.

City alleys are the worst.

It seems that when I see an alley in a movie, someone is always cornered and trying to get out by going up. That is a great idea for approaching any story, by thinking about the 5 senses, thanks for the advice!

Climbing fire escapes are a good way to escape, if there are fire escapes.... ;)

Great points, here! I feel like I, like so many other writers, often neglect the other 4 senses and they're so important to make the reader really lose themselves in the writing.

I always try to use as many senses as I can. :)

Fascinating! No, I haven't read any stories that take place mostly in an alley that I can think of... maybe some short stories, but no whole books. That sounds like a tricky setting. Looks like you handled it well. I didn't know Dumpster was a proper noun. Huh. Thanks for the knowledge.

Well, yes, a novel wouldn't be able to play out entirely in an alley, but it could have a big scene set in one. :)

New comments are not allowed.

• Skip to primary navigation
• Skip to main content
• Skip to primary sidebar

WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®

Helping writers become bestselling authors

Setting Description Entry: Hospital

December 6, 2008 by BECCA PUGLISI

ambulances, doctors, nurses, ambulance attendants, paramedics, volunteers, porters, priests, visitors, firemen, police officers, pink/green/blue or patterned scrubs, gurney, clipboards, IV bags and stands, blood, cuts, bruises, pus, torn tissue, casts, arm slings…

doors sliding open and shut, furnace, air exchanger, screams, cries moans, gasps, grunts/hisses of pain, people talking in low voices, intercom calling out codes/directions, squeaky wheelchairs, the clack of the keyboard, a low-volumed radio or TV, heavy…

cleaners (pine, lemon, bleach etc), antiseptic, a metallic tang from stainless steel in the open air, bleach wafting from bedding, blood, vomit, sweat, perfume/cologne, the scent of get well flowers, questionable food smells from room trays, grease/meaty/soup smells…

Burnt coffee from machines, bland food from vending machines, Hospital food (jello, pudding, soups, oatmeal, bland chicken, mashed potatoes, dry buns or toast), snack foods from vending machines (granola bars, chips, candy bars, pop, juices, energy drinks…

Cold metal bed rails, soft pillows, crisp sheets, smooth plastic emergency remote/call remote, pain (hot, deep, burning, sharp, dull, achy, stabbing, probing), the prick of a needle, cool swipe of antiseptic being applied on skin, a sweaty forehead, sweat dripping…

Helpful hints:

–The words you choose can convey atmosphere and mood.

Example 1 : My gaze swivelled over the waiting room, looking for a place for Andrew and I to sit. A TV played quietly in one corner, a distraction that might help keep his mind off the stitches he would need in his arm. The seats closest to it stood empty, sandwiched between two sweating and shivering men. As one leaned forward and filled the space with harsh, hacking coughs, I understood why no one else had jumped at the prime location. I steered Andrew to the other side of the room, the bland walls and tableful of torn magazines suddenly much more appealing…

–Similes and metaphors create strong imagery when used sparingly.

Example 1: (Metaphor)  The orderly sped down the hall with his crash cart, straining to reach the ODed rock star. Doctors swarmed her bed, bees serving their queen, racing to bring her back from the dead…

Think beyond what a character sees, and provide a sensory feast for readers

Setting is much more than just a backdrop, which is why choosing the right one and describing it well is so important. To help with this, we have expanded and integrated this thesaurus into our online library at One Stop For Writers . Each entry has been enhanced to include possible sources of conflict , people commonly found in these locales , and setting-specific notes and tips , and the collection itself has been augmented to include a whopping 230 entries—all of which have been cross-referenced with our other thesauruses for easy searchability. So if you’re interested in seeing a free sample of this powerful Setting Thesaurus, head on over and register at One Stop.

On the other hand, if you prefer your references in book form, we’ve got you covered, too, because both books are now available for purchase in digital and print copies . In addition to the entries, each book contains instructional front matter to help you maximize your settings. With advice on topics like making your setting do double duty and using figurative language to bring them to life, these books offer ample information to help you maximize your settings and write them effectively.

Becca Puglisi is an international speaker, writing coach, and bestselling author of The Emotion Thesaurus and its sequels. Her books are available in five languages, are sourced by US universities, and are used by novelists, screenwriters, editors, and psychologists around the world. She is passionate about learning and sharing her knowledge with others through her Writers Helping Writers blog and via One Stop For Writers —a powerhouse online library created to help writers elevate their storytelling.

Share this:

• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
• Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
• Click to print (Opens in new window)

Reader Interactions

September 6, 2011 at 12:41 am

Thanks Killian. 🙂

September 5, 2011 at 12:07 pm

You might want to add Benzoin to the smell category. I love the smell of Benzoin in the morning!

April 17, 2011 at 5:07 pm

These are awesome! I wish you had a post on mental or Psychiatric Hospitals, too!

Hmmm, maybe you can post one! 🙂

December 8, 2008 at 7:45 pm

Thanks everyone! I had to rely on my TV show watching and imagination fo rthe most part as I haven’t (thankfully) spent much time in a hospital.

*knocks on wood*

December 8, 2008 at 7:11 pm

Wow. How do you manage to put these things together? So in-depth.

December 7, 2008 at 9:30 am

I’ve spent enough time in hospitals to know…good job.

December 6, 2008 at 8:48 pm

Nice! A place of pain where all our characters should be!

December 6, 2008 at 6:51 pm

Med Gas stations.

I build medical centers as part of what I do. My guys stored their lunches in the unoccupied morgue trays. Rough bunch. Nothing like the mixed smells of ham, cheese & ‘preservatives’ – I guess.

[…] Hospital […]

• Skip to main content
• Skip to primary sidebar

Writing Tips Oasis - A website dedicated to helping writers to write and publish books.

How to Describe an Alleyway in Writing

By Isobel Coughlan

If you’ve got a particular alleyway in mind for your novel and need some help in portraying it, this post is for you. Below we show you how to describe an alleyway in writing.

Something that’s depressing, dark, and usually dirty .

“He dreaded walking down the dingy alleyway, especially since he was wearing his new shoes.”

“She ran down the dingy alleyway. Her goal was to spend as little time as possible in the dirt.”

How it Adds Description

If you want to show your alleyway is dirty or dark, “dingy” is the word to use. This adjective is linked to unpleasant places, and it can show your character’s dislike for the location. It could also imply that the alleyway is unsafe, as it’s neglected by society. This can foreshadow bad events happening there.

2. Concealed

Something that’s hidden or covered.

“She slipped into the concealed alleyway to hide from her pursuers.”

“He searched day and night for the concealed alleyway, but he just couldn’t find the hidden entrance.”

“Concealed” gives the sense that the alleyway is hidden from the general public. This might frustrate characters, as they can’t easily access the location. A character can also use a “concealed” alleyway to hide in, which is ideal of you’re trying to build suspense in your novel.

3. Sinister

Something that seems harmful or evil.

“She avoided the sinister alleyway at all costs. Nothing gave her the shivers more than that awful place.”

“He was stuck in the sinister alleyway with no hope of escaping.”

“Sinister” is an adjective with strong negative connotations. If you want to show that your fictional alleyway is scary or unsafe, this word gives a clear image to the reader. If a character thinks the alleyway is “sinister,” it could show they want to leave or are uncomfortable in unknown surroundings.

Something that’s very small from one side to the other.

“The narrow alleyway made everyone feel claustrophobic, even if they didn’t suffer from the fear.”

“He had to breathe in to fit through the narrow alleyway. It was an unpleasant journey, to say the least.”

The adjective “narrow” describes the small physical quality of the alleyway. This is a great term to use if you want to build up a clear image of the setting. A “narrow” alleyway could make characters feel uncomfortable, especially if they’re taller, as they’ll take up more space. A “narrow” alleyway might also be harder to travel through, and this can create a challenge for your characters.

5. Threatening

Something that might harm people.

“She grimaced as she entered the threatening alleyway. Nothing about the scene was pleasant.”

“Don’t walk down the threatening alleyway alone. You’ll regret it if you do.”

“Threatening” shows that your alleyway setting poses a physical or emotional danger to any nearby characters. This could leave characters too scared to enter, and it can also imply that some kind of danger resides within the alleyway.

6. Spacious

Something that’s large in area or size .

“She gasped as she entered the spacious alleyway. From the outside, it looked tiny.”

“No one knew about the spacious alleyway, and you’d never know how large it was from outside.”

Alleyways are typically small spaces, but they can also be surprisingly large. “Spacious” shows that your alleyway is different from others, and this will likely surprise characters — especially if the alleyway looks tiny from the outside. If a character thinks the alleyway is “spacious,” they will likely be impressed or in awe of the setting.

Something that’s small in value, degree, or quantity .

“The minimal alleyway was completely empty, apart from an endless vision of concrete slabs.”

“The alleyway was minimal compared to the bustling avenues from her homelands.”

If you want to show how empty or simple your fictional alleyway is, “minimal” can help. This adjective can show that the alleyway has nothing in it or has a very basic design. Some characters might find this quite eerie and quiet, but others might enjoy the “minimal” simplicity.

Somewhere that’s too small for the things and people inside it.

“The cramped alleyway was home to thousands of people. But their homes were modest in comparison to the outside world.”

“She squeezed through the cramped alleyway. Every step she took was calculated and intentional.”

“Cramped” shows that your alleyway is either very small or very filled with people and things to the point it feels small. Characters could struggle to travel through a “cramped” alleyway due to the excessive amount of people and obstructions. However, they might enjoy visiting the space, as a “cramped” alleyway could be home to eccentric or strange characters.

9. Tranquil

Somewhere peaceful and calm .

“She slowly sauntered through the tranquil alleyway. The space offered a peaceful break from the busy city.”

“The tranquil alleyway was a popular hiding spot for anyone who wanted a moment to calm down and take a deep breath. It was needed in the bustling city.”

“Tranquil” shows how the alleyway offers a brief oasis from the town or city it’s situated in. Introverted characters may be drawn to this space, as it allows them to rest before tackling the busy streets. If a character calls the alleyway “tranquil,” they might be fond of it and may gravitate towards it more than others.

Somewhere that’s sophisticated and fashionable.

“The chic alleyway was full of designer shops and exclusive restaurants. It was definitely the location to see and be seen in.”

“Wow, this is a chic alleyway. Who knew such luxury was hidden in plain sight?”

While alleyways have the reputation of being dark and dismal, they can also be luxurious. “Chic” shows your alleyway is polished and fashionable, and it could be home to fine shops, apartments, and eateries. Characters who care about appearances might flock to the “chic” alleyway to take advantage of its services and to show off their wealth.

Jump to navigation

• Inside Writing
• Teacher's Guides
• Student Models
• Writing Topics
• Minilessons
• Shopping Cart
• Inside Grammar
• Grammar Adventures
• CCSS Correlations
• Infographics

Get a free Grammar Adventure! Choose a single Adventure and add coupon code ADVENTURE during checkout. (All-Adventure licenses aren’t included.)

Sign up or login to use the bookmarking feature.

A dark hallway

Writing Topic Print

Teacher Support:

Click to find out more about this resource.

Standards Correlations:

The State Standards provide a way to evaluate your students' performance.

• 110.4.b.12.A
• LAFS.2.W.1.3
• 110.5.b.12.A
• LAFS.3.W.1.3
• 110.6.b.11.B
• 110.6.b.12.A
• LAFS.4.W.1.3

© 2024 Thoughtful Learning. Copying is permitted.

k12.thoughtfullearning.com

Related Resources

All resources.

• Seeing Emotion in Facial Expressions
• Seeing Emotions in Body Language
• Calming Down with Deep Pressure
• Teaching the Whole Child (in a Fragmented World)
• Developing Social-Emotional Skills Through Literature
• Inquire Online Middle School Classroom Set
• Inquire Online Middle School Teacher's Guide
• The Science Writer
• The Social Studies Writer
• The Math Writer
• All Write SkillsBook
• All Write SkillsBook Teacher's Edition

🎉 Our next novel writing master class starts in – ! Claim your spot →

BEST DARK WRITING PROMPTS

Join (probably?) the world's largest writing contest. Flex those creative muscles with weekly writing prompts.

Showing 33 prompts reset

Shakespeare, start your story with a character in despair., write a story titled 'desperate remedies'., write a story about someone participating in a seemingly innocent game that suddenly takes a turn., set your story in a type of prison cell., write a story about someone making a deal with the devil..

Introducing Prompted , a new magazine written by you!

🏆 Featuring 12 prize-winning stories from our community. Download it now for FREE .

Write a story about someone trying to resist their darker impulses. Whether they succeed or fail is up to you.

Set your story in an eerie, surreal setting., start your story with someone vowing to take revenge., write about a character with questionable morals., write about someone deliberately trying to make somebody else envious., subscribe to our prompts newsletter.

Never miss a prompt! Get curated writing inspiration delivered to your inbox each week.

Write a story about a pathological liar.

Start your story with someone receiving a one-star review., set your story on a day when the sun never sets..

• Write a story titled ‘The Locked Door.’

Set your story in a labyrinth that holds a secret.

Start your story with someone being forbidden from doing something., write a story that involves sabotage..

• Set your story during the night shift.

Write about a character who has landed their dream job, only to discover it isn’t quite what they imagined it to be.

• Start or end your story with a house going up in flames.

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

We'll send you 5 prompts each week. Respond with your short story and you could win $250!

Contest #257 LIVE

Enter our weekly contest.

This week's theme: Shakespeare

Prize money

Contest entries, closes at 23:59 - jul 05, 2024 est, recent contests ✍️.

#256 – Going for Gold

#255 – The Five Stages

#254 – The Talk of the Ton

#253 – Slow Down

Recent winners 🏆

Phoebe Barr – read

Maria Adamkiewicz – read

Danielle LeBlanc – read

Leaderboard 🥇

#1 Zilla Babbitt

32385 points

#2 Deidra Whitt Lovegren

28751 points

#3 Abigail Airuedomwinya

22425 points

#4 Graham Kinross

14555 points

#5 Scout Tahoe

13199 points

#6 Chris Campbell

11466 points

#7 Thom With An H

10689 points

#8 Rayhan Hidayat

10217 points

#9 Michał Przywara

9952 points

#10 Deborah Mercer

9611 points

We made a writing app for you

Yes, you! Write. Format. Export for ebook and print. 100% free, always.

The best dark writing prompts

While positive stories can be a great comfort read, we're all drawn in by a little darkness at times. Whether it's a story about blood and gore, or something that's more emotionally driven, a lot of our favorite tales feature something we fear lurking in the shadows. While inspiration for these kinds of moody stories can be found anywhere (what's in that dark corner over there?), sometimes it can be helpful to get a little outside help for your writing ideas.

To help you get started, this is a list of our top ten dark writing prompts:

• Five years ago, you moved away, changed your name, got a new job, and altered your appearance. But they managed to find you anyway.
• It was a hell of a way to die.
• Write a story where one character needs to betray the other, but isn’t sure if they can.
• Write about someone who’s so obsessed with a goal that it leads to the destruction of their closest relationship.
• Your character has made a terrible mistake in his/her life and is living with the consequences, at least a decade later.
• Write a story in which a window is broken or found broken.
• Write about a character who tells a lie which turns out to be true - or a truth which turns out to be a lie.

Want some more help writing a story that will send a chill down your readers' spines? Check out these free resources:

• How to Master the 'Show, Don't Tell' Rule (free course) — To write a dark story full of suspense and mystery, you need to get the atmosphere right. Creating vivid images and describing sensations accurately will allow readers to see through your character's eyes. Use our Show, Don't Tell course to master immersive storytelling, and make your readers feel the fear like they're right there in that dark alley, watching the man walk closer... and closer...
• How to Write a Horror Story: 7 Tips for Writing Horror (blog post) — Our horror writing bible. If your dark story errs on the side of spooky, this post tells you everything you need to know.

Want more help learning how to write a dark short story? Check ou t How to Write a Short Story That Gets Published — a free, ten day course guiding you through the process of short story writing by Laura Mae Isaacman, a full-time editor who runs a book editing company in Brooklyn.

Ready to start writing? Check out Reedsy’s weekl y short story contest , for the chance of winning $250! You can also check out our list o f writing contests or our directory o f literary magazines for more opportunities to submit your story.

NEW VIDEO COURSE 🎉

How to Write a Novel

Join Tom Bromley for a writing master class and finish your first draft in 3 months . Learn more →

Explore more writing prompt ideas:

Adults Writing Prompts ⭢

Adventure Writing Prompts ⭢

Angst Writing Prompts ⭢

Character Writing Prompts ⭢

Christmas Writing Prompts ⭢

Dark Writing Prompts ⭢

Dialogue Writing Prompts ⭢

Dramatic Writing Prompts ⭢

Dystopian Writing Prompts ⭢

Fall Writing Prompts ⭢

Fantasy Writing Prompts ⭢

Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Fluff Writing Prompts ⭢

Funny Writing Prompts ⭢

Halloween Writing Prompts ⭢

High School Writing Prompts ⭢

Historical Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Holiday Writing Prompts ⭢

Horror Writing Prompts ⭢

Kids Writing Prompts ⭢

Middle School Writing Prompts ⭢

Mystery Writing Prompts ⭢

Narrative Writing Prompts ⭢

Nonfiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Novel Writing Prompts ⭢

Poetry Writing Prompts ⭢

Romance Writing Prompts ⭢

Sad Writing Prompts ⭢

Science Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Short Story Writing Prompts ⭢

Spring Writing Prompts ⭢

Summer Writing Prompts ⭢

Teens Writing Prompts ⭢

Thanksgiving Writing Prompts ⭢

Thriller and Suspense Writing Prompts ⭢

Valentine's Day Writing Prompts ⭢

Vampire Writing Prompts ⭢

Winter Writing Prompts ⭢

Oops, you need an account for that!

Log in with your social account:

Or enter your email: