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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
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Get an outline. List the events of the story, and figure out the plot line. [1] X Research source 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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Wait 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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Read some dark literature. Sometimes, seeing how other authors wrote their stories may help you write yours. [2] X Research source Don't be afraid to try out their writing style, but make sure you aren't plagiarizing.
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Get 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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Write 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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Try 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] X Trustworthy Source University of North Carolina Writing Center UNC's on-campus and online instructional service that provides assistance to students, faculty, and others during the writing process Go to source
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Dim 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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Write 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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Use good punctuation. [4] X Research source 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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If 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.
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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.
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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.
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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!
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Tips
- Be sure that your work makes sense... read it a hundred times over if you must.Thanks
- You don't have to be a serious person to be a serious writer.Thanks
- Imagine if you were in the characters shoes, how would you feel?Thanks
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Warnings
- Don't copy other people's work.Thanks
- Don't mock your own work.Thanks
- Don't use excessive detail where it isn't necessary; be judicious.Thanks
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Things You'll Need
- Story.
- Outline.
- Emotions.
- Dictionary.
- Thesaurus.
- And yourself...
References
About This Article
Article Summary
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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!
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Reader Success Stories
- "This is great advice, but be warned: If you are really invested in a dark and depressing story, you will only drag yourself in with it. Others around you will notice, and will criticize and try to "correct" you. The more personal, the more it affects you." ..." more
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"This is great advice, but be warned: If you are really invested in a dark and depressing story, you will only drag yourself in with it. Others around you will notice, and will criticize and try to "correct" you. The more personal, the more it affects you."
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"The tips helped along with the first step. I just used my feeling on what to write. One more tip, believe in yourself, for hope goes a long way. Good luck."
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"I needed to write a school project story and I wanted it to be sad but I wasn't sure how I could make it sad. But this article helped a lot."
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"This is perfect for some of my dark stories. It should be very helpful for others who want to follow along. Thank you!"
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"Reading the stories really helped. This is an awesome site, 10/10!"
