How to Write Creepypasta

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Have you recently read a creepypasta online? Was it scary? Bone-chilling? Makes you want to wet yourself? Think you can do better? Well, it's worth a shot.

Steps

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    This is the first step to creating any piece of art, especially stories. A good indicator of vision is when the phrase "what if" is used. Some good examples are: What if someone hides outside your room every night waiting for the perfect chance to kill you? What if there's a demon that is possessing your loved ones and killing them off? The possibilities for your stories are limitless.
  2. 2
    Know the elements of horror. Think of what scares you, and why it scares you. Being alone, darkness, imminent danger, and things that seem normal but are somewhat off tend to be scary things. But why do these things scare you? It tends to be that it's our natural response to things that could be dangerous (about surviving in the wilderness). We are never completely sure if something is hiding in the darkness. Being alone means that you don't have the power of being in numbers to fight predators. Knowing there's imminent danger is a more obvious example, and when you know something is off, you simply can't trust it to be safe. Knowing what scares you and why it does will allow you to write great creepypasta.
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    An abandoned building? A meme, like Slender Man or Zalgo? A failed experiment? A ghostly serial killer? A crazy person? There are many great topics for creepypasta, and the possibilities are endless.
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    Remember that this is not a novel, so you don't have to be too in-depth.
    5. Quiz

    wikiHow Quiz: Which Creepypasta Am I?

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    If the internet is a campfire, creepypastas are the scary stories whispered amongst the flickering flames. From tales of gruesome, unaired TV episodes to horrifying urban legends, there’s no limit to the spooky chills and thrills that are just a click away on the web. Where do you fall in this world of digital scares, though? There’s only one way to find out. Take this quiz!
    1 of 12

    Describe yourself in one word:

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    For creepypasta, a first-person narrative is usually the most effective. How will it begin? A dark, tall man lurking in the woods? A series of entries from a failed government project? A person going and purchasing a demonic doll that happens to like mutilating children? Usually, a more morbid beginning is better, but remember, there may be kids out there reading your pasta.
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    Most first drafts aren't perfect. If you want your pasta to be successful, then editing is a must. Edit them once a day, re-read them and repeat the following day. Remember to look out for nasty grammar and spelling errors!
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    What are some of the biggest cliches found in popular Creepypasta?
    Community Answer
    Bleeding, blood-red, or pitch-black eyes are very cliche, as are the numbers 13 and 666. Pointless violence, excessive gore, and phrases such as "I don't have much time to write this" or 'I'm going to die soon" are also common cliches.
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    Not Helpful 19 Helpful 268
  • Question
    Do all Creepypasta stories have to involve killing?
    Community Answer
    No-- Creepypastas can include whatever you want. They are, however, generally horror-themed. There are guidelines on the creepy and crappy pasta pages telling you what is generally expected.
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    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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  • Question
    What is the best subject for a Creepypasta?
    Community Answer
    Think of something you find scary and magnify it. Then, put it in a story.
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    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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      Tips

      • Don't repeat the same event over and over again. The reader will just stop reading and decide the story is boring.
        Thanks
        Helpful 34 Not Helpful 1
      • Make sure you handle serious subjects like rape, murder, and violence against minors and/or animals with maturity and respect; otherwise the reader will notice very quickly that you are merely trying to shock the audience, you could also offend a large majority of readers with this insensitivity. Remember it's not about censoring yourself, it's about having respect for other people's views.
        Thanks
        Helpful 81 Not Helpful 10
      • Make sure what you write isn't immature and make sure it makes sense.
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        Helpful 57 Not Helpful 6
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      Tips from our Readers

      The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
      • While you can reference famous creepypastas like Slenderman for fun, don't overly borrow others' stories or characters without credit. Add your own twist.
      • Use vivid sensory details like "tall, pale, faceless man in a suit blocking the only exit" instead of vague descriptions. This grabs readers.
      • Let your writing sit for a bit before editing — stepping back helps you spot issues you may have missed in the initial rush of writing.
      • Test out your creepypasta on trusted friends first before publishing to get feedback on what works well and what might need improving.
      • Base creepypastas on your own nightmares or deep fears — turning feelings of helplessness into a scary story can be very effective.
      • Don't just use popular memes or shock value without an actual meaningful story. Good creepypasta leaves a lasting impression.
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      Warnings

      • Remember that if you post it on a wiki, other people may make improvements to it. Not all of these 'improvements' will be good, so you may want to check on it occasionally to see if there has been vandalism, spam or simply just bad editing.
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        Helpful 55 Not Helpful 5
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