in a way it is like sci fi. you can have it be about anything really ,but because it is dressed up as horror you can get away with it
I want to write Horror (Capitalized because Horror deserves it) to try to bring back that feeling I use to get when a Horror movie/book made me feel something. Most horror now is boring and predictable and not at all scary. It all feels like High School the musical instead to Carrie.
It depends on what horror you're talking about. But there is definitely a bit of an overabundance of cliches. And too common reliance of cheap jumpscares, especially in games.
Well, I wouldn't use a term like "needed" in the context of subjective writing, but certainly there are plenty of other techniques: atmosphere, creepy monsters, disturbing backstory, sense of helplessness, sense of distrust, dark music so on. And it is normally better to use a larger variety to avoid feeling predictable and unsophisticated.
I do like a good jump scare in movies, even if they are cheap. I don't really get that feeling with books.
That is a good point, Unless the book is that good where you are drawn into it and some other sudden noise causes you to jump.
The scare payoff from books, for me, is usually around 2am when I get up for the bathroom that I suddenly think, "What if Monster/Killer comes for me?" while my pants are around my ankles and it's pitch black. Not a good time to get afraid. Agreed.
