Is it just me, Reader, or does this time of year put you in the mood to write something spooky?
Maybe it’s the music I have running in the background while I work. 🎶
Or that my friends have been hosting a spooky movie marathon all month.
Or that there are so many great Horror and Supernatural Mystery books to choose from.
Well, whatever the reason, I’m in the mood for a bit of Gothic Fiction. What about you?
But maybe you’re wondering…
What Exactly is Gothic Fiction?
Well, Gothic Fiction tends to play on both the thrill and fear of the unknown. As well as placing great importance on atmosphere. Essentially, the atmosphere—the environment—almost becomes a character itself.
The second—but arguably most important thing—is loss. The Legendary Character (the POV character) has been/or must be dramatically cut off from their past, their lover, their family, or life itself during the story.
You following thus far, Reader? Maybe…? 😬 No worries, I’ll break it down for you.
Here’s the 5 Must-haves you need to write your own Gothic Fiction
The Transgression
The Legendary Character needs to commit a transgression by crossing a dangerous or taboo boundary in order to reclaim what they’ve lost. Often with horrific or violent consequences to themselves, others, or their surroundings.
The Family
Gothic Fiction is about family in some way. Whether it’s about the Legendary Character’s tragic past or tragic present, family secrets, blood lineage, or the person they’re destined to marry.
The Tragic Backstory
NO ONE in Gothic Fiction has a happy backstory. Every Legendary Character starts out in a state of wanting to return to a time in the past when things were better for them personally.
Secret Oaths and Forbidden Knowledge
Your Legendary Character needs to obtain or already have some forbidden knowledge during the course of the story. This is usually the transgression they commit or at least leads to it. This knowledge is usually occult, but it doesn’t have to be.
The Supernatural
From ghosts to Cthulhu, pretty much anything that isn’t from the natural world as we know it is fair game in Gothic Fiction. Which means the occult, prophecies, curses, and even vampires are up for grabs.
And there you have it, Reader. The 5 must-haves you need to write your own Gothic Fiction story. If this seems like your pumpkin pie, then I hope you’ll give Gothic Fiction a try.
A few last things to consider before you get to writing. Though Gothic Fiction is about the transgression of boundaries and the sometimes horrific consequences of crossing them, they’re NOT meant to be morality sermons. In fact, the Gothic stories of the past were considered extremely progressive for their times.
So it would be accurate to say that Gothic Fiction shows us the lines that our societies have drawn and then points out that they’re not as clear-cut as they may seem.
And knowing that, it might not surprise you that Gothic Fiction surges in narrative media during times of sociopolitical crises and anxiety. Particularly highlighting our fears about unchecked scientific experimentation, the exploitation of the poor and working classes, and the erosion of tradition, gender roles & religious faith.
Here are 10 movies & TV shows to get you in the mood to create some Gothic Fiction
- Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein
- The Pale Blue Eye
- Wednesday (TV Show)
- A Haunting in Venice
- Guillermo del Toro’s Crimson Peak
- The Fall of the House of Usher (TV Show)
- The Woman in Black
- Penny Dreadful (TV Show)
- Sleepy Hollow (all of them)
- Carnival Row (TV Show)
Well, Reader, until next time, this is your friendly neighborhood storytelling Kat wishing you a hauntingly creative weekend.
Your cohort in storytelling,
Kat Vancil
🐱
PS 👉 What’s your favorite Gothic book, movie, or show? Hit REPLY and let me know.
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Multi-Genre Author | History, Magic, and the Unknown
Helen G. Huntley - Author of sweeping stories across time, galaxies, and genres
Readers who love bold, emotional stories with complex characters, slow-burn tension, and immersive worlds—whether it's a dusty frontier town, a crumbling Gothic castle, or a starship headed into enemy territory. If you enjoy…historical romance with a twist of scandal, mystery, and fierce women. Gritty westerns full of danger, redemption, and unexpected love. Gothic tales of curses, secrets, and slow-burning obsession. Space fantasy adventures with resistance fighters, spies, and romance across the stars…you’ll feel right at home here. |
