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Board Template
The Horror Starter Kit
Build a horror novel that keeps readers up at night.
Created by Reedsy
New opening...
Write a description here...
Beat
Ex. 1
Opening
Ex. "The story opens when [protagonist] ___.."
Setting(s)
@Location
Character(s)
@Character
🧭
The canvas
This Opening template is your entry point to the Fichtean Curve, which throws your reader straight into conflict with minimal stage-setting. Sketch this beat here, or walk through the workshop below for a guided path.
E.g., Nick Carraway arrives in West Egg, accepts an invitation to dinner at the Buchanans', and finds himself in a room full of beautiful people saying careless things.
💭
The workshop
What is the beginning conflict or situation?
Consider what your protagonist is doing, where they are, and what is already wrong.
What conflicts does the Opening further establish?
Think about conflict at every level: plot, character, theme, world, etc.
What are the starting stakes?
And does the reader feel them quickly?
Who is your protagonist?
Describe your protagonist as a stranger would see them. What does their presence in this situation tell us about who they are?
What does the Opening withhold?
What will make readers curious to turn the page past it?
✅
The checkpoint
Does your Opening drop the reader directly into a conflict that can't be set aside?
If not, return to the workshop.
Does your Opening make the reader care what happens to your protagonist?
If not, return to the workshop.
Does your Opening set the plot in motion, rather than just establishing a situation?
If not, return to the workshop.
⏩
The road ahead
Your Opening has established conflict, character, and tension simultaneously.
What does the first Crisis now demand of your protagonist?
New character...
Write a description here...
Nickname
Ex. Pat
Gender
Ex. Woman
Age
Ex. 28
Height
Ex. 5'10"
Place of birth
Ex. @City
Nationality
Ex. Greenland
Occupation
Ex. Librarian
👤
Looks & build
What stands out most about their overall appearance?
Describe them as if you caught sight of them across an open field.
How would you describe their natural build and frame?
Describe their build as though you were tailoring a suit or dress for them.
What qualities of their face make them memorable?
Focus on what people recall: eyes, mouth, smile, etc.
How do they move?
Think gait, gestures, etc. Does it change when they're unguarded and when they're observed?
What is their default facial expression?
Fill in the blank: They have a resting _____ face.
What is notable about their posture and the way they carry themselves?
E.g., is it slouchy, relaxed, military-stiff, etc.? How does it differ when they walk, sit, etc.?
How do age and experience show in their body?
Compare and contrast a photograph of them at age 5, 10, 20, 30, and 40.
👕
Style & dress
How would you sum up their overall style?
Show someone forming a first impression based on their outfit.
What is their signature or preferred outfit?
How does it reflect their personality? Think colors, cuts, fabrics, etc.?
What are their signature accesories?
Think glasses, canes, pipes, necklaces, etc.? How do their accessories reveal taste, personality, or status?
How does their style change with the seasons?
Consider a staple item for each season.
How do other characters react to their style?
Consider contrasting views from friends versus strangers.
🤌
Speech & mannerisms
What are their distinguishing mannerisms?
Think expressions, movements, speech "tics," etc.? Look for small actions that repeat no matter the setting.
How would you describe the sound of their voice?
Think accent, pitch, tone, rhythm, etc.? How does it complement or contrast with their build?
What is their style of speech?
E.g., elevated, educated, peppered with slang, etc.? How does vocabulary reveal education, background, personality, etc.?
What is their sense of humor like?
Write out a joke they would tell or a situation they'd find funny.
What is their favorite...
Curse word? Catchphrase? Quote?
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Early life & background
Where were they born and raised?
How do they talk about their hometown when asked?
What kind of family were they born into?
Think culture, values, internal dynamics, etc.?
What education did they receive?
How did it affect them? Write a report card for them at the ages of 5, 10, and 15.
What is their earliest memory?
Why do they remember it?
How did their childhood shape them?
E.g., did it set them on their current path in any certain ways?
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Family & key relationships
Who are their immediate family members?
What is their relationship with them?
Who counts as chosen family?
Think friends, mentors, etc.?
Who is their significant other?
How does this affect the decisions they currently make?
Who is their rival or enemy?
What caused the tension?
Who do they think about nowadays in the past tense?
Why aren't they in this character's vicinity anymore?
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Personality
What kind of a person are they?
E.g., consider the qualities that others name first when describing them.
How might their personality be categorized?
Think Myers-Briggs, Enneagram, extrovert vs. introvert, etc.?
What are their greatest strengths?
Think of skills or virtues others rely on?
What are their deepest weaknesses and blind spots?
Including what they may even refuse to admit to themselves. How do these flaws create tension in their life?
What are their...
Pet peeves? Hobbies? Routines?
How do they approach...
Love? Power? Risk? Conflict? Change?
What compliment do they get the most?
And what insult or criticism stings the most? Why?
🧠
Psychology
What is their idea of perfect happiness?
List their bucket list at the age of 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50.
What are their emotional triggers?
And why are they triggered by it? Draft a therapist’s case note cataloging the triggers they'd observe.
What is their worldview?
E.g., “People are basically good,” “Survival comes first,” “Everything comes with a price,” etc. Are these beliefs ever challenged?
What do they value above all else?
Name the first thing they would rescue from their burning home. What if they could save three things? Five?
What do they most want to change about themselves?
Have they tried to change it before?
What secrets do they keep?
What are they most afraid of people finding out? And what would change if the secret were exposed?
What inner conflict defines them?
For instance, duty vs. freedom, loyalty vs. ambition, etc. How does this conflict surface in their daily choices?
How do they want to be remembered?
What would they want their tombstone to say?
🧬
Id
What is their greatest goal?
And how might it change throughout the course of your story?
What is their greatest fear?
How does this fear guide their choices and relationships?
What is their biggest regret?
How does this regret shape how they live now?
What drives them?
Is it unconditional?
What is their greatest desire?
And what lessons do they need to learn before they can succeed in achieving it?
🎬
In practice
Put it all together now.
Given everything you've developed about their life, goals, relationships, and beliefs, write a summary of your character's arc from beginning to end of your novel that depicts their growth and change.
New location...
Write a description here...
Location
Ex. @City
Type
Ex. Building, bridge, ruins, etc.
Size
Ex. 500 km²
🪜
Identity
What is the location’s primary function or role?
Think residence, business, sanctuary, crime hub, military stronghold, etc.? In what ways might this purpose shift if the world around it changes?
What makes this location distinct from all others?
Think scale, symbolic meaning, etc.?
What do locals say about the place?
How might their opinion differ from outsiders’ impressions?
What unspoken rules govern behavior here?
Consider customs, taboos, laws, etc. How do those rules shift depending on who is present?
What role does it play in the larger world?
How might losing this place change the balance of power?
🚧
Layout
What does the location look like?
What is the first thing visitors notice when entering the location?
What is the general layout?
Is it linear, circular, sprawling, vertical, etc.?
What are the key areas or zones within the location?
In terms of districts, rooms, sectors, etc.?
What sensory details define it?
What do people hear, smell, touch, or taste here?
How do travelers typically navigate the area?
Think maps, guides, landmarks, etc.?
📍
Geography
Where is the landmark located?
How do people reach it, and how difficult is the journey?
How does the location interact with or rely on its natural surroundings?
What are its boundaries?
What is the climate of the location?
Consider temperature, rainfall, seasonal changes, etc.
What secrets are hidden within it?
E.g., underground caverns, rare or valuable resources, etc.?
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People
Who inhabits this place, either temporarily or permanently?
How do their lives reflect the location’s function?
Who holds official power here?
How stable or contested is their authority?
Who holds unofficial power here?
How might their influence rival or undermine official rule?
Who benefits most from this place’s existence?
And who suffers because of it?
What unifies people here?
Conversely, what divides them?
🌱
Lore
When and why did this location come into being?
How might its origin affect how it is used now?
What famous historical figures are associated with it?
Why? And what happened to them?
What major historical events are tied to it?
How do different groups or eras tell the story differently?
How has its reputation changed over time?
And how might different eras use it for different purposes?
How is its story preserved?
Consider legends, rumors, mysteries, folklore, etc. How might conflicting versions of its past shape its identity?
New theme...
Write a description here...
Theme
Ex. Identity
Subtheme(s)
Ex. Gender identity, belonging, etc.
Related symbols
Ex. @Symbol
People of interest
Ex. @Character
Statement of purpose
A brief, concise statement that captures the theme's essence. Ex. The consequences of revenge on the soul.
🪶
Theme...
What does this theme mean?
Talk about the theme in your own words.
Where might this theme appear in the story?
List potential key moments critical to a reader's understanding of the theme.
If your theme were a question rather than a statement, what would it be?
Write it out here.
🧨
... and plot
How is the plot structured around the central theme?
Write an outline for the key plot points where the theme is most directly explored.
What key scenes best illustrate your theme in action?
For each, note how the theme might be shaped by the plot or characters' decisions.
How does your climax resolve the thematic question?
What is the statement or realization about the theme at this point?
How does the resolution reflect your final stance on the theme?
Does the conclusion offer a resolution to the thematic questions posed, or is it open-ended?
🗡️
... and conflict
How do the internal conflicts relate to the theme?
How do these internal struggles shape their choices and growth?
How do the external conflicts relate to the theme?
How do these external forces push or pull against the central theme?
How do conflicts reveal differing perspectives on the theme?
Write a dialogue between two characters who disagree on the central theme.
How do characters’ actions during conflict express the theme?
Do characters make sacrifices, take risks, or challenge norms in line with the theme? How do these actions drive the plot forward while revealing the theme?
👥
... and character
How does the protagonist's arc reflect the theme?
What turning points in the protagonist’s journey highlight the theme?
How does the antagonist relate to the theme?
Write a scene between the protagonist and antagonist where the theme is explicitly discussed.
How do secondary characters embody aspects of the theme?
Do they represent alternative views, subthemes, or obstacles?
How do character relationships explore the theme?
How do interactions between characters reinforce or complicate the central theme?
👁️🗨️
... and symbols & motifs
What symbols will you use to reiterate the theme?
In which key scenes will they reappear?
What motifs will you use to reiterate the theme?
In which key scenes will they reappear?
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