Writing Fear with Fantastic Easy to Use Phrases

Writing Fear

When writing fear, it is essential to portray your character’s fear in a way that grips the reader and develops your character at the same time. Remember, fear is a complex emotion that isn’t reserved just for traumatic events. Any good story has moments when the characters are afraid, either a little or a lot.

Fear is found in every genre. It is a universal, primal emotion and vital to our existence. Therefore, learning to write compellingly about fear will greatly enhance your success as a writer.

The quickest way to alienate your readers is to use clichés —sweaty palms, racing heart, etc. We must go beyond clichés to create something more in-depth that will snatch the reader’s heartstrings, the type of fear a reader will relate to.

That’s why we created a comprehensive list of words and phrases to give us ideas and get our creative juices flowing.

What is the Underlying Cause of the Fear

The main goal is to engage your reader on an emotional level. When writing fear, you want the reader to feel their life’s vibrations.

To fully develop a character’s fears, look for deeper issues, ingrained anxieties, and negative thoughts. Your character’s subconscious fears can play an unexpected role in your character’s desires and motivation. Explore the root cause of your character’s fear.

Try to explore the root cause of your character’s fear.

Why are they afraid?
What are their conflicting subconscious motives?
What past experiences add to their anxiety?
How did they get into the situation?

Does your character have specific fears, such as spiders or snakes? Do they have phobias? Do they suffer from PTSD? Are they easily frightened?

The trick to writing fear is to show what the character feels in the depth of their being. Guide your reader. Let them see through the pretense and find the awful, painful truth behind the fear.

Prime Your Reader

Our character’s fears may be a product of their culture or their individual experiences.

Include a backstory or short flashbacks that allow the reader to understand the character’s fear. Sprinkle snippets of what your character is afraid of throughout the story so that when your character arrives at the moment of truth, your reader will be afraid for your character.

When readers understand the fear’s motivation, they will better relate to your characters and cheer for them.

Build up the pressure with anticipation or foreshadowing. Allow the reader to anticipate something dreadful coming. Let your character imagine the worst-case scenario. Something they have no control over.

Writing Fear Differently for Each Character

Every character should have a unique reaction to the danger. How your characters respond to fear shows the reader what is important to that character. Each character will have their own perception and their private assessment of the situation. They each have their own goals, motivations, and personality quirks.

Because every character has their own strengths and weaknesses, the intensity of their fear will be different. How a character responds shows the reader what is important to that character. What their priorities are.

Make the fear personal. Explore the root cause for each individual’s fear. Writing fear with multiple points of view will enrich your story.

Download 500 words and phrases to help you when writing fear.

Fear Triggers One of Three Automatic Reactions

Phrases for writing fear when your character chooses to fight

watched with irritated contempt
jerked his knife from the sheath
slowly, carefully pulled herself erect
fought down the panic
she had always been a fighter
veins in his deck swelled

she did not back away ice water in her veins
his tone pointed and angry her eyes narrowed
defiant words mask her fear clenched his jaw tightly
panic fueled him, adrenaline forced her forward
the smell of fight was in his nostrils braced his legs, ready
he was frightened of the battle but accepted his fears
bystanders chanted encouragement
slammed forehead into his nose
jaw steeled in determination

Phrases for writing fear when your character decides to flee

shuddered and sprinted away
resignation forced her to flee
turned around sharply
she must vanish quickly
he moved about in secret

with my heart in my throat, I turned to flee
with a snap decision, he walked out the door
she eyed him warily, then turned her back to him
was haunted by the sensation of unseeing eyes watching me
she glanced nervously in her rearview mirror
I had only one thought: run and run fast
fidgeted nervously before walking away
his only thought was to keep moving
with agony of soul, he turned and ran
she signaled with her right hand; it was time to go

Phases for writing fear when your character becomes frozen

he could not move
legs like cement
brain paralyzed
she went rigid

stomach full of feathers clung together as if drowning
paused in midstride, listening lingered, out of sight
dead feeling sunk into his soul Hiding was their only hope
the sound made her freeze mind a wall of darkness
panic seized my brain his fear shocked him
mute with horror numb with shock
bones turned to jelly body numb with fear
dazed, struggling to calm her heart
froze with a dull sense of apprehension
she put her forefinger to her mouth, “sh”
he stood still, letting his thoughts range out around him, searching

For more ideas about writing fear, see: Writing about fear

Let’s Wrap It Up

Make your character’s reaction to fear unique. Go beyond clichés to write something with more depth.

Explore the root causes of your character’s fear to give your reader insights into your characters.
Draw on the distinctive aspects of your character’s past.
Make each character’s fear unique.

You want your readers to experience the fear along with your character, not just watch your character being afraid.

Happy Writing

John & Patty @writingagreatbook.com 2022