[Dark Party]

In setting up the contest, I had to ask myself -- what makes a story scary? That's a difficult question to answer, but I think I've come up with a few keys to what gives me chills.

-- Strong character. Essential don't you think? If you don't care about the characters -- then the "horror" isn't as powerful. I think a great example of this can be found in the movie "Wolf Creek." The movie spends the first half simply building character and it works.

-- Making the unbelievable, believable. This is what makes Stephen King so effective as a horror writer. He makes the incredible almost seem normal whether it be vampires infesting a Maine town or a little girl with the ability to set things of fire.

-- Suspense. There needs to be a build up before the pay-off. Suspense is what keeps a reader on the edge of her seat.

I'd love to know what you think makes a wicked scary horror story.