HOW TO… — Write a horror novel

Become a ghost hunter: If you're going to write a scary story, you might as well experience some scary stuff (this doesn't include the ‘house of horrors' in your local amusement park). So pick up those Geiger counters, ghost traps and night vision cameras and head to the nearest deserted house with an anomalous reputation for being spooky. Yes, you have to go there only at in the night time. No, you can't take anyone along. The key to being a good writer is to experience things in isolation. Even if it's the last thing you will ever experience.