The Horror Encyclopedia for Dark Storytelling

The answers you don’t want in your search history.

A Horror Encyclopedia for Writers.

The Horror Encyclopedia is a curated resource for horror writers, offering clear insights into unsettling topics to support research, improve accuracy, and strengthen realism in your stories.

About the Encyclopedia

Death Articles

The end of life and what follows

Death
What Happens to the Human Body After Death?
Decomposition
What Happens to the Human Body After Death?
Decomposition

A clinical look at the human body after death,

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Decomposition
What Happens If a Body Is Buried Without a Casket?
Burial Practices
What Happens If a Body Is Buried Without a Casket?
Burial Practices

Discover what happens when a body is buried without a casket.

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Burial Practices
How Are Pauper’s Funerals Different From Regular Funerals?
Burial Practices
How Are Pauper’s Funerals Different From Regular Funerals?
Burial Practices

Discover how pauper’s funerals differ from traditional funerals.

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Burial Practices
What Is the Difference Between Embalming and Natural Burial?
Burial Practices
What Is the Difference Between Embalming and Natural Burial?
Burial Practices

Compare embalming and natural burial for horror writing.

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Burial Practices
How Long Does It Take to Prepare a Body for a Traditional Funeral?
Body Preparation
How Long Does It Take to Prepare a Body for a Traditional Funeral?
Body Preparation

Learn how long it takes to prepare a body for a traditional funeral. Explore embalming, dressing, and real rituals for writing realistic funeral horror.

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Body Preparation
What Are Common Funeral Rites Across Cultures?
Burial Practices
What Are Common Funeral Rites Across Cultures?
Burial Practices

Explore global funeral rituals and how cultural beliefs about death.

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Burial Practices
Read All Death Articles

Crime Articles

Real acts of violence and wrongdoing

Crime
Why Do We Like True Crime?
Crime Myths vs Reality
Why Do We Like True Crime?
Crime Myths vs Reality

Why are we obsessed with true crime? Cass Santiago breaks down the psychology, evolutionary fear, and brain chemistry behind our morbid curiosity with real horror.

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Crime Myths vs Reality
How Effective Are Poisons in Modern Times?
Methods of Murder
How Effective Are Poisons in Modern Times?
Methods of Murder

Explore how poisons work today, how they're detected, and how to write realistic poison scenes.

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Methods of Murder
How Long Does It Take Someone to Bleed Out from a Knife Wound?
Methods of Murder
How Long Does It Take Someone to Bleed Out from a Knife Wound?
Methods of Murder

Discover how long it takes to bleed out from a knife wound.

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Methods of Murder
How Silent Is Death by Strangulation Compared to Stabbing?
Methods of Murder
How Silent Is Death by Strangulation Compared to Stabbing?
Methods of Murder

Compare the sounds and timing of strangulation vs stabbing.

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Methods of Murder
What is the Most Common Weapon Used in Murders?
Methods of Murder
What is the Most Common Weapon Used in Murders?
Methods of Murder

Explore the most common murder weapons, real-world stats, and common horror weapons.

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Methods of Murder
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Medical Articles

The moment the body breaks

Medical
What Are Real Diseases That Cause Skin to Harden Like Stone?
Rare Diseases and Conditions
What Are Real Diseases That Cause Skin to Harden Like Stone?
Rare Diseases and Conditions

Explore real diseases that harden skin like stone.

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Rare Diseases and Conditions
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Environmental Articles

Places that give fear shape

Environments
Why Is It So Easy to Get Lost in the Woods?
Forests
Why Is It So Easy to Get Lost in the Woods?
Forests

Learn why it’s so easy to get lost in the woods, from brain navigation errors to forest conditions.

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Forests
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Monster Articles

What goes bump in the night

Monsters
What Makes a Creature Feel Unnatural?
Monster Anatomy
What Makes a Creature Feel Unnatural?
Monster Anatomy

A closer look at unsettling animals and why certain forms and movements feel wrong.

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Monster Anatomy
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Occult Articles

What waits beyond the veil

Occult
Can Religious Statues Really Cry Blood?
Supernatural Beliefs
Can Religious Statues Really Cry Blood?
Supernatural Beliefs

When holy stone bleeds, devotion turns to dread. Uncover the science, mechanical hoaxes, church protocols, and terrifying horror history of weeping statues.

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Supernatural Beliefs
What Are Traditional Signs of Possession?
Possession
What Are Traditional Signs of Possession?
Possession

Explore real-world possession cases and symptoms.

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Possession
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Fear Articles

The things that keep you up at night

Fear
Why Are We So Afraid of Clowns?
Phobias
Why Are We So Afraid of Clowns?
Phobias

Clowns are meant to make us laugh, so why do they make so many people uneasy? Discover what research says about coulrophobia.

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Phobias
What Happens in the Body During Fear?
Fear Response
What Happens in the Body During Fear?
Fear Response

A closer look at the biology of fear and the effects of fear on human behavior and perception.

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Fear Response
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