Elements of a scary story Courtesy of Jack Black

4 elements of a scary story Write all four down in your journal http://www.scholastic.com/goosebumpsmovie/videos/JackBlack2/

You don’t have to do it all at once though…. For example, a story with a really scary setting might not need much action to make it scary. Likewise, a story with a frightening character, such as a flesh-eating monster, could be set in a common setting, such as a shopping mall, and still be super scary.

Delve Deeper How might an author or filmmaker combine comedy, action, or horror to make a good scary story? Discuss how combining genres can lead to entertaining and scary stories

Cast of Characters http://www.scholastic.com/goosebumpsmovie/videos/JackBlack4/ List characters from scary stories you like and write down what makes them scary. Meet with a buddy and share 

Make them seem real A good character is three-dimensional. This applies to both protagonists and antagonists. An author can achieve this in various ways, including listing their traits, telling their backgrounds, and describing their behaviors.

Story Starters http://www.scholastic.com/goosebumpsmovie/videos/JackBlack3/ Jack Black gives us 4 story starters….. Do any of them inspire you? Pick one and try to continue it…. Just for a few minutes. Give it a whirl. I will play them again. 

Writer’s Block Write down the tips Jack Black provides for dealing with this common problem! http://www.scholastic.com/goosebumpsmovie/videos/JackBlack5/