Screenwriting : Horror Screenwriting Tip List by Maurice Vaughan

"Sound as a Character": Think of sound not just as background but as an active, suspense-building presence. Use unsettling noises—like an eerie wind, distant whispers, or even silence—to create tension. Sometimes, what's not heard can be scarier than a jump scare. Tease the audience’s senses, making them strain to hear, so every slight sound becomes a jolt.

Great advice, Taurai Du Plessis! Sound is something I can use more in my scripts. Thanks for sharing!

Mentioning an item in the environment first as part of the scenery, then again, next drawing attention to it, then having the character notice it a the moment they (and the reader) realize it's significant. I did this with a recurring white van in my script Howard.

Thanks for commenting, Michael Dzurak! I do the same thing.

Speaking of items, here's a rewriting tip for anyone interested: It's easy to lose track of important items in your script when you're writing it. Do a separate rewrite where you track important items to make sure they don't disappear from your script. It'll also help you spot mistakes like a character putting down their phone in the kitchen, but they're holding it when they walk into the living room.