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Engaging creative writing lesson on building tension in gothic horror, featuring analysis of Josh Malerman’s “Incidents Around the House,” interactive activities, model paragraphs, and guided writing tasks.
Full Description:
This lesson is designed to help students master the art of building tension in creative writing, with a special focus on the gothic horror genre. Centred around an extract from Josh Malerman’s “Incidents Around the House,” the lesson guides students through the key techniques authors use to create suspense and unsettle readers.
What’s included:
• Starter activities to activate prior knowledge and encourage discussion about tension in literature.
• Short film analysis to visually demonstrate how tension is constructed in gothic settings.
• Close reading of a chilling extract from “Incidents Around the House,” with guided questions and annotation prompts.
• Explicit breakdown of tension-building techniques, such as sentence structure, sensory detail, suspenseful pacing, and subverting expectations.
• Model paragraph showcasing effective tension, with opportunities for students to identify successful features.
• Creative writing task: Students continue the story, using sentence starters, descriptive prompts, and a focus on cliffhangers and atmosphere.
• Peer review activity to encourage constructive feedback and collaborative improvement.
How to use this resource:
Ideal for KS3 and KS4 English lessons, this PowerPoint can be delivered as a standalone lesson or as part of a creative writing or gothic literature unit. It’s perfect for developing analytical skills, descriptive writing, and structured peer assessment . All activities are clearly scaffolded, making it accessible for a range of abilities and easy to adapt for remote or in-class learning.

This resource will help students confidently craft suspenseful scenes, analyse effective writing, and deepen their understanding of gothic conventions, while fostering creativity and engagement.