In the world of literature, the zombie apocalypse has established itself as an intriguing and important subgenre, circling around the collapse of societal norms owing to unprecedented swarms of zombies. Traditional tropes revolve around the struggle of a few surviving individuals or small bands of survivors.
Deciding The Framework
When writing a zombie apocalypse story, the first step is to decide the type of apocalyptic story it is – the unfolding of events before the end of the world, the progression while it is ending, or the aftermath. The central narrative should be sensible and engaging, invoking interest in readers. Moreover, the cause of the apocalypse, whether it is a plague, a nuclear war, an alien contact or some unknown source, needs a clear understanding.
Forming Characters
Characters are the pillars of any story; hence, decide their fate carefully, either as the living or the dead. They should be molded into unique identities reflecting vivid features that connect with the readers. The detailing of characters is a crucial aspect; whether they are fighting zombies, manipulating each other, or showing tenderness and love between surviving characters, they should induce a sense of empathy.
Themes and Tropes in Zombie Apocalypse stories
- While a significant fear of zombies is a common theme, the more subtle theme often involves a fear of other surviving humans. This explains the existence of small groups of survivors driven by self-preservation.
- Despite a common tendency to depict zombies as slow, lumbering creatures, modern works portray them as agile, vicious, and more intelligent, strong creatures. They are capable of running, attacking, and reflect spontaneous herd behavior.
- Location plays a pivotal role in zombie stories. Innovative settings like a swamp, cave, cruise ship, graveyard, or a nuclear power plant can add new dimensions to the plot.
- The zombie apocalypse also nurtures themes of global contagion and societal breakdown, probing human conscience and complex human emotions when pushed to their limits.
Using Writing Prompts
Consider using short writing prompts for initial groundwork. It will help you explore various zombie-related situations and help you weave an engaging narrative around it.
Establishing Connection with Readers
To connect with the readers, pour your heart and soul into the story. Create characters that are so vivid they practically bleed on paper.
Conclusions
Writing a successful zombie apocalypse story involves infusing life into clichéd tropes to make them uniquely yours. Discuss human survival against odds in detail, like the quest for clean water and treating medical emergencies. Make zombies a metaphor to explore deeper human conditions and societal collapse. Each zombie encounter should relay compelling fragments of the broken world that resonate with the readers. Having a clear structure and narrative for your story, combined with unique characters and enticing settings, is sure to create a zombie apocalypse story that will consume the readers’ attention.