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How can you create a unique zombie story or book, when so much has “been done” already? How do you write a more interesting zombie apocalypse story, something fresh and original that people haven’t seen a dozen times before? How can you break new ground or forge a new path in such a crowded subgenre?
In other words: How can you refresh the dead?
Let me start by saying, it can be done. You can write a unique zombie book that offers a fresh take on the undead. You just have to think outside the box. And in this context, “the box” refers to the standard zombie plot we’ve seen countless times over the years.
You’ll have to do the heavy lifting for yourself. It’s your story or novel, after all. But I’m happy to offer a few tips on how to write a unique, original and more interesting zombie apocalypse story.
Writing a Unique Zombie Story
A while back, I wrote a blog post offering some zombie story ideas and prompts. That article has since attracted thousands of readers and a slew of comments. I had no idea how many people were looking for that kind of content, so I figured it was worth revisiting.
One question seemed to rise to the top. A lot of speculative fiction writers want to know how to write a unique and more interesting zombie book — the kind of novel that hasn’t been done to death.
So let’s start with the good news. I believe there is plenty of room to innovate within the zombie genre. That’s because a lot of these novels deliver the same basic plot and premise.
I call it the “standard formula,” and it usually goes something like this:
- Outbreak: A virus or other biological agent causes the dead to rise.
- Apocalypse: The outbreak spreads, bringing civilization to its knees.
- Struggle: Characters struggle to survive against the growing zombie horde.
- Resolution: The main character and the world are forever changed.
Deviating from this “standard formula” is a great place to start. If you want to create a unique zombie plot for your novel, you have to go beyond the basic people-struggling-to-survive model.
That doesn’t mean your characters shouldn’t struggle to survive in a world populated by the undead. That’s part of the fun of zombie fiction — and readers expect it. It just means you have to bring something else to the table as well, if you want to make your story more interesting.
Bottom line: Feel free to use the “standard formula” presented above. But try to do it in a way that offers something unique and original for your readers.
Here are some tips for doing just that…
1. Create a different kind of “zombie” creature.
In the classic zombie story, a virus or other transmissible pathogen is usually what causes the outbreak. This “agent” gets spread through the saliva (as when the zombie bites an uninfected person), and sometimes through other methods as well.
But that’s all been done before. So if you want to write a fresh, unique and original zombie book, you might want to start with the creatures themselves.
In the novel The Girl With All the Gifts, a mysterious fungal infection turns humans into zombie-like savages. They’re not true zombies in the classical sense, because they’re not undead. If you shoot one of them, they die. End of story. But they attack and bite the uninfected in true zombie-like fashion.
In the film 28 Days Later, a virus turns humans into wild, savage, animal-like creatures. Here again, we’re not dealing with zombies in the technical or scientific sense (despite what writer Alex Garland says). But the mindless savagery of “the infected” allows this film to reside within the zombie genre.
The point is this: you can deviate from the traditional literary and mythological definition of a zombie, and still end up with a “zombie” style novel. Your can create unique creatures unlike anything people have seen before, and your book will probably be more intriguing as a result.
Need some inspiration? Here are some things we haven’t seen before:
- Sightless zombies that hunt by sound (borrowing from A Quiet Place)
- Zombies that start out catatonic but erupt into violence on the next full moon
- Zombies that coordinate their efforts through a “hive mind” like an insect colony
- “Zombies” created through genetic cloning and used as biological weapons
For more on this, check out my list of 21 types of zombies in fiction. It covers some of the classic versions, while offering some fresh an original concepts as well. Sometimes you have to think outside the coffin!
2. Choose a unique or exotic setting for your story.
One way to write a unique and original zombie novel is by setting the story in an interesting place.
Definition: In fiction, setting is the time and place (or the “when” and “where”) that the story takes place. Setting can change from one chapter to the next, or remain the same throughout the story.
A unique or exotic setting can make a zombie book more interesting in several ways:
- It takes the reader to a place they’re probably not familiar with, piquing their curiosity.
- It allows you to create challenges for your characters (isolation, limited resources, etc.).
- It sets your story apart from all of the other zombie books out there.
And remember, this is fiction … as in not real. So your story setting doesn’t necessarily have to be a real place. Your zombie novel could take place in some mythological setting, or in a location straight from your own imagination.
Or it could be a well-known (but still exotic) location like Mars, the pyramids of Giza, the Titanic, an isolated arctic research station … you get the idea.
3. Create a mix of interesting characters.
Your protagonist is the most important character in your zombie novel. That’s literally what the word protagonist means. It comes from the Greek, with prōtos meaning “first in importance,” and agōnistēs meaning “actor” or “character.”
But most zombie apocalypse novels (and novels in general) have more than one character. They usually feature secondary characters, sometimes including a love interest, along with an antagonist who challenges the main character.
Want to give your readers a fresh, unique take on the zombie novel? Start with your characters!
Try to develop characters with interesting backstories and differing worldviews. Find a way to bring them together, and then crank up the tension. See how they interact in a world plagued by flesh-eaters.
Example: Imagine a zombie novel that involved a former nun, an arms dealer, and a social media influencer — forced together by circumstances. Or maybe a story where a grieving mother, a hermit, and a seventeen-year-old juvenile delinquent have to rely on one another.
4. Blend genres in a new and interesting way.
Zombies can fit into their own genre, or they can be blended with other literary genres. This is worth exploring, if you’re setting out to write an original zombie novel.
A zombie western? A science fiction zombie story? An epic fantasy that incorporates a race of undead creatures? Why not?
If you explore the idea of blending genres, you’ll find that there’s plenty of room for innovation. Plenty of ways to take something old and make it new again.
Consider the following examples:
- Science fiction: What if a zombie outbreak occurred on a generation ship? What would that look like? How could you explore this, from a storytelling standpoint?
- Alternate history: A zombie outbreak occurs during the American Civil War, causing North and South to join forces against a common threat.
- Fairy tale: Why not explore one of the classic fairy tales to see if you can put a fun (or scary) spin on it? Snow White and the Seven Zombies?
- Medical Thriller: In a race against time, two CIA operatives must track down a mad scientist before he can release his zombie plague on an unsuspecting populace.
5. Provide Cultural and Societal Commentary
The zombie apocalypse genre has long been a playground for gore, survival tactics, and heart-pounding action. But if you dig a little deeper, you’ll find that there’s also a great opportunity to address real-world issues.
By using the zombie apocalypse as a kind of mirror to reflect real-world issues, writers can craft meaningful stories that resonate more deeply with readers. For example, you could explore themes of inequality, homelessness, environmental degradation, racism, or political division — all through the lens of apocalyptic survival.
This could give your story more depth and relevance, while inviting readers to ponder the parallels between fiction and reality. The end result? A more original and more interesting zombie apocalypse story.
The bottom line to all of this: A creative, imaginative person could write a unique zombie novel unlike anything people have read before. You just have to take a step back and look at what’s been done before — and what hasn’t. Think about how you can explore the unexplored.
Good luck, and happy writing!