This week, in the spirit of the season, I’m thrilled to share a guest post from Emma, over at Invaluable, whose infographic is sure to get you in the mood to flex your atmospheric fiction muscles.

Leading up to Halloween and NaNoWriMo, there’s no better time to visit the Gothic genre. Gothic literature originated in the 18th century, and since, celebrated Gothic novelists such as Bram Stoker, Mary Shelley, Edgar Allan Poe, and many others have written stellar works that are more frightful in nature. Each has their own take on plot, character development, and style; however, most successful Gothic novels have a handful of key components that make them truly compelling.

Invaluable created this insightful infographic on the 10 essential elements of all Gothic novels, and included examples from notable Gothic books and writers to help further each point. Gather inspiration to start your own Gothic novel, or use it as a reminder to pick up one of your favorites during Halloween week.