"Down a Dark Hall" was originally published on September 26, 1974 by Little, Brown and Company in hardcover. Duncan began writing the book after an editor, who had never seen a gothic novel aimed at young adults, suggested she try coming up with one. "Down a Dark Hall" is the only gothic novel that Duncan ever wrote. A challenge that she had while writing the book was creating new descriptions for Blackwood's upstairs hallway each time Kit used it to walk to and from her room. She dealt with this problem by describing Kit's journey across the hall at various times in the day. Duncan modeled Kit after her daughter Kerry.