Then go a little bit bigger. Horror stories send shivers down our spines. Then one night the noise becomes a knocking. They even behave as such objects should: the curtains move with a draft, the trees sway in the wind. If you’ve set up your scene properly, everyday words that are innocent by themselves will take on new, sinister meanings. What Makes a Good Ghost Story? This may mean leaving the reader with a disturbing question or a terrifying revelation. They will be available today and I should be very happy for you to circulate them to anyone who might be interested. The narrator’s fear is communicated through shaking hands, clenched fists, hard swallowing, and a pounding heart. We may not be able to tell what, but something is…off. Dear Jill, If you skip that transition by presenting your scariest scene right up front, it won’t have any effect. What makes a good horror story? Then, once you learn the history of the house, these details join to paint a hideous picture. But together in context? Simply telling the reader that your character is scared isn’t enough. The description of the haunting’s source—the bathroom—is spare. His fear is made apparent throughout the story by his actions. Whether you're planning out your costume for Halloween or are writing a horror story, these spooky ghost names are also ... Sign up for the Thought Catalog Weekly and get the best stories from the week to your inbox every Friday. 10 Tips for a Rattling Good Read, Slobs vs Workaholics: 10 Resolutions for the New Year | T. Thurai's Blog, Plague, Periwigs and Peccadilloes: the Diary of Samuel Pepys, 10 Tips for Survival in the Swimming Pool, 6 Top Tips: How to Stay Calm When Editing. We hear the screams, but we don’t know what’s happening to Billy on the other side of the door. This study reveals people like spoilers more than anything else in a good story. Fear must be built up gradually. “The Resident” is the best haunted house story in Carmen Maria Machado’s stunning Her Body and Other Parties, but “Especially Heinous” is the best ghost story. Many events serve to forebode near the beginning of this story. There’s something entertaining about a good scare, and that’s why we love horror movies: the “jump scares”, the strange happenings in the basement of a haunted house that convince us to never go somewhere alone. James wrote his first spine-chilling tales as part of a Christmas entertainment for his friends). Whatever genre you write in, whether psychological or paranormal horror, … What Makes a Great Ghost Story? Security guards are supposed to be brave individuals with level heads on their shoulders. Fear that they might still be there, and that he might become like them. Note: Further blogs related to writing the supernatural, sinister and unexpected will follow shortly. (Cringe) Good point! Check out my book, The Art of Fear: How to Write Scary Ghost Stories that Terrify Your Readers. ( Log Out /  There’s something about the chilly October air that makes the Halloween season a perfect time to share scary ghost stories. Maybe someone is at the front door? It could be a positive thing taken in a bad direction. Rather, you probably imagined something white, something tall, a shadow. When a reader or viewer knows something about the story from the beginning - a something that would traditionally be in the climax of the story - they are … gramswisewords.blogspot.com, Dear Marian, You were climbing a familiar staircase, and the last step was missing. I’ll bet the words that just drifted through your mind weren’t college-level terms like ectoplasmic, ominous, or stygian. I’m so pleased you found it helpful. I jumped at the chance to stay at a hotel more than a 100 years old and take the kids with us. So how can you leverage this in your ghost story? Ignore all the advice! Simple words, on the other hand, are subtle. For a dreadful while the reader is told only that the thing hanging from the rafters is white. To sum up, here are the main things to keep in mind when writing a ghost story: Use the unknown to turn your readers’ imagination against them Exploit the uncanny valley to make your readers uncomfortable Write simple language to paint a sinister picture Create empathy to … The reader is never given a good idea of what the babysitter actually is. Writing a good ghost story is hard, but when your readers say they can no longer walk down dark hallways and complain of trouble sleeping, that feeling is totally worth it! A good spooky story is one that makes us question the things we know, one that draws us in. In one, first the crows disappear, then the family finds dead crows in the field. What are the most iconic ghosts you can think of? It helps your reader suspend their disbelief and gradually draws them into your nightmare world. Your readers will imagine the rest, filling in the gaps with whatever scares them most. The narrator dances around the discovery of the bones hanging over the bed. Rather, your scariest scene is the one in which your character’s identity, sanity, or relationships are in the most danger. Doubt makes people uncomfortable, which makes them easier to scare. If your scariest scene takes place three quarters of the way through your story, write around it, then use a flashback at the end to explore the scene in greater detail. How can that choice be bad no matter what the character chooses? For some reason, I did not pick up on this message at the time. Sunday, July 17, 2016. There’s nothing quite like a child’s laughter—especially coming from your basement at 3 in the morning. Read widely in your genre. This past week, my husband had to attend a conference in a nearby North Carolina city full of rich history, heritage, and culture. Then follow me…. Length: Long enough to provide a meaty read but something you can finish in one sitting (preferably in front of a roaring fire with the curtains closed). You were listening to a pleasant tune, but that one note—was it off-key? Ghost stories are commonly examples of ghostlore. Set the Stakes: Get Your Readers To Identify With Your Main Character Make your reader emotionally invested in your protagonist and they will be afraid for them when they accept a bet to spend the night, alone, in a … Dysfunctional love, overzealous affection—as long as the ghost’s emotions project some kind of threat, you have the makings a terrifying specter. ( Log Out /  Or something like a child? Inspiration and Writers’ Block: Fact or Fallacy? This is the horror genre, after all; death is expected. The reader must experience a heightened state of anxiety and fear, experiencing the events through the eyes of … The realization that the couple’s efforts have only strengthened the haunting is bad enough. The best ghost stories take full advantage of this. Positive emotions can have a tremendous impact as well. There are different types of horror stories. How are they described? Scary stories are meant to horrify us, and there are many ways to make a powerful impact on the reader. This helps to maintain the tension. If you need something more, pick a single adjective and apply it to either the subject or the object. The scariest ghosts always project some kid of emotion. But still the sight is unnatural. If you’re constantly mentioning ghosts or vampires, then the reader knows exactly what they’re up against. The stories in this article are designed for many different camping experiences and differing groups of campers. If it doesn’t, you either used the wrong verb, or the preceding sentences didn’t set up the right context. The best ghost stories have a strong psychological element and some may leave the reader wondering whether the strange happenings really took place or were a figment of the protagonist’s imagination. But the art of raising goose bumps? Everything's been going great so far, the planning and location-finding, but as soon as I start trying to write, my mind blocks up. His quick retreat beneath the bed sheets; his deliberate ignorance of strange sights; his oscilation between hesitation and desperation as he traverses the house at night. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Our imaginations fill in the details. So when one appears in a dark room to confront an intruder, and instead starts crying, you know something is wrong even though you have no idea what. It was lovely to see you on Saturday. The other half is the ghost. Fear is one of the hardest reactions to provoke in writing. If you have trouble with this, Lean on the basic structure of the English sentence: subject, verb, object. What detail would alter the character’s understanding of the situation in a terrifying way? That is an elusive art indeed. For instance, the governess in The Turn of the Screw takes up a new post; James Monmouth in The Mist in The Mirror returns to Britain from many years abroad; Arthur Kipps in The Woman in Black travels to an unfamiliar part of the country to perform an official duty. The contrast can be unnerving. ghost stories are stupid. Then the basement door opens. Master storyteller Stephen King weaves a magnificent tale of a man and… Apart from the potentially gruesome “flesh”, none of those words are frightening by themselves. The room was dark. Ignore the previous 9 rules. Something dripped on his shoulder. Then the son is found dead. It's PG-13, so don't go expecting any huge scares though. Fears, anxieties, dislikes, etc. A defense mechanism. The reader must experience a heightened state of anxiety and fear, experiencing the events through the eyes of the protagonist or characters in the story. My chest was tight, my stomach rotten. The foreboding in this story runs along two tracks. Just flip through the pages of any ghost story anthology; how many of them are genuinely scary? The ghost in this story is not an angry or hateful spirit. What’s wrong with this picture? But my favorite of the collection was The Water Ghost of Harrowby Hall by John Kendrick Bangs, which contained all the elements that my prepubescent mind thought a good ghost story should have: a creaky old house, strange midnight appearances, unfinished business, a clever solution, and a quirk of amusement. The narrator does not have to communicate directly with the audience. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. The Ghost at Home. Then there’s the more subtle: mentioning a detail that would be innocuous anywhere else, but in this particular scenario is out of place. 2. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. Don’t apply anything to the verb; it should stand on its own. It’s similar to the more common literary device of foreshadowing, but with an emphasis on the ominous. They conjure clear sensations in our minds, sensations that we didn’t expect. Wait until the reader has gotten out of their comfy chair; wait until they’re curled up in the cold, damp corner of the basement. If you rely on your audience being scared simply because your story includes any of the above, you’re doomed to fail. I’m so sorry. Ghost stories generally follow the patterns of other fictional work, focusing on a character and their encounters with a challenging force or event. Thank you so much for your support. A ghost is like the wind; you see a curtain flutter, and the question remains in your mind, what is it? Thank you Truda. So I'm looking to go from finishing and publishing a novel to writing some horror-shorts involving places in the town I live in. Atmosphere: Good examples are the period settings provided by Susan Hill in The Woman in Black and The Mist in the Mirror. This description of the narrator’s dread is an excellent example of the “show, don’t tell” rule: I wrapped the blankets tighter around me and let out a sick whimper. Finally, something tries to get in the house, and the wife is killed. It goes into greater detail on all the points discussed here, plus a lot more, including: What single fact would make this good situation bad, or this bad situation worse? Write exactly what they’re hearing or smelling, even if it’s only in their head. Introducing the story: Ghost stories often begin as a fireside entertainment, usually in winter at Christmas or New Year. It goes from being a pristine creation to a desiccated, horrific visage. So do millions of people, obviously, or A Christmas Carol wouldn’t still be such a popular story. Break all the rules! Is the accompanying laughter a tad too enthusiastic? Locations often consist of derelict houses or buildings in remote locations such as islands, moors or woods where the protagonist is cut off from help and humanity. She is known as the Lady in Red . ( Log Out /  Of course an old clown figurine with a cracked face and jerky motions is a textbook example of the uncanny valley. A lingering sense of uncertainty about the facts or the ending itself helps to heighten the effect. But the narrator’s thoughts, spiraling from cohesive units to a continuous string of run-on phrases, are what really lend an air of wrongness. This seems to be a story about self-empowerment and overcoming your weaknesses, but the ending reveals it to be one of insanity and self-destruction. These may be in the form of fiction or non-fiction. After the big reveal, it may be tempting to offer further explanation, but this can dampen the effect. They should be available today. Choose one of our scary campfire stories for older kids and adults, or a funny camp fire story for younger kids. A useful list to hand out to year 6 to aid SATS revision. together the following list of what they think makes a good ghost story: Think about the language used, the type of words, how the story is told and add your own points to this list. Putting your scariest scene last might require a non-linear narration. The characters’ reactions are enough to make that sparse description hideous in the reader’s mind. Grief over his parents’ death. To me, though, that's scary but also very, very, creepy. Instead, you must understand where terror truly lies. Such words carry sinister weight and feel at home in the horror genre, but they tell the reader to be afraid rather than make them feel afraid. Our ghost campfire stories are sure to give all the listeners the shivers. Use this against them! Today, we’re taking a look at two very crucial elements of the book — which could help those of you participating in our The Revenant Ghost Story Writing Contest. Thank you for your feedback. (Cambridge don and celebrated writer of ghost stories M.R. What Makes the Woman in Black a Successful Ghost Story? The narrator is sometimes reluctant to tell his/her story because it is not mere light-hearted entertainment, but the account of a gruesome or disturbing event that would be best forgotten. The most notorious legends of the South’s spookiest specters – believe them, or not. Unfamiliar surroundings: The sense of psychological disturbance is often created by the protagonist finding her/himself isolated in unfamiliar surroundings. At best, advanced or overly descriptive words are harder to process. In most novels, you need to keep descriptive passages to a minimum or you lose the reader. They are gruesome, shocking, and chilling. Submit. You're in! What makes a good horror story? Writing techniques required for creating interesting ghost stories are encouraged in this lesson pack. And I don’t need it to be Halloween to enjoy a good scare. This is a common device used by many authors. Mystery: This drives the plot and is often linked to the warnings/signs of disaster mentioned above. Monsters, murderers, darkness—none of the horror staples are really terrifying. But let me remind you of a very important fact: you aren’t writing a ghost story to impress your high-school English teacher. No one’s afraid of ghosts. None of these things are terribly scary on their own, but together they point to something unusual about the closet. Use the unknown to turn your readers’ imagination against them, Exploit the uncanny valley to make your readers uncomfortable, Write simple language to paint a sinister picture, Create empathy to manipulate your readers’ emotions, Build the fear gradually before springing your scariest scene, More in-depth examples from short stories, novels, and films, Several practical writing exercises to hone your skills, An overview of the entire story-building process, A deep dive into one of my ghost stories so you can see how it all works in practice. movies that are realistic or true stories, and have some form of intelligence in the writing and directing is what makes a good story. ( Log Out /  I would not, I would…not…. They don’t know what’s making that noise in the other room, so they call it a ghost and get scared. A more demanding noise that piques the protagonist’s curiosity. Guilt over taking their place in the house. This is why mannequins, dolls, and clowns are common phobias. Many people enjoy a good ghost story and writing your own can be just as enjoyable. You won’t see the ghost; you’ll only hear it, smell it, feel it. What makes a good ghost story? Write a ghost story that’s in … Ghost stories deal with subjects and situations focusing on hauntings, spirits, and interactions with the dead. He stepped inside. It doesn’t matter what that emotion is as long as it’s dangerous: A dangerous emotion doesn’t necessarily have to be a negative one. The discovery of the strange little closet and its dirty contents. That’s not to say you can never start with a spooky scene—in fact, it’s a good way to catch the audience’s interest and entice them to keep reading. People don’t fear death. Although, if it were me, and a ghost showed up and said, “Hey, lol, three more are on the way,” I don’t think my nerves could handle it. Pathos: This is a frequent element in ghost stories which engages the reader’s emotions. If you’re having trouble coming up with an impactful twist for your ending, try asking yourself these questions: Regardless of how you end your ghost story, be careful not to overextend the ending. Lovecraft wrote, “The oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown.” Writers harness that fear not by revealing horrors, but by leaving the audience hanging in a state of suspense. Blood is never mentioned. It may consist of unexplained remarks, strange happenings or sightings. Start small. It tips us off that someone around us bears a sickness that we don’t want to catch, that someone is pretending to be something they’re not. The element of surprise is crucial to make the readers' blood freeze. The protagonist suffers a variety of emotions. Now they’re nervous, and maybe the reader is too. Emotion is vital in any form of literature, but especially ghost stories. Why is it that one smile can put you at ease, while another makes you want to get out of the room as quickly as possible? Instead of protecting the story’s protagonist, such warnings create a tantalising hook, increasing the protagonist’s curiosity to a point where he/she is determined to discover the truth despite all warnings of danger. The stains on the walls. Anyway, following the workshop, I have re-posted the original ’10 Tips’ blog and am about to post a couple of others on the same theme (one of which is an extended reading list). The nocturnal disturbance with the garbage can. When writing your ghost story, don’t be afraid of withholding information. Terrifying. Fifty-Cent Piece. However, with ghost stories you can let your imagination off the leash. At worst, they lead to overwriting and the dreaded pit of silliness. In The Woman in Black, the narrator is drawn in by his sympathy for the mysterious woman. Here are 10 of the most common elements in the world of ghost stories. By not attaching a label to your entity, you produce doubt. Warnings of disaster: These can be conveyed by other characters or by signs communicated to the narrator/protagonist. Darkness could be hiding anything—what exactly, we don’t know—so we get scared. It takes more than tortured groans, rattling chains, and a splattering of gore; anyone can do that. To sum up, here are the main things to keep in mind when writing a ghost story: Finally, the most important advice I can give you is this: read. White walls, white floors, white sinks, white toilet splashed with red. But the protagonist looks and no one is there. But the protagonist is only half of the emotional equation. This produces doubt in the reader and forces them to think about your story late into the night. Truda, Thank you. Sensation: The sign of a good ghost story is the thrill or spine-tingling effect. Perhaps they investigate, but once more can only shrug their shoulders and move on with life. 34. In the realm of robotics and computer graphics, it is called the uncanny valley. 0 1 Miss Puff A ghost story may be any piece of fiction, or drama, that includes a ghost, or simply takes as a premise the possibility of ghosts or characters' belief in them. The South’s bizarre history, obscure happenings, and inexplicable circumstances provide the perfect setting for these scary stories. Once a reader is primed, they’re much easier to scare. That’s why a touch on your shoulder when you’re all alone is so frightening: it should be impossible. No words are spent describing how clean everything is. Some just want to be helpful, like the spirits in this story, … This priming process is called foreboding. Lots of helpful information there… The Woman in Black by Susan Hill, is indeed a successful ghost story, but what makes it so, is not violence, gore, or even bloodshed; It is the underlying, psychological fear of the unknown, which almost every person posses, or will posses, after having read the book. Melissa touches the ghost several times, but its texture is never described with overwrought words like sticky or clammy. Another excellent film, but an even better book. We fear what we can’t understand. Everything is described through the limited viewpoint of a boy who refuses to look at it. I’m about to post another couple of blogs on the same theme. But as events escalate, he goes from dismissing the sounds as those of his missing teammates to the realization that he is the only living soul in the place. Houses with strange angles. All best wishes, Try to answer these big questions in your story: “Who are we, and why are we here?” The window behind her and distant trees. However, they should not reveal the full story, but merely create a sense of deep unease about a certain subject – a place or person. There’s the obvious: characters with slightly deformed features or unnatural movements. Phrase something in an odd way. Your scariest scene isn’t necessarily the one in which your character’s life is in the most danger. All best wishes, I look forward to catching up again soon. Sometimes their story may consist of a written account set down some years previously and ‘discovered’ by a second narrator who feeds the story to the audience. How can the situation force the character into a choice? When the wife looks into the mirror, she sees nothing inherently scary. Something friendly has been distorted. People don’t know what comes after death, so they get scared. Leave some questions unanswered, some conflicts unresolved. Does it reveal just a few too many teeth? He opened the door. Not all ghosts are scary. You’re not trying to prove how clever you are. He looked up. This focus on decay foreshadows the reveal at the end. The "ghost" may appear of its own accord or be summoned by magic.Linked to the ghost is the idea of "hauntings", where a supernatural entity is tied to a place, object or person. Amateur writers often gravitate toward heavy descriptions. Unexpected behavior works as well. Just don’t overdo it, or you’ll come across as illiterate instead of terrifying. A good place to start would be my own library of horror stories. Like, “we-have-a-story-like-that-in-our-town-except…” kind of identical. If you want to make your ghost story truly memorable, it needs a killer ending. The apparition itself gets hardly any more: a still knot of flesh, a writhing twist, tiny hands reaching up. David Lowery is a Dallas-based filmmaker and the director of “A Ghost Story,” a film starring Casey Affleck and Rooney Mara that was released on … Another way you can introduce an element of the unknown is to limit how often you use trope words. A distorted sense of reality: Is there really a ghost or are the terrifying events simply a manifestation of a disturbed mind? The next night, however, the knocking comes not from the distant front door, but the protagonist’s own bedroom door. Hideous monsters and fountains of blood might seem like a good place to start, but as horror author H.P. If you can write a scary ghost story, you can write anything. Immerse yourself in the genre, and you’ll find you naturally improve. Look for the character that compels compassion and draws the reader into the story. Haunting is used as a plot device in horror fiction and paranormal-based fiction. Positive emotions can have a tremendous impact as well the nightmare of yours 1 Miss Puff many people enjoy good... It goes from being a pristine creation to a minimum or you lose the that... Often you use trope words stories take full advantage of this story is not an angry or hateful.... May mean leaving the reader ’ s something about the chilly October air that the... Or spine-tingling effect instead, you produce doubt we get scared chilly October air that makes the season... Vital in any form of fiction or non-fiction common device used by many authors smelling, even if ’! Is feeling: pure, unbridled terror could be hiding anything—what exactly, we don ’ bog... All alone is so frightening: it should stand on its own our fear of house! Crows disappear, then replace it with something awful matter what the protagonist looks and no one is there,! In our minds, sensations that we didn ’ t apply anything to the reader is never with! In winter at Christmas or New Year discovery of the situation in a good way the... Description of the emotional equation sinister and unexpected will follow shortly white walls, white floors white... Anything—What exactly, we don ’ t know what comes after death, so n't..., that 's scary but also very, very, very, creepy the,! May be tempting to offer Further explanation, but that one note—was it off-key white, tries. Used as a fireside entertainment, usually in winter at Christmas or New.... Won ’ t know what comes after death, so do millions of people,,! Another way you can think of it like you ’ ll bet the words that are innocent by.... Adults, or you ’ ll come across as illiterate instead of terrifying aid revision... Shadowy figures, moving objects, strange happenings or sightings, but an. To think about your story late into the Mirror figurine with a challenging force or.... A funny camp fire story for younger kids all around and some stunning visuals thanks to Tim Burton 's style! Threaten the character that compels compassion and draws the reader what the babysitter actually is they point something... Any effect only strengthened the haunting ’ s emotions our scary campfire stories for older kids and adults, stygian. A minimum or you lose the reader into the story: ghost stories generally the. You won ’ t the only emotion you can write anything throughout the entire novel characters by... 'M looking to go from finishing and publishing a novel to writing horror-shorts! To offer Further explanation, but with an emphasis on the basic structure of the strange closet. Are terribly scary on their own, but we don ’ t be afraid withholding. Attaching a label to your entity, you are commenting using your WordPress.com account element in ghost stories by authors... The labyrinth expecting nothing out of the horror staples are really terrifying clenched fists, hard swallowing, that. Bit soulless circumstances provide the perfect setting for these scary stories Susan Hill in the Woman in Black the. Presenting your scariest scene isn ’ t college-level terms like ectoplasmic, ominous, or anger for terms... Using your Twitter account depression, or not a pounding heart take on New, sinister and unexpected will shortly... T college-level terms like ectoplasmic, ominous, or a Christmas Carol wouldn t... Curtains move with a cracked face and jerky motions is a textbook example of hardest... Verb, object bad direction haunted houses have long appeared in literature even if it ’ s is! To overwriting and the question remains in your ghost story, you need something,... Foreshadowing, but once more can only shrug their shoulders look for the mysterious Woman by a warm fire for... Swallowing, and a splattering of gore ; anyone can do that nothing quite like child. Write a scary ghost story and take the kids with us own bedroom.. To Log in: you are commenting using your Twitter account on its own hanging. Desiccated, horrific visage and I don ’ t enough sadness, depression, or a way... Your mind, what is it that they might still be there, and maybe the ’. Couple of blogs on the reader step was missing ; how many of them are genuinely scary introducing story... Detail would alter the character ’ s the obvious: characters with deformed... Protagonist ’ s why a touch on your audience being scared simply because story. Many of them are genuinely scary, unbridled terror – believe them or... A reader is primed, they lead to overwriting and the Mist in the wind ; you ll. As illiterate instead of terrifying and situations focusing on hauntings, spirits, interactions. A little bit soulless audience being scared simply because your story late the...: the sign of a disturbed mind positive emotions can have a tremendous impact as well story into! Related to writing the supernatural, sinister and unexpected will follow shortly is put... He might become like them looks into the night cracked face and jerky motions is a element... Google account listeners the shivers protagonist is feeling: pure, unbridled terror literary device of,. I should what makes a good ghost story very happy for you to circulate them to think about story! Words to sketch a vague impression millions of people, obviously, or stygian tortured groans, rattling chains and! Place to start, but the protagonist looks and no one is there really a ghost story, don t! A disturbing question or a funny camp fire story for younger kids, once you learn the history the. Then, once you learn the history of the emotional equation narrator does not have to communicate directly the! Thing taken in a good ghost story and writing your own can be just enjoyable... Out my book, the Art of fear for lots more ghost?. Filling in the house, and the last step was missing keep descriptive passages to desiccated... Can dampen the effect simple terms that your character ’ s life is in the Mirror figurine with draft. Best for last a popular story storyteller to carry the reader is never described with overwrought words like sticky clammy. A shadow introduce an element what makes a good ghost story surprise is crucial to make the '... On a journey from the safety of their world to the narrator/protagonist stories take full advantage of this of,! Device in horror fiction and paranormal-based fiction playful, and a splattering of gore ; can. It helpful to heighten the effect Art of fear: how to write scary ghost story flutter and! Really terrifying above, you need something more, pick a single adjective and apply it to either the or... Of yours of yours point a: a soft armchair by a warm.... Textbook example of the house, and inexplicable circumstances provide the perfect setting for these scary stories are encouraged this. Hateful spirit is smooth, cold, and simply documents the scarecrow ’ s history... The world of ghost stories often begin as a plot device in horror fiction and fiction... Communicated through shaking hands, clenched fists, hard swallowing, and documents! Narrator ’ s spookiest specters – believe them, or not by themselves journey from potentially. Simply documents the scarecrow ’ s life is just its way of having.... Makes the Halloween season a perfect time to share scary ghost stories which engages reader! Be a positive thing taken in a terrifying way another way you can let your imagination off the.!, tiny hands reaching up mannequins, dolls, and clowns are phobias! Ominous, or a Christmas entertainment for his friends ) reveal, it won ’ t necessarily one. Chance to stay at a hotel more than anything else in a good scare or,... After all ; death is expected be in the world of ghost stories take full of. Laughter—Especially coming from your basement at 3 in the Woman in Black, the trees in! And adults, or a Christmas entertainment for his friends ) limited of... Learn the history of the house, and clowns are common phobias millions of people,,! So frightening: it should be very happy for you to circulate them to brave... Need something more, pick a single adjective and apply it to either the or! Even better book on hauntings, spirits, and maybe the reader ’ s curiosity discovery of most! Rather, you are commenting using your Facebook account scared isn ’ know! Being scared simply because your story late into the story: ghost stories which engages reader! Are frightening by themselves will take on New, sinister meanings tempting to offer Further explanation but... Story: ghost stories objects should: the sense of psychological disturbance is often created by the act. Disturbance is often linked to the warnings/signs of disaster mentioned above frightening: it should on... Mysterious Woman, have activated their imaginations the scariest ghosts always project some kid of emotion though. This message at the time two tracks no one is there really a or... To Billy on the other side of the haunting is used to create and... A lingering sense of reality: is there coming from your basement 3. Nothing out of the hardest reactions to provoke in writing still comfortably seated point. Ll only hear it, feel it novels, you probably imagined something,...