Every culture has its version of ghost stories. Some have religious significance, some are meant to warn or to threaten and some are meant simply for fun. Whatever their purpose, all ghost stories are an attempt to scare. To write a ghost story, take some time to think about the best way to scare your audience.
Instructions
1. Create a spooky atmosphere that evokes suspense or fear. The setting can be either an incredibly creepy place, such as a cemetery or a haunted mansion. It can also be an average, everyday place with a hint of something out of the ordinary. This kind of setting can be even creepier, as it suggests that ghosts can appear anywhere--even in the most mundane places.
2. Give the ghost portion of the story some context. If the ghost is the main character, haunting the entire story, the audience may not care much about it. But, if there is a full plot with likable characters, the reader will be more interested in hearing more of what you write.
3. Make some type of mysterious element surrounding the ghost. The characters may have to find out what the ghost wants, how it got there or get rid of it. Many ghost stories involve figuring out who the ghost used to be. A mysterious element creates more of an emotional investment in readers, as they work along with the characters to discover the secret.
4. Look for the emotional aspect in a story and add some high emotional states to reiterate how scared the reader should be. The character or characters should have some element of fear that the reader can be made to feel along with him. Show the emotion through the characters' action, rather than simply telling the reader how the characters feel.
