Tips For Writing Short Ghost Stories

By Audrey McGuire


Short ghost stories have been around for centuries. Perhaps you have childhood memories of telling or being told these chilling tales. There is something about that feeling of fear and suspense that Is exciting. You can create scary stories that invoke those same feelings in your readers or listeners.

Writing ghost stories might not seem so easy at first. It is important that the story makes sense. You may decide your story will take place in a fantasy world. Things still need to make sense for how things operate in that world. There are some questions you can ask yourself to help create this fantasy world. Decide if there is a government, what the laws are and the reasons for those laws. Decide if there is a dominant religion or no religion at all or some other variation. Give the world a real history.

Writing takes time and having a clean workspace is a good place to start. Any supplies you need such as reference books, notebooks and pens should be in arms reach from where you are working. Make sure your computer, desk and chair are all in a comfortable position for you to sit for a couple of hours at a time.

Free writing is a form of brainstorming. Just take pen to paper and let the ideas flow. Don't hold back, this is a time to get as many ideas out as possible. It may be helpful to ask "what if" questions throughout your day. Think about what would happen if an alien climbed in your window and stole your lunch, or if that bird is trying to send you a message and what you'd do to find out who it's from. This helps think outside the box and about different things that could happen in your story.

The internet and library are great sources of information. A quick search on the history of ghosts is sure to turn up a lot of information. This can help give you ideas about where your ghost might have come from and why they are here.

Many film producers and authors use story boards. All you have to do is write ideas on index cards. Write ideas of things that might happen. Rearrange the cards to get ideas of what events can happen at what point in the story. Some authors don't create story boards so just do what you think will work best for you.

One of the most important parts of creating any good story is creating the atmosphere. A good story will make the reader or listener feel like they are right there as one of the characters in the story. The best way to create atmosphere is to imagine you are in your story until you feel you are really there. You should be able to describe what you see, hear, feel and smell. This is what creates a good atmosphere.

Writing short ghost stories can be a lot of fun. Take your time and if you get stuck just take a break. This should be an enjoyable experience so don't pressure yourself too much. Use that imagination and don't be afraid to run with it. Some of the best ghost stories were written by those that let their imaginations run wild.




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