Involve your friends in the story. For example, if you're telling 'The Bloody Mary' story, you can ask one of your friends to be the one who goes into the bathroom to try it out (in a pretend way, of course). This makes them feel more involved and amps up the scariness. Another way is to build up the backstory more. For 'The Haunted Doll' story, talk about the history of the doll in more detail, how it got to the attic, and who might have owned it before, making the whole situation seem more menacing.
Set the mood. Dim the lights or use candles. If you're telling a story about a haunted house, you can make the room feel like a spooky place. You can also add some sound effects. For 'The Girl in the Graveyard' story, you could play some faint wind sounds in the background. Also, use hand gestures and facial expressions to make it more engaging and scarier. For instance, when talking about the ghostly figure in the graveyard, make your eyes wide and look around the room as if the ghost is there.
Build suspense. Don't give away the scariest parts too soon. Describe the setting and the characters in detail first. For instance, if it's a haunted house story, talk about how the old floorboards creak, how the walls seem to be closing in, and how the air is cold and musty. Then gradually introduce the spooky elements one by one.
Pause at the right moments. Build up suspense by pausing just before the big scare. For instance, if you're about to reveal the monster in the closet, stop for a few seconds. Let the listeners' imaginations run wild with anticipation. And when you finally reveal it, it'll be much scarier. Also, describe the details vividly, like the smell of decay in a haunted house or the cold touch of a ghostly hand on someone's shoulder.
You can use sound effects. For example, play some creaking door sounds or howling wind noises in the background while telling the story. It'll add to the spooky atmosphere.
You can use a really quiet and suspenseful voice when telling the story. For example, when you get to the scariest part, slow down your speech and lower your voice to a whisper. This can make the listeners feel more on edge.
You can also use props. If you're telling a story about a monster in the woods, have some fake branches or leaves around. Maybe even a fake claw or something. And as you tell the story, use the props to enhance the description. For instance, if the monster is approaching, move the branches like it's pushing through them. This will engage the listeners' senses more and make the story seem scarier.
Add some real - life details. If your story involves a haunted house, describe the creaking floorboards as if you were really there. Make it seem more tangible and relatable to your audience.
Use a low, slow voice. This creates a sense of mystery and makes the listeners have to strain to hear, which amps up the tension.
Use a low, creepy voice. For example, when you're telling a story like 'The Hook', whispering when the couple hears the strange noises outside the car can build up the tension. Also, use pauses at the right moments. If you're telling 'The Babysitter' and she just hears the first heavy breathing on the phone, a long pause before you continue can make the listeners hold their breath in anticipation.
To make kid night stories more interesting, you can relate them to the kids' own experiences. For instance, if you're telling 'The Ugly Duckling', you can talk about how the kids might have felt different or left out at some point. You can also use body language a lot. When telling 'Peter Pan', flap your arms like you're flying when talking about Peter Pan flying. And don't be afraid to improvise. Maybe add a new character to 'Snow White' story and see how the story unfolds in a different way.
Use a spooky voice. When you tell the story in a low, raspy or trembling voice, it adds to the fear factor.