personal narrative scary stories

When I was a kid, I had to walk through a long, dimly - lit hallway to get to my bedroom. One night, as I was walking, I felt a cold hand brush my shoulder. I turned around quickly, but there was nothing there. I ran to my room and hid under the covers. Later, I found out it was just a draft from an open window, but at that moment, it was terrifying.

The fact that they are personal makes them more effective. When it's someone's own experience, it feels more real. For example, if a friend tells you about a spooky encounter they had in an old building, you can see the fear in their eyes and it makes the story scarier.

A personal narrative story about a person's battle with an illness can also be very inspiring. Let's say someone is diagnosed with a serious disease. At first, they feel despair and confusion. However, with the support of family and friends, and their own strong will, they fight the illness, learn to cherish every day, and eventually recover or at least find a new way to live with the disease. This kind of story often touches people's hearts deeply.

My most memorable Christmas was when we had a big family gathering. There were relatives from all over. We decorated the tree together, and each ornament had a story. We then had a huge dinner with all the traditional dishes. Afterward, we sang carols around the piano. That Christmas really made me feel the warmth of family and the spirit of the holiday.

Isolation also plays a role. When you're alone, like when I was camping and saw those glowing eyes, you feel more vulnerable. There's no one around to help you, and your mind starts to play tricks on you. You imagine all sorts of horrible things that could happen. Another element is the setting. An old, abandoned place like the house I went into as a kid has an eerie atmosphere that adds to the scariness. It's full of mystery and decay, and it just gives off a feeling that something bad is going to happen.

I went camping in the woods once. In the middle of the night, I woke up to see a pair of glowing eyes just outside my tent. I was terrified. I stayed still, hoping it would go away. After what felt like hours, the eyes disappeared. Later I found out it was probably just a raccoon, but at that moment, it was the scariest thing ever. I'll never forget that feeling of pure fear.

I remember a Christmas when I was a child. I was so excited to see Santa Claus at the mall. I waited in line for what seemed like forever. When it was my turn, I was so shy that I could barely tell him what I wanted. But he was really kind and gave me a candy cane. That simple encounter made my Christmas so special.

A good personal narrative story often has a clear and engaging plot. It should have a beginning that grabs the reader's attention, like starting with an interesting event or a thought - provoking statement. For example, starting with 'I'll never forget the day I got lost in the big city.' Also, it needs strong characters, which in a personal narrative are usually the author themselves and the people they interact with. These characters should be well - developed, showing their emotions, motives, and personalities. And it should have a theme that the reader can relate to, such as growth, friendship, or facing challenges.

One characteristic is a strong sense of the narrator's voice. In 'The Cask of Amontillado' by Edgar Allan Poe, the narrator's cold and vengeful voice draws the reader in. Another is a focus on personal experiences or emotions. 'A Good Man Is Hard to Find' by Flannery O'Connor shows the grandmother's personal journey and her complex emotions. Also, these stories often have a unique perspective, like in 'The Metamorphosis' by Franz Kafka, where the narrator wakes up as a giant insect, giving a very different view of the world.

Yes, it can. A personal narrative can be fictional. Sometimes people might blend real experiences with fictional elements to make a more interesting or impactful story. For example, they could change the sequence of events, exaggerate emotions, or create composite characters based on real people they know. This doesn't mean it's a lie, but rather a creative way of expressing an idea or experience that might be based on something real in the author's life but has been altered for artistic purposes.