Well, popular short ghost stories typically build suspense quickly. Take 'Casting the Runes' for instance. Right from the start, there's a sense of something wrong and dangerous. They also make use of elements that seem ordinary but turn out to be extraordinary. In 'The Open Window', the window is just a normal part of a room at first, but then it becomes a portal for the spooky story told by the girl. Another feature is that they can be based on cultural superstitions or folklore. 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow' draws on American folklore, which gives it an added layer of familiarity and spookiness for the readers.
There's 'Slenderman'. It's a well - known horror story character that has inspired many short stories online. The story often involves a tall, faceless figure stalking people. Also, 'The Rake' is quite popular. It's about a strange, human - like creature that lurks in the dark and causes fear. These stories have gained popularity because they play on common fears and have elements of mystery and the unknown. They are often shared on horror - themed websites and social media platforms, which helps to spread their popularity even further.
One popular kids short ghost story is 'The Haunted Doll'. It's about a doll that moves on its own at night. Another is 'The Ghost in the Attic', where a child hears strange noises coming from the attic and discovers a friendly ghost. And 'The Gray Lady' is also well - known, which tells of a lady in gray who haunts an old mansion.
Isolation was also a common theme. The characters in these stories often found themselves alone when confronted with the ghostly apparitions. This isolation intensified the fear and horror. Additionally, the theme of revenge was popular. Ghosts seeking revenge for their unjust deaths added a sense of justice - in - an - otherworldly - way to the stories.
Sure. 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow' is a well - known short ghost story. It features Ichabod Crane, a superstitious schoolteacher who has a terrifying encounter with the Headless Horseman. Then there's 'The Yellow Wallpaper' which can be seen as a sort of psychological ghost story. The narrator is a woman confined to a room with strange wallpaper that seems to take on a life of its own as she descends into insanity. And 'Casting the Runes' where a man is cursed by runic symbols.
Ghost stories have their own fan base. Some find them fascinating and enjoy the spooky elements. However, not everyone is into the supernatural theme, so their popularity varies.
They often rely on simple yet effective elements. Like the use of a single, unexplained sound in the middle of the night to create fear. And they usually have a small cast of characters which makes it easier to focus on the horror. For instance, a lone traveler in a haunted place. The stories in 'short story short ghost stories' also tend to have a twist at the end that leaves the reader with a sense of unease.
😋I recommend the following ghost stories:
"Wild Deer's convenience store" is a horror short story with less than 100,000 words, but the atmosphere is great. I recommend you to read it.
"Skeleton Years" and "Getting Wine" were both short stories. The former had a heartwarming plot, while the latter made one feel guilty. Both were great choices.
"When Cousin Was Disfigured and Lost a Hand" was a very short story, but the plot was just right. It was worth reading.
I hope you like my recommendation, Mwah ~😗
The one where a little girl's ghost haunts her old bedroom. She died of an illness and now her presence can be felt when the room is cold. It's really spooky.