One key element is a creepy atmosphere. You can create this by using descriptive words for dark and gloomy places. Another is a disturbing antagonist. It could be a vampire, a witch, or just an ordinary - looking person with an evil intention. Suspense is also crucial. Keep the reader guessing about what will happen next, like leaving clues that something bad is about to occur but not revealing it right away.
Well, to begin writing a scary story, you could start by building tension slowly. Use descriptive language to paint a spooky atmosphere. Also, give hints about what's to come but don't reveal everything at once. Another thing is to play with the readers' expectations and surprise them.
Well, incorporate words such as 'haunted', 'shadowy' and 'dread'. Suppose your story is about a forest, you could say 'The shadowy forest held a deep, hidden dread that seemed to seep into my very bones.' These words help create a spooky atmosphere. Also, use words like 'cursed' to add an element of mystery and danger. For instance, 'The cursed amulet glowed menacingly in the moonlight.'
A spooky prompt could be 'A haunted forest'. You start by describing the forest as dark and foreboding. The trees are gnarled and seem to reach out like twisted arms. There are strange noises like whispers in the wind. A character enters the forest, and as they do, they feel a sense of dread. Maybe they see a figure in the distance that disappears when they look closer. This can lead to a story about the character trying to find their way out while being haunted by the unknown entities in the forest.
In most cases, no. As long as your scary story doesn't promote violence, hate, or violate any laws, you should be fine. However, if it's too disturbing or offensive to certain groups, it could potentially cause issues.
Another way is to start with a character in a vulnerable situation. For instance, 'He woke up in a cold sweat, disoriented in the pitch - black room. He could hear strange scratching noises coming from the walls, and he had no idea how he got there. His phone was dead, and there was no way to call for help.' This creates tension right from the start.
You can start a mad libs scary story by choosing a place that gives off a sense of dread. Let's say a [desolate] island. Then, consider the time of day or night. Maybe it's [midnight] when everything is at its darkest. Now, think about a character, like a [reckless] sailor who gets stranded on this island. Start your story like 'A [reckless] sailor found himself on a [desolate] island at [midnight]. He had no idea what horrors awaited him. As he explored the island, he heard a [distant scream] and saw a [flickering light] in the distance. This set the stage for the scary things to come.'