Spooky writing starts with an eerie atmosphere, and then writers are free to sprinkle in as many mentions of ghouls, dilapidated mansions or dingy moors as they’d like to. These form the basis of the popular conventions of ghost stories, but as with all age-old plots, there are also those that buck the trend and choose to follow a different path.
There’s actually a lot of different definitions of ghost story, and some debate as to whether these types of texts actually have to include mention of a spectre, but for the sake of simplicity, this article will do its best to skim some general scary stories, as long as their vibe is fit for a haunting, they’ll count whether they have a ghost or not.
History of ghost stories
Ghostlore (the coolest name ever) stems from folklore and historical storytelling. Many cultures and countries have their own ghost stories, as it is a universal experience linked with death and the spiritual realm. So it’s not just campers around a fire singeing marshmallows!
Ghost stories come from as far back as when humans were getting spooked by something unexplainable, but the first ‘proper’ recorded text to fall under the definition of ghost story was from an Athenian poet called Philemon. Unfortunately this was lost to time, but the next nearest we have is an adaptation of this story, penned by Plautus which was called Mostellaria.
One of the main beliefs about ghosts themselves is that they are restless spirits with business to deal with which has interrupted their eternal rest, or had been condemned to live forever in their incorporeal form as punishment for evil deeds in life. Many tales from the Egyptians, Greeks and Middle Ages all had this similar common theme. Next came the Enlightenment era – and whilst its focus on fact and logic which was at odds with the more intangible and mystical previous iterations, it wasn’t long before interest in the paranormal grew again during the 19th and 20th centuries.
Types of ghost
Buckle up, as there’s a ton of different types of ghosts featured in literature. Vengeful ghosts are often violent, as they are usually seeking revenge for being wronged in life, like the Dead Light in Stephen King’s Later. Friendly ghosts, like many of the residents of the graveyard in Neil Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book, are often helpful to characters, usually being ancestors who can offer protection of guidance when needed.
Finally, poltergeists are usually the ones to blame for knocking over vases or otherwise moving objects unseen. Striking a balance between being a vengeful or friendly ghost, more often than not these ghosts are mischievous spirits who are just looking to fill their time with pranks.
What’s a ghost story?
Featuring supernatural ghouls, a ghost story will include either specific mention of a haunting or unexplained phenomena which gets attributed to a spiritual figure. A large majority of the time, ghost stories are of an ominous tone, and are usually described as supernatural fiction, horror stories or simply a scary story.
The ‘Golden Age’ of ghost stories is said to have occurred sometime between the decline of the gothic novel and the beginning of World War 1, and one of the most prominent spearheads of this during the time was none other than Edgar Allan Poe. In the Victorian period, the most famous ghost story would arguably be Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.
Key features of ghost stories
Striking and strong imagery is always championed – as this can help the reader to feel more immersed in the terrifying tale. Characterisation in terms of the ghost is also a good thing to put some thought into – of course the old adage ‘less is more’ can be used to make this unknown entity even more unpredictable, but even if you’re not letting slip to the audience, knowing their motivations, purpose, capabilities etc. will make a more realistic representation.
Similarly, if there is anything about your characters in particular that would add some additional flavour, this can enhance the storytelling – do they believe in ghosts, or are they writing off these strange happenings? Is there anything they have done to merit a haunting, or is the link more secretive?
Off for some ghouling edits…
That was a little more about ghost stories, including some famous tropes and examples, plus some additional advice you may want to take into consideration. Think about the type of ghost, motivations and other aspects that often get written off to really create a spook-tacular tale!
Impish Fen 
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