What are the characteristics of scary written stories?

They probably have a strong atmosphere. It could be a dark and gloomy setting, like an old cemetery or an abandoned asylum. These settings add to the overall spookiness and make the events seem more terrifying. For instance, in a story set in an abandoned asylum, the creaking floors and peeling walls create a very eerie backdrop for the scary events that unfold.

These stories usually set a spooky mood at the beginning. Maybe with a description of a dark and quiet place. However, the danger or the 'scary' part is not extreme. In the case of the old house on the hill, the shadowy figure seems scary but is quickly debunked as just a tree branch's shadow. This makes it just enough to give you a bit of a chill but not keep you up at night in fear.

One characteristic is the use of suspense. It keeps readers or listeners on edge, not knowing what will happen next. For example, in many horror stories, there are strange noises or events at the beginning that make you wonder what's causing them.

They often involve the supernatural. Ghosts, demons, and other spooky entities are common elements.

One classic is 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe. It's about a narrator who is driven mad by an old man's vulture - like eye and eventually kills him. The story builds great suspense and the narrator's psychological state is truly terrifying. Another is 'Dracula' by Bram Stoker. This introduced the world to the iconic vampire figure, with its dark castles, blood - sucking and the sense of an ancient evil.

One possible scary story could be about a strange figure that appears in the neighbor's backyard at midnight. It's a tall, shadowy figure with glowing eyes that seems to be watching the neighborhood. Whenever someone tries to get a closer look, it vanishes into thin air.

They rely on creating mystery. For instance, they might mention a strange sound or an unexplained sight, leaving the reader to fill in the blanks. This makes the reader's imagination an important part of the horror experience. It's not about spelling out every detail but rather giving just enough to make you shiver. For example, a story could say 'The cellar door was ajar. A strange smell wafted from within.' You immediately start to wonder what's in the cellar and what could be causing that smell.

Clean scary stories often rely on psychological horror rather than gore or explicit violence. For example, they might play on our fears of the dark, the unknown, or being alone. They use elements like suspense and mystery to create a spooky atmosphere. Instead of showing blood and guts, they might have a sudden noise in an empty house to startle the reader.

Japanese scary stories often involve supernatural elements like ghosts, spirits, and curses. For example, in 'The Ring', the curse spread through a videotape is a very typical supernatural element. They also tend to be set in ordinary, everyday locations such as houses or small towns, which makes the horror seem closer to real life. This is seen in 'Ju - On: The Grudge' where an ordinary house becomes a place of horror.

They are concise. For example, 'I saw a face in the window. It grinned as I ran away.' They quickly set a spooky mood in just two sentences.