How can 'text only horror stories' be made more engaging?

Use vivid descriptions. For example, instead of just saying 'it was a dark room', say 'the room was pitch - black, the kind of black that seemed to swallow any light that dared to enter, and the air was thick with a musty smell that made it hard to breathe'. Also, create relatable characters. If the reader can identify with the character in the story, they'll be more engaged.

To make 'choices stories' more engaging, offer more diverse choices. Let the players really feel like they have control over the story's direction. Also, create complex and relatable characters so that players care about what happens to them.

By creating complex characters. If the characters have their own backstories and motives, it makes the story more interesting. For instance, a character haunted by their past actions is more engaging.

Add mystery elements. For example, in the story, there could be a mysterious figure who seems to be controlling both the inflation and the horror events. This will keep the readers guessing.

Involve the children. Let them guess what will happen next in the story. For instance, when telling 'Goldilocks and the Three Bears', stop at the part where Goldilocks enters the house and ask the kids what they think she'll do first. You can also act out parts of the story. If it's 'Hansel and Gretel', pretend to be the children walking through the forest. This makes the story - telling more interactive and thus more engaging.

Using different voices for each character can make 'plugged in bedtime stories' more engaging. It brings the story to life.

Using vivid descriptions can make them more engaging. For instance, instead of just saying 'The dog ran in the park', you could say 'The energetic dog sprinted across the lush green park, its paws kicking up small clouds of dirt as it chased after the elusive squirrel.'

Use different voices for different characters. When you're telling a fireside scary story, changing your voice to match the hero, the villain or other characters makes it more interesting.

Use different voices for each character when telling the children spooky stories. This makes the story come alive. Also, add some sound effects like creaking doors or howling winds in the background. It'll create a more spooky atmosphere.

Create relatable characters. If the audience can see themselves in the characters of the flat animated story, they'll be more engaged. So, if it's a story about school, having characters with the same insecurities and hopes as real students would work well. Also, use cliffhangers at the end of scenes. This makes the viewers eager to see what happens next.