What makes a scaries story really scary?

The use of atmosphere can make a short story really scary. If you set the scene in a dark, abandoned place like an old cemetery or a deserted house, it immediately gives off an eerie feeling. Additionally, having relatable characters who are in danger makes the reader more invested in the story. When bad things start to happen to them, the reader can imagine themselves in that situation, which is terrifying. For instance, a story about a person alone in a haunted forest at night, lost and hearing strange howls. The combination of the setting, the vulnerability of the character, and the mystery of the howls all contribute to the scariness.

The unknown. When there are things that are not fully explained or shown, it scares people. For example, in a haunted house story, if you just hear strange noises but don't see the source clearly, it creates a sense of fear. You start imagining all sorts of terrifying things.

A really scary story often has elements like unexpected twists, creepy settings, and menacing characters.

The atmosphere and build - up in a 'scary tail story' play a big role in making it scary. If the story starts slowly, with just a few hints about a strange tail, and then gradually reveals more and more terrifying details about it, it can be really effective. For example, first we hear about a rustling sound that might be a tail in the bushes at night. Then we see a glimpse of a scaly tail. And finally, we realize it belongs to a huge, monstrous reptile that is hunting for human prey. This gradual build - up of suspense and horror makes the story really scary.

The sense of something being wrong or unnatural. In a scary boy story, if a boy sees his reflection acting differently in the mirror, or if objects start moving on their own. These things go against the normal order of things and make us, as readers or listeners, feel uneasy. It makes the story scarier because it challenges our understanding of how the world should be.

A sense of invasion. If the caller seems to know things about you, like in the story where the voice on the phone described things in the house. It feels like your privacy has been violated and there could be some malicious entity watching you. Also, when the calls keep coming despite your attempts to stop them, it adds to the scariness. It's like you can't escape this unknown threat.

A sense of dread and isolation. If the story is set in a lonely place like an old forest or a deserted building, it adds to the scariness. Also, if the characters in the story are alone and helpless, it makes the ghost seem more menacing. For instance, a person lost in a haunted castle with no way to escape and a ghostly presence lurking in the shadows.

A great scary story often has a relatable main character. If we can put ourselves in their shoes, we feel their fear more intensely. Say a story is about a normal person like us going through a terrifying situation, like being trapped in a haunted house. We can imagine how scared we would be in that situation, which makes the story scarier.

A great horror story often plays on our deepest fears. Fear of the dark, for instance. Many horror stories use the setting of a dark, isolated place like in 'The Conjuring' series. The idea of being alone and vulnerable in the dark is terrifying. Also, the element of the supernatural can be really scary. When there are ghosts or demons as in 'Insidious', things that defy our understanding of the natural world, it gives us chills. The way the story builds tension, slowly revealing the horror, is also crucial.

The unknown. When there are elements in a story that are not fully explained or understood, it makes it scarier. For example, in a haunted house story, if there are strange noises but no clear source, it gives the reader or listener's imagination a lot to work with. Our minds tend to create the scariest scenarios when there's a lack of information.