What makes a very scary ghost story so terrifying in a very scary ghost story?

The sense of helplessness is a big factor. In these stories, like in a haunted house scenario, the characters are usually trapped in some way. They can't easily escape the presence of the ghost. Also, the atmosphere created, like dim lighting, cold drafts, and eerie silence broken by sudden noises, all contribute to making the story terrifying. And the idea that the ghost might have some malevolent intent towards the living, that's really scary.

The unknown factor. In very very scary ghost stories, we don't know what the ghost will do. It could appear suddenly, touch you, or just give you a feeling of being watched. This lack of control and knowledge is what scares us.

The sense of being watched. When a character in a ghost story feels like there are eyes on them, but they can't see anything, it creates a lot of tension. Also, the idea of something being out of place, like a cold spot in a warm room. It gives the feeling that there is an otherworldly presence. Ghost stories often play on our basic fears of the dark and the afterlife, making them very terrifying.

It's often the element of surprise and the unknown. When you don't know what's coming next in a ghost story, it amps up the fear factor.

A very scary ghost story needs a sense of the supernatural that defies normal explanation. It could be a ghost that can pass through walls or disappear into thin air. The atmosphere in the story should be thick with dread. This can be created by using descriptive language, like 'the air was heavy with a cold, clammy feeling'. The ghost's presence should be felt even when it's not directly seen, and the anticipation of its appearance should keep the reader or listener on edge.

The elements that make a ghost story book very scary often include vivid descriptions of creepy settings, unexpected plot twists, and intense build-ups of suspense.

One aspect that makes a super scary ghost story so terrifying is the atmosphere. If the story is set in a desolate place like an old, creaky house in the middle of the woods or a fog - covered cemetery at midnight, it immediately sets a spooky mood. Also, the use of sound effects in the story, like a sudden creaking noise or a wailing sound, can send shivers down one's spine. And when the characters in the story are helpless and at the mercy of the ghost, it intensifies the fear factor.

The element of the unknown. In very scary ghost stories, there are often things that can't be easily explained. For example, a strange noise in an empty room. It makes people's imagination run wild.

The unknown. In a scary ghost story, not knowing what the ghost will do next or why it's there is terrifying. For example, if a ghost just appears and stares at you without any explanation, it sends shivers down your spine.

The unknown factor makes real scary ghost stories terrifying. We don't know if ghosts truly exist, but the idea of something beyond our understanding and control lurking in the shadows is spooky. For example, in a story where a ghost haunts a house, we can't see it clearly, and we don't know what it wants or how to make it go away.