A great short ghost story is 'The Monkey's Paw'. A family comes into possession of a mummified monkey's paw that has the power to grant three wishes. But each wish comes with a terrifying and unforeseen consequence. It shows how meddling with the unknown can bring about dark and spooky results.
There's also 'Oh, Whistle, and I'll Come to You, My Lad' by M. R. James. A professor finds an old whistle while on holiday. When he blows it, he is haunted by a strange, ghostly figure that seems to be drawn to the sound. The story builds a great sense of unease and mystery as the professor tries to deal with this spectral presence.
One of the best short ghost stories is 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe. In this story, the narrator is haunted by the vulture - like eye of an old man. His obsession drives him to commit a heinous crime, and then he is consumed by the sound of the old man's still - beating heart, which he imagines he can hear even after the man is dead. It's a chilling exploration of guilt and madness.
The 'Ghost in the Attic' is a really good one for kids. It's about a little boy who moves into a new house and hears strange noises coming from the attic. When he finally goes up there, he discovers a friendly ghost who is just a bit lonely. It has a happy ending which makes it suitable for younger audiences.
A great ghost short story often has a really spooky atmosphere. For example, in 'The Tell - Tale Heart', the way Poe describes the narrator's paranoia and the old man's room at night creates a sense of dread. Also, strong characters are important. In 'The Monkey's Paw', the family's desperation and fear as they face the consequences of their wishes make the story engaging. And a good twist, like in 'The Turn of the Screw' where we're not sure if it's real ghosts or the governess's madness, can make a ghost short story one of the best.
Character development is key. In a good Victorian short ghost story, the characters need to be believable. Take 'The Phantom Coach' by Amelia B. Edwards. The main character's journey from disbelief to terror is well - crafted. The plot twists are another factor. A sudden revelation like in 'The Turn of the Screw' by Henry James can make a story stand out.
There was a young girl living in an old apartment. She often heard strange noises at night but had never seen any ghosts. One day, she happened to see her own reflection in the mirror, but the reflection of herself in the mirror was very strange. In the next few days, many strange things happened in the apartment, including a stranger suddenly appearing in front of her. Her clothes began to become tattered and a strange smell filled the room. The girl began to suspect that she might have died and that the reflection in the mirror was another her. Finally, the girl found a mysterious Taoist priest. He told the girl that the girl in the mirror was another girl in the apartment. She had died a long time ago, but she had been alive and appeared in the mirror with another identity. The Taoist priest suggested that the girl could find the other girl's soul by looking for the oldest thing in the apartment. The girl began to search for the oldest thing in the apartment and finally found an old diary. The diary recorded some terrible things that had happened in this apartment, including the legend of a female ghost. The girl realized that she wasn't the only victim and that she was another identity of the ghost in the mirror.
There was an ancient legend that said that there was a mysterious ancient tomb on a barren mountain. Legend has it that a legendary ghost was buried there. He was a murderous demon who killed people for fun. One day, a young scholar came to this barren mountain. He heard that a legendary ghost was buried here, so he decided to explore. He walked to the edge of the barren mountain and saw an ancient tomb. He could not wait to enter. When he entered the tomb, he suddenly heard a deep sigh. He looked for the sound and found an ancient rune rubbing on the ground. He walked closer and saw a line of words engraved on the rune: " If you can read this letter, you can have eternal life." The young scholar was very curious, so he picked up the letter and began to read. He read for a long time but did not hear any sound. He was so confused that he decided to leave. Suddenly, he heard a scream. He turned around and saw a ghost coming at him. He was frightened and ran away. He ran to the edge of the barren mountain and saw an ancient tomb. He remembered the ancient rune. He picked up the rune and began to read. After reading for a long time, he suddenly heard a crisp bell ring. He looked up and realized that the ringtone came from the ghosts in the ancient tomb. He walked in the direction of the bell and saw a sealed ghost. He unsealed the ghost and it pounced on him. He was frightened and ran away. He ran to the edge of the barren mountain and saw an ancient tomb. He remembered the ancient rune. He picked up the rune and began to read. After reading for a long time, he suddenly heard a crisp bell ring. He looked up and realized that the ringtone came from the ghosts in the ancient tomb. He walked in the direction of the bell and found a sealed ghost. He unsealed the ghost and it pounced on him.
There was an old legend about a boy named John. After John's death, his soul did not leave his hometown but wandered around the cemetery. Every time John appeared, he would tell people his story. John said that he was a doctor when he was alive and that he was willing to sacrifice his health to save those who were sick. However, his contribution did not get the reward he deserved because he did not get the money and glory he desired. One day, John suddenly fainted at work. His friends rushed him to the hospital, but he died in the end. However, John's soul did not leave but continued to stay in this world to help those who were sick. One day, John's friends found his soul and tried to bring him home. However, when they arrived at the cemetery, they saw a strange phenomenon: John's soul was walking towards them! His friends were terrified, but they did not know how to escape from this dangerous place. Finally, they were trapped in the cemetery, and John's spirit began to pressure them to help him find a medical research that he had been looking for all his life.
They often have a strong sense of atmosphere. For example, in many of Poe's works, the setting is dark and gloomy, like old, decaying mansions. This helps to set the mood for the ghostly events. They also usually have a simple yet effective plot. A single, spooky incident or entity can be enough to create a great short ghost story.
There was a young man who was lost in the forest, but on his way back, he heard a creepy legend: not far from here, there was a cursed forest with countless ghosts wandering, each of which was deeply sealed in the tree.
They often rely on simple yet effective elements. Like the use of a single, unexplained sound in the middle of the night to create fear. And they usually have a small cast of characters which makes it easier to focus on the horror. For instance, a lone traveler in a haunted place. The stories in 'short story short ghost stories' also tend to have a twist at the end that leaves the reader with a sense of unease.
A good short ghost story should have an eerie setting. For example, an old, abandoned mansion or a fog - covered graveyard. It also needs a mysterious ghost character. This could be a spectral figure in white or a shadowy presence. And a sense of suspense is crucial. You want to keep the reader on the edge of their seat, wondering what will happen next.