What are the characteristics of very short scary short stories?

Well, very short scary stories usually rely on creating an instant sense of dread. They don't have much room for complex character development. Instead, they focus on a single, terrifying moment or a short sequence of events. For instance, a story might be about a person opening a door to a room that was always locked, and inside there's a menacing figure. This sudden shock is what makes these stories effective. They can also use simple but powerful descriptions like 'the room was filled with a cold, damp air that smelled of death' to set the mood.

Well, they usually have a strong element of mystery. The reader is left with questions that are often more terrifying than answers. In 'The Lottery', the reason behind the lottery is not fully explained and the whole ritual is so mysterious and cruel. They also use simple yet effective settings. A dark road in 'The Hitchhiker' or a creepy old house can set the mood very quickly without a lot of description. And they can have a sudden and shocking ending, like the unexpected death in 'The Monkey's Paw'.

Very short short stories are often concise. They usually focus on one main idea or event. For example, they might tell a brief encounter between two people that reveals something about human nature in just a few sentences.

One characteristic is their brevity. They convey a complete idea or story in just a few pages or even paragraphs. For example, they often have a single, focused theme, like love in 'The Gift of the Magi'.

In scary short stories, a sense of isolation is often created. This makes the protagonist seem more vulnerable. In 'The Tell - Tale Heart', the narrator is alone in his madness. Also, the pacing is important. A slow build - up can increase the tension until it reaches a terrifying climax. Symbolism is another aspect. In 'The Black Cat', the black cat could symbolize the narrator's guilt and the evil within him. These elements work together to create a truly scary short story experience.

They are concise. For example, they can quickly set a simple scene like 'A fish in a pond wanted to see the ocean.' without much detail.

They leave a lot to the imagination. Consider 'The empty swing moved by itself.' It doesn't explain why, and that's what makes it so terrifying. Your mind fills in the blanks with all kinds of horrible possibilities, and that's the power of very very short horror stories.

One night, I heard a strange scratching at my window. I peeked out, but saw nothing. Then I heard it again, closer. Suddenly, a pale face stared back at me.

Often, they have a quick - paced plot. Since they are short, they need to get to the scares fast. For instance, they might start with a strange event right at the beginning to hook the reader.

They are usually simple in plot. For example, they might just involve one spooky event like a strange noise or a mysterious figure. This makes them easy to understand quickly.