Words related to death, like 'corpse' or 'grave', create a sense of finality and doom, which is a big part of the horror atmosphere. Also, words like 'cursed' give the idea of something being doomed or having an evil power over it. The use of such words makes the reader feel a sense of dread and unease, as if they are in a world full of things that are not normal and are potentially dangerous.
Common words could be 'monster', 'blood', and 'creepy'. Monsters are classic elements in horror, whether they are werewolves, vampires or some other terrifying creatures. Blood can be a sign of violence and danger. Creepy describes the feeling that horror stories often give, like something is not right and makes your skin crawl.
How about 'Empty Nursery'? A nursery is supposed to be a place full of life and the sounds of a baby. But when it's empty, it feels wrong. It might make you think of something bad that happened to the baby or that there's some sort of malevolent presence in the room that drove the baby away.
Other words might include 'ghastly tales', 'macabre stories' and 'dreadful narrations'. 'Ghastly tales' often involve elements that are shockingly horrible, like grotesque monsters or gruesome murders. 'Macabre stories' usually deal with death and the darker side of life in a rather disturbing way. 'Dreadful narrations' can be those that fill you with a sense of dread and foreboding from the very beginning.
Words such as 'haunted', 'phantom', and 'ghastly' work well for horror stories. 'Haunted' immediately brings to mind places or things that are possessed by spirits. 'Phantom' refers to a ghostly or illusory figure. 'Ghastly' describes something extremely unpleasant or horrifying, like a ghastly apparition in an old, abandoned house.
Yes, there are. For example, some people might hear strange noises at night in an old apartment. It could be the creaking of the old floorboards or the pipes making noises. And sometimes, there are stories of seeing shadowy figures in the hallway or an empty room. But often, these can be explained by natural reasons like the wind or old building structures.
Words like 'gloom' and 'shadows' can enhance the atmosphere. The word 'gloom' gives a feeling of general sadness and heaviness, which suits the often - doom - laden nature of horror. 'Shadows' can be used to create mystery. For example, a shadow moving on its own can be very scary.