One idea could be a story about an old, abandoned house. A young couple decides to explore it at night. As they enter, they hear strange whispers and the sound of a creaking rocking chair. When they turn on their flashlights, they see a faint figure of an old woman in the corner, but when they blink, she's gone.
A girl inherits an antique mirror from her grandmother. When she brings it home and hangs it in her bedroom, she starts to see a face in the mirror that isn't her own. At first, it's just a fleeting glimpse. But as time passes, the face becomes more and more clear. It seems to be a sad, pale face of a woman. One night, the woman in the mirror reaches out as if trying to pull the girl into the mirror world.
In a spooky forest, there's a lost hiker. As night falls, he notices strange lights flickering between the trees. He follows them, thinking it might be a way out. But the lights lead him to an old, gnarled tree with a hollow in it. Inside the hollow, he sees a pair of glowing eyes. Suddenly, he hears a howl and realizes he's not alone in this forest haunted by something otherworldly.
How about a ghostly hitchhiker? A driver on a lonely road at night picks up a girl in a white dress. But as they drive, the driver notices she has no feet and she gives off an icy chill. When they reach a certain point, she suddenly disappears, leaving the driver shaken and wondering if it was all a nightmare.
One idea could be a haunted house where every night at midnight, a cold wind blows through the halls and strange noises come from the attic. The previous owners of the house all died mysteriously.
One good idea often found in short stories is the 'twist ending'. For example, in O. Henry's stories like 'The Gift of the Magi'. The couple sacrifices their most precious possessions for each other, only to find out the gifts they bought are now useless, but it shows their deep love. This kind of twist makes the story memorable.
Well, good short ghost stories typically have a clear and concise plot. They don't waste time getting to the spooky part. They might introduce a simple but effective supernatural element. Take 'The Tell - Tale Heart' for instance, the old man's 'evil eye' is a very simple yet very effective supernatural concept. The stories also often rely on the power of suggestion. They don't always show the ghost fully but give hints and let the reader's imagination run wild. This is seen in many stories where the ghost is just a shadow or a cold feeling. And they usually end with a sense of unease or mystery, leaving the reader thinking about the story long after they've finished reading.
One idea could be a story about a lost key that unlocks a mysterious door in an old attic. The protagonist discovers the key while cleaning out their deceased grandmother's house. As they search for the door it might belong to, they encounter strange events and people who seem to be guarding a secret related to the key.
Draw from personal experiences. Your own life is full of unique situations and emotions that can be translated into a short story. For instance, a memorable trip could be the basis for a story about self - discovery.
A short story idea could revolve around time travel. A scientist accidentally travels back in time to a crucial moment in history. He has to decide whether to interfere or not, and his every action has unforeseen consequences. It can explore themes like fate, free will, and the impact of small actions.