How to Tell Ghost Stories

Don't Run From Your Own Ghost Story

Ghost stories are a beloved ritual at camp outs and sleepovers. For some, telling a ghost story is more daunting than listening to one. Telling a ghost story requires a different talent than writing one because you can use facial expressions and other gestures. You can tell a ghost story by combining a variety of fiction and non-fiction elements, or you can rely on retelling traditional ones. No matter which way you decide to tell your story, all storytellers need to learn the basics on how to give your friends the chills!

Instructions

1. Create your characters using traditional stereotypes, or mix and match those features to make the story more convincing. You can rely on stereotypes to tell your ghost story, as they are often easier to develop, so you can focus on building other powerful elements of the story. Consider developing complex characters that do not refer to stereotypical features such as a mean witch, with pretty hair, who was nice to children.

2. Give descriptions of ghostly features. Use features such as transparent figures or images of a disappearing figure so your story is more believable. If you use unrealistic descriptions of a ghost, such as an octopus that came down from the sky, your ghost story will likely end up being a funny story instead. Rely on visions and experiences of others in the past and use ghostly features that are spooky.

3. Find common ghost motivations and bring your story to life. Give the ghost a reason to come back and haunt people or places. Think of reasons a ghost may want to come back such as for revenge, to deliver a message, or to honor a bond with an earthly place.

4. Pick a place for the ghost story to take place. Use common settings such as a graveyard or a deep dark forest, as those places are mysterious and isolated. These places are especially spooky at night, and it will bring a more profound effect on your story when you are narrating this after dark.

5. Use scary words in your story to give them the creeps. Use description words like creepy, and eerie. Use bone-chilling descriptions that would give goose bumps to a skeleton.

6. Team up with a friend or camp counselor to help with the spooks in your story. Tell your friend what story you are going to use so they can chime in with the details and spooky events. Tell a story where a woman disappears and never returns, only to have your friend jump out from behind a bush and say, “I never disappeared. I am right here.”

Tips & Warnings

• Mix and match any elements to your ghost stories. To make your ghost stories believable, use a character or place that someone in your group may know about. If you use a ghost story about an abandoned house in your neighborhood, others in the group will be able to visualize the story and find it more compelling.

• Always be respectful of the people in your group. If one member does not want to listen to ghost stories, respect that wish or save the story for another time.

• Children become easily frightened. Be sure to get permission from the parents before telling a ghost story to a young child.