Thread: Ghosts

Hi,

Ok, I've been wanting to write a successful horror novel for more than half my life (or, rather, one that actually gets finished.)

Im asking of this thread to see what people think is the creepiest thing about ghosts. reason being, my story is going to have ghosts as its main adversary. what about ghosts creep you out? It can be anything. Think about appearances, voices, actions, physical and mental properties/abilities or instincts...things like that. I'm very good at coming up with ideas that even scare myself, despite the fact its my own writing. However, i think it would also help if i had opinions from the point of view of another party besides myself.

Thanks

Ghosts don't creep me out...well.

If it's in the shape of a 9 year old girl. Now THAT creeps me out.

young children, especially girls, are defanitely good stuff for chillin' the blood. however, although i will have the "spooky little girl" characters, i need some more variety.

How about a ghost that's like a prisoner in chains? The face and everything can be badly cut and bruised and...well y'know...deformed. To give the hint that he was chained and tortured?

hmm.... ghosts that are also physical in a sense... i hadnt even thought of that. yeah, i like your idea. im thinking for the plotline, so far, is that the main characters are both sisters, one in her early twenties named Carmen, and the other is a teen, probably around 16 or so, named Terra. They were both orphaned two years ago, and Carmen took legal rights to ensure that her sister lived with her. DSince Carmen was 19 at the time, she was old enough to be able to legally look after her adolescent sister. those are the characters.

As for the storyboard, im thinking one of two things. feel free to add another idea to the plot. idea 1.) The sisters get into some kind of accident (i.e. traffic, natural, boating accident.. probably traffic or something.) which awakens the sixth sense. they are disturbed by what they see, and they realize the danger they are in when they find out that the ghosts know that they now can be seen. Thus, this causes the ghosts to attack the sisters and haunt them physically, emotionally, and mentally.

idea 2.) Carmen goes onto some kind of expedition with her sister or something like that. Theyre travelling the world or something, and some event that they partake in induces the sixth sense due to the nature of what the event. for this idea, i have no clue right now what that event will be, or where they will be, but if the idea is there, im always open to it. if anyone has anymore ideas, let me know, im all ears. Ricky, i got to say, i like what your thinking, though...

Hmmm...you could have them discover while traveling the world that the 6th sense runs in the family.

I would think that the creepiest thing is not anything actual, it is the potential, knowing something is coming without exactly knowing what. Like the shower scene in Psycho, if you analyse it there is not that much there in real terms, it is the build up and the tension, not what actually happens, the girls worries about the ghosts are going to be more tension building than the actual ghosts themselves.

I'd have to say ghost children, as well. Or those that were institutionalized for mental illness (like the fictional Shutter Island) or some disease epidemic (the real-life Waverly Hills).

For inspiration, and if you get the channel, try watching some shows on SyFy. A lot of the time I get inspiration from watching Destination Truth and Ghost Hunters. The "investigations" that these two shows conduct may not be exactly what I want or need, but it gets my mind thinking about the what ifs.

I'm hoping this helps, if not entirely related to what you're ofter.

A group of psychologists did some research spirits and related items. They found something interesting with relation to sound. When they played a blanket noise at (from memory) something between 5 and 20 hertz, it produced an emotional reaction in humans; being fear. They initially tested this by playing the sound underneath selected songs during a performance, and did a survey asking the audience what they thought of the songs. The sub-audible sound produce a greater sense of fear/anxiety when played with the song, and had the listeners interpret the song as being haunting.

Interestingly, it's this same frequency that is produced by old houses as they shift through the day (grow/shrink due to temperature changes). When in the houses, particularly as sunset and sunrise, where there's the greatest temperature changes, these sounds become more prominent and heighten fear in the occupants.

In a more bizarre note, they also worked out that the cells in your eyes vibrate at a certain frequency, which is similar to 18 hertz (again from memory). When the vibrations in the air resonate at this frequency, it stimulates the cells in your eyes; provoking the cells into firing - making you see white flashes of light. Of course, in the fear driven state, the occupant interprets these as ghosts.


Back on topic...

The people I've seen, tend to react more when they see a spirit rather than physical changes that happen. If something moves by itself, they minds can rationalise a variety of explanations for the event; including a practical joke. But if they see a spirit, they tend to become highly distraught.

If that spirit is coming towards them (looking at them), or even gesturing at them, they can panic and flee. Some go into something of a frozen shock, unable to do anything (even scream). It's quite embarrassing to watch.. because the person then has to deal with not only their changed perceptions, but also how helpless they were.

I think it's the perception of being utterly helpless against this foreign entity that truly scares people. When spirits cast their gaze (attention) onto prior 'non-believers', there's a moment of ... I'm not sure how to explain it. It's the sudden realisation that their world has suddenly changed. That there are things around that they have no control over (this is technically false - but they don't know this in the moment of dread).

There's also the fear that if there's ghosts in the world, then there must also be other things that could also be true. Ghosts inhabit some area of 'space' that exists for a reason, and that means there could be other things that also inhabit that space. Their world opens up into untold fearful possibilities. Not one of which allowing them any feeling of safety or security.

If you're going to write horror, focus on these aspects. Make the reader 'feel' these things. Make them truly believe that they're helpless against this malevolent being that has singled them out (maybe for a reason).

Avoid the cliche white robes, chains, water dripping from the eyes.. etc. Either put the being in human form, with a negative aspect (angry/demonic features). Or have the being be of a completely different form, or be formless.

You're looking to either have the person connect with the negative entity because they are similar (human looking), or be repulsed by its entirely foreign form (in that he cannot predict anything about the beast because it's too unnatural). The normal motivations for a demonic spirit cannot be gauged by humans; they exist in a world with different social norms and rules. You'll just need to decide on what those norms are; perhaps if you wanted to stick to the usual 'gain power by collecting souls' concepts.

In any case, much of the fear of spirits comes from not knowing what they want. Play on this, and on the hero's inability to satisfy it (with disastrous results).

The scariest ghosts for me it's young girl's ghosts, especially when they have long black hair and wear a white dress >o<.
But the ghosts are not the only source of fear, my fear is related to surnatural things created by ghosts like making noises at night while i'm alone at home, when we feel something grab our arm while we're sleeping or when we watch a picture and then, we see people under their skeleton form instead of seeing their real human form and others abnormal things like that.
To see a posseded person is also very scary: white eyes, creepy voice, ect...

Originally Posted by Sushie

we see people under their skeleton form instead of seeing their real human form

Kris, i dont know exactly how to explain it right now, but you seriously gave me what might possibly be an original idea (despite the fact that almost everything has been done that can be done in general, so almost nothing made in these times is original) but you have me going on an idea. though, with the form of a ghost, they can be human and have the missing eye look, scarred hands, etc.... as long as one does it properly. however i will say i will use your advice. having a ghost be formless causes the ghosts' wintness's imagination to come up with some description of their own, and due to the psychological make-up of our minds, the human brain will most likely cause said person to see the ghost to be something that inspires the worst fear imaginable. I also like the sound idea. i think i could use that to induce the sixth sense. though, i will have to make up a side sotry part in the plot of why there are scientists researching these things. or maybe that this 'discovery' happened to be just some accidental breakthrough in science. though, i have yet to think of a way that the characters will get suck sound tests done to them. i like the idea.

and by the way, i like the skull picture. :p

Originally Posted by Izzi

Kris, i dont know exactly how to explain it right now, but you seriously gave me what might possibly be an original idea (despite the fact that almost everything has been done that can be done in general, so almost nothing made in these times is original) but you have me going on an idea. though, with the form of a ghost, they can be human and have the missing eye look, scarred hands, etc.... as long as one does it properly. however i will say i will use your advice. having a ghost be formless causes the ghosts' wintness's imagination to come up with some description of their own, and due to the psychological make-up of our minds, the human brain will most likely cause said person to see the ghost to be something that inspires the worst fear imaginable. I also like the sound idea. i think i could use that to induce the sixth sense. though, i will have to make up a side sotry part in the plot of why there are scientists researching these things. or maybe that this 'discovery' happened to be just some accidental breakthrough in science. though, i have yet to think of a way that the characters will get suck sound tests done to them. i like the idea.

You may be able to apply some real science in there.
Infrasound - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (link)

Following other key words found in the article will lead you to a range of other informative websites (via google searches). You might get away with blurring the lines between this science and the paranormal, (keeping in mind I have little knowledge of frequencies and vibrations in science, but) you may be able to have the spirits exist at a vibrationary frequency at something 'just less' than that which the normal human eye vibrates at. Some exposure to medical equipment (or near some sonic tools, anything) could result in your hero's eyes being damaged in a way that made them operate at a level where they could see spirits (and maybe less of the 'human world'). Could be a nice change from the usual explanations of the paranormal.

I second Olly in that the unknown can often induce the most fear, leaving things to the reader's imagination. I remember reading Stephen King's The Mist and a lot of the fear came from wondering just what the hell was out there, or what was attached to the end of that tentacle.