What has to happen in a story to scare you?
By AmberLynn
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
United States
May 22, 2017 1:17pm CST
Last night, before bed, I was reading some supposedly terrifying stories off of facebook. It was actually a third party site that I was directed to after perusing a facebook page, but I digress.
The stories within the site were okay, but not at all frightening to me. There was one, somewhat frightening but that I have heard several times before. The familiarity of the story did not make it less frightening, but the beginning sentences were so familiar that I did decide to forgo reading it last night.
I've read stories from creepypasta and nosleep (reddit sub) that have been frightening. I have watch television shows or movies that have their jump scares. Even those stories that elude to something but don't quite follow through can be frightening.
However, none of the books I've read lately have been all that terrifying. I suppose the familiarity of concepts have helped me from getting frightened. That is to say, that while the books were enjoyable, the plots were so alike / familiar that the stories weren't terrifying to me.
To answer my own question, what has to happen in a story to scare me?
The ending of the story has to be left to the reader's imagination. No suggestion by the author should be hinted at at all. If I feel as if the author has suggested / hinted at a conclusion, or a possible conclusion? The thrill or fear is gone for me. I've already allowed my mind to conjure up possibilities by that point and the fear factor is ruined for me.
An ending has to be so abrupt, and so unknown that it only allows my mind to wander AFTER I've finished the book and not before. I hope this makes sense to everyone.
Let's see, anything with an entity going after children is frightening to me, even today. Those urban legends of the babysitter getting a call on the phone and getting the police to trace it only to find out it was coming from upstairs? That creeps me out...
A long, drawn out scene can be frightening with the right mood.
What has to happen in a story to frighten you? Or do you read / watch frightening things at all?
8 people like this
6 responses
@celticeagle (190074)
• Boise, Idaho
23 May 17
As little info as possible is a good lead in for terror. Fore play with the reader is so important. Back history is good too. And, yes, the abrupt unsure ending is good.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
23 May 17
I love back story, but it also has to be done just right. Sometimes authors of any genre take too much time to explain things and lose the plot along the way,.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (190074)
• Boise, Idaho
23 May 17
@ScribbledAdNauseum ........Yes, they used to do a lot of that but it has changed now days.
@Courtlynn (67089)
• United States
22 May 17
Im not big on horror. But when watching Grey's Anatomy two weeks ago, i was afraid that the rapiest that was waundering the hospital and kidnapped a doctor, was going to rape her or the little girl they ran into.. if that counts? Lol
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
23 May 17
Well you were scared so I say it does count... I don't watch Grey's Anatomy anymore, but I did watch abou ten episodes of it.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (230365)
• Chile
22 May 17
An end that is unexpected can be a cause of fright although not the only one.
I have read frightening stories and seen frightening movies, but none of them had the "ketchup" kind of horror.
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
23 May 17
So none of what you have read or seen was the over exaggerated kind?
@Poppylicious (11134)
• United Kingdom
22 May 17
Anything that is more psychological rather than supernatural tends to scare me more. The idea that it could happen in my world creeps me out, but that may just be because I don't believe in the supernatural.
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
23 May 17
The psychological ones are the worst. I have read them, but try to steer away from them a bit because they do scare me. Like you said, the feeling that it very well COULD happen to you is just creepy.
@teamfreak16 (43685)
• Denver, Colorado
23 May 17
I keep seeing references to Creepypasta all over the place, and have no idea what it is.
@magnumopus (1644)
• Singapore
22 May 17
I always like the plot of the story of Stephen King or Dean Koontz.

@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
22 May 17
I've read those authors before but haven't in awhile...
I did love Stephen King's Rose Red.







