A ghost is the apparition of a soul or spirit that inhabits the netherworld and is believed to be capable of returning in some form to the world of the living. The apparition can be a translucent, albeit visible shape or it can be described as an invisible presence that appears only in a special way.
Ghosts are a central element in many supernatural stories, with the most popular being those by Charles Dickens. They can be a range of different personalities, from friendly to hostile.
Whether or not the ghost is actually dead can also make a huge difference to the story. Some ghosts are friendly and want to help their loved ones still among the living, perhaps to warn their lovers of an enemy or tell them where to find a hidden will. Others are grumpy and mean, out for revenge or to scare the living with their evil ways.
Characterisation
In order to write a ghost story, you should first think about who your characters are and why they are haunted. This will determine how they respond to the ‘haunting’ and how you set up your story.
The setting will affect your characters, too, so consider what sort of place it is and how it is used. Does it have a strong association with your characters or is it just a random location?
A haunted place or location can be anything that has a strong association with your characters, including a room, building, house, country house, mansion, cottage or garden. The type of setting you choose will depend on the mood or atmosphere you wish to create, as well as whether you are looking for a comical, disturbing or frightening ghost story.