A ghost is the spirit of a person who has died, often portrayed as pale, translucent and wispy. Depending on culture, they may be seen as malevolent or benign. The term has a wide range of connotations, from the supernatural to the mundane: ghost writer (the person who pens texts credited to someone else), ghost ship (a vessel that is unmanned or under command) and ghost town (an abandoned, isolated settlement). The word has also entered our everyday language as a slang term for skipping out on a date or a job interview.
Many people believe that a person can be haunted by the ghost of a loved one, a family member or even an acquaintance who has unfinished business on Earth. This could be anything from a grieving lover who is unwilling to let go, to an old lover who never let their heart heal, or even someone who died violently. Intuitive Natasha Levinger explains that “haunting is usually associated with places and the things or individuals that were important in the ghost’s life.”
The most common type of haunting involves a loved one, but other types exist too. Whether the ghost is a vengeful spirit, a malevolent poltergeist or simply a restless soul, it must be clear in its goal. It’s vital to the story that you establish the ghost’s motivation early on in your writing. For example, a ghost that wants answers and justice is the perfect protagonist for a horror story. But a ghost that merely wants to be put to rest might veer into comedy or a children’s story.