Haunted is the state of being persistently tormented, troubled or worried. It can also refer to a place or object that is believed to be haunted by ghosts, spirits or other supernatural entities. A person can be haunted by memories or feelings, and can even be haunted by physical symptoms like unexplained zapping of electronic devices or a lack of energy in the home, as well as hearing mysterious creaking and knocking sounds or having cold spots that don’t disappear no matter how many blankets are added or how often the heater is turned on.
In most cases, however, a haunting isn’t a supernatural phenomenon at all, and can be explained by hoaxes, environmental effects, hallucinations or confirmation biases. Even if an entity does appear, most scientists agree that these ghosts are unlikely to be dangerous and usually have no ill intent. Despite this, the concept of haunting is still deeply ingrained in our culture, and people continue to tell tales about their encounters with the otherworldly.
Ghost stories typically follow a traditional story structure, focusing on a character and their encounter with a supernatural force or event. They are meant to scare and build up tension until a terrifying climax. When writing a ghost story, it’s important to consider pacing and how much suspense the reader can sustain without becoming nervous or bored. The best ghost stories are able to create a sense of unease while still maintaining the credibility of their characters and settings.