A supernatural element can add a whole new layer of suspense and intrigue to a story. But paranormal is more than just ghosts – it’s anything that defies modern scientific reasoning, like UFO sightings or Nostradamus predictions. The key to writing a paranormal thriller is in the inciting incident: the eerie spark that sets your protagonist’s everyday life colliding with the unexplained. Then you’ll need to build a solid paranormal world and create a terrifying threat, all while keeping your readers on the edge of their seat.
In addition to focusing on the supernatural, paranormal stories must also be relatable. This is where a strong memoir technique comes in handy. If your supernatural encounters happened over a span of years, be sure to limit the narrative to the most relevant event or moment. Including too many details can bog down the reader’s attention and distract from the eerie experience you’re trying to recreate.
In a paranormal thriller, patience is also key. You want to slowly build your audience’s suspense by introducing small, unexplained events and then gradually escalating the supernatural occurrences. Be sure to drop subtle clues and foreshadowing throughout too, so the reader is kept guessing until the end. But be careful not to overdo it — if your audience starts to think you’re a ghost hunter who has been tampered with by Freudian forces, it can numb their interest and the shivers in their spine will vanish.