MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - What do you want in a Paranormal Ghost Story? (please help!)

DuskyRose · 09-07-2013, 05:57 PM

Don't know if I can help, since I'm not into Ghost Stories so much as I am Urban Fantasies. But they do have ghosts in them. Sometimes. Not in any particular order...

I like buddy stories, teams that work together. I don't mind a bit of romance, but I don't read those that are mostly romance with some Fantasy in them. Don't try to straddle the fence, do one or the other.

I'm not into really grissly details, or prolong torture or suffering. I want the universe to be consistant. (If you say that ghosts can't cross water, then don't forget your own rule and have them chasing a victim across a river with no effect. Pay attention.)

I can't stand stupid characters. Fine if someone makes a stupid mistake, but if they do it over and over I'll give up on them. Have your characters keep their mind on what's going on. (In one story I read, a woman assassin was supposed to be a professional at her job, but wore unrealistic high heels and spent more time worrying that her thong was riding up than the fact her victim was coming into target range.)

Show, don't tell. Show us what your character is like, don't have them tell us in dialog or back story.

Have a story you want to tell your readers. Don't try to piece it together from bits you think will sell. Telling the story should come first.

09-07-2013, 05:57 PM	#2
DuskyRose Guru Posts: 754 Karma: 9209502 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Virginia Device: Boox Note Air3, Palma, K-Scribe, Eclipsa 2e, & Libra 2, Ipads	Don't know if I can help, since I'm not into Ghost Stories so much as I am Urban Fantasies. But they do have ghosts in them. Sometimes. Not in any particular order... I like buddy stories, teams that work together. I don't mind a bit of romance, but I don't read those that are mostly romance with some Fantasy in them. Don't try to straddle the fence, do one or the other. I'm not into really grissly details, or prolong torture or suffering. I want the universe to be consistant. (If you say that ghosts can't cross water, then don't forget your own rule and have them chasing a victim across a river with no effect. Pay attention.) I can't stand stupid characters. Fine if someone makes a stupid mistake, but if they do it over and over I'll give up on them. Have your characters keep their mind on what's going on. (In one story I read, a woman assassin was supposed to be a professional at her job, but wore unrealistic high heels and spent more time worrying that her thong was riding up than the fact her victim was coming into target range.) Show, don't tell. Show us what your character is like, don't have them tell us in dialog or back story. Have a story you want to tell your readers. Don't try to piece it together from bits you think will sell. Telling the story should come first. Last edited by DuskyRose; 09-07-2013 at 06:14 PM. Reason: (And, certainly, spell better than I do.)