What are some classic scary story settings?
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What are some classic scary story settings?
My thinking is that sometimes it's good to play into a cliche when it comes to a setting for a short horror story. Think about it: are you more likely to read a horror story set in a graveyard or a grocery store? I'm not saying new trails can't be blazed, but you can build a million stories in a few familiar settings that have sent chills down the spines of readers for years.
So anyway, what are some classic horror story settings you can think of? Even if I don't tackle this project, I think this question is a fun exercise. Keep in mind when I say horror, it can be pretty broad - paranormal, psychological, and supernatural can all fit here. Here's what me and my brother came up with so far:
-graveyard
-hotel/hotel room
-exorcism (this one's iffy b/c it's not really a setting, it's an event...but it always seems to take place in the person's home)
- Zain
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I guess any setting that is somehow closed off from possible helpers will do. That's great if you want the characters to experience a lot of stress and exhaust them mentally. Most stories I can think of have settings like that. I thought of examples like Dracula, Treasure Island (scary!), typical werewolf/vampire hunt stories, and so on.
Hope that helps.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gdnsVQ9ILE&t=32s
The next best thing would be a forest in the middle of the night. Abandoned houses or castles are so overused people are probably not scared of these anymore. Also, outer space would be another setting not many people have used.
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If you want to get a little more pointed, old plantations. You always hear about the ghosts of Civil War widows and the like floating around such places, but I rarely see stories about the ghosts of the many, many enslaved people who must be buried on the grounds or nearby, and if anybody has reason to be so pissed off they refuse to move on...
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