To write an effective two-paragraph ghost story start by establishing a powerful sense of place and atmosphere in the first paragraph. Choose a setting that seems mundane at first—a dimly lit kitchen—but then weave in tiny, creeping anomalies that suggest an unseen presence. Make the stillness feel unnaturally dense, the pocket of freezing air no furnace can touch, or the faint sound of footsteps that halt when you do. Let tension simmer beneath the surface before the horror strikes. Anchor the scene in tangible, physical details so the otherworldly presence feels more terrifying when it arrives. Maintain lean, economical writing and refrain from spelling things out. Turn the mundane into a vessel of dread.

In the second paragraph, unveil the ghost with chilling subtlety. Avoid theatrical horror tropes but through a quiet, intimate detail only the protagonist would notice: a face in the glass that isn’t yours. A finger trail on the pane, cold and clear. A whisper that says their name in a voice they haven’t heard in years. Reveal the haunting by what it does to the person. A trembling hand. The dawning horror of being watched. End the story on a chilling note of implication, not explanation. Plant a question that lingers in their mind. Never explain the source. The most frightening tales are the ones you never finish telling.