Why I Love Scary Stories

I love stories.

Especially scary stories . . .

For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved a good scare. As a child, my favorite cartoon character was Scooby-Doo. I loved the Haunted Mansion at Disney World. And my favorite reads were The Witches, by Roald Dahl, The Dollhouse Murders, by Betty Ren Wright, and Wait Till Helen Comes by Mary Downing Hahn. (I always felt like Nancy Drew was a little bit tame.) 

I lived for games like Light as a Feather, Stiff as a Board–to this day, I swear my friend Jenny levitated one night–and Ghost in the Graveyard, which we once actually played inside a funeral home once. I had a crazy childhood.

I spent my early teen years holed up in someone’s [unfinished, musty] basement watching horror movies (I won’t date myself by telling you the format of those movies), playing Ouija board, and reading tarot cards. 

I kept notebooks filled with all the paranormal events [I thought I] I observed on a regular basis. And wrote story after story about haunted happenings and otherworldly escapades.

Now that’s scary . . .

As I got older I learned that the real world was a whole lot scarier than fiction. And ghosts and bogeymenen had nothing on the monsters living in our midst.

And then I studied psychology in college and went to law school, where I saw, sometimes first hand, the evil that human beings could inflict on one another. It was way scarier than anything I read, watched, or wrote.

Writing helps me to process events, and sometimes it even lets me make sense of the senseless. I love the power of the written word and the rush that comes from creating something from nothing. As the words tumble upon the page and characters come to life I feel excited and alive. And, let’s be honest, in control.

I’ve got more stories in my head than I could ever tell. And new ones take shape every day. 

As an avid reader, I know that reading is the pathway to both escape and enlightenment. And I really dig that juxtaposition. But there is no better escape for me than a scary story.

Why we like scary things

A well-written thriller gives me all the feels: a pounding heartbeat… butterflies in my stomach…clenching fists. Sometimes I even find myself holding my breath. These aren’t particularly nice sensations and are ones I typically strive to avoid in real life.

It seems ironic then, that I would seek them out for pleasure. But I am not alone. Just think of the number of horror movie franchises you can name. Suspense novels often top the bestseller charts. And, right now, all around me haunted houses and hayrides are popping up by the dozen. There are even Zombie runs where participants have to escape the undead. Although that kind of scare is a little too much for me. I don’t want anyone reaching out and touching me in the dark. #thankyouverymuch

But there’s no question, scary is good for business. And there are a number of reasons why.

1. Scary stories have a safety net

Our bodies are good at what they do. When we watch a scary movie or read a scary book our bodies will recognize that fear and kick into high gear. But luckily, our brains are also good at what they do. And so they assess the situation. Upon determining that we are safe in our beds under a pile of blankets or on the couch with a bowl of popcorn they immediately send signals to our bodies that we are free from risk. And once reassured, we calm down quickly.

The other nice thing about choosing to participate in a scary activity is that you can choose to stop participating in it whenever you want. If the thrill becomes too intense you can turn off the video game or close the book. You really are in control. Which is not often true in real life.

2. Scary is cool

As a kid . . . doing scary things is cool. It feels like you’re breaking the rules or pushing the envelope.

I remember sneaking inside during a family picnic to watch Poltergeist on t.v. I didn’t sleep for days. But it was worth it to be among the first in my class to say I made it all the way through a ghost story that was epic for its time.

Today, watching scary stories is easier than ever with the plethora of streaming services available. But it’s still a rite of passage to sit through that first horror movie or venture out in the dark.

And the cool factor doesn’t go away just because you grow up. Think of all the hair-raising activities people participate in on a regular basis. Roller coasters, bungee jumping, skydiving, diving with sharks. Doing scary things, and living to tell about it, is definitely insta-worthy.

3. We’re curious

It’s natural to be curious about the dark side. Most people will [fortunately] never experience a crazed serial killer, a possessed doll, or a demented clown in real life. But it’s natural to wonder what we do in those situations.

When you read a scary book or watch a scary movie you can explore what it feels like to be in that situation. And then feel relieved when you know better than the characters, “Don’t go upstairs!”

Watching horror movies also makes us feel smart. Even though the entire premise of most scary stories is founded on bad decisions, we sit smug in the belief that we would never make the same mistakes as the victims.

4. We like a nice, neat ending

While a lot of scary stories don’t have happy endings, exactly–that’s a tough sell when the majority of the cast has been killed off–there is always an explanation. A rationale for the horrors, a story that makes sense, even if it is farfetched. Our world is easier when things make sense, When we have an explanation for something we can convince ourselves that it won’t also happen to us.

There are lots of scary stories in the real world. But too often, they defy explanation. There’s no motive. There’s no why. There’s no logical reason. Often there isn’t even a solution to the crime. Nice, neat endings are rare. That’s why we flock to scary stories, becasue we know we’ll get the satisfcation of the rationale.

If you find yourself craving a good scare this Halloween, don’t feel bad. You’re not alone.

I hope you can both lose and find yourself in a good scary book.

If you like scary stories, you might like my short story, Unavailable. You can grab a copy here.