#Traditional ghost lore

[runningwithfangs]

i learned about "haint" from Sinners (2025) through the Articulate Coven podcast, where they talk about what a haint is and about haint blue porch ceilings in the American south.

Basically it's tradition to paint the ceiling of the porch and sometimes doors or window frames blue or blue/green to keep the haints, aka haunts, away.

Quick explanation from Wikipedia

And I think this is super interesting!

[lolssdad]

Back to posting old art😔😔😔

THIS IS ONE OF MY OCS!! He's dead

[lavendercanine]

the vengeful housemaid. burnt in a mansion fire and was left to haunt the rubble. her name is cindy, but for her sake and your's, please don't call her 'cinders'!

[starryknight-dragonarts]

Valethyrex “The Eternal Storm King” Exalted Emperor Mummy Gender: Male

Background: Over about 1600 Years ago, Valethyrex was the Emperor who witnessed the original rise and rampage of the Undead Monster known as Zelophbog with no explanation of how or why it happened, or what he could have done to stop it if he had needed to in order to protect his Empire. Zelophbog was then stopped and disappeared with just as little explanation to how or why. From that point on Valethyrex was worried about everything he did not yet know about magic and other dragons who could wield it. There had already been a long standing disliking and distrust of Valkirtani and Hybrids, but Valethyrex did not help their plight and probably pushed progress back several centuries passing Imperial laws against Valkirtani in order to get rid of or control them. He also started the "Imperial Legion of Supernatural Investigation and Defence" a secret Imperial department dedicated to the research of all kind of Magical practice and anomaly in order to learn everything Magic is capable of, how to use it to the benefit of their own Emperor and Empire, and how to put a stop to Magic which they deem too dangerous.

Eventually after a long prosperous reign Valethyrex died but death was not his end. In the Southern Empire, instead of releasing their element into the world and destroying their body like other dragons of advanced age, Emperors have their bodies ritually drained of their elemental energy so their body can be preserved forever as a Mummy and used as a connection point so their spirits can be channeled through a Medium, and their Mind's are saved for all time so they can pass on their wisdom to the next Emperors over Generation after Generation and make up a Council of Exalted Emperors higher than the reigning Emperor himself whose decisions could even overrule any ruling Emperor if enough of them agree. Valethyrex decided to keep his Legion Secret from his ancestors and descendants, running it himself from beyond the grave so nobody could overrule him or change it's goals, and over the Centuries it became its own powerful Shadow Government operating behind the scenes of the normal Imperial court, with claws that reached into the Military, Nobles, Clergy, and the Imperial Scholars. Valethyrex never actually stopped ruling his Empire.

Personality: Perhaps Valethyrex's intentions were once actually to protect his Empire from what he believed were actual dangers that needed to be discovered to be dealt with, but over time his goals have corrupted him and the Legion as a whole into a sickness below the surface of the Empire. Rather than trying to help and protect the Dragons that currently live in the empire today, he is obsessed with an idealized version of his empire that he remembers from his own time period, and has turned the research in the Legion to trying to become a God no longer bound to his mummified body but able to act on his own again and rule his empire forever as their All Powerful Eternal God Emperor. Despite having a deep distrust and disdain for Valkirtani and Hybrids the same, he hired a rogue Hybrid Alchemist called Bhaal into the Legion's ranks. He still doesn't trust Bhaal but he has seen the results he is able to produce and they speak for themself, Dr. Bhaal is a higher caliber than any of his other researchers and he would rather have him close where he can watch and control him than allow him keep working outside of the Legion and possibly undermine them. (Valethyrex is unaware that back when he was the reigning Emperor, Bhaal was the one who created Zelophbog, and set everything else into motion from the beginning)

Strengths:Immortality, Manipulation, Centuries worth of Knowledge and Experience

Weaknesses:Immobile, Lapses of Memory, Is Literally a Fragile Corpse

Powers: Formerly a Lightning Dragon, now he currently has no element since it's been drained from his husk Stats Elemental Energy:0/10 He no longer has any elemental power since it was all drained from his corpse in the process of making him a mummy Elemental Control:10/10 Despite having no element of his own anymore he can control the element of the Medium he possesses, he had a mastery of his own element in his lifetime, and thanks to the Legion's experiments he has gained a mastery of using other elements as well

Intelligence:9/10 He has over 1000 years of experience under his belt, he is personally invested in hearing everything about the Legion's discoveries into Magic and knowing everything he can about it, and he is a cunning manipulator who has deceived his Empire for multiple generations running secret Shadow Government behind the scenes while maintaining a high profile as one of the exalted mummy Emperors of the Legion, However, being so old and no longer having a physical living brain of his own to use for memory storage has confused him from time to time and made him have lapses of memory. Sometimes he might even confuse one of his Medium's memories for one of his own or lose track of parts of information he has learned. To combat this, over the years he has had his own mediums and other Phantom Dragons dissected and their brains preserved to use as extra mental storage. He can not access all of them at the same time since he can only be channeled by one Dragon, but he can dip into them to obtain information he's forgotten.

Combat Ability:0/10 He is literally a Mummified Corpse. He has no ability to move at all

Aereli The Emperor’s Mouthpiece Gender: Female

Background:Being born as a Phantom Dragon is seen as a great and rare privilege in the Empire. Dragons families highly desire to have a Phantom Dragon regardless of their own elements because they serve a very important role and can earn their families wealth and notoriety. Aereli was born to a poor family and knew she could be their salvation. She was brought in to an Imperial Academy for Phantom Dragons and did so well that she was given the highest honor of being the Medium to one of the Emperor Mummies, all she had to do is be possessed sometimes but she would live in the palace, be treated with the respect of an Emperor, and her Family would receive riches! What could go wrong with that?...Pretty much everything... Not only did she learn the hard way how terrible it is to actually be a Medium to one of the Emperors, but her Mummy is central to a giant conspiracy in the Empire, and if she speaks out about it then her parents could become a target and she would inevitably have her brain dissected, used as information storage, and then be replaced by another starry eyed Phantom Dragon, although the Legion do go through the trouble give her more elements, if only to make Valethyrex more powerful. It was a dangerous process so she might be more valuable than another Phantom Dragoness, but that didn't mean they wouldn't still punish her for disobeying.

Personality: Aereli was always very loyal, she didn't put up too much of a fuss about things, and was determined to be successful for the sake of her family. Now after being used so often by her mummy as his vessel she has been gradually losing all sense of self and sometimes can't tell anymore even while not being possessed if she is thinking her own thoughts and feeling her own emotions, or if she has been Valethyrex so long that she is becoming him. Sometimes it terrifies her, and then sometimes she is shocked to realize how long she didn't care that she wasn't herself. She has mixed feelings in regards to one particular Legion Alchemist: Dr. Bhaal. Valethyrex needs him but doesn't trust him, but to Aereli he has been the only dragon who's treated her as an individual and not just an extension Valethyrex.

Strengths:Multiple Elements, Dutiful, Loyal

Weaknesses:Identity Crisis, Hopeless, Fear

Powers: Phantom, Psionic, Sound, Lightning

Stats Elemental Energy: 10/10 She has been Modified to be a perfect tool for Emperor Valethyrex Elemental Control:1/10 She may have once been top in her class at being able to control her Phantom powers which made her a candidate to be an Emperor's Medium, but now being able to be possessed is about all she is good for. Valethyrex controls everything for her now.

Intelligence: ???/10 Her own intelligence is up to debate. She is not usually thinking her own thoughts at this point but she retains information for Valethyrex and is not supposed to use any of it herself, so she has a lot of information that she can't make sense of.

Combat Ability: 9/10 One of her duties is protecting the Emperor with her life. Her body is a perfect killer puppet for her Emperor's usage.

[crowwfed]

The Star-Eyed People

Been thinking about these creatures I would think of before I fell asleep. Adding lore to them overtime and I finally drew them. They’ve appeared in some form through other creative projects of mine, including some class assignments haha :)

In their lore, “they can appear in a variety of forms, but they are tied (appearance-wise) to have the same/similar star-shaped faces. Above, left to right, are 1. a Star-Eyed Person (S-EP) in the form of a fairy with insect elements, unnamed, 2. a S-EP, laying down, in the form of a canine with other mammalian aspects, individual often referred to as Grayhound, and 3. a quiet S-EP in the form of a mountain goat, individual referred to as Cliff-face.”

I’ve always wanted to create a Creepypasta/ARG/urban legend type of story so here’s my attempt! :)

Back to sketches:

Anatomy work on their hands/limbs

I imagine some, depending on their form would walk some on their knuckles.

They have a lot of dexterity and mimic human behavior. Will often give “gifts” to humans that have caught their attention, such as acorns, old coins, etc.

Lemme know what you guys think if I should share more of this idea! :)

[hous3jackbuilt]

Papa Emeritus III

in daylight vs indoors

[karmonysan]

@zappmannstuff Just for you I will tell a little about the ghosts of white savanna :3

GHOSTS 2.0 (xd)

As I said in the previous post, they are mischievous little ghosts that stayed in this world.

It was believed that... when someone died naturally they became ghosts of white sheets since the deceased were buried rolled up in these.....

but after a while it was discovered in a not pleasant way that no matter how you die you can become one of them, ghosts with blood are souls that in life die in a very violent way.

For this reason, you should never remove the sheets from them, since you can find something unpleasant to look at while they can go from friendly to aggressive for doing that act (generally they are harmless), thanks to the fact that some unfortunate people did it, It was also discovered that players' souls can also turn into white sheet ghosts.

and as said before, these ghosts are generally harmless, although they are very annoying since they are responsible for making your life impossible by bothering you and hiding your things, although sometimes they have accidentally scared some to death xdxdxd

Not many usually appear, that is why it is not known how these curious entities are created since one or two usually appear and not in groups as is believed, it is more common for evil entities to appear than one of them.... ..

[smilegirl64]

So with advice of the dead, and a halo over my head

At last, "Honey, I'm home!" Three voices come all alone

[rayroseu-reblogs]

Im glad Skully is a different person than anyone in TWST

[sharpiedoodleee]

hes on the brain

sketches under cut cos they kinda look better lmao

[shytulipghost]

Here are some doodles of Tulip and a bit of information about her:

She haunts a large flower field and spends most of her time there alone. This doesn't bother her as she prefers solitude.

Whenever someone visits the tulip field, she hides among the flowers so they don't see her. However, this hiding method only works if the person is far away.

There is a spot where flowers never grow and it's "coincidentally" big enough for Tulip to lie down and rest.

Sometimes she leaves a trail of orange petals when she moves around. These petals magically appear for no particular reason.

So that's all the lore I'm sharing for now. I'm planning to make a character sheet in the future, which will include more details about her. I drew these doodles to see which pose I'm going to use.

[lolssdad]

More shit on my ghost oc!! Still old pics tho

[lavenderprose]

There is some universe where Rook is a young up and coming popstar (Not like teen idol tho she's like. 27.) and she sings songs about Riding Dick and Eating Pussy using cleverly disguised innuendo like sports car and cherry. (They're not clever.) She doesn't write her own lyrics she just sings them with her mouth. When she writes her own songs they're like. Hey does anyone ever think about dying. I lost my mother at a young age and that was WILD. One time I had a transcendental sexual experience with a girl who wouldn't meet my eyes afterward and I was sad about it for a YEAR.

These are good songs but the executives were like. Yikes kid, bummer. How about you sing about partying in Val Royeaux.

I've never EVEN been to Val Royeaux, says Rook. Nobody listens.

Meanwhile Emmrich is a famous pianist. He was a child prodigy and he's been making television appearances since he was eight years old. These days he has a residency with the Nevarran National Symphony Orchestra and only occasionally (Several times a year) makes appearances elsewhere. He's often approached to feature on albums, especially when artists are trying to appeal to a new demographic.

Anyway, Rook's producers are like. You HAVE to release a Wintersend album. It's just what's done. And Rook is NOT religious but she has fond memories of the more traditional Wintersend songs her mom used to play, so she's like. Okay. I'll do whatever weird version of All I Want For Wintersend is You that you put in front of me, BUT. But. I also want to do a version of Winter's Longest Night.

(This is a very Andraste-heavy song that basically just rehashes the lore of Wintersend. It was Rook's mom's favorite. It's usually done with a killer piano solo in the middle)

Cue Emmrich, because of course. He shows up in a maroon sweater vest with the longest fingers Rook's ever seen, introducing himself like she didn't grow up listening to HIS Wintersend album.

They fall in love while the snow falls. Because of COURSE they do. There's a scene where Emmrich sits behind Rook and she's wearing nothing but his shirt and he leads her in plucking out chords on the piano. It's the most romantic shit you've ever seen but that's not the POINT.

The point is that the tabloids are like. What is this HOT YOUNG POP STAR doing with this OLD PIANO DUDE. Our moms listened to his music, screams all the rags. Or something to that effect.

A publicity stunt! She's a gold digger, he's a creep!

The truth is much simpler and it's this: anyone with half a fucking brain can look at Rook and tell that she's deeply fucking gone on that old man. She walks down the street holding his hand, just being young and hot wearing shorts and a bikini top and looking at him like he hung the stars while he's in a waistcoat and slacks and reading menus OVER the top of his reading glasses. Why even put them on. God he's hot.

They go on vacation and someone with a telescopic lens snaps an image of Emmrich looking like a translucent fucking ghost while Rook smiles ear to ear and hangs off him in the tide pools, all tan and sunhat.

When the paparazzi corner her in an airport, it's always just to see her power-walking down the jetway with Emmrich's hand on the back of her shirt like a little kid being led through a crowd.

Someone has the bright idea to address him. Ask him some unsavory question about the age difference--something stupid and out of pocket and just to get a reaction.

Rook spins around and flips off her sunglasses to reveal bloodshot eyes--because she's played six concerts in as many nights and now she's on her way to PASS OUT with her man in a giant bed with his stupid fluffy cat.

"You," she snaps at the paparazzo. "Yeah, blobfish looking motherfucker. Do not speak to him. Keep your tongue in your fucking mouth around my husband, or I will end your career in a way that means your grandchildren won't be able to work in this town. Do you understand?"

The front page of every gossip site immediately reads, "HUSBAND???"

Emmrich, of course, forgives her. He was never even upset in the first place. He does make sure that the pregnancy is quietly and subtly leaked to a more reputable magazine, though.

[biggest-gaudiest-patronuses]

Jack-o'-lanterns have such a grab bag of lore, i love it

Fire, of course, has a long history of offering protection from evil forces. During the Celtic festival of Samhain (from which many Halloween traditions originate), the veil between worlds was considered thin, and ritual bonfires reminded the spooks to stay on their side of the lane.

Many a lantern has protected the lonely traveler on a dark moonless night. But lanterns can be dangerous too—especially the supernatural ones. in certain folklore 'jack-o'-lantern' was another name for will-o'-the-wisps, atmospheric ghost lights (or as legend has it, lost souls) that appear above bogs and lure unwise wanderers into sinkholes.

Then there's the 18th cent Irish folktale of Stingy Jack, a mischievous fellow who tricked the Devil twice, exacting a promise that hell would never claim his soul. So Jack goes on his cheerful way, and dies (as humans are prone to do), and ends up at the pearly gates. Now Heaven, it turns out, doesn't want a damn thing to do with him. So Jack jaunts on down and goes knocking on the gates of hell—only to have Satan slam the door in his face! How this leads to Stingy Jack being doomed to wander the earth carrying a hollowed out rutabaga lit by an ember of the flames of hell, I couldn't tell you. But that is how the story goes.

Whether the legend of Stingy Jack inspired or fueled or was created-by the gourd-carving practice, by the 19th cent, Irish, Scottish, and Welsh alike were annually carving jack-o'-lanterns out of turnips & rutabaga & beets & potatoes, and lighting them up to ward off Jack and other wandering spirits. Immigrants carried the tradition to North America, where pumpkins were indigenous and much easier to carve.

And so the modern Jack-o'-Lantern was born!

Not that gourd lanterns were anything new. Metalwork was expensive, after all, and gourds worked as-well-as and better-than-most crops when it came to carving a poor farmer's lantern.

As for carving human faces into vegetables, that supposedly goes back thousands of years in certain Celtic cultures. It may even have evolved from head veneration, or been used to represent the severed skulls of enemies defeated in battle. Or maybe not! Like many human traditions, jack-o'-lanterns evolved over multiple eras and cultures and regions, in some ways we can trace and others we can only guess at. But at the end of the day, it makes a damn good story, and a spooky way to celebrate—which is as good a reason as any (and a better reason than most!) to keep a tradition going.

In conclusion: happy spooky season, and remind me to tell yall about plastered human skulls one of these days 🎃

srcs 1, 2, 3

[angelremnants]

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SERIES

• A TALES OF...⠀— A collection of lore-bound but not necessarily sequential ficlets featuring our favorite Asgardian brothers, packed with action, magic, a lot of tension and, of course, romance.

• HIS FOR THE SEASON⠀— In which you once reigned at the pinnacle of Asgard’s elite, only to fall and leave behind nothing but hushed whispers and fading echoes of your name. Loki, the enigmatic prince, fared no better with his exile shrouded in scandal, reducing him to little more than a ghost haunting the opulent corridors of the court.

But as a new Courting Season begins, both of you return, bound by a fabricated betrothal with ambitions far greater than love. In this unlikely alliance, you seek not only to reclaim the splendor that was once yours but to restore the honor and wealth that fate so cruelly stole. And your ascent to glory begins with seizing the coveted title of Amber of the Season.

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FICS

• OF STORMBOUND HEARTS

"In the midst of a storm of emotions and unspoken longing, two souls collide in a moment that blurs the line between desire and fear. The tension between them disguised under quarrels has been building for months, and when it finally unravels, neither can escape the pull of what they’ve both denied for so long. But as their connection deepens, so do the questions. Will they be able to handle the storm they've created, or will it consume them?"

• A CHRISTMAS TO CHERISH, A YULE TO REMEMBER — Loosely connected to the A Tales Of series' universe.

"When tasked with organizing a holiday cultural exchange between Midgard and New Asgard, you face clashing traditions and unexpected connections. To foster goodwill, you plan a hybrid celebration that blends Christmas with Yule, inviting world leaders and dignitaries to experience Asgard's unique customs. However, hosting off-worlders, especially a skeptical Loki, proves challenging. His sarcasm only adds more tension as sparks begin to fly between you, testing your growing connection. As Yule and Christmas traditions collide, an unexpected kiss under the mistletoe might just be the season's most surprising twist."

• SWEATER WEATHER

"Conveyed in a rented beach house stationed on the Californian west coast, a SHIELD mission brings Loki and you together. What starts as an investigation into strange energy spikes uncovers discoveries tied to the ocean—and to each other. As you work together, the line between professionalism and growing attraction blurs even more than before. Can your newfound connection withstand the tides of duty and desire, or is this still water before the tempest?"

• IN THE GRAVITY OF YOU

"You never expected to cross paths with a god, let alone have your destiny tangle with his. Tasked with retrieving the Tesseract for S.H.I.E.L.D., you quickly learn you're in over your head after getting extraordinary powers in an unfortunate occurrence. Your fate is no longer in your hands, and the stone, the source of your connection, seem to have sinister abilities. Its power will either bond you together... or tear you apart."

• BETWEEN STRENGTH & STYLE

"Loki’s probationary stint with the Avengers takes a surprising turn when Thor insists on dragging him to the team’s fluorescent-lit gym—a place he deems far beneath his dignity. His disdain shifts the moment you stride in with effortless confidence, transforming the mundane gym into your personal runway, commanding the room and worse, directly challenging his ego.

Determined not to be overshadowed, Loki initiated a playful competition, vying to outshine you as the gym’s reigning fashionista. Yet, what began as irritation soon evolved into intrigue—and an electric chemistry taking place between you and forcing him to confront not only your undeniable allure but also his own battle for self-control.

The only question left was: how many Fridays would pass before one of you finally caves in?"

PARTㅤ⠀ONE . TWO⠀(18+) . THREE⠀(18+) .

• GIRLS' NIGHT OUT, LOKI'S NIGHT IN⠀(18+) — Social Media Alternate Universe.

"Girls’ night was going great—until Loki decided to make it his personal mission to ruin it, being hellbent on pulling you home. It’s a battle of wills, but let’s face it: the God of Mischief always gets his way."

• THE EMOJI CONUNDRUM — Social Media Alternate Universe.

"In the middle of a very serious meeting, Loki decides it’s the perfect time to attempt to seduce you with a series of cryptic emoji messages that, unsurprisingly, make no sense."

• YOU'RE BANNED !⠀(18+) — Social Media Alternate Universe.

"After an ill-timed and highly inappropriate comment made during a meeting debrief, Loki finds himself slapped with the ultimate punishment—a strict sex ban put in place by you. And sadly for him, you’re enjoying his suffering way too much to free him from it."

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SERIES

• ROLL CALL

“The biting winters of 1943 paled in comparison to the frozen hearts of soldiers, weary and broken by the unrelenting call of war. For men burdened by despair, the burn of alcohol was the only warmth they knew.

Sergeant Barnes lived for one purpose: to stand by his best friend’s side, no matter where the battlefield led them. But a chance encounter at a dimly lit bar near the military camp changes everything. A young woman, bold yet gentle, awakens something in him—a spark long buried beneath years of frost and pain.”

CHAPTERㅤ⠀ONE . TWO . THREE . FOUR .

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FICS

• HEAT WAVES

"After years of manipulation by Hydra, Bucky Barnes must find his place in a world that has long moved on without him. With you, an independent and unwavering agent by his side, he reluctantly embarks on a transformative journey of recovery in Wakanda. Amid the kingdom's vibrant culture, your connection to Bucky deepens as he confronts personal demons and embrace the healing process. Bucky learns to welcome the warmth of new beginnings, understanding that even after winter's cold grip, the sun can shine through."

PARTㅤ⠀ONE . TWO . THREE⠀(18+) .

• LATE NIGHT CONFESSIONS — Social Media Alternate Universe.

"It’s 3AM, you’re drunk and deep in Tony’s stash of expensive liquor. Naturally, the best course of action is to text Bucky—who, despite it all, always picks up."

• FLIRTING AFTER DARK — Social Media Alternate Universe, follow-up of Late Night Confessions.

"In the aftermath of the wild night, you're left dealing with the embarrassing fallout of your drunken behavior. You did your best to avoid facing it, but it seems that Bucky has other plans and refuses to let you forget the bold words you spoke."

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FICS

• AMERICAN WEDDING

“Steve Rogers is throwing himself into mission after mission, trying to outrun the weight of his past—his unresolved feelings for Sharon and the lingering memories of Peggy. But when his commanding officers force him to take a break, Steve ends up on a staycation in Barbados. What begins as a forced respite soon becomes a much-needed escape as he unexpectedly finds healing, peace, and even a connection in the warmth of the Caribbean sun. Steve learns to let go of the past and finally breathe again, even if it’s just for a short while.”

• CLASSIFIED DISTRACTION⠀(18+) — Social Media Alternate Universe.

"Steve usually prides himself on his self-control—that is, until you decide to put it up to the test with a single and devastatingly timed picture of you in lingerie. Trapped in a government meeting, he’s forced to choose between professionalism and the growing need to grill you and put you back in your place. Spoiler alert: the meeting won’t last much longer."

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FICS

• STUCK WITH YOU

“The last thing you wanted was to be trapped in a room with a person you didn't know, much less be forced to team up with them. But thanks to your best friend's meddling, you now find yourself headed for a peculiar blind date, paired with someone who’s anything but a stranger. You swore you’d moved on. He said it was for the best. But maybe you were never meant to let each other go.”

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angelremnants ©️ 2024/2025. All rights reserved. Do not repost, reproduce, or distribute without explicit permission.

[literaryvein-reblogs]

Writing Notes: Weird Fiction

Weird fiction - a subgenre of speculative fiction that combines supernatural, horror, magical realist, and fantasy elements.

Speculative fiction focuses on stories containing speculative elements that do not exist in the real world.

Weird fiction’s roots lie in Gothic fiction, horror, fantasy, and science fiction.

It subverts the traditional conventions of these genres, creating a whole new crop of unsettling and sophisticated short stories, anthologies, and novels.

Weird fiction plays to an audience’s discomfort and fascination with the unknown, digging deep into the spiritual, emotional, and existential conflicts of the human condition in ways that traditional horror stories may not. Weird fiction stories may feature bizarre creatures, haunting mythos, or mental disturbances caused by unknown forces.

How to Write Weird Fiction

Weird fiction stories often contain a variety of macabre elements and supernatural components. Follow these steps to write your work of weird fiction:

Start with a mood. In the short essay “Notes on Writing Weird Fiction,” H.P. Lovecraft directs weird fiction writers to begin with a mood when they start building the world of their story. Brainstorm all of the concrete imagery, landscapes, and words that would best embody that particular feeling. Keep these pictures in mind as you assemble the elements of your narrative, like setting, characters, or conflicts.

Build your narrative. Before you start writing your weird fiction piece, outline all of the elements of your story. What is the plot? Who are the characters? Where do they live? What does their world look like, and how is it different from yours? Weird fiction involves blending tropes and crossing genre boundaries, but you don’t want to overload your story with too many fantastical components because it might overwhelm the reader. Structure your story and build the atmosphere first before adding action and lore. Outline all of the major events in your story—first in the chronological order they happen, and then in the narrative order.

Eschew the tropes. Weird fiction subverts the traditional stories of vampires, werewolves, zombies, ghosts, or other supernatural creatures. This genre is about finding new and refreshing ways to shake up the classic arcs and tropes. Avoid clichés that don’t bring anything new to the table.

Find a deeper, darker meaning. Weird fiction dives deep into the darker and more troubling components of human emotion and experience. In these stories, magical or mystical forces are always tethered to some truth about the human condition—like a fear of the unknown. If you incorporate supernatural or symbolic elements into your story, give them a message that goes beyond the surface level. Give your fantastical elements a deeper meaning that speaks to the overall theme of your narrative.

Write and revise. Write out your narrative, making room for dramatic suspense, twists, and other compelling events. If the writing feels cliché, take the story in an even weirder direction. Weird fiction is all about breaking convention, so feel free to switch and swap elements, so it feels fresh and thrilling to you.

A Brief History of Weird Fiction

Beginnings: As the 19th century brought about the golden age of ghost stories, another branch of literature found inspiration in the supernatural, which fell outside of the expected Gothic tale that blended elements of romance, horror, and death. These weird stories were examples of paranormal fiction containing twists or subversions of expectations, branching out from the traditional tale of the age to add a sense of dread and mystique.

Poe: In the mid-19th century, Edgar Allan Poe was one of the first authors to write in a dark style different from the common fiction styles of the era.

Pulp magazines: The popularity of weird fiction hit its initial peak in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, as new horror authors found inspiration in earlier works. The American pulp magazine Weird Tales published many of these types of stories between the 1920s and 1950s.

Lovecraft: In 1937, H.P. Lovecraft popularized the term “weird fiction” in a series of essays, categorizing the work of himself and others (notably Poe) within this specific subgenre. Bolstered by a growing platform, the weird fiction movement continued to gain favor with other writers.

The New Weird: By the 1990s, the weird fiction movement experienced a shift, giving birth to the ‘the new weird’ literary subgenre. ‘The new weird’ is a more recent speculative fiction branch with a more realistic and complex fantasy tone.

Notable Weird Fiction Authors & Books

From the 19th century to today, there have been many “weird writers” whose works have impacted the literary world. Here are some of the most influential weird authors and some of their best weird fiction books and stories:

Algernon Blackwood: Blackwood was a master weird storyteller who delved into various worlds filled with unsettling horror, wonder, and spiritual forces. His 1907 novel The Willows depicts two men as they travel down a river. They experience several unsettling occurrences, and the narrator suspects the surrounding sentient willow trees are instigating these events.

Robert W. Chambers: The first four stories of Chambers’s anthology The King in Yellow (1895) deal with a malevolent, mysterious presence in yellow (as well as a yellow sign). This motif was an inspiration for HBO’s True Detective series.

Lord Dunsany: Lord Dunsany (whose real name was Edward Plunkett) was an Anglo-Irish writer of dark, fantastical fiction. The Gods of Pegāna (1905) is a series of short stories depicting deities in their narratives, featuring illustrations by English artist Sidney Sime.

Franz Kafka: Kafka’s famous short story "The Metamorphosis” (1918) features a salesman who awakes one day to find that he has turned into a monstrous insect. The narrative follows the protagonist as he deals with his new condition and the consequences of his transformation.

H.P. Lovecraft: American writer Howard Phillips Lovecraft is one of the most famous weird fiction authors. “Lovecraftian,” a term named after Lovecraft, refers to conditions that defy the laws of nature and embody weird, cosmic horror. His short story “The Call of Cthulhu” features the abomination known as Cthulhu, a horrifyingly destructive monster with tentacles and a squid face. The story originally appeared in the science fiction and horror periodical Weird Tales in 1928.

Edgar Allan Poe: Many historians consider Poe the first weird fiction writer. Poe’s short story “The Fall of the House of Usher” (1839) features an unidentified narrator—a childhood friend of the main character—who visits the main character at his seemingly sentient home. As the narrator learns more about his old friend’s family and state of mind, he discovers that the house is alive and threatening to collapse.

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