Arts >> Books >> Fiction

How to Read a Scary Story Aloud Better

The success of a scary campfire story or children’s scary story does not rely just on the plot. Scary stories have much more effect when an engaging storyteller reads them. Improving your scary storytelling technique entails not only paying attention to the volume, pitch, tone and pace of your voice but involving your whole body. Build suspense and scare your listeners with a few storytelling strategies.

Instructions

    • 1

      Vary the volume of your voice to reflect the events and mood of the story. Raise your voice when dramatic action occurs or when someone screams or sounds frightened.

    • 2

      Change the accent of your voice to reflect the character who is speaking. A deep, guttural voice is appropriate for an evil villain, for example.

    • 3

      Whisper quietly when a character is alone and afraid or when describing a quiet or brooding atmosphere or setting.

    • 4

      Speed up your voice to build suspense or when describing building action. Talk quickly to express a character’s desperation or nervousness, or slowly to express sadness or a strange occurrence or observation.

    • 5

      Match your facial expression to your narration. Raise your eyebrows to create suspense or look scared during a frightening scene.

    • 6

      Pause dramatically at a critical moment to create suspense. This causes your listeners to hang on to your words and wait anxiously for the next detail.

    • 7

      Use sound effects to enhance your listener’s experience. Knock on a table to simulate someone rapping on the door of an abandoned house, stomp lightly with your feet to show someone is walking or hoot like an owl when describing a spooky forest at night.

Fiction

Related Categories