Writing About: Ghosts (Part Two)

Last year I blogged about how writers can create a ghost character. In that post, I discussed supernatural ghosts and human ghosts, and how to treat both in your story.

See: Writing About: Ghosts (Part One)

Now I'm delving deeper into human ghosts. If you ever want to write about a ghost character, especially if you’re in his/her perspective, there are a few things you should consider to stay true to a ghost's physical abilites.

NOTE: These aren't rules. By all means, use what you want and create your own type of human ghost.

1. Limited Senses

Ghosts can see and hear, but they can’t smell anything. Not the scent of fresh grass or their mom’s perfume. They also can’t taste (as a matter of fact, they don’t eat) or feel. Ghosts can’t feel fabric, skin, or objects with their hands. Nor can they feel the cold or pain.

Jolie, my ghost in Ghost of Death, misses the smell and taste of pizza.

2. Humans

No one can see or hear ghosts. Well, usually not anyone. Psychics can and even family members have claimed to see their departed loved ones. So while scores of people ignore your ghost, maybe one person can see and hear him/her.

3. No Reflections

Vampires aren’t the only paranormal beings who don’t have reflections. Since no one can see ghosts, and even if one special character can, they are usually transparent, so it makes sense that they wouldn’t have a reflection. In Ghost of Death, Jolie tests this theory out.

4. Doors and Walls

Since ghosts don’t have bodies, they can usually pass through objects such as doors, walls, and furniture.

5. No Physical Reactions

Ghosts don’t have heartbeats. They don’t breathe or cry. Nor can they develop tears, so don’t mention a racing heart, a deep breath, or teary eyes when you’re talking about your ghost.

6. More Limitations

On top of not having certain senses and physical reactions, ghosts also don’t sleep or get tired. They won’t be yawning or taking naps. Your ghost could go into a comatose state or disappear for stretches of time, though.

7 Signs You’re a Ghost:

1. No one can see or hear you.

2. You can’t smell anything. Not even a pile of dog poop at your feet.

3. Your hands pass through objects like mist.

4. You can’t cry. Try as you might.

5. When you try to take a breath, your chest doesn’t rise.

6. You feel nothing. No pain. No sensations. Nothing.

7. You’re standing over your dead body.

Excerpt from Ghost of Death:

With the sound of her mom’s grief wafting up to her, Jolie came to terms with her present state. I’m dead and now my mom knows it. She eyed the door in front of her. She hadn’t yet walked through a door, but if her hand could pass through metal then she knew she could move through wood.

If I have to be a ghost then I’ll be a damn good one. All across the afterlife I’ll be known as the Ghost of Death! And I’m going to start by walking through this damn door!

            She would’ve taken a deep breath to brace herself if she could have, so she mentally pumped herself up instead. You can do it! Easy-peasy. Nothing to it. And she took a step forward. Solid matter slipped around and through her form. On the other side, a familiar site confronted her: a black and white bed, the bright green shag carpet in the middle of the room, and a white desk.

            Stepping up to her desk, Jolie eyed her ancient desktop computer, the one she used before her dad gifted her with a laptop when she announced she was accepted to the local university. Wanting to send out the first ever tweet from the afterlife, she pushed the button to bring the device to life, but her finger poker straight through it. Resigning to her Twitter-less fate, she moved toward the full-length mirror hanging on the wall. She saw nothing. Not even a shimmer in the air hinted at her presence.

            Being a ghost sucks!

Book Links:

Amazon US / Amazon UK / The Wild Rose Press / NOOK / KOBO