Begin with a lone traveler stumbling upon a desolate village with strange rumors. It creates an atmosphere of unease and curiosity.
Begin with a mysterious character. For example, a veiled figure that appears out of nowhere in a fog - covered graveyard. This character can be the source of the gothic elements to come, such as dark secrets or a connection to the supernatural. It creates an air of mystery right from the start that draws the reader in.
Begin with a dream sequence that is filled with dark and disturbing imagery. For instance, the protagonist dreams of being chased through a pitch - black forest by an unseen entity. When they wake up, they're not sure if it was just a dream or if it was a premonition of something real. This blurring of the lines between reality and nightmare is a classic gothic trope and makes for an engaging start.
One good way is to set a spooky scene. For example, describe a dark, decrepit castle on a stormy night. The thunder rumbles as the wind howls around the ancient turrets. This immediately creates an atmosphere of mystery and unease, drawing the reader in.
You could start with a creepy old mansion on a stormy night. That sets the mood right away.
Well, start with a spooky setting like an old castle or a dark forest. Add some mysterious characters with hidden pasts. Maybe throw in a curse or a forbidden love.
Starting with a thought - provoking question can be great. Like 'Have you ever wondered what it would be like to wake up in a world where everyone had forgotten your name?' This makes the reader start thinking and gets them engaged in the story right away.
You could start with an exciting action scene to immediately draw the reader in.
One good way to start a story is by creating an exciting hook, like a mysterious event or a surprising character introduction.
You could start with an exciting action scene to hook the readers right away.
You could start with a character in a moment of crisis. That immediately creates tension and makes the reader want to know how they'll get out of it. For example, a person lost in a dangerous forest with no clear way out.