The first line should be concise yet powerful. It might hint at the theme or conflict of the novel. Something like 'I had never seen a place as beautiful and as terrifying as this' sets the stage for an adventure with a mix of emotions.
A captivating first line often creates intrigue or poses a mystery. It grabs the reader's attention and makes them want to know more.
If a first line sets the mood of the story, it's effective. Take the line 'All children, except one, grow up' from 'Peter Pan'. It creates a sense of the extraordinary right away, as it implies that the one child who doesn't grow up will be the focus of an unusual story. This line also has a touch of melancholy which is part of the overall mood of the story.
Their brevity. They quickly get to the point of horror.
A play on words often works well. Consider this: 'The cross - eyed teacher couldn't control his pupils.' It's funny because 'pupils' has two meanings, and the play on that in relation to a cross - eyed teacher is clever. Also, relatable situations can make a one - line story effective. If a lot of people have experienced something similar, like waiting forever for a late bus and then seeing three come at once, and it's presented in a funny way, it can be very effective.
A two - line horror story is effective when it creates immediate fear. For example, 'The phone rang at midnight. It was my own voice on the other end.' This short scenario plays on our fear of the unknown and the uncanny. It gives just enough information to spark our imagination and make us feel uneasy.
The brevity. They quickly build tension. For example, in a short space, they can introduce a strange event like 'I saw a face in the window. It vanished. I'm scared to look again. My heart won't stop pounding.' It doesn't waste time on long descriptions but gets straight to the creepy part.
Relatability also plays a part. If it's something that could potentially happen in real life, it's scarier. For instance, 'I heard my name whispered in an empty house I just moved into.' Most people have been in an empty house before, and the thought of hearing something like that is terrifying.
The brevity. They get to the point quickly. There's no time for long build - ups, so the horror hits you fast.
Start with a hook - something that grabs the reader's attention immediately, like a surprising statement or a mysterious question.
Their brevity. They get to the point quickly, like 'The mirror showed a face not my own.' It gives a shock right away.
The element of surprise. For example, 'I sat on the park bench. The empty bench beside me whispered my name.' Just a simple, unexpected twist in the second line can be very effective.