To start a good horror story, think of an eerie atmosphere. Like a foggy town with old legends. And have a normal person stumble upon something terrifying that they can't explain. That'll hook your readers.
To start a good horror story, introduce a seemingly normal situation that has a hint of something sinister lurking beneath. For instance, a family moving into a new house that has a strange history. Then, gradually reveal the creepy elements.
A good idea to start a horror story could be with an unexplained noise in the middle of the night. For example, the main character wakes up to a strange scratching sound coming from the attic. They're all alone in the house, and the sound is rhythmic and menacing. This immediately creates a sense of unease and mystery, drawing the reader in as they wonder what could be making that noise.
A great start could be a character moving into a new apartment. On the first night, they see a face in the window of the apartment across the street. But when they look again, it's gone. Later, they find out that the apartment has a dark history of disappearances. This discovery, along with the initial sighting, can be the start of a terrifying horror story.
One way is to set a spooky scene, like an abandoned asylum. The overgrown bushes, broken windows and the feeling of emptiness can be a good start.
Begin with a sense of unease. Maybe start with a character experiencing strange noises or unexplained events in their normal, everyday surroundings. This builds mystery and draws the reader in. For example, a person hears scratching at their window at night when they live on the top floor.
First, think about the themes that scare you or are common in horror, like the supernatural or psychological horror. Then, start by reading classic horror stories. For example, works by Edgar Allan Poe can give you a good idea of how to build suspense and create a spooky atmosphere.
When starting a horror story, you need to hook the reader immediately. One way is to introduce a mystery or a sense of danger. You could start with a character waking up in a strange place, not knowing how they got there, and with a feeling that something is very wrong. Then gradually build up the horror by introducing more elements like strange shadows or a feeling of being watched.
Begin with a creepy setting, like an abandoned house or a dark forest. That sets the mood right away.
You could begin with a creepy setting, like an abandoned house in the middle of the night.
You could begin with a creepy setting, like an abandoned house on a stormy night.