Use elements of the unknown. For instance, 'Dark forest. Strange eyes. Stare.' The dark forest is an ominous setting, and the idea of strange eyes staring from within it is very frightening. It's important to be concise and focus on the most disturbing aspects.
You can start with a common fear, for example, 'Alone in the house. Footsteps. Creak.' First, you set the scene of being alone in a house, which already makes people a bit nervous. Then the sound of footsteps and a creaking noise adds to the horror. It's about capturing a moment of fear in just seven words.
Think of a simple, creepy situation like 'Lights out. Something moves. Shadows.'
Use simple but spooky words. For example, 'Footsteps, but no one'. The words 'footsteps' immediately create a sense of someone or something being there. But when you add 'but no one', it becomes a horror story in just five words. It makes the reader wonder what is making those footsteps if there's no one there.
Just think of a sudden, dark twist. For example, 'He walked. The shadow had no feet.'
Just focus on fear. For example, think about things that scare you like a haunted house, and then sum it up in five words like 'Haunted house, no escape.'
Evoke strong images. Consider 'Bloody handprint.' This three - word phrase immediately brings to mind a violent or spooky scene. It's a visual that is both simple and very effective in creating horror.
Use strong imagery. For example, 'Blood on white sheet'. Pick words that evoke fear like 'dark', 'death', 'lost'.
Think of fears. 'Darkness fell, something grabbed my leg.' Darkness is a common fear, and the sudden action of something grabbing your leg is very scary in just 10 words.
In the abandoned house, I found a diary. The last entry said 'They're here'. Then I heard scratching at the door.
Use simple, spooky elements. For example, 'Dark room. Strange noise. Gone.' Just pick a common, yet eerie setting like a dark room, add an unexplained and menacing sound, and then a final word that implies something bad has happened.