For instance, 'In the dead of night, the phone rang. Its shrill sound cut through the silence like a knife. But when she picked it up, there was only a deep, raspy breathing on the other end.' The late - night call and the strange breathing create a sense of mystery and fear.
One could be 'The howling wind outside was the only sound, but it felt like it was carrying a dark secret.'
Words like 'haunted', 'gloomy', 'eerie' are great for a scary story. 'Haunted' gives the idea of a place or object being inhabited by spirits. 'Gloomy' sets a dark and depressing mood, making the reader feel uneasy. 'Eerie' often implies something strange and a bit frightening that can't be easily explained.
A story about a friendly ghost in an old house could be a 'scary not scary' story. The idea of a ghost is often scary, but if it's just a friendly spirit that helps the living, it's not so frightening. For example, it might warn the homeowners of a coming danger like a gas leak.
Some great examples are 'cackle' which can be used for an evil laugh. 'Maleficent' for a character with bad intentions. 'Shriek' is a good word for a sudden, scary sound. Also, 'dread' can be used to describe the feeling of the characters or the mood of the story.
Ghosts are a typical scary element. They often appear suddenly, with a pale figure and a cold presence. Another example is the cursed objects. A doll that seems to have a life of its own and causes misfortune to those around it. Haunted places like cemeteries are also scary. The idea of the dead not resting in peace and strange apparitions floating around is quite frightening.
One of the best opening sentences is from 'Pride and Prejudice' by Jane Austen: 'It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.' This sets the stage for the story's exploration of marriage and society in 19th - century England.
The opening of 'The Great Gatsby' by F. Scott Fitzgerald is also remarkable. 'In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I've been turning over in my mind ever since. “Whenever you feel like criticizing any one,” he told me, “just remember that all the people in this world haven't had the advantages that you've had.”' This opening gives us a sense of the narrator's character, his self - reflection, and also sets up the idea of class differences and judgment that are central to the novel.
The opening of 'Pride and Prejudice' by Jane Austen - 'It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.' It's a great opening as it gives a sense of the social values and expectations of the time, and also intrigues the reader about the relationships to come.
One great example is from 'Pride and Prejudice' by Jane Austen: 'It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.' This opening immediately sets the tone for the story which is largely about marriage and social class in 19th - century England.
The opening of '1984' by George Orwell: 'It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.' This line is so effective because it creates an immediate sense of unease. The idea of the clocks striking thirteen in a world that should be familiar is very disconcerting, and it makes the reader eager to find out more about this strange world.