good sentence openers for horror stories

One good opener could be 'In the dead of night, a strange noise echoed through the empty house.' This immediately sets a spooky mood as the 'dead of night' implies a time when things are usually quiet and the 'strange noise' makes the reader wonder what it could be. Also, the 'empty house' gives a sense of isolation which is often associated with horror.

Another one could be 'The clock struck midnight and all the lights in the house suddenly went out.' Midnight is a very ominous time in horror stories, and the sudden loss of lights in the house creates a sense of panic and vulnerability, leaving the reader to wonder what will happen next in the darkness.

Well, 'Long ago' is a great sentence opener for stories. It gives a feeling of something that happened in the past, which is often the case in stories. 'There was a little boy/girl' can also be a good start as it focuses on a character right away. And 'On a sunny day' can start a story on a positive and cheerful note, perhaps leading to an adventure or a discovery on that day.

One good opener could be 'Once upon a time in a far - off land...'. It immediately sets a fairy - tale like mood and grabs the listener's or reader's attention, making them wonder what's going to happen in this far - off place. Another is 'In a small town, where everyone knew everyone else's business...' which gives a sense of a close - knit community and makes people curious about the events that will unfold within it. And 'It was a dark and stormy night...' is a classic that creates an atmosphere of mystery and suspense right from the start.

Sure. 'As the sun dipped below the horizon'. This gives a sense of time and can set a mood, perhaps a bit of melancholy or the start of something mysterious at twilight. 'Underneath the old oak tree' is a good one too. It focuses on a specific location and can make the reader curious about what might be associated with that tree, like a hidden treasure or a secret meeting place.

One good opener could be 'In a land far, far away...' It immediately transports the reader to a different place, creating a sense of mystery and adventure. Another could be 'It was a dark and stormy night...' which sets a rather gloomy and suspenseful mood. Also, starting with a question like 'Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be invisible?' can engage the reader's curiosity right from the start.

Of course. Here are two. 'The phone rang in the dead of night. A raspy voice said my name.' and 'I opened the closet. A pair of glowing eyes peered out.' This type of two - sentence horror stories are effective because they create a sense of immediate dread. In the first one, a late - night phone call with an unknown voice saying your name is a classic horror trope. It makes you wonder who is on the other end and what they want. In the second, the idea of something lurking in a closet, which is a common, seemingly safe place in a home, is suddenly made terrifying by the presence of those glowing eyes. It plays on our sense of safety being violated in a very familiar environment.

Well, 'The little girl found a key in the garden. It was unlike any key she had ever seen...' This opener piques the interest as it makes you want to know more about the special key. 'He walked into the forest, with no idea of the adventure that awaited him...' It gives a feeling of anticipation and exploration. 'They say that in the heart of the desert, there lies a hidden treasure...' This one makes you eager to know if the treasure is real and what might be involved in finding it.

One: I woke up to a cold hand on my shoulder. When I turned, no one was there. Two: The old doll in the attic blinked at me. I ran, but it's laughter followed.

Yes, it can be. They're short and intense, giving a quick scare.