good hooks to start a story

A good hook for a scary story might be 'She opened the attic door, not knowing that the moment she stepped inside, she would be plunged into a nightmare world. The air was thick with a musty smell and an unidentifiable sense of foreboding. As her foot touched the dusty floorboards, she heard a soft whisper that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once.'

A surprising statement can be a great hook. For example, 'The day the sun didn't rise was the day everything changed.' It immediately grabs the reader's attention and makes them wonder what could possibly cause such a strange event. Another good hook is starting with a question like 'Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in a world without colors?' This engages the reader's curiosity as they start to think about their own answer and are eager to see how the story will address it. Also, beginning with an interesting action like 'She ran through the dark forest, branches scratching at her face, not daring to look back.' This creates suspense and makes the reader want to know who she is, what she's running from, and why.

How about starting with 'The moon was blood - red, casting an eerie glow over the desolate forest. A sudden silence fell, broken only by the faint sound of something large and unseen moving through the underbrush.' This immediately sets a spooky mood.

You can start with a unique sound. 'The screech of the brakes echoed through the silent night, and then there was only darkness.' This sound hooks the reader's attention and makes them wonder what happened. Another hook could be a strange object. 'The small, golden key with strange symbols engraved on it was the only clue.' It creates intrigue about the key and where it might lead. Also, a curious situation like 'All the animals in the zoo were acting strangely today, as if they knew something the humans didn't.' This makes the reader want to know what the animals know and why they're acting that way.

Starting with a character in a dangerous or exciting situation is also great. Say, a hiker lost in a dense forest at night, hearing strange noises. This hooks the reader as they want to know if the hiker will survive and what is making those noises.

An unexpected event at the very beginning is also a good hook. Such as a character suddenly finding themselves in a completely different world without any prior warning. This immediately grabs the reader's attention and makes them wonder how the character got there and what will happen next.

Beginning with a thought - provoking question can also be a good hook. Such as 'What if you woke up one day and found out that the world you knew was just a simulation?' It forces the reader to start thinking about this wild concept and draws them into the story to find out if there's an answer or exploration of this question within the narrative.

A mystery or a riddle can be a great hook. For example, starting a story with 'The door was ajar, and a strange sound was coming from inside. What could it be?' It immediately makes the reader curious. Another one could be a shocking statement like 'She woke up to find herself in a world where time had stopped.' This kind of hook grabs the reader's attention right away.

A mysterious letter arriving at the protagonist's doorstep can be a great hook. It immediately raises questions and draws the reader in.

A strange object found in an unexpected place can be a great hook. For example, a golden key in a modern, high - tech office. It makes the reader wonder where it came from and what it unlocks.