Start with a mysterious event. Say, 'In the dead of night, a strange blue light flickered in the old abandoned house on the hill.' This kind of opening creates a sense of mystery and makes the reader eager to find out what is causing the blue light and what secrets the house holds.
Start with a strong visual. Maybe create a mind map of your life on a large piece of paper. Put yourself in the center and then draw lines out to different aspects like family, career, hobbies. This visual can then guide how you tell your story. For example, you can start from one branch and work your way around.
Starting with a thought - provoking question can be great. Like 'Have you ever wondered what it would be like to wake up in a world where everyone had forgotten your name?' This makes the reader start thinking and gets them engaged in the story right away.
Begin with a mysterious character. For example, a veiled figure that appears out of nowhere in a fog - covered graveyard. This character can be the source of the gothic elements to come, such as dark secrets or a connection to the supernatural. It creates an air of mystery right from the start that draws the reader in.
A great start could be a description of a spooky object. 'I found an old, dusty book in the attic. Its pages were yellowed and brittle, and there was a strange symbol on the cover that seemed to pulse with an otherworldly energy. As I opened it, a cold wind blew through the attic, even though all the windows were closed. It was a Halloween discovery that would change everything.'
One good way to start a halloween story is with a spooky setting. For example, 'The moon hung low in the sky, casting an eerie glow over the old, abandoned cemetery. Tombstones jutted out of the overgrown grass like jagged teeth, and a thick fog rolled in, muffling all sound.' This immediately sets a creepy mood for the story.