good ideas for a horror story

A doll that comes to life at night. It has a creepy smile and moves around the house, leaving little footprints. It seems to be watching the people in the house all the time and can predict their every move, always staying one step ahead of them, creating a sense of constant dread.

A story about a cursed mirror. Anyone who looks into it sees their worst fears come to life behind them. The reflection slowly changes, showing a distorted and terrifying version of reality. The person is then haunted by the images they saw, and they start to lose their sanity as the mirror seems to have a hold on them.

A good idea to start a horror story could be with an unexplained noise in the middle of the night. For example, the main character wakes up to a strange scratching sound coming from the attic. They're all alone in the house, and the sound is rhythmic and menacing. This immediately creates a sense of unease and mystery, drawing the reader in as they wonder what could be making that noise.

A great start could be a character moving into a new apartment. On the first night, they see a face in the window of the apartment across the street. But when they look again, it's gone. Later, they find out that the apartment has a dark history of disappearances. This discovery, along with the initial sighting, can be the start of a terrifying horror story.

One idea could be a person moving into a new house. Every night, they hear strange scratching noises coming from inside the walls. As they investigate, they find old, faded photos of a family that looks just like them but with sinister expressions. The scratches start to form words like 'leave' on the walls.

A small, idyllic town that has a dark secret. All the residents seem normal during the day, but at night they turn into something inhuman. The new arrival in town starts to notice strange things, like how people avoid going out after sunset and how there are always strange noises coming from the basements of houses.

How about a story set in an abandoned asylum? A group of urban explorers break into the long - closed asylum. As they wander through the dark, musty hallways, they hear the screams and moans of the former patients. They find old patient records that hint at inhumane experiments. Then, they start to be chased by an unseen force that seems to know every nook and cranny of the building.

One idea could be a haunted house where the spirits have a specific agenda. Maybe they're trying to reveal a hidden truth about the property's past.

One idea could be a person who moves into a new house and every night hears strange scratching noises from the attic. When they finally go up to investigate, they find a diary that details the previous owner's descent into madness and how they were haunted by an entity that lived in the walls. As soon as they start reading, the scratching gets louder and the room grows colder.

Begin with a strange discovery. Say, a young girl is exploring an abandoned attic. Among the dusty boxes and cobwebs, she finds a locked diary. The moment she touches it, she feels a strange coldness seep into her fingers. As she tries to open it, she hears a faint whisper in her ear, as if someone is warning her not to. This discovery can set the stage for a horror story filled with mystery and the unknown.