What are some good ways to start a horror story?

A great way to start is with a disturbing dream sequence. Show the main character in a nightmare, perhaps being chased by an unseen force through a dark forest. When they wake up, they can't shake the feeling that the nightmare was more than just a dream, and this lingering unease can be the start of the horror story.

One good way is to start with an eerie setting. For example, describe a dark, fog - covered forest at midnight, with strange noises coming from the depths. The isolation and mystery of such a place can immediately set a spooky mood.

One good way is to start with an eerie setting. For example, describe a desolate old house on a stormy night. The howling wind and the creaking of the old boards can immediately set a spooky mood.

Another way is to introduce a menacing figure right at the start. Picture this: a tall, shadowy figure standing at the end of a long, dimly - lit hallway. The main character catches a glimpse of it out of the corner of their eye, but when they turn to look directly, it seems to vanish. This makes the reader question whether it was real or just a trick of the light, and it sets up a sense of mystery and fear.

One good way is to start with an eerie setting description. For example, 'The old, dilapidated house stood at the end of the overgrown lane, its broken windows like empty eye sockets staring into the gloom.'

One good way is to start with an eerie setting description. For example, 'The old, dilapidated mansion stood at the end of the overgrown lane, its broken windows like empty eye sockets staring into the gloom.'

One way is to start with an eerie setting. For example, describe a desolate old house on a stormy night. The howling wind and the creaking of the old wooden boards can immediately set a spooky mood.

One cool way is to start with a strange sound in the middle of the night. For example, 'The creaking started just as the clock struck midnight. It was a long, drawn - out groan that seemed to come from the attic, a place no one in the old house had visited in years.'

Start with a sudden, unexpected event. Like a car crash in the middle of a desolate road at midnight. The protagonist is dazed and confused, and then they start to notice strange things around them. It gets the reader's heart racing immediately.

A good story opening could be a captivating action scene that grabs the reader's attention right away.