Can you give more scary ways to start a story than just the typical ones?

You can start with a sudden and unexplained event. Like, 'The lights in the room flickered and then went out all at once. I heard a strange scratching noise coming from the wall.' It creates a sense of confusion and fear.

You can start with a dialogue. Like '"I'm not going in there," he said, his voice trembling.' It gives an immediate sense of character and situation.

Starting a love story during a time of self - discovery can be powerful. Let's say one person is traveling alone to find themselves and meets another traveler at a hostel. They start sharing their life stories, dreams, and fears. It's a deep and meaningful start as they are in a vulnerable state. Also, starting with a shared problem like they both get stuck in an elevator and have to rely on each other to get through the situation. It builds a sense of trust and dependence right from the start.

You can start with a prophecy or a curse. 'The old woman's words echoed in his mind. 'You will see the face of death before the moon is full.' He had laughed it off at first, but now, as the moon grew fatter in the sky, strange things began to happen around him.' This immediately plants a sense of dread and anticipation in the reader's mind. They will be curious to see how the prophecy unfolds and what the face of death might be.

You can open with a battle scene. 'Cannons roared and muskets fired. The pirate ship, the Sea Devil, was engaged in a fierce battle with a merchant vessel. The pirates, led by the ruthless Captain Red, were determined to take the valuable cargo on board the merchant ship. Blood splattered on the decks as the two ships grappled, and this was just the start of a wild adventure that would change the lives of all involved.'

Yes. You can start with a flashback. For example, 'As he sat in the empty room, he remembered the day his mother left.' This adds depth to the story from the start. Another way is to start with a symbol. 'The red rose in the vase was the only splash of color in the drab room.' It gives the reader something to think about. Starting with a contradiction can also be interesting. 'He was a rich man, but he had nothing.'

Sure. How about starting with a character doing something completely inappropriate for the situation? Like 'The priest walked into the bar and started break - dancing.' It's unexpected and funny. Another is starting with a false fact presented as real in a humorous way. 'Scientists have recently discovered that unicorns are actually allergic to rainbows. And this is the story of one unicorn's quest for an umbrella.'

A sudden, unexpected event can make for a great start. For instance, 'I was walking home on a normal day when suddenly, a hand reached out from the sewer grate and grabbed my ankle. I screamed, but no one was around to hear me.'

A random act of kindness can also be the start. If one person helps the other out of a difficult situation, like helping someone carry their groceries when they drop them. There's an instant feeling of gratitude, and from there, a conversation might start. This kindness can be the spark that ignites the love story as it shows the good nature of one person towards the other.

A sudden and unexplained disappearance can start a horror story well. 'When I woke up, my sister was gone. Her bed was empty, and there was no sign of her in the house. Only her favorite doll, with its eyes that seemed to follow me, was left.'