Can you give some great ways to start a horror story?

A great way to start a novel is by creating a sense of mystery. Drop a hint about something strange or unusual right at the beginning. Say, a character finds a strange key in an old attic and has no idea what it unlocks. This makes the reader want to keep reading to find out.

Start with a sense of foreboding. Just say something like 'He knew something was wrong the moment he stepped into the forest. The air was thick with an unspoken dread.' This makes the reader wonder what's going to happen next.

Open with a dialogue that hints at something fantastical. Two characters could be talking in hushed tones about a 'portal that only opens on a full moon'. This immediately makes the reader curious about what this portal is and where it leads. Another way is to start with a feeling of being lost. The main character could find themselves in a place that looks familiar but is somehow different, like a town where all the buildings are made of ice, but they were just in a normal, warm town a moment ago.

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.

One great way is to start with an eerie setting. For example, describe a desolate old house on a dark and stormy night. The howling wind, the creaking floorboards, and the dim, flickering lights can immediately set a spooky mood.

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.

Start with a sense of foreboding. For instance, 'All day, a dark cloud had hung over the town, and as night fell, the feeling of impending doom grew stronger.'

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.'

You could start with a thought-provoking question. Like, 'What if the world stopped spinning? How would we survive?' This gets the reader thinking and interested in seeing where the story will go with this concept.

Beginners can start a story by using a time reference. 'In the year 2050, the world had changed a great deal.' It gives a context of time. Starting with a small moment of conflict is also effective. 'The siblings argued over who would get the last piece of cake.' Another option is to start with a place. 'On the small island, there was a hidden cave, and that's where our story begins.' This helps to set the location which is important in a story.