A lot of aspiring horror writers have a hard time starting a story.
They have an idea for the story and maybe some character outlines.
But when they sit down to actually start writing it … creative paralysis.
Does this sound familiar? If so, keep reading. This guide is for you!
Seven Ways to Begin a Horror Story
Two things to know up front: (1) these are not the only ways to begin a story, and (2) there aren’t any hard rules when it comes to creative writing.
The short story form invites creativity and experimentation. It’s not as rigid as the longer novel format. So feel free to blaze your own path.
Even so, it helps to have some direction when you sit down to write, some models and options to choose from. So let’s look at some of those methods.
1. Drop the reader right into the action.
A lot of horror stories begin right in the middle of the action. The literary term for this is in media res, a Latin phrase that means “in the middle of things.”
A short story doesn’t have a lot of space for a long build-up or introduction. Due to their brevity, short stories have to get to the action quickly. They usually start just before the climax.
Plunging readers directly into the action captures their attention, piques their curiosity, and creates a sense of urgency. It pulls them into the story, making it harder to put down.
Here’s an example of a horror story that begins in media res:
The flashlight flickered and died just as I reached the far edge of the field, plunging me into darkness. With my last light source extinguished, there was nothing left to ward off the clickers. Already I could hear them coming, rustling through the cornstalks to converge on my location.
2. Introduce a local haunt or urban legend.
Here’s another fun way to begin a horror story—for writers and readers alike. With this approach, you begin your tale by introducing some kind of urban legend or local haunt.
This method pique the reader’s curiosity with a strange or unexplained event that sets the stage for the horrors to come. It’s a kind of foreshadowing and can be highly effective.
Here’s an example of a horror story that starts with this approach:
The old, abandoned house on Hemlock Lane had always been a source of local legend. With its overgrown weeds, boarded-up windows, and slanted porch, it certainly looked haunted. But to young Jesse’s knowledge, no one had ever dared to venture inside it … until now.
3. Describe the setting.
You could also begin a horror story by describing the setting where it unfolds.
In fiction writing, “setting” refers to the time and place where a story takes place. It includes both the physical location and the historical or cultural context.
Describing the setting early on creates a sense of atmosphere, along with a sense of dread and foreboding. It gives horror fans exactly what they crave, and right out of the gate.
Here’s an example of a horror story that starts with a detailed description:
On its surface, the main square of Elderwood, Rhode Island looked like most rural New England towns. Colonial-era cottages and cobblestone streets. Cozy shops and eateries. A church steeple just beyond the tree line. Visitors in town for the weekend would never suspect or imagine that such an idyllic place could have such a horrible past.
4. Start with dialogue.
While it’s rare in novels, short stories often start off with dialogue between one or more characters. Horror writers can use this method to bring the reader into a developing situation, possibly combining it with one of the other methods from this guide.
For example, you could combine this with strategy #2 by starting a story with two characters talking about strange occurrences in the area, a haunted house legend, or local folklore.
Just be sure to mix in some action, exposition, and setting as well, to balance out the dialogue. Otherwise, readers won’t have any context as to who these people are or what they’re doing.
Here’s an example of a horror story that starts off with dialogue:
“I’m not afraid,” Sara said, side-eyeing the old rundown house that loomed above her. “I just think it’s stupid, that’s all. There’s no such thing as a haunted house.”
“Then why don’t you go inside and prove it?” said Simone. “If you’re so brave.”
5. Introduce an unexplained event.
You could begin your story by introducing a strange and/or unexplained event. When used effectively, this technique creates a sense of mystery from the very start.
And as you probably already know, mystery is often a key component in horror stories.
By dropping your readers into a strange or disorienting event, you immediately raise questions in their minds. They want to know what happened and why, and what’s going to happen next. So they keep turning the pages to find out.
Here’s an example of a horror story that begins with an unexplained mystery:
For the third night in a row, every clock in the house stopped at exactly 3:17 a.m.
6. Pose an eerie question.
The human brain doesn’t like unanswered questions. It seeks answers. So if you start a horror short story by posing a strange or disturbing question, you’ll pull the reader into your fictional world. They’ll want to keep reading to find the answer.
Here’s an example of this strategy:
Can you truly escape the past, or does it always come back to haunt you?
7. Feature a child.
In fiction, the overlap between children and horror can be a powerful and compelling force. It paints a stark contrast between the innocence of youth and the corruption of dark forces.
- Danny in The Shining
- Regan in The Exorcist
- Oskar in Let the Right One In
Compassionate people naturally feel concerned and protective when a child is threatened by something, even in the context of a horror story. It grabs onto us and doesn’t let go.
Here’s an example of this method in action:
Ten-year-old Nat was dreaming of brown bunnies playing in a field when she felt the tug on her leg. A gripping sensation, followed by a forceful yank. She woke disoriented with her feet dangling off the mattress and a rug burn warming her the backs of her legs.
