How can the beginnings of horror stories create suspense?

They often use foreshadowing to create cliffhangers. Let's say a character in a horror story finds an old diary that mentions a curse. As the story progresses, strange things start to happen but the full nature of the curse is not revealed until the end, if at all. This builds suspense. Also, cliffhangers can be created by putting the characters in dangerous situations at the end of a chapter or scene. Say a group of friends is being chased by a serial killer in the woods and the chapter ends there. You're left on the edge of your seat, eager to know if they'll escape.

Mystery and horror stories create suspense in multiple ways. Firstly, the pacing is crucial. A slow build - up with small, mysterious events gradually leading to a big revelation or a terrifying climax can keep readers hooked. Secondly, the use of unreliable narrators can be very effective. In a mystery, if the narrator may be lying or misinterpreting things, it adds to the mystery. In horror, an unreliable narrator can make the reader doubt what is real and what is not, thus creating suspense. Also, the sense of the unknown, whether it's an unexplained phenomenon in a mystery or an otherworldly being in a horror story, is a powerful tool for creating suspense.

They often use the unknown. For example, in many horror mystery stories, there are shadowy figures or strange noises that the characters can't immediately explain. This makes the reader wonder what's going on and creates suspense. Another way is through unreliable narrators. If you can't trust the person telling the story, you're constantly on edge trying to figure out what's real and what's not.

Suspense in horror adventure stories is often created by setting. Take 'The Shining' for instance. The isolated hotel in the middle of the snow - covered mountains is a perfect backdrop for a sense of unease. The characters are cut off from the outside world, and as strange things start to happen, the reader is on edge. Also, the use of foreshadowing helps. In 'Dracula', the early mentions of the count's strange powers and the disappearances in the area foreshadow the horror to come.

Horror thriller stories create suspense by playing with the reader's or viewer's expectations. In 'It', the shape - shifting nature of the monster means you never really know what form it will take next. This uncertainty is what creates suspense. Also, the pacing of the story is important. A slow build - up, like in 'The Birds', where at first it's just a few strange bird behaviors and then it escalates into a full - blown attack, keeps the audience in a state of anticipation. And the use of unreliable narrators, like in some horror thrillers, can also add to the mystery and suspense.

Horror mysteries create suspense through their settings. For example, in a spooky old mansion like in 'The Haunting of Hill House', the creaky floors and dark corridors immediately make you feel on edge. The unknown also plays a big part. When the characters don't know what's causing the strange noises or disappearances, it makes the readers or viewers wonder and be in suspense.

Transformation in horror stories creates suspense mainly by introducing the unknown. When a character starts to transform, we don't know what the end result will be. This uncertainty makes the reader or viewer on edge. For example, if a person's eyes start to change color and their body trembles, we wonder what hideous form they will take. Also, it can disrupt the status quo. If a previously normal situation suddenly has a character transforming, it shatters the sense of safety and makes us anticipate more bad things to come.

Use strong imagery. For instance, 'The sun blazed like a furious furnace, searing the parched earth beneath it.' This vivid description grabs the reader's attention.

You can start by building up tension slowly. For example, introduce mysterious elements or strange noises that make the reader or viewer wonder what's coming next.