First line for my story?

Question

I'm writing a story. It is a story about a normal school teacher who eventually becomes a drug addict. The story starts with a description of the teacher, before he gets involved with drugs. I have planned the story but cannot think of how to start it. Any ideas for the first sentence? Thanks

Answer 1

"You know how you look at someone and just have a feeling that they're a nice person?  I mean you can see in their eyes that they are kind and good?  That was my first thought when I saw Mr.__________.  He just had a certain thing about him that made me like him right away."

I would go on to explain little changes about how he looked disheveled when he came in in the morning, maybe like he hadn't gotten enough sleep and how he's getting short tempered with his students, which wasn't like him at all....before.

It sounds like this could be an interesting story.  What grade are you in?  Hope you can use this.

Answer 2

Your question is very open. What POV are you writing from?

"The satisfying crash of the alarm clock against the wall told Mr *** that it was time to wake up. It also told him that he needed to find a more sturdy alarm clock next time."

"I didn't begin a career in education to teach to the test. I started wanting to help children become intelligent adults. So why is it that, every single day, I catch myself saying, 'Please pay attention! This will be on the Regents!' "

You need a first sentence that matches the flow, voice, and tone of your story. If you have a wonderful first sentence from this site, and the rest of your story is garbage, it will show. Just start at the beginning and keep writing.

A better idea, formatting wise, would be to show us how the teacher is now... something like this.

"The sweat beaded on his forehead, running down his face, and eventually landing on the floor. He hated the sweat. The sweat could escape his body, escape the craving. The sweat was free.

He wasn't free. He hadn't seen his dealer in three days. Three agonizing days since he got his last fix. He could get the money. He knew people. He needed to stop shaking. If he could stop shaking, he could go get more. More. He needed more. He'd DIE without more."

Keep going like that for a while... describe his ABSOLUTE low point.

**

And then go into something like this.

"A year ago, he stood in front of the class, sweat beading on his forehead. The school board refused to put on the air conditioning until late May. They didn't care that there was a heat wave going on. They only cared about the bills.

Because students learned so well when they were going through the beginning stages of heat stroke.

'Alright, guys. Pay attention, because this is going to be on the test...'

He hated doing that to them. He wanted to crack open a new issue of Scientific America, and talk about the latest developments in stem cell research. He wanted to get them excited about the world. He wanted them to care. What he didn't want, what he never wanted, was to be that worthless teacher who taught to the test."

Something like this show the drastic difference in his personality. Try this on for size. Might help you out :)

Answer 3

a man. a normal. man with nothing to hide.yet.