Story Writing
Planning, structuring and writing a compelling short story within a timed exam, including character, setting and plot.
What is Story Writing?
Many 11+ exams include a creative writing section where you need to write a short story based on a given title, opening line or picture prompt. Good story writing needs planning, structure and interesting language.
Step-by-Step Method
Spend 5 minutes planning
Sketch a quick plan with beginning, middle and end. Know how your story will finish BEFORE you start writing.
Start with a strong opening
Hook the reader immediately with action, dialogue, a question or a vivid description. Avoid “One day…”.
Build tension in the middle
Include a problem or conflict. Use short sentences to build suspense.
Write a satisfying ending
Resolve the conflict. Endings can be happy, surprising, thoughtful or circular (linking back to the beginning).
Use paragraphs and varied sentences
Start a new paragraph for a change of time, place, topic or speaker. Mix short and long sentences.
Worked Examples
Compare a weak and strong opening for a story about finding something in an attic.
Working
- Weak: “One day I went up to the attic and I found something.”
- Strong: “The attic door groaned as I pushed it open. Dust danced in the thin beam of my torch.”
How can short sentences create tension?
Working
- Short sentences speed up the pace.
- Example: “I froze. A shadow moved. The door handle turned. Slowly.”
Create a 5-minute plan for a story titled “The Key”.
Working
- Beginning: Character finds an old key in their garden.
- Middle: Key opens a hidden door in the garden wall. They discover a secret garden.
- End: They decide to keep the garden secret, returning the key to where they found it.
Common Mistakes
Not planning and running out of time, leading to a rushed or unfinished ending.
Spend 5 minutes planning. Knowing your ending BEFORE you start means you can pace your story properly.
Writing too much description at the start and rushing through the middle and end.
Balance your time. The middle (where the conflict happens) should be the longest section.
Forgetting to use paragraphs.
New paragraph for: new time, new place, new person speaking, new idea.
No dialogue at all.
Include some dialogue to bring characters to life. Remember to punctuate speech correctly.
Top Tips
- Plan for 5 minutes, write for 20 minutes, check for 5 minutes.
- Use “show, don’t tell” – instead of “she was scared”, write “her hands trembled and her breath caught”.
- End your story properly – do not just stop. A good ending leaves the reader satisfied.
- Vary your sentence openings. Do not start every sentence with “I” or “The”.
Ready to practise?
Put these techniques into action with our free practice papers.
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