Chapters
- Creative Writing
- List of 11 Plus Creative Writing Topics
- Story Titles
- Story template
- Story plan example - things to include
- Example of a Good Story
- Example of a Good Story
- Example of a Bad Story
- Example of a Good Letter
- Example of a Good Description
- Bad Description
- 11+ Creative Writing Questions From Real Exams—NON-FICTION PROMPTS
- Checklists for Creative Writing
Creative Writing
This article contains useful information that will help you to write good stories, description and letter in your 11 plus exam.
List of 11 Plus Creative Writing Topics
When it comes to developing creative writing topics and tasks, it's helpful to focus on core themes and emotions that often appear in stories. Here are some areas to consider when building your descriptions:
- Animals - You can use literary devices like personification, exaggeration, and similes to bring your descriptions of pets or favorite animals to life, or even animals that frighten you.
- Emotions and feelings - Many stories require descriptions of emotions like fear, joy, or the experience of being lost or alone. Titles like "My Brilliant Day" or "Lost!" and "Alone!" can provide a clear direction for your writing.
- Enjoyable activities - Describing the activities you love, from mountaineering to gardening, is an opportunity to convey both the activity itself and the emotions it elicits.
- The natural world - Whether it's hills, mountains, rivers, streams, or weather phenomena like lightning, rain, and sunshine, describing the natural world can add depth and richness to your writing.
- The built environment - From houses and office blocks to cottages, castles, roads, bridges, churches, and sheds, it's useful to develop a vocabulary for describing the built environment.
Story Titles
Some examples of story titles are given below:
- Power
- The Day Trip
- The Broken Window
- The Garden
- Sleeping
- The Abandoned House
- Lost Boy
- The Voice in the Darkness
- Alone - Craft a story with the title "Alone," where you suddenly realize that you are on your own. Your story can be true or entirely made up. Ensure that it includes your thoughts and feelings, as well as what happened.
- Visiting Relatives - Write a story, whether true or made up, about a visit you make to some of your relatives.
- Cousin's Visit - Compose a letter to a cousin inviting them to stay with you. In the letter, try to interest them in some of the varied and unusual activities they can participate in.
- Magical Moment - Describe a situation you've experienced that might be considered a "Magical Moment." Show what your thoughts and feelings were during that experience.
- Animal Description - Provide a detailed description of an animal you know well. Be sure to include what it does, how it behaves, and what it looks like.
- I prefer Winter to Spring
- The door and what was behind it.
- Ash on an old man’s sleeve.
- My hobby
- The Prince of Darkness is a Gentleman.
- Write a story that begins with the phrase – I had been waiting for such a long time for this to happen.
- Write a description of someone you admire. (You may choose someone you actually know, or someone you have never met. Describe them and explain why you admire them).
Story template
Beginning
It was a calm day as I ______
The sun was smiling in the ______________
I felt ______________ because ___________
Build up
After I ________, I _________
The ____ was like a _________ because _______
There was an atmosphere of __________
Problem
Suddenly, _____________
My heart was filled with _________
Unless I ________, I would surely _________
Resolution
Thankfully, ________
I managed to _______ because _______
After ________, I ______
Ending
I learned that ___________
In future I would be more careful of ________
Happily, I went off to ________
Story plan example - things to include
- Beginning
- Build up
- Problem
- Resolution
- Ending
SAMOSAP
simile
adjective
metaphor
onomatopoeia
sense language
adverb
personification
ESCAPE
ellipsis
semi colon
colon
apostrophe
parentheses
exclamation mark
check SPAG - spelling, punctuation and grammar
Example of a Good Story
Write a story where a character goes into a shop and finds something unexpected
Rosie strolled happily into the pristine store; today was her birthday and her heart was bursting with expectation. It was time to receive the gift her parents had promised her: a new phone. The atmosphere in the store was bustling as the Saturday shoppers streamed in out of the sunshine.
As Rosie was browsing she noticed an odd looking man lingering near the back of the store. She didn’t pay him much attention but this discovery was soon to have devastating consequences. Rosie was gleefully talking to one of the staff members when caught a movement out of the corner of her eye….
“Everyone get down!” screamed the man, his face red with fury. “I want everyone’s phones and valuables on the floor. If you refuse you will regret it!’ Everyone scattered through the shop, tripping in panic. The man was a stealthy lion prowling among his prey. Rosie’s heart was filled with fear and horror - she would have to relinquish the phone she had just paid for. The cruelty of the situation twisted her stomach like a razor ripping into her flesh. The man had begun to grab the valuables in a dirty looking backpack and was about to confidently exit the store…..
Suddenly there was an explosion of movement outside the shop on the busy street. Fortunately, a local police car had been patrolling outside and the officers had caught a glimpse of the man’s odd behaviour. They had sprung into action! Grabbing the man boisterously, they took him to the floor and confiscated the precise valuables. Rosie breathed a sigh of relief - her phone was saved.
Eventually, order was restored as the sun smiled overhead. Shocked onlookers relayed the story to one another. Everyone graciously thanked the police for their brave intervention. Rosie now knew to expect the unexpected after her unpleasant discovery….
Example of a Good Story
Write a story about a childhood experience
The pensive sky was filled with rushing grey clouds, illuminated by the lights of the fun fair below. I stood wearily in the bitter cold, flanked by my shivering parents as we stood in the cramped queue.
Winter Wonderland was the highlight of the festive season; families and tourists flocked eagerly from all over London, sampling the seasonal delights and treats, marvelling at the whirling dervish of colours and excitement. This year, 1999, was bigger than ever – it seemed as if the fair was engulfing the whole of Hyde Park, growing onwards as if greedily consuming the whole city in celebration.
Finally, we crossed the threshold. The murmuring of the masses filled my ears like chanting. My nose was smothered with the sweet smells of candy floss and waffles. Drunken tourists stumbled blindly from bar to bar, eagerly gulping down glass after glass of beer and blood red mulled wine.
I tugged at my mother’s arm and pointed. Past the roller coasters and cafes the lake shone like an icy lance of steel, cutting cleanly through the park. Jubilant children rushed backwards and forwards, skimming over its surface like polished stones.
“Are you sure, dear?” enquired my mother. “The lake looks very cold. We wouldn’t want you to fall in or have an accident”. She frowned nervously but could see the resolute expression on my face; my mind was made up! Moments later I was in the queue, looking out over the vast tapestry of the lake, framed by trees and illuminated by the faint moon.
My breath fogged like steam around me as the lake attendant fixed my boots on. They sternly clamped my feet; all of a sudden my limbs became turgid lumps of rock, pulling me into the ground. My mother and father laughed at my fumbling.
“We’ll be watching dear. Try not to fall over!” said my father. He tried to smile but a hint of nervousness crept into his face. After all, I was being pushed out into the great unknown of the lake, with only my fellow skaters for company.
Once I was on the lake, my stiff limbs scampered with short, awkward steps. I briefly lost my balance, grasped at the empty air and then corrected myself. In a few moments I was gliding effortlessly through the darkness, faster and faster, the children around me brief shadows that flitted from side to side. As I flew through the night the chilled air stung my face but I couldn’t help grinning.
A noise distracted me. I was far from the shore now – the dark of the park and surrounding trees had swallowed me, the twinkling beacons of the fair were a distant memory. It sounded like a shout but it was muffled by the piercing wind. I could see the faint outline of two figures. Were they my mother and father? I couldn’t see in the gloom, but their faces wore an expression of panic, for the ice had begun to crack near the shore. Within a few moments all the skaters might be plunged hopelessly into the icy depths, with no hope of rescue. At this stage I knew nothing of the danger, and continued to loop and spin through the air.
It was only when I got closer to the shore that I heard another sound. This was definitely one of fear. A young blond child was crying, tears streaming down her red face. Her mother was hugging her and shouting violently at the members of staff. I now knew something was terribly wrong.
It was then that I heard the first sound, like a faint clicking or scratching. Then through the gloom, I could see a faint line growing beneath me, tracing its way between me and the shore. The ice was breaking! I had no time to think and so just reacted, making my way to the nearest section of shore, stumbling spasmodically. With relief I grasped the rough branches of the hedge and could see, through sweat drenched eyes, my parents rushing along the bank side.
“That was a lucky escape, son” gasped my father. A few more seconds and we might have lost you.
“You’re never going skating again!” screamed my mother.
We made our way solemnly back along the banks of the river, eyeing the contrite staff who were being questioned by security.
As the gloom darkened into thick night, I looked back on the pristine lake and marvelled on how lucky I was to escape with my life……….
Example of a Bad Story
The Accident
I woke up. I walked down the road to get some food. I was tired.
I was hungry so I went to a Mcdonald’s. The queue was very very very big.
I didn’t want to wait so I went to the toilet. Inside the toilet it smelled very very bad. When I flushed the toilet the water came out and I was sucked into the toilet. I was being sucked into the toilet! I was sad.
A couple of hours later, someone heard me crying from in the sewer and helped me out. I smelled bad.
In future, I learned not to be flushed down the toilet.
Example of a Good Letter
Ealing High School
Uxbridge Road
23rd June 2012
Dear Head teacher,
I am writing this letter because I believe that more equipment is needed for the school gym. I hope you will consider my point of view. The most important items we need are running machines and a trampoline.
The first reason I believe this is because exercise makes a big difference to the way that people feel. 80% of students have said that exercise makes them happier and gives them more energy. Surely you can see why more equipment is a good idea?
The second reason I believe this is because lots of young people are overweight these days. For example, 1 in 4 young people in the UK are obese. This is a clearly a disgrace - getting more exercise at school would be an ideal way of tackling this problem.
It is true that some people disagree with me. They say that the new equipment will cost a lot of money, and that the school could use this money to buy more computers or books. However, this is not correct. If the students aren’t feeling happy and healthy then it doesn’t matter what other resources they have. They won’t be motivated to use them – that’s why the gym equipment is more important!
In conclusion, gym equipment is a priority for the school. I know that many other students feel the same. I hope that you will consider this letter when you look at the spending budget for the school.
Yours sincerely,
(Student name)
Example of a Good Description
The Beach
Carefully choosing their places among the sea of sunbathers, the new arrivals to the beach lay down their towels on the glistening sand as a red-faced toddler chants, "I want ice cream, I want ice cream!" as he passes the multicoloured van with his already exasperated mother.
Lounging on their luxurious houseboats, the wealthy residents of the marina gaze out to sea, watching the gentle waves move against weathered rocky outcrops. On one of the larger houseboats, a family of five dine on a bronzed lobster talking happily to each other.
Scuttling along the sea-stained sand, crabs of all shapes and sizes frantically make their escape from determined rock poolers.
Wielding her flimsy pink net, a young girl of around five perches on a boulder, laughing joyously as she scatters shrimp and prawns alike. Staring happily at his collection of shells, a young boy laughs as the waves lap at his feet.
Ice cream in hand, his mother watches him lazily from under the cheap, colourful umbrella. As if on a mission, a younger boy of around three digs at the sand, sweating as the sun beats down on him.
On a cliff, high above the beach, stands an aged man, grimacing at the inferior beings below. Clad in a huge overcoat, heavy black boots and a scarf wrapped around his neck, the greying individual turns and begins his journey home. Carelessly floating on a pair of lilos, two teenagers talk ceaselessly - breaking out in laughter and falling off their bright pink lilos every so often. The scent of hotdogs makes them hungry as they drag their lilos to the shore, intent on coercing their parents into
opening their wallets. Rain begins to fall on the beach, awakening sunbathers and scattering beach goers. As people start to pack up and leave, the rain grows heavier, causing bikini-clad girls to scream and take cover under umbrellas and food stalls. Engines roar in to life, and the beach is completely empty.
Bad Description
A busy airport
Shops and cafes filled everywhere. People were very busy and noisy. I was hungry but didn’t know where to go. A woman was running around screaming, saying I want a burger! Outside a plane roared by, like a fish. The toilets were full of people. In a cafe some children were playing football and annoying everyone. Outside the plane crashed - boom! The woman came to talk to me saying she was lost, but she still needed a burger. The day was hot and sticky. Lots of flashing lights lit up the departure gate like a christmas tree. There was the smell of smelly chickens and burning burgers.
11+ Creative Writing Questions From Real Exams—NON-FICTION PROMPTS
- Write a thank you letter for a present you didn’t want.
- Write a thank you letter for a holiday you didn’t enjoy.
- Describe a person who is important to you.
- Describe your pet or an animal you know well.
- Write a letter of complaint to the vet after an unfortunate incident in the waiting room.
- Write a set of instructions explaining how to make toast.
- You are about to interview someone for a job. Write a list of questions you would like to ask the applicant.
- Write a letter to complain about the uniform at your school.
- Write a leaflet to advertise your home town.
- Describe the room you are in.
Checklists for Creative Writing
Checklist for story writing
- SAMOSAP BBUPRE
- SPAG
- ESCAPE
- PLAN
- make sure you answer the question
Checklist for letter writing
- Letter heading
- complex sentences
- ESCAPE Paragraphs
- plan
- vocabulary
- formal tone / language
- make sure you answer the question
Checklist for descriptive writing
- SAMOSAP
- SPAG
- ESCAPE
- PLAN
- make sure you answer the question
Checklist for continuing the story
- SAMOSAP
- BBUPRE
- SPAG
- ESCAPE
- PLAN
- make sure you answer the question
Did you like this article? Rate it!
Loading...
Thank you, this really helped my child! He is now in Reading Boys!!!
😃