11 plus creative writing course

11+ creative writing guide with 50 example topics and prompts

by Hayley | Nov 17, 2022 | Exams , Writing | 0 comments

The 11+ exam is a school entrance exam taken in the academic year that a child in the UK turns eleven.

These exams are highly competitive, with multiple students battling for each school place awarded.

The 11 plus exam isn’t ‘one thing’, it varies in its structure and composition across the country. A creative writing task is included in nearly all of the 11 plus exams, and parents are often confused about what’s being tested.

Don’t be fooled into thinking that the plot of your child’s writing task is important. It is not.

The real aim of the 11+ creative writing task is to showcase your child’s writing skills and techniques.

And that’s why preparation is so important.

This guide begins by answering all the FAQs that parents have about the 11+ creative writing task.

At the end of the article I give my best tips & strategies for preparing your child for the 11+ creative writing task , along with 50 fiction and non-fiction creative writing prompts from past papers you can use to help your child prepare. You’ll also want to check out my 11+ reading list , because great readers turn into great writers.

Do all 11+ exams include a writing task?

Not every 11+ exam includes a short story component, but many do. Usually 3 to 5 different prompts are given for the child to choose between and they are not always ‘creative’ (fiction) pieces. One or more non-fiction options might be given for children who prefer writing non-fiction to fiction.

Timings and marking vary from test to test. For example, the Kent 11+ Test gives students 10 minutes for planning followed by 30 minutes for writing. The Medway 11+ Test gives 60 minutes for writing with ‘space allowed’ on the answer booklet for planning.

Tasks vary too. In the Kent Test a handful of stimuli are given, whereas 11+ students in Essex are asked to produce two individually set paragraphs. The Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex (CCSE) includes 2 creative writing paragraphs inside a 60-minute English exam.

Throughout the UK each 11+ exam has a different set of timings and papers based around the same themes. Before launching into any exam preparation it is essential to know the content and timing of your child’s particular writing task.

However varied and different these writing tasks might seem, there is one key element that binds them.

The mark scheme.

Although we can lean on previous examples to assess how likely a short story or a non-fiction tasks will be set, it would be naïve to rely completely on the content of past papers. Contemporary 11+ exams are designed to be ‘tutor-proof’ – meaning that the exam boards like to be unpredictable.

In my online writing club for kids , we teach a different task each week (following a spiral learning structure based on 10 set tasks). One task per week is perfected as the student moves through the programme of content, and one-to-one expert feedback ensures progression. This equips our writing club members to ‘write effectively for a range of purposes’ as stated in the English schools’ teacher assessment framework.

This approach ensures that students approaching a highly competitive entrance exam will be confident of the mark scheme (and able to meet its demands) for any task set.

Will my child have a choice of prompts to write from or do they have to respond to a single prompt, without a choice?

This varies. In the Kent Test there are usually 5 options given. The purpose is to gather a writing sample from each child in case of a headteacher appeal. A range of options should allow every child to showcase what they can do.

In Essex, two prescriptive paragraphs are set as part of an hour-long English paper that includes comprehension and vocabulary work. In Essex, there is no option to choose the subject matter.

The Medway Test just offers a single prompt for a whole hour of writing. Sometimes it is a creative piece. Recently it was a marketing leaflet.

The framework for teaching writing in English schools demands that in order to ‘exceed expectations’ or better, achieve ‘greater depth’, students need to be confident writing for a multitude of different purposes.

In what circumstances is a child’s creative writing task assessed?

In Essex (east of the UK) the two prescriptive writing tasks are found inside the English exam paper. They are integral to the exam and are assessed as part of this.

In Medway (east Kent in the South East) the writing task is marked and given a raw score. This is then adjusted for age and double counted. Thus, the paper is crucial to a pass.

In the west of the county of Kent there is a different system. The Kent Test has a writing task that is only marked in appeal cases. If a child dips below the passmark their school is allowed to put together a ‘headteacher’s appeal’. At this point – before the score is communicated to the parent (and probably under cover of darkness) the writing sample is pulled out of a drawer and assessed.

I’ve been running 11+ tutor clubs for years. Usually about 1% of my students passed at headteacher’s appeal.

Since starting the writing club, however, the number of students passing at appeal has gone up considerably. In recent years it’s been more like 5% of students passing on the strength of their writing sample.

What are the examiners looking for when they’re marking a student’s creative writing?

In England, the government has set out a framework for marking creative writing. There are specific ‘pupil can’ statements to assess whether a student is ‘working towards the expected standard,’ ‘working at the expected standard’ or ‘working at greater depth’.

Members of the headteacher panel assessing the writing task are given a considerable number of samples to assess at one time. These expert teachers have a clear understanding of the framework for marking, but will not be considering or discussing every detail of the writing sample as you might expect.

Schools are provided with a report after the samples have been assessed. This is very brief indeed. Often it will simply say ‘lack of precise vocabulary’ or ‘confused paragraphing.’

So there is no mark scheme as such. They won’t be totting up your child’s score to see if they have reached a given target. They are on the panel because of their experience, and they have a short time to make an instant judgement.

Does handwriting matter?

Handwriting is assessed in primary schools. Thus it is an element of the assessment framework the panel uses as a basis for their decision.

If the exam is very soon, then don’t worry if your child is not producing immaculate, cursive handwriting. The focus should simply be on making it well-formed and legible. Every element of the assessment framework does not need to be met and legible writing will allow the panel to read the content with ease.

Improve presentation quickly by offering a smooth rollerball pen instead of a pencil. Focus on fixing individual letters and praising your child for any hint of effort. The two samples below are from the same boy a few months apart. Small changes have transformed the look and feel:

Sample 1: First piece of work when joining the writing club

Sample 2: This is the same boy’s improved presentation and content

How long should the short story be.

First, it is not a short story as such—it is a writing sample. Your child needs to showcase their skills but there are no extra marks for finishing (or marks deducted for a half-finished piece).

For a half hour task, you should prepare your child to produce up to 4 paragraphs of beautifully crafted work. Correct spelling and proper English grammar is just the beginning. Each paragraph should have a different purpose to showcase the breadth and depth of their ability. A longer – 60 minute – task might have 5 paragraphs but rushing is to be discouraged. Considered and interesting paragraphs are so valuable, a shorter piece would be scored more highly than a rushed and dull longer piece.

I speak from experience. A while ago now I was a marker for Key Stage 2 English SATs Papers (taken in Year 6 at 11 years old). Hundreds of scripts were deposited on my doorstep each morning by DHL. There was so much work for me to get through that I came to dread long, rambling creative pieces. Some children can write pages and pages of repetitive nothingness. Ever since then, I have looked for crafted quality and am wary of children judging their own success by the number of lines competed.

Take a look at the piece of writing below. It’s an excellent example of a well-crafted piece.

Each paragraph is short, but the writer is skilful.

He used rich and precisely chosen vocabulary, he’s broken the text into natural paragraphs, and in the second paragraph he is beginning to vary his sentence openings. There is a sense of control to the sentences – the sentence structure varies with shorter and longer examples to manage tension. It is exciting to read, with a clear awareness of his audience. Punctuation is accurate and appropriate.

11+ creative writing example story

How important is it to revise for a creative writing task.

It is important.

Every student should go into their 11+ writing task with a clear paragraph plan secured. As each paragraph has a separate purpose – to showcase a specific skill – the plan should reflect this. Built into the plan is a means of flexing it, to alter the order of the paragraphs if the task demands it. There’s no point having a Beginning – Middle – End approach, as there’s nothing useful there to guide the student to the mark scheme.

Beyond this, my own students have created 3 – 5 stories that fit the same tight plan. However, the setting, mood and action are all completely different. This way a bank of rich vocabulary has already been explored and a technique or two of their own that fits the piece beautifully. These can be drawn upon on the day to boost confidence and give a greater sense of depth and consideration to their timed sample.

Preparation, rather than revision in its classic form, is the best approach. Over time, even weeks or months before the exam itself, contrasting stories are written, improved upon, typed up and then tweaked further as better ideas come to mind. Each of these meets the demands of the mark scheme (paragraphing, varied sentence openings, rich vocabulary choices, considered imagery, punctuation to enhance meaning, development of mood etc).

To ensure your child can write confidently at and above the level expected of them, drop them into my weekly weekly online writing club for the 11+ age group . The club marking will transform their writing, and quickly.

What is the relationship between the English paper and the creative writing task?

Writing is usually marked separately from any comprehension or grammar exercises in your child’s particular 11+ exam. Each exam board (by area/school) adapts the arrangement to suit their needs. Some have a separate writing test, others build it in as an element of their English paper (usually alongside a comprehension, punctuation and spelling exercise).

Although there is no creative writing task in the ISEB Common Pre-test, those who are not offered an immediate place at their chosen English public school are often invited back to complete a writing task at a later date. Our ISEB Common Pre-test students join the writing club in the months before the exam, first to tidy up the detail and second to extend the content.

What if my child has a specific learning difficulty (dyslexia, ADD/ADHD, ASD)?

Most exam boards pride themselves on their inclusivity. They will expect you to have a formal report from a qualified professional at the point of registration for the test. This needs to be in place and the recommendations will be considered by a panel. If your child needs extra arrangements on the day they may be offered (it isn’t always the case). More importantly, if they drop below a pass on one or more papers you will have a strong case for appeal.

Children with a specific learning difficulty often struggle with low confidence in their work and low self-esteem. The preparations set out above, and a kids writing club membership will allow them to go into the exam feeling positive and empowered. If they don’t achieve a pass at first, the writing sample will add weight to their appeal.

Tips and strategies for writing a high-scoring creative writing paper

• Read widely for pleasure. Read aloud to your child if they are reluctant.
• Create a strong paragraph plan where each paragraph has a distinct purpose.
• Using the list of example questions below, discuss how each could be written in the form of your paragraph plan.
• Write 3-5 stories with contrasting settings and action – each one must follow your paragraph plan. Try to include examples of literary devices and figurative language (metaphor, simile) but avoid clichés.
• Tidy up your presentation. Write with a good rollerball pen on A4 lined paper with a printed margin. Cross out with a single horizontal line and banish doodling or scribbles.
• Join the writing club for a 20-minute Zoom task per week with no finishing off or homework. An expert English teacher will mark the work personally on video every Friday and your child’s writing will be quickly transformed.

Pressed for time? Here’s a paragraph plan to follow.

At Griffin Teaching we have an online writing club for students preparing for the 11 plus creative writing task . We’ve seen first-hand what a difference just one or two months of weekly practice can make.

That said, we know that a lot of people reading this page are up against a hard deadline with an 11+ exam date fast approaching.

If that’s you (or your child), what you need is a paragraph plan.

Here’s one tried-and-true paragraph plan that we teach in our clubs. Use this as you work your way through some of the example prompts below.

11+ creative writing paragraph plan

Paragraph 1—description.

Imagine standing in the location and describe what is above the main character, what is below their feet, what is to their left and right, and what is in the distance. Try to integrate frontend adverbials into this paragraph (frontend adverbials are words or phrases used at the beginning of a sentence to describe what follows—e.g. When the fog lifted, he saw… )

Paragraph 2—Conversation

Create two characters who have different roles (e.g. site manager and student, dog walker and lost man) and write a short dialogue between them. Use what we call the “sandwich layout,” where the first person says something and you describe what they are doing while they are saying it. Add in further descriptions (perhaps of the person’s clothing or expression) before starting a new line where the second character gives a simple answer and you provide details about what the second character is doing as they speak.

Paragraph 3—Change the mood

Write three to four sentences that change the mood of the writing sample from light to gloomy or foreboding. You could write about a change in the weather or a change in the lighting of the scene. Another approach is to mention how a character reacts to the change in mood, for example by pulling their coat collar up to their ears.

Paragraph 4—Shock your reader

A classic approach is to have your character die unexpectedly in the final sentence. Or maybe the ceiling falls?

11+ creative writing questions from real papers—fictional prompts

• The day the storm came
• The day the weather changed
• The snowstorm
• The rainy day
• A sunny day out
• A foggy (or misty) day
• A day trip to remember
• The first day
• The day everything changed
• The mountain
• The hillside
• The old house
• The balloon
• The old man
• The accident
• The unfamiliar sound
• A weekend away
• Moving house
• A family celebration
• An event you remember from when you were young
• An animal attack
• The school playground at night
• The lift pinged and the door opened. I could not believe what was inside…
• “Run!” he shouted as he thundered across the sand…
• It was getting late as I dug in my pocket for the key to the door. “Hurry up!” she shouted from inside.
• I know our back garden very well, but I was surprised how different it looked at midnight…
• The red button on the wall has a sign on it saying, ‘DO NOT TOUCH.’ My little sister leant forward and hit it hard with her hand. What happened next?
• Digging down into the soft earth, the spade hit something metal…
• Write a story which features the stopping of time.
• Write a story which features an unusual method of transport.
• The cry in the woods
• Write a story which features an escape

11+ creative writing questions from real papers—non-fiction prompts

• Write a thank you letter for a present you didn’t want.
• 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.
• Write a thank you letter for a holiday you didn’t enjoy.
• 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.
• Describe the room you are in.
• Describe a person who is important to you.
• Describe your pet or an animal you know well.

Ten 11+ & 13+ Creative Writing Tips For Excellent Exam Stories

When my students get the hang of these techniques, it makes an enormous difference to their creative writing – but it takes practice.

M y advice for 11 plus stories in this article applies just as well to 8 plus, 13 plus or GCSE … in fact, although I have written with 11 plus creative writing in mind, my suggestions should be relevant at any level.

I’ve been teaching these things to young people for many years, and I hope you also find them useful. Please write a comment if you do!

The creative writing materials offered by 11 Plus Lifeline teach students to use all the techniques explained on this page.

Every writing paper has full example answers, as well as detailed step-by-step discussions, marking guidelines and story-planning advice. Papers are structured to help students develop high-level skills – and just as importantly, to enjoy themselves!

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1 – before you write, daydream.

If you can see your story’s world in your head, you will be able to describe it powerfully.

If you can’t, your descriptions risk being superficial and your writing uninteresting.

After a little daydream, your next step is to turn it into a simple plan:

THE STORY PLANNING PROCESS

1) the main event.

The first thing to write in your plan is the main event in your story (see point 2 , below). Keep this simple for now.

2) Your Main Character

Next, jot down a few notes about your main character (see point 3 ). What is interesting about them? Try to imagine them sitting in the place next to you. See them clearly in your mind. Who are they, really?

3) Getting There

Now note down some ideas for how you will get to the main event. Make this simple too: don’t write more than a couple of lines.

4) … And Getting Out Of There!

Finally, write a few thoughts about what will happen after the event: why does it matter, and – above all else – how does it affect your characters?

The reason I suggest this order of planning is that when you only have a short time to write, there are two important things which will hold your story together: the main event (what it is about ) and your central character (who gives us a reason to care ).

Everything else should be very simple, allowing you to focus on describing beautifully.

In fact, you can probably guess what the next of my 11 plus tips is …

2 – Keep things simple! In an 11 plus exam story, choose  one main plot event & bring it to life.

If there are too many things happening, your descriptive skills may get lost.

What’s more, once there are lots of dramatic events in a story, many students struggle to write about all of them properly.

Look at this example:

As they walked through the forest a tree fell and nearly crushed them. That was close , thought Claudia. Then they sat down to scrutinise the map.

It’s good to describe the small details of life – and especially with an interesting verb like “scrutinise”.

But if you forget to fully describe big events, such as a tree almost killing your characters, the effect is very peculiar. It implies that a near-death experience is no more interesting than reading a map!

Either give dramatic events their due importance, by describing them powerfully and giving a clear sense of your characters’ reactions, or steer clear of them altogether.

This is often a problem in exam stories with too much action, or with too many plot events in general.

It’s best to structure your story around one main event, which isn’t too extreme. Spend the rest of your time building up to it and showing its after-effects.

3 – Focus on one character

Just as it’s best to focus your writing around one main event, it makes sense to have one core character.

You probably won’t have time to make more than one person interesting and believable in a thirty minute writing exam. If you try, you’re at risk of coming unstuck.

(If you feel really confident, you might manage to develop two characters: a brother and sister, for example. But in the exam itself, ask yourself: Is it worth the risk? )

Make your main character really interesting, and only refer to others in passing.

4 – Put a little dialogue in … but don’t write a play script!

“Because writing dialogue is easier than thinking,” he said.

“That makes sense,” I said, “because otherwise I can’t explain why we’ve been chatting pointlessly for two full pages.”

Dialogue is excellent in an exam piece, and you should aim to include some in every story. However, there are risks, demonstrated by the example above!

Don’t let your story turn into a play script.

Use a little dialogue in 11+ creative writing, but focus on your descriptions of the setting, characters and events.

When you do write conversations, don’t stop describing. Avoid repeating “I said”, “she said”, “Mum answered”, and so on.

Instead, add little details which help the reader to imagine the scene as the characters talk.

Describe how people move around between saying things, the expressions on their faces, and so on:

“Because writing dialogue is easier than thinking,” he replied, a hint of a smile twitching like a worm at the edge of his mouth.

A quick note about paragraphing:

Examiners are likely to expect that a new speaker begins on a new line, if somebody else has already spoken in the paragraph.

This doesn’t happen in every book you’ll read, but it’s a convention – a normal way of doing things – which you are supposed to know about.

Look at this way of writing the example at the top, and think about where a sentence should begin a new line :

“Why are we still talking?” I said. “Because writing dialogue is easier than thinking,” he said. “That makes sense,” I said, “because otherwise I can’t explain why we’ve already been talking for two full pages.”

Now check the original again, to see whether you were right!

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It’s perfect for Key Stages 2 and 3 and for 11+ exam preparation, at home or in the classroom. It’s also ideal for anybody aged 9 or above who enjoys writing and wants to do it better.

Click on the covers to learn more and view sample pages from the books:

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Rsl creative writing: book 2, rsl creative writing: book 3, the rsl creative writing collection (£40.47), 5 – short stories don’t need an introduction.

Robert was 33. He lived in a small flat with his cat and his wife. One day, he decided to go for a walk to the shops. The shops weren’t very far away: it took about ten minutes to get there. It was a cloudy day. It was the middle of February and it was a bit cold but not cold enough for a scarf. The road was in need of some repairs. He was wearing a blue jumper and black shoes and some fairly old jeans.

You don’t need to introduce your story as though it is a 300 page novel!

The reader doesn’t have to know everything about the main character, and especially not at the start. This way you waste a paragraph, when you might only have time for four or five in your whole story.

Anything that really matters about your characters can be mentioned along the way. In creative writing for 11 plus exams, everything else can be left out.

Get into the main business of your story from the very first line.

6 – Show, don’t tell … Whether you’re writing an 11 plus story, or whether you’re a famous novelist!

In real life, we can’t see what is in other people’s minds.

We have to work it out from what they do – and sometimes from what they say, although this can be very misleading!

For this reason, other people’s creative writing is often most interesting when we have to work out what characters are thinking and feeling.

This makes the characters seem like real people whose thoughts we can’t immediately know.

It also helps to get us – the readers – involved in the story by making us do some thinking for ourselves!

You might initially want to write this:

Simon looked up. He was angry.

But this is much more interesting to read:

As Simon looked up I could see his jaw muscles flexing.

Have a go at re-writing the following paragraph to make it more interesting . You can change things around as much as you like.

I admit: this is the sort of thing which you will sometimes read in a book. It isn’t necessarily  always bad writing, in itself.

However, it is a missed opportunity to bring a character to life. In a time-limited 11-plus exam story, you need to take advantage of such moments.

The rule is:

Where possible,  show me  what a character is feeling … don’t  tell me .

Have a look at my way of re-writing the paragraph above:

All Anna’s thoughts have gone.

Instead, there are some strong clues which steer you towards a particular idea about what she thinks and how she feels: but you still have to decide for yourself.

This forces you to imagine Anna clearly in your own mind.

How does my answer compare to your approach?

7 – Use a range of senses throughout your story

This is good writing. The trees may be “green” (which is a bit dull), but they are “swaying”, which is an effective detail and more than makes up for it.

The simile in the second sentence (“like wisps of cigar smoke”) is vivid and well planned.

The sandwich bag is “crumpled”, and “bag of bacon” is a nice moment of alliteration to emphasise this robust, commonplace item of food.

But imagine a story which continues in the same way, all the way through.

Everything is visual: a sight image.

For the reader, it is like being in a world without the ability to hear, smell, touch or taste.

Furthermore, the narrator seems to be looking around constantly, noticing everything. Is this normal behaviour?

It’s an unrealistic way of seeing the world, and after a while it becomes exhausting to read.

For a student, there are two simple but very useful lessons:

1) Always think about the five senses (sight, hearing, touch, taste, smell).

2) Sometimes avoid the most obvious sense when describing a thing (see point 8 below).

These tips are easy to apply in your creative writing for 11+, but they make a huge difference.

What’s more, unlike a clumsy simile (see point 9 ), a sensory description rarely ends up  harming  your writing. It can be effective or ineffective, but that’s another matter!

Take the example above:

“The trees were green and swaying”  could become:  “The trunks were groaning, and overhead I heard the dull rustle of a thousand fresh leaves slapping against one another.”

There’s nothing startlingly original here, but because it is a slightly less obvious way of describing trees, it creates a much more powerful atmosphere.

If you want a metaphor as well, try turning  “dull rustle”  into  “distant applause” , which makes the leaves seem like a mass of enthusiastic people.

Similarly,  “I looked at the bag of bacon sandwiches crumpled on the seat next to me”  takes on more life like this:

I smelt something like old sick; then I remembered the bag of bacon sandwiches crumpled on the seat next to me.

Notice how easily similes (“like old sick”) and metaphors happen, almost by themselves, when you focus on describing with a range of senses .

This is one of my most important 11 plus writing tips.

8 – Sometimes describe things using a less obvious sense

Using a range of senses, as I discussed in point 7 , is really, really important.

But how can you come up with surprising, powerful descriptions – descriptions to make the marker stop ticking your work for a second, raise their eyebrows and smile?

Imagine that you are just about to write the following sentence:

It was a cold morning.

But you stop yourself, think for a second, and write this:

I could hear the crackle of thawing ice on car windscreens.

This is much more interesting. Rather than using the sense of touch (a “cold” feeling), you are using a sound: “the crackle of thawing ice”.

There’s a good chance that the reader will think:  “Yes! I never considered it before, but you really do hear a sound when ice thaws quickly.”

This version also tells you much more about the weather:

The reader can work out that the night has been exceptionally cold, but also that the temperature is now rising quickly.

The thought process to produce descriptions like this is much simpler than it seems:

1) Think of the sense which is most obvious to describe the thing you are writing about.

3) Think of the second most obvious sense.

4) Ban that too!

5) From the three remaining senses, pick the one which is most useful.

6) Ask yourself how the thing would sound, feel, smell or taste – whichever three of these you have left (you’ve almost certainly banned sight!).

7) Write about it.

9 – Use similes and metaphors carefully in your creative writing

Similes and metaphors are useful (and can be impressive), but they have to make things clearer for the reader, not create confusion.

“She won the sprint like a racing car” asks more questions than it answers.

Was she noisy? Was she travelling at 150 miles per hour?

On the other hand, “She ducked her head and slipped across the line as cleanly as a racing car” helps me to picture the event exactly as intended.

Here’s another simile for speed, which I’ve seen a great many times (you’d hardly believe how many) in 11-plus stories:

Donald wrote like a cheetah.

Does this mean that Donald wrote savagely and meaninglessly, like a wild animal with a pencil jammed between its claws ?

Or perhaps that he wrote largely about the themes of hunting and sleeping ?

My guess is that Donald wrote quickly , but I’m not sure … because if that’s all you meant, WHY DIDN’T YOU JUST SAY IT?

This sort of thing is not really the fault of a young writer, who after all is (hopefully!) doing their best.

It is the fault of those dastardly teachers who advise children to include, for example, “at least one metaphor and two similes” in each story.

The result of this, for most children, is a succession of poorly chosen descriptive tricks, which add nothing.

Indeed, we’ve seen how these things can end up making a story comical for all the wrong reasons!

The right approach to creative writing doesn’t start with the need to include a simile: it starts with the need to describe effectively .

To me, this means allowing the reader to imagine the situation fully, and helping them care what happens.

Let’s play around with the image of Donald writing “like a cheetah”.

What happens if we just get rid of the simile?

Donald wrote quickly.

OK, but it doesn’t tell us much: did he write quickly because he wanted to finish his story before  Newsnight , or because he was really excited by his work?

Let’s say that it was the first reason: he wanted to get his work out of the way. Perhaps he was feeling annoyed, given that it might interrupt his favourite TV show.

When somebody is writing rapidly while annoyed, what might this look like?

I imagine Donald’s arm wiggling as the pen moves — especially the elbow. The movement is fast and constant because he is worried about getting the work finished, and because in his irritation he doesn’t much care about its quality.

So I ask myself: What moves to and fro constantly, performing a task in an unimaginative way?

And the first thing I think of is a machine in a factory:

Donald hunched over the page, his arm jerking to and fro with the quick, regular movements of a factory robot.

This sentence by itself would go some way to making your story the best in the exam room.

I hope I’ve persuaded you that with a well-organised thought process, a good simile isn’t too difficult to write!

Because children have been taught to work in this way, a story will often contain the required two similes, a metaphor, a personification, even an interesting alliteration …

… but everything in between is lifeless.

What students need is a different sort of checklist, to help them make the rest of their writing interesting .

I hope this article will give you some ideas!

10 – Stephanie was writing a beautiful story in the 11-plus exam hall. Or was she …?

Suspense is good if it’s appropriate to the story, but don’t jack-knife it in clumsily!

“It was a calm, sunny day. Or was it?” doesn’t really make me curious.

It makes me think that you’re trying to pester me into being excited, rather than persuading me to feel that way through your excellent writing.

If you write in a way that builds suspense by making me interested in the characters and events in the story – while keeping some important information hidden from me, just out of sight – this will speak for itself.

However, not every piece of creative writing needs it!

If you found these story writing tips useful or if you have a question, please leave a comment below! I’d love to have your feedback. (Tick the “Receive email updates” box to receive an email when I reply.)

For the most comprehensive range of resources to help with preparation for the 11+ exam,  you might like to try 11 Plus Lifeline (with a money-back guarantee in the first month). Every practice paper has full example solutions, with a detailed discussion and explanation for every question – like being taught by an excellent private tutor. There’s lots of material to help develop creative, high-scoring exam stories!

According to Tutorful, it’s “ the gold standard for independent and grammar school 11-plus preparation ”.

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If you have any questions, feel free to ask me here. I’ll do my best to help you out!

Hi, I’m preparing my son for 11+. His story ideas are good but he needs to add more details/depth. How can I encourage that? Thanks

That’s a very difficult question to answer, because there is so much that I could say! Many of my suggestions are in the article above. The sample at http://digioh.com/em/27284/164929/84za5s4g4u may offer more ideas. If this is useful, then 11 Plus Lifeline offers many further resources.

What’s the syllabus of creative writing for 11plus. I understand there is no definitive one, it varies with target school as well, but still I’d like to know the min types of writing children should be knowing end of year 6 e.g. story writing, descriptive writing, poetry writing, persuasive writing, diary, reconnect, fiction, non fiction writing, script writing, book/film review, blog writing etc. Really confused with the list of categories and subcategories under each. I just need a good structure with every details. Please help with a detailed table of contents.

Hi Jay. I’m afraid I don’t have such a list – because there isn’t one. Schools can set anything that they like! However, I think getting children used to responding to a range of formats is more important than covering everything. The most common formats are probably: 1) A story based on a title or topic 2) A continuation of a passage (usually the passage already used as a comprehension text) 3) A story based on a picture

You provide excellent tips that we can use to guide our children. Done in a very simple but effective way. Even more – as times are hard and money is tight your generosity shows you truly do wish to help children and not just make money out of them. Thank you

Thank you Alison. I’m glad you found the article useful. Robert

Thank you ever so much for your very useful tips. Would you have some advice (or a sample essay) on writing a descriptive essay based on a given image?

Hi Aparna, There is some relevant content in 11 Plus Lifeline. For more along these lines, keep an eye on the website in the autumn …

Hi Robert, I found the article above very helpful. My daughter is in year 5 and we have just started our 11 plus journey. She seems to be struggling air with creative writing. She has such great ideas and an amazing imaginative mind, however she struggles to express this on paper as compared to her peers also studying for the 11 plus. How can I help her become a better writer?

Speaking as she writes might help: perhaps she will write more fluently if she just thinks of it as a way to record her verbal ideas.

My RSL Creative Writing books might help her to develop her ideas.

What is a good range for the word count for a “continue the story” creative writing task at 10+? I see suggestions of 4-5 paragraphs, but paragraphs vary hugely in length. My son is only writing around 150 words, and I fear this is taking “quality not quantity” to the extreme!

It really depends! Sometimes you’ll be given an 8-10 line answer space, in which case that would be appropriate. On the other hand, if you have 30-40 minutes, you should be pitching for 1 to 1.5 pages. Robert

Thank you so much! Very informative

I’m glad to help!

how much your fees for creative writing, and how many lesson? please let me know [email protected]

Hello Hemang. I’m afraid I don’t work as a tutor these days. However, you might be interested in my creative writing books at https://www.rsleducational.co.uk/rsl-creative-writing . These will take your child through their skills step by step, much as I would if I was teaching them. Good luck! Robert

Hi Sir! Sir, you suggestions are greatly useful. Sir, can you assist me on how to incorporate Strong Verbs in my writings as I do not know many and I struggle on account of it ?

There’s no easy answer, but the best starting point is to look for specific ways of describing things. For instance, instead of “he talked”, you might say “he muttered”, for example. You’ll learn more verbs if you look out for them as you read things, and perhaps note interesting ones down in a book. Good luck!

Dear Robert Hope you are doing well , my son is in year 5 and he is going to set for 11 plus exam for very highly competitive grammar schools , he need help for is creative writing . I advice that you are the best , I’m seeking help from you ,please . Yours sincerely Saha Mcewan

Hello. Have a look at 11 Plus Lifeline , perhaps, and my RSL Creative Writing books. I do intend to release some new things for creative writing in the future: watch this space!

Hi Robert. These are great tips. My question is how to come with effective descriptions that vary. When I do descriptive writing, I describe with only the five senses and often run out of ideas. Also, how can we write in a way that will make a clear image in the readers mind. Thanks for the time

Hi Yatharth! My video at https://youtu.be/LKnvrad6jpw is all about this, so why not have a look at that? If that’s useful, look at https://www.rsleducational.co.uk/product/rsl-creative-writing-1

I completely agree with your article, and as a teacher who prepares children for GCSE and the 11 tests, I employ a lot of the ‘strategies’ you mention. What children need ultimately is time to read, digest and above all enjoy stories and poems and then to talk about what they’ve read and in some ( or maybe a lot of cases) relate the themes and ideas etc in what they have read to their own lives. This I feel, can give a greater sense of ‘reality’ to what they can eventually write; and then we as teachers (and parents) can model how to write ‘good’ creative stories (and include all the SPAG) which can go a long way to ensuring children actually begin to feel that they themselves can be imaginative and write great stories.

Thank you for taking the time to comment, Molly. I very much agree with you.

What children need ultimately is time to read, digest and above all enjoy stories and poems and then to talk about what they’ve read and in some ( or maybe a lot of cases) relate the themes and ideas etc in what they have read to their own lives.

The only thing I’d add to this is that it works both ways: reading informs writing, but the very best way to develop critical reading skills is to become more sophisticated as a writer!

Hi Robert,l am a Creative Writing teacher for 8+ Do you think 6+ can be taught Creative Writing that will yield excellent result? I asked this question from my experience of teaching Creative Writing,I observe that more 6+ struggle with understanding and implementing Creative Writing stages than 8+ Also,I teach Creative Writing easily because I believe I have the skills to teach it but how can I come up with a special syllabus to teach my colleagues how to teach Creative Writing in the class that will be result oriented.

Hello Soremi.

I would not think too much about results, if by that you mean percentage scores, when children are 6 or so and developing their writing. I would focus on their enjoyment and on encouraging them to explore their imagination, creating interestingly described characters and environments. It’s a different situation in 11+ exams, where children must demonstrate certain skills and perform well in comparison with their peers.

However, it is very important to encourage the development of accurate and clear English from an early stage. Creative writing is a good opportunity to uncover and address problems.

I found this very useful and straightforward, and also very funny… The tips will take me flying in my writing!

Thanks Lily-Grace. The work you sent for me to look at this week was very impressive: you’re already flying!

Thanks Robert this description is very helpful

I’m very glad it’s useful. Thanks for commenting!

Hola me gustaria hacer unas infografias mas dinamicas

Thank you for the topic

It’s a pleasure. I hope the advice helps.

I thought that this was a brilliant summary. Thank you very much. Engaging and thoughtful. Very much appreciated.

I’m delighted to hear it. Thank you!

I found your creative writing tips very insightful, a real shame for us it was right at the end of our 11+/13+ preparation.

Thank you Sara. I hope they made some difference, even at a late stage.

Very useful tips! I like the way you have broken down the advice into bite-sized chunks! Thanks Robert

I’m glad you found them helpful! Thanks for commenting.

Great tips, thanks Robert. Do you have tips on non fictional writing as well? E.g. how a child can do a stellar job when asked to write a suggestion letter to the council. My child struggles with writing on everyday things that she deems uninteresting like describing everday things but is flying when writing on imaginary topics. Thanks in advance.

Hi Tolu. I have some resources for less creative subject matter in 11 Plus Lifeline .

I think the best way to add interest to potentially unexciting things, like letters, is with examples. “I think you should do more to reduce bullying, because it discourages children from studying” is not interesting. “Last week, a boy trudged towards me across the playground, clenching and unclenching his fists, with the dead-eyed look of meaningless aggression that I’ve come to know so well. This is happening too often in our school!” is much more impressive.

Thanks for these tips . Would you suggest any topics for DS to practice .

There are a great many writing topics with fully explained example answers in 11 Plus Lifeline . I might add a blog post with some suggested topics in the coming months. Robert

These SPECTACULAR tips helped me a lot when I was planning and writing a story. I think that these AMAZING tips will help me a lot when I am doing the exam. THANKS Robert!!!!

Thanks Raon! I hope you’ll share the link. Good luck in your exam. Robert

Thanks for the tips to improve the writing skill for the content writers and the students.

Thank you Nihal – I’m glad my advice is useful.

What can I Say?

My son is about to take the 11 + and part of the material is creative writing,

Can you recommend any good material please?

The key is reading and I don’t think he reads as much as he should do

Please advise

Hi Fazal. I would of course recommend my own creative writing material in 11 Plus Lifeline . There’s a free sample here .

Reading is certainly important, but it won’t do any magic without good writing practice alongside it.

If your son isn’t keen on reading, trying to push him to read more may not work. However, you can help to improve the quality of the reading he does do, by discussing it whenever possible in a way that encourages him to think about it in more depth. You can also introduce new vocabulary into your conversations, and so on.

Also, the reading list here may help him to find books that he does want to read!

Hi, my son 11, is really struggling with creative writing, the main problem being he can’t think of anything to write about. he’s a clever boy but more into science and computers. He thinks he can’t do it and I’m worried he’s going to freeze in the exam. how can i get him to access his imagination and not panic. Thanks

Practice is certainly the main thing. If he can start to “access his imagination” (a nice phrase) without exam pressure, he is more likely to be able to do so in the test.

When you say that he can’t think of anything to write about, you’re describing a problem that I can relate to. However, it should not be a big concern at 11+, for the simple reason that the best stories tend to be about very little! If he can construct a simple plot, focused on one event – even something very ordinary and apparently dull – then he has what he needs. From that point, all his effort should be focused on describing well, so that the story creates atmosphere and has a believable main character.

The real problem at 11+ is when children have too many creative ideas. They construct complex, overwhelming plots, about which it is impossible to write well – or even plausibly – in the time available.

Hi Robert Have you got any tips for the CSSE style quick 10 mins Continuous Writing tasks please. These have included instructions, descriptions and this year the exam paper included a picture to write about- what’s happening- story /description?

Many thanks for your help.

This is very difficult to answer in a brief comment. I do have some specially designed resources for these CSSE writing tasks in 11 Plus Lifeline , if that is of interest.

If writing creatively, keep the plot to an absolute minimum. Imagine that you are describing a ten second scene from a movie – not writing the plot for a whole film. Focus on effective use of the senses, in particular – very much as I outline in this article. Don’t waste any space introducing your writing.

If describing a picture, the same applies. Focus on details from it, and try to find a logical structure. For example, a character might move around the image, finding things; or you might imagine the scene changing over a period of time.

For instructions, try to visualise the activity as precisely as you can, then use words to convey your thoughts exactly. This will lead to good vocabulary. Rather than saying “Screw the lightbulb into the socket”, say something like this: “Steadying the socket with your spare hand, twist the bulb gently in a clockwise direction until you encounter resistance.” This doesn’t come from trying to be fancy: it comes from very clearly imagining the action before I write.

There is a great deal more to be said, but I hope these pointers are useful.

Great tips and advice here. I have 4 boys, all at different levels of education. This has helped me to help them. Thanks!

That makes me very happy. Good luck to your sons!

Anybody who found this useful might like to read more of my creative advice at https://www.rsleducational.co.uk/creative-writing-less-is-more .

This article is very helpful. Thank you.

Thanks for taking the time to say so!

I found this very helpful, thank you

Hello Good Afternoon and thank you very much for my help. I am a young child preparing the eleven plus. I don’t necessarily have any questions i just don’t have any questions. Good luck on your educative journey.

Good luck to you, Lukas! Well done for taking the initiative and researching your exams.

I am a 8 years old child and I am doing your 11+ RSL comprehension, do you have any tips that might help me improve my writing? Thank you for your help!

Hi Kate! I’d like to help, but I’m not sure how to. You’ve written this under an article about improving your writing, and you’re working on a book that also helps with this. I don’t know what tips to add here. If you could be more specific, perhaps I’ll be able to say something. Good luck with your work! Robert

Hi Robert! I really like your tips and they did improve my daughter’s writing! Thank you so much!

I’m so glad! Well done to her.

Hi Richard, Does cursive or printed handwriting affect the writing score a 11+ level? Thanks in advance.

No, it shouldn’t make any difference. All that matters is that the writing should be easy to read, and that the student can write reasonably quickly.

Hi there, I am doing 13+, My tutor says that I should not use metaphors or similes, but I think I should. Do you have any advice for me on descriptive writing? And can you explain what a metaphor is?

I think you are probably misinterpreting your tutor. A good simile or metaphor, in the right place, is a good thing, but I would guess that your tutor is concerned that you are over-using these things and that this is distracting you from simply writing well. An alternative is that you haven’t quite understood how to use them effectively. A misjudged simile can look odd: using no simile (or metaphor) is better than using a bad one!

For a good explanation of what a metaphor is, see https://www.grammarly.com/blog/metaphor/ .

Hi, I’m currently helping a student prepare for entrance exams, and I just wondered if you could help me with a question. He was struggling with the timed element of creative writing and wanted to know if he DID run out of time, what would a marker prefer? To just leave the piece unfinished, or to quickly make an ending for the story, even if it meant it was quite an abrupt ending that didn’t necessarily do the story justice?

I think it depends on the marker. I’d prefer an unfinished piece to one with something actively bad in it, like a bad ending. However, can they leave an unfinished ending that nonetheless has something final about it: for instance, zoom out and describe the trees swaying in the distance, or the waves, so that there’s a sense of the world rolling on, despite the events in the story? If this is done well, it might even appear that they intended to finish this way.

great work, keep it up.

Amazing website! The content is wonderful. Highly informative indeed.

That’s brilliant to hear. Thank you!

Do you have to pay to get your work marked?

Yes, that’s right. Most people do it via an 11 Plus Lifeline Platinum subscription .

My daughter is not good at creative writing and I am apprehensive as she writes her pre-tests on 11th November . How do I help her with the following formats?

1) A story based on a title or topic 2) A continuation of a passage (usually the passage already used as a comprehension text) 3) A story based on a picture

Hello! I cover all these things in my RSL Creative Writing books – see https://www.rsleducational.co.uk/rsl-creative-writing You will also find creative writing videos covering these things at https://go.easy11plus.org/VIDEOLIST Good luck! Robert

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Write and Bloom: 11 Plus Creative Writing Lessons Online Meets Technology

Our unique video-based course is accompanied by weekly online lessons

Expert Creative Writing Guidance to Help our Child Build Knowledge and Confidence In Their Writing For 11 Plus Exams and Beyond!

Our Write and Bloom 11 Plus creative writing course is the perfect way to prepare your child for the writing tasks in grammar school selection tests or independent (private) school entrance exams.

Our unique formula includes both video-based tutorials (covering 12 types of writing tasks used in these competitive exams) plus the added benefit of weekly online learning .

The brainchild of experienced journalist and 11 Plus exam expert Joycellyn Akuffo (who is also the Managing Director of Geek School Tutoring), with our Write and Bloom course, your child can learn everything they need to know to prepare for the 11 Plus writing task. We will teach your child how to:

• Develop story ideas;
• Spot and avoid common spelling, grammar and punctuation errors in their writing;
• Use advanced writing techniques and simple secrets to produce excellent writing every time, under timed conditions.
• And so much more, including building their confidence in their writing – something they will carry for life!

Online 11 Plus Creative Writing Lessons Your Child Will Love!

Our Write, and Bloom course also includes weekly online lessons for students who need extra interaction. These small group online tuition sessions of up to 10 students are led by Joycellyn Akuffo and provide another opportunity for your child to ask questions and get feedback on their work. These small groups are the perfect number for each student to contribute, but ensure the group dynamic is fun and engaging at the same time.

Whether you have found out about us from one of Joycellyn’s videos on Geek School Tutoring’s YouTube channel, you can be assured that every course we produce is the brainchild of our managing director, Joycellyn Akuffo.

Joycellyn is an experienced journalist and an expert in the 11 Plus exams. In the past decade, she has helped hundreds of children pass grammar and independent school exams. Joycellyn is passionate about helping students who live far from our centres in Beckenham and Lewisham to enjoy our in-person tuition. This is why we offer online support and fantastic video-based courses to reach out to those students.

Meeting with their peers online once a week for an hour allows students to learn and bounce ideas with one another, making the experience even more enjoyable and impactful.

Weekly Homework With Detailed Marking and Feedback – An Essential Part Of Our Process and Your Child’s Success

Students who enrol in our 11 Plus Creative Writing Crash Course will have access to our unique video marking and feedback system, which has received positive feedback from our students. We provide detailed feedback that parents wish their children would receive in school or during their English tuition. This feedback will help your child identify their mistakes and learn from them. The entire process is recorded, so your child will feel as though they are watching over the shoulder of their tutor while they are marking and explaining their work.

See How Some Of Our Students Progress From Week 1 to Week 2

Join us in celebrating the remarkable progress of our students. From Assignment 1 to Assignment 2, they’ve made extraordinary strides. Here’s a glimpse of their journey. These are just a small sample of our students – we have many more!

Witness the Transformation: Student Progress Stories

Student 1 Assignment 1 showcased this student’s potential, but there were a number of structural issues, including lack of paragraphing and basic sentence structure. In Assignment 2, following our video-recorded feedback, the student’s brilliance starts to shine.

First Assignment

Second Assignment

Student 2: From hesitant writing to confident expression in just one assignment. It’s clear from just the tidiness of presentation that this student has made a big improvement from week 1 to week 2. Paragraphing has improved, and so has the quality of writing. All in just one week!

The Perfect 11 Plus Creative Writing Programme For Year 4 and 5 Students

The Write and Bloom course is specifically designed for students in year 4 and 5 who are preparing for their 11 Plus exams. Our course can serve as a reliable companion for your child’s steady preparation towards these competitive exams, helping them achieve their dream of attending grammar and independent schools.

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11 plus creative writing

By Atom | Jun 3, 2024, 3:35 PM

If your child is preparing for secondary school entrance exams, you may have heard conflicting information about whether there will be a creative writing task. Read on to find out:

what to expect from 11 plus creative writing exams

how to help your child prepare

which schools will require your child to do a creative writing test

What is 11 plus creative writing?

Children applying for 11 plus entry to selective schools may need to complete a creative writing task as part of the exam. The task could be to write an original short story or continue a story from a given text.

The main 11 plus exam boards ( GL Assessment and the Independent Schools Examinations Board (ISEB) ) do not include creative writing tasks in their tests. If a school includes a creative writing element, it has likely been set by the school itself.

Some grammar schools include creative writing as part of their 11 plus exams. We've included a list of these below.

Many independent senior schools include creative writing tests in their English exams. You can find out whether your child's target school includes creative writing in the entrance exam by visiting the 'admissions' page on the school website.

Free creative writing course

Improve your child's writing skills with Atom's free creative writing course. Get four free video lessons and downloadable resources (including a creative writing practice paper!) sent straight to your inbox.

Which grammar schools use creative writing exams?

Children applying to Reading School take an 11 plus exam set by Future Stories Community Enterprise . This includes a creative writing task.

What are common 11 plus creative writing themes?

The content and format of 11 plus creative writing tests can vary depending on the school. Some tests might ask your child to:

continue a short story based a paragraph of narrative text

describe a place or a situation

write a letter or an article to persuade the reader to feel a certain way

write their own short story based on some bullet points for guidance

write their own descriptive or narrative piece based on a picture

Getting used to writing for different audiences and purposes can put your child in good stead for 11 plus creative writing exams. Why not download Atom's creative writing prompts to get started?

What are examiners looking for?

Creative writing is subjective. After all, everyone has different interests when it comes to reading for pleasure! However, there are specific things examiners are looking for when marking 11 plus creative writing papers. These include:

Structure – does the piece have a clear beginning, middle and ending?

Creativity – has your child introduced unique ideas and demonstrated a strong imagination?

Spelling, punctuation and grammar – are they all accurate, and have they made use of sentence variety?

Vocabulary – have they used more advanced vocabulary (while making sense in context) than others their age? Have they introduced a wide range of adjectives, nouns and adverbs?

How to prepare for 11 plus creative writing tests

Developing creative writing skills can be one of the most challenging parts of preparing for exams. Here are our top tips to help your child become a confident writer!

Developing a wide and varied vocabulary is key for children to produce an interesting piece of writing. Including lots of adjectives and adverts is one of the best ways to grab a reader's attention.

We recommend that your child keeps a vocabulary log . As they read, they should record any new words with their definition and an example of the word used in a sentence.

In 11 plus exams, creative writing tasks usually last around 30 minutes (although this can vary from school to school). This isn't very long to produce an extended piece of writing – including planning time!

While it can be tempting to skip planning and start writing immediately, this will result in an unstructured piece of writing. As examiners are looking for evidence of a clear structure, your child may lose important marks.

We always recommend spending at least 5 minutes planning at the beginning of any creative writing exam. Your child should use this time to define what they will include in the beginning , middle and end of their piece.

Spelling, punctuation and grammar

Creative writing marks are not only awarded for content and creativity, but also for accurate spelling, punctuation and grammar. Your child can practise these topics on Atom Home .

Your child's learning plan includes questions and activities in Key Stage 2 English. These adapt to their performance, so they'll see questions at just the right level of difficulty to keep them motivated. On your 'Track' page, you can see how your child is progressing and any topics which need improvement.

One of the most effective ways to improve writing is through reading . Reading is a fantastic way to introduce your child to new vocabulary, as well as accurate grammar and punctuation. Reading a wide variety of content and genres will expose them to new writing styles and ideas that they can incorporate into their work.

If your child enjoys a particular book, ask them why they like it. Is it the vivid character descriptions, use of adjectives, or adventurous plot? This can help your child recognise what to include in their own writing.

You can use prediction and storytelling games to help develop your child's creativity. Once they reach the end of a chapter, get them to write a paragraph on what they think will happen next. If they didn't like the end of a story, they can have a go at writing an alternative ending.

Looking for reading inspiration? Download Atom's free Key Stage 2 recommended reading list .

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You don't need a tutor to get into your top-choice school. You just need Atom. We'll create a tailored plan for your child and support them along their fun revision journey.

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Online mock tests and printable 11+ practice papers

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A Guide to 11 Plus Creative Writing Preparation

Updated: December 1, 2023 Author: Creative Hare

Introduction:

As children gear up for their challenging 11 Plus English exams, creative writing often stands as a significant hurdle. Mastering this section requires not just a solid grasp of ambitious vocabulary and literary techniques but also the ability to think outside the box and express ideas in a compelling manner. This takes confidence and experimentation. In this blog, we’ll delve into effective strategies to prepare for the 11+ creative writing exam and unlock the doors to imaginative excellence, happiness and success! 

Understand the Exam Format:

• Before diving into preparation, it’s crucial to familiarise yourself with the exam format. There is no singular 11-plus exam format so it is best to check with the admissions team at your target schools what specific format they use. 
• Understand the time constraints, the types of prompts, and the criteria by which your writing will be assessed. You generally don’t find mark schemes readily available on school websites. Although 11+ creative writing criteria is devised by the individual schools, aside from spelling and grammar, the skills and techniques commonly assessed include:

Where your child can win marks:

• Use of ambitious vocabulary
• Literary devices (personification, simile, metaphor, repetition, emotive language)
• Imaginative and descriptive writing
• Overall narrative flow and coherency
• Ensure your child practises reading creative writing questions carefully so their written piece  addresses the exact question, rather than an interpretation. Click here for a creative writing mark scheme example which can be found on the Latymer School website. 

Read Widely and Often:

• A well-read mind is a fertile ground for creativity. Encourage your child to explore a variety of genres, from fiction to non-fiction, poetry to prose.
• Exposure to diverse writing styles enhances vocabulary and fosters creative thinking.
• Use the Christmas holiday to visit your favourite book shop and encourage your child to browse freely - notice the types of books they are drawn to….light, frothy and funny books or perhaps fantasy books?

Build a Strong Vocabulary:

• 11 Plus creative writing flourishes on a rich tapestry of words.
• Make vocabulary building a daily habit.
• Introduce new words, explore their meanings, and encourage their use in everyday conversation.
• Children who take charge of their learning by recording words that they come across are empowered learners.

"The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you."

Practice, Practice, Practice:

• Creative writing is a skill honed through practice. Set aside dedicated time for writing exercises regularly. Provide prompts that challenge your child’s imagination, encouraging them to create stories with a distinct beginning, middle, and end. Check out 6 Creative Writing Tips for Children for the best websites for free, fun writing prompts.

Develop a Writing Routine:

• Establishing a writing routine creates a sense of discipline and familiarity. Consistent practice helps build confidence and improves the ability to think creatively under pressure.

Explore Different Genres and Styles:

• The 11 Plus English exam might present prompts from various genres. Prepare your child by exposing them to different styles of writing—mystery, adventure, fantasy, and more. This versatility will prove invaluable during the exam. My new Bright to Brilliant 12-week Creative Writing programme equips children with the full-range of 11-Plus creative writing question types. 

Encourage Thoughtful Planning:

• Before jumping into writing, teach your child the importance of thinking ahead. Whether that’s sitting quietly with their ideas or jotting down their ideas in a quick planning format, this will help ensure their writing stays on track! 

Seek Constructive Feedback:

• Share your child’s writing with teachers, peers, or family members. Constructive feedback is an invaluable tool for improvement. Encourage your child to identify their strengths and areas to further improve to refine their creative writing skills. This is isn’t easy, it takes practice. However, empowering your child to self-evaluate their writing in a positive light is a key characteristic of awesome, confident writers. 

Learn from Examples:

• Analyse various pieces of creative writing. Identify what makes them compelling—the use of descriptive language, character development, plot twists. But encourage your child to ask how they could improve the writing. Children love to offer improvements on what they could do better, so it’s a great way to engage them. Learning from other’s writing can inspire and guide your child’s own writing.

Time Management Skills:

• The 11 Plus exam is as much about managing time as it is about writing skills.
• Practice timed writing sessions to ensure your child can express their ideas effectively within the given constraints.
• Ensuring your child is confident in expressing their ideas in writing before introducing exam style timing will make the experience more comfortable and worthwhile for them.

"I can see my competitors sweating, and I am cool as a cucumber."

Adam Rippon

Preparation for the 11 Plus Creative Writing component is not just about mastering accurate spelling; it’s about cultivating a creative mindset. Through a combination of regular practice, diverse reading, and constructive feedback, students can sharpen their creative writing skills and approach the exam with confidence.

Remember, creativity is a skill that can be nurtured and developed with dedication and the right strategies. Best of luck to all the young writers embarking on this exciting journey!

Interested in exploring a creative writing class?

Let your child discover their creative voice, related articles.

11+ English Sample Papers

Here's a list of 11+ English papers, FREE for you to download.

How Matteo reaped the benefits of 11 Plus tuition

Matteo was in Year 4 and attending a small independent school in North London when we first started working together. 

Get Your Free 11 Plus Creative Writing Guide For Parents

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Bookings for 2024-25 are now open!

Expert 11+ creative writing course, help your child to reach their 11+ exam potential.

• Exclusively taught by creative writing experts
• Focused on getting your child top marks in 11 Plus creative writing tasks for selective schools
• Limited spaces

Course Details 2024-25

School year.

Children in Year 4 and 5 from September 2024 onwards

Course Length

24 sessions from October 2024 to July 2025 Each session lasts 90 minutes

Where and when

Online  on Mondays, Wednesdays or Thursdays

School entrance exams we prepare for:

All grammar and independent schools  that include a creative writing task as part of their 11+ entrance exam.

• View list of schools

Key Course Benefits

Original material to examberry.

Weekly digital classwork (PDF download) included. (Optional £50 physical coursebook posted to you)

Proven Success Record

85%-90% of our students secure a place at one of their first three choices of school.

Engaging Course Design

Our interactive and dynamic course materials keep students interested and inquisitive throughout.

Term 1 Digital Classwork (PDF Download)

Term 2 digital classwork (pdf download), term 3 digital classwork (pdf download), expert instruction.

Learn from highly experienced tutors who specialise in 11+ creative writing instruction.

Personalised Feedback

Each student's work receives individual attention, promoting continuous improvement.

Homework Portal

Conveniently submit work and receive feedback through our online platform.

Fully prepare your child for their targeted schools

Our course will prepare your child for the following schools that use a creative writing task as part of their 11 Plus entrance exam.

Please note: this list is not exhaustive and our course prepares for all kinds of writing tasks in 11+ exams. Please contact us if you would like to check if your targeted school is relevant.

Independent Schools

• City of London School (for boys)
• City of London School for Girls
• Dulwich College
• Emanuel School
• Epsom College
• Haberdashers’ Girls’ School
• Hampton School
• James Allen’s Girls’ School (JAGS)
• Kingston Grammar School
• King’s College School (KCS Wimbledon)
• Latymer Upper School
• Lady Eleanor Holles School
• Merchant Taylors’ School
• North London Collegiate School (NLCS)
• Putney High School
• St George’s Weybridge
• St Paul’s Girls’ School
• St Paul’s School
• Surbiton High School
• Trinity School
• Westminster Under School
• Whitgift School
• Wimbledon High School
• Wycombe Abbey

Grammar Schools

• Chelmsford County High School for Girls, Essex
• Colyton Grammar School, Devon
• Dame Alice Owen’s School
• Essex (CSSE) schools
• The Henrietta Barnett School (HBS)
• Kent grammar schools
• Medway grammar schools
• Nonsuch High School for Girls
• Reading School, Berkshire
• St Anselm’s College (Birkenhead)
• St Olave’s School (Bromley)
• Sutton Grammar School
• The Latymer School
• Tiffin Girls’ School
• Tiffin School
• Wallington County Grammar School
• Wallington High School for Girls
• Wilson’s Grammar School

What will my child learn?

Your child will learn to weave compelling narratives that keep readers hooked. They’ll delve into the heart of storytelling, exploring essential elements such as:

• Plot development: learn how to craft engaging storylines
• Character creation: understand how to build realistic, relatable characters
• Setting & theme: discover how to establish immersive settings and compelling themes

Prepare for even the toughest non-fiction writing questions, which typically ask students to argue and persuade their view on a topical idea. We’ll cover:

• Non-fiction formats: instil confidence in how to layout any text, from letters to speeches to news articles.
• Tone and style: adapting their creative writing skills for a new purpose, audience and formality.

This course enables your child to expand their vocabulary in a fun and interactive way. The sections will cover:

• New words: exploration of a broad range of new words, idioms, phrases, and expressions
• Interactive exercises: reinforce learning through practical tasks that solidify new vocabulary usage

Your child’s creativity will be sparked and nurtured, helping them view the world in unique ways. This involves:

• Stimulating prompts: engage in exercises designed to encourage creative thinking and imaginative expression
• Idea generation: learn techniques to generate original ideas and incorporate them into their writing

A strong foundation in spelling, punctuation and grammar is key to effective writing. We’ll cover:

• Grammar rules: solidify understanding of core grammar concepts and rules
• Spelling strategies: master effective revision techniques for learning advanced words

Your child will learn how to paint vivid pictures with words. This includes:

• Sensory details: learn to incorporate sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch in descriptions
• Show, don’t tell: master the art of showing emotions and actions, rather than simply telling

A solid plan and structure to any written piece is integral to its success. We’ll delve into:

• What planning methods make efficient use of exam time through their writing
• How plans can be used to score every mark possible

Good dialogue can bring a story to life. We’ll guide your child through:

• Dialogue creation: learn how to write natural, engaging dialogues that reveal character and move the story forward
• Formatting: understand the correct way to format dialogue in written work

Your child will understand the importance of reviewing and refining their work. This crucial step involves:

• Proofreading: learn techniques to identify and correct errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation
• Revision techniques: understand how to improve their own work through self-assessment and revision strategies

Teaching exclusively from 11 Plus writing experts

• Our team consists of dedicated experts, specialising in 11+ writing, beyond just traditional education.
• Each tutor boasts a vast teaching background and deep-rooted passion for creative writing.
• Through our team's profound knowledge in English and curriculum design, our students gain the precise skills essential for the 11+ exam.
• We handpick our tutors, choosing only those with a deep understanding of creative writing and a proven ability to inspire and elevate young writers.
• Detailed marking of all homework
• We provide comprehensive feedback on all assignments, highlighting strengths and pinpointing areas for improvement to ensure consistent growth in writing skills.
• Our feedback isn’t just about marking, but about giving detailed, constructive advice that guides students towards improvement. We don’t just tell students what is wrong, we show them how to make it right.

Click sample marking to zoom!

Hear what other parents think about us, option 1: online class (pdf coursebook only).

• Online and interactive classes
• Exclusive weekly digital classwork (PDF download) included
• 3 terms, 24 weeks
• 8x 90 minute sessions per term
• Online platform to submit homework
• Maximum of 24 students per class

Option 2: Online Class (Physical Coursebook Posted To You)

• Exclusive termly physical coursebook posted to you

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Monthly Subscription Fee: £99/month.Five-Day Free Trial: Experience our course with a complimentary five-day free trial.Flexible Cancellation: You can cancel your subscription at any time. After cancellation, you will continue to have access until your current billing cycle ends.If you change your mind, you can easily renew your subscription anytime.No Refund Policy: Once charged, refunds for […]

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1. writing stories based on an image, writing stories based on an image – how to guide., writing stories based on an image – exemplar, 2. writing to continue a story, writing to continue a story – how to guide, writing to continue a story – exemplar, 3. writing to describe an character from an image, writing to describe an character from an image – how to guide, writing to describe a character from an image – exemplar, 4. writing to review, writing to review – how to guide, writing to review – exemplar, 5. writing to persuade, writing to persuade – how to guide, writing to persuade – exemplar, 6. writing a book review, writing a book review – how to guide, writing a book review – exemplar, 7. writing a diary entry, writing a diary entry – how to guide, writing a diary entry – exemplar, 8. writing a formal letter, writing a formal letter – how to guide, writing a formal letter – exemplar, 9. writing a informal letter, writing a informal letter – how to guide, writing a informal letter – exemplar, 10. writing an article, writing an article – how to guide, writing an article – exemplar, 11. writing stories with titles, writing stories with titles – how to guide., writing stories with titles – exemplar, 12. writing stories with dialogue, writing stories with dialogue – how to guide., writing stories with dialogue – exemplar, 13. writing to describe topic, writing to describe topic – how to guide., writing to describe topic – exemplar, 14. writing to instruct, writing to instruct – how to guide., writing to instruct – exemplar, 15. writing to recount, writing to recount – how to guide., writing to recount – exemplar, 16. writing a speech, writing a speech – how to guide., writing a speech – exemplar, 17. writing an essay, writing an essay – how to guide., writing an essay – exemplar, 18. writing to advice, writing to advice – how to guide., writing to advice – exemplar, 19. writing to report, writing a report – how to guide., writing to report – exemplar, 20. writing a debate, writing a debate – how to guide., writing a debate – exemplar, about course.

Monthly Subscription Fee: £99/month. Five-Day Free Trial: Experience our course with a complimentary five-day free trial. Flexible Cancellation: You can cancel your subscription at any time. After cancellation, you will continue to have access until your current billing cycle ends. If you change your mind, you can easily renew your subscription anytime. No Refund Policy: Once charged, refunds for the remaining subscription period are not available. However, you’ll retain access until the end of the current billing cycle. Included Features:

• 40+ best practice writing exemplars along with video explanations.
• Comprehensive coverage of multiple writing formats including story writing, descriptive writing, story continuation, diary entries, formal and informal letters, stories with dialogues, recount writing and many more.
• Each topic will feature two sets of exemplars : one with a video explanation and another annotated to highlight key techniques and strategies.
• Expert-led videos provide clear, in-depth explanations and practical how-to guides, ensuring your child gains confidence and proficiency across diverse writing genres.

Developed by our experienced tutor Hannah (PGCE, QTS) drawing on over 12 years of teaching experience. She has worked in various State and Independent primary schools, consistently achieving an Outstanding rating by Ofsted. Her students regularly achieve top 10 rankings in exams for prestigious schools. Give your child the opportunity – Subscribe now!

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11 Plus Creative Writing Success Comprehensive Guide

• Advice for the Creative Writing element of 11 plus exams

The 11 plus exams, upon which students’ entry into UK Grammar Schools and Private Schools depends, test children’s understanding of core subjects: English , Maths , Verbal Reasoning , and Non-Verbal Reasoning . This article will focus on the creative writing test, which forms section B of the age 11 English paper. Read on to find out about the following topics:

• the basics of what the 11+ creative writing test is;
• what may come up in the creative writing for 11 plus exams;
• how to revise for the 11 plus creative writing, including how PiAcademy can help;
• tips and tricks to help your child ace the exam in the moment;
• and guidance as to how you may tutor your child in creative writing yourself.

First things first… what exactly is the 11 plus creative writing test?

11+ creative writing topics – what could come up, how to revise for the wealth of possible 11+ creative writing topics…, introducing… in january 2020, our new 11 plus creative writing guide.

*** Please note: creative writing is not required in all iterations of the 11+ exams. Double-check whether your child will be tested on this subject! ***

Check this Out: Top 5 Creative Writing Tips to Score Full Marks

The best way to get to know and understand the format of an exam is always to look at examples of past papers – if you haven’t done this yet, do so! Check which exam is relevant to you and familiarise yourself and your child with how it looks and what it asks for. There are some differences between the 11 plus creative writing test for Private Schools and those for Grammar Schools. Review below a brief summary of each:

11+ English Creative Writings With Answers can be found here >>

Private Schools’ 11 plus Creative Writing Summary:

Most private schools do test the creative writing of their prospective students; part B of the English paper is dedicated to creative writing. Children will have 25-30 minutes to complete the section, choosing one of two questions choices to answer in this time. The questions are often based around the continuation of a provided storyline. Some schools, however, (e.g., Haberdasher Askes – a.k.a. ‘HABS’) also give the option of responding to a visual stimulus included in the question. Other schools could provide a random topic and have children write on this, such as describing a character or crafting a fictional diary entry around a given event.

Grammar Schools’ 11 plus Creative Writing Summary:

Unlike private schools, where most do test creative writing , many grammar schools will opt not to test children on this subject (again, be sure to check exactly which tests your child will face). Some schools do not test creative writing at all (e.g., Queen Elizabeth School – ‘QE Boys’ in Barnet), whereas others will only test this if the student passes the initial round of exams. The style of creative writing testing at grammar schools is very similar to that detailed about private schools (above). *** For a full list of schools, their information, and details of their testing habits check ‘Schools in the UK’ under the advice tab on our website! *** For both grammar school and independent school tests, we suggest a planning time of 3-5 minutes before starting to write an answer. Planning ensures that the student remembers to include everything that they should, and will lead to a better and surer structure to their writing.

In terms of 11+ essentials, creative writing examples are, of course, paramount. What should you expect from age 11 essay titles? What should you expect as topics for creative writing for 11 plus ? The easiest way to get your head around what your child needs to be prepared for is to consider the infinite unseen possibilities of questions within the following four categories:

• Descriptive tasks - A descriptive task may ask the student to describe a place or situation or continue a given storyline
• Persuasive tasks - A persuasive piece is more likely to take the form of a letter of complaint, or a student may be asked to script a convincing speech
• Narrative tasks - A narrative task would entail the composition of a short story
• Expository tasks - An expository task is more likely to require the writing of an explanatory article or set of instructions

As anything could come up in the test, it is helpful to think of ways to revise for each different type of question which may occur in the creative writing task.

With an unlimited number of possible topics to prepare for, flicking through a couple of creative writing books for 11 plus , or reading never-ending lists of 11 plus creative writing tips online, is sure to result in bewilderment… But the good news is – there is no reason to overwhelm yourself! We are here to help. As always, we must advocate one very important element of exam preparation… Practice , practice , practice! Key things to think about when practicing include writing skills such as grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure. Throughout practice papers and in every piece of writing, these should be accurate and varied. Sit down with your child and a list of creative writing topics for 11 plus and work through writing some practice answers - this is inarguably a strong start to their revision. However, no matter how many creative writing 11 plus topics you cover, these can only help a limited amount without the aid of an 11+ creative writing mark scheme ; getting to know the mark scheme is the best way to understand what boxes your child’s writing must tick in order to succeed. This all sounds like a lot of information for you to gather, doesn’t it? Well, this is where we come in! Currently, on the PiAcademy website, you can find 11 plus creative writing examples. That is, 11 plus essay titles for creative writing , along with an example plan and answer (remember the importance of planning!). As well as this, among the 11 plus tutoring courses , you can find an 11 plus creative writing course incorporated into the English courses . And just when you thought we couldn’t be any more helpful – to add to the above, we have exciting news…

PiAcademy’s new 11 plus creative writing resources will include 50 tasks to practice creative writing. Each of the four types of question mentioned earlier will be covered (15 descriptive writing tasks, 15 persuasive, 10 narrative, and 10 expository), and a mark scheme for parents’ use will be also included. The mark scheme will explain what constitutes a ‘poor response,’ as well as an example of ‘good response,’ and commentaries explaining why each is categorised so. An 11 plus creative writing PDF document will be downloadable, consisting of an invaluable checklist – this way you can ensure that your child includes everything they must! (Getting to know the checklist, and visualising it in the exam, is the perfect way for your child to successfully carry out their creative writing under time pressure.) This will essentially be an online 11 plus creative writing workbook, with tips and tricks to maximise its usefulness! Perfect for parents who are opting out of hiring an 11 plus creative writing tutor .

Good luck with your revision, and eventually, exams… Remember:

• Always follow our checklists!
• PLAN your answer first!
• Practice each of the four question types!

Practice makes perfect, and our resources allow for lots and lots of practice! Don’t forget to check in in the new year to make the most of our new and improved 11 plus Creative Writing Guide .

Wait! Don’t go yet! Whilst you’re here… Scroll to the bottom of the website to subscribe to our weekly newsletter – we will deliver weekly worksheets, videos, news, tips, and much more, straight to your inbox! (Sounds helpful, right?)

Practicing 11+ Creative Writing would improve pupil’s writing skills and would help in boosting exam performance

11+ Creative Writing subscription has 23 exercises from different categories like Descriptive, Persuasive, Narrative, and Expository. Each exercise is provided with hints, plan, model answer, checklist, and highlights to help students become better at writing.

In our 11 plus Creative Writing Subscription we cover all the basic tips and techniques to help your child get better at creative writing. We also offer 11 plus Creative Writing Mastery course for students who are further interested in learning more.

We recommend that your child should practice 2-3 creative writing exercises from different categories weekly.

Practicing topics like Vocabulary, Spelling, Punctuation, and Grammar are beneficial in gaining mastery over creative writings.

11 plus English past papers are a good resource for practicing creative writing. Also, our 11 plus creative writing subscription has a variety of questions to practice from different categories with hints, plan, model answers, and checklist.

• "Amazing creative writings, there are 23 creative writings which include all types of creative writings. Value for money. Thank you for recommending this to me." Tina Singh , 11+ Parent "Very Helpful resource, especially the hints and plan for each creative writings helped my son a lot. He loves it, thank you." Wazid , 11+ Parent
• "Great resource for kids who are appearing for grammar exams. It helped my daughter and I would recommend these resources to my friends/family." Oliver , 11+ Parent "I have visited many websites for sample creative writings but the resource we found here is exceptional. I didn't find similar resources for the affordable price anywhere else. I sincerely recommend the pi academy website for the best resources at affordable prices." Anne , 11+ Parent
• "Checklist for all the creative writings provided is the unique format. You are a genius. Thank you Pi academy."  Mike , 11+ Parent "Amazing creative writings, there are 23 creative writings which include all types of creative writings. Value for money. Thank you for recommending this to me." Tina Singh , 11+ Parent
• "Amazing creative writings, there are 23 creative writings which include all types of creative writings. Value for money. Thank you for recommending this to me." Tina Singh , 11+ Parent
• "Very Helpful resource, especially the hints and plan for each creative writings helped my son a lot. He loves it, thank you." Wazid , 11+ Parent
• "Great resource for kids who are appearing for grammar exams. It helped my daughter and I would recommend these resources to my friends/family."  Oliver , 11+ Parent
• "I have visited many websites for sample creative writings but the resource we found here is exceptional. I didn't find similar resources for the affordable price anywhere else. I sincerely recommend the pi academy website for the best resources at affordable prices." Anne , 11+ Parent
• "Checklist for all the creative writings provided is the unique format. You are a genius. Thank you Pi academy." Mike , 11+ Parent 

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11 Plus Creative Writing: Exam Preparation Guide

What is the creative writing element of the 11 Plus and what does it include?

Both 11 plus exam boards (GL and CEM) don’t have a creative writing element, however some schools may decide to add this element in to assist with the selection process. For instance, it may be used in cases where two students have very similar scores and so the creative writing piece will be the deciding factor.

Each school will have a different format for the writing element; some schools may ask for a creative piece of writing from scratch and others may ask students to complete a story from a passage they‘re provided with. Independent schools, on the other hand, usually require an essay or creative writing piece as part of the exam. 

In private schools, this section is crucial and is always marked, however in grammar schools this section may not always be marked. Nonetheless, it shouldn’t be overlooked as it could be a deciding factor of whether or not your child gets an offer at their target grammar school.

This element of the eleven plus will require students to manage their time well and be able to complete their story in just under an hour. Generally, students are given a scenario or prompt that they are free to interpret in their own way. Students will then be required to put their ideas together in a creative style.

Some examples of past prompts that have come up in grammar and private school 11 Plus exams include:

• Describe a situation which you have experienced which might also be called A Magical Moment, showing what your thoughts and feelings are
• The Prince of Darkness is a Gentleman
• The Broken Window

As you can see from these titles, there’s no specific category that they fall into and they are very unpredictable. The trick here is to ensure your child has lots of practice with these past paper questions, so they can better understand how they’re going to draft their ideas together coherently.

The structure of the writing piece should include:

• A beginning that sets the scene
• Characters who have a motivation behind their actions and drive the plot forward
• An ending that wraps up the original idea that was set out at the beginning 

How to prepare for the creative writing part of the exam?

Practice is of course a crucial element of the revision process. It may also be useful to jot down ideas and descriptions of: emotions, actions, characters and the environment. Having these sets of descriptions ready will save lots of time in the actual exam. Even though the emotions and characters your child has practised writing don’t match the question in the exam, they will have a better idea of how to formulate the structure and plot in a timely manner by developing the descriptions they practised. 

Themes to practice writing about:

• Nature : this could be rivers, rain, mountains, lightning
• Emotions : this is an essential part of the story as it helps to set the tone. Some emotions can be: joy, anger, sadness. It may be beneficial to visualise the ‘inside out’ movie and write out the emotions according to how each character behaves
• Activities you enjoy : this will help with writing the plot in the eleven plus exam since you can adapt and build on these descriptions based on the title question
• Animals : this may be your favourite animal or your pet
• Your surroundings : this could be houses, parks, churches, villages, roads. Understanding how to write about basic structures in a captivating way is a very important of this writing element

Techniques to practise using in your writing:

• Personification : This technique involves associating something that isn’t human with human qualities. For example: the trees danced in the wind . This technique allows the objects throughout the story to have meaning and gives energy to something that is usually expressionless. 
• Metaphors : This is a figure of speech, where a word or phrase is defined as another object or action to which it is not literally applicable. A famous example is from one of Shakespeare’s plays, As You Like It, is: ‘all the world’s a stage. ’ This metaphor compares the world to a theatrical stage. While this is not literally true, the metaphor demonstrates that the world is like a show and the people are like actors. Metaphors allow the reader to think more deeply about a subject, and they can also add emotion and dramatic effect.
• Similes : This is like a metaphor, except similes use the connective words ‘like’ or ‘as’ to draw comparisons. For example: her eyes were like diamonds . The purpose of similes is to make comparisons to better illustrate your ideas, which makes the story more vivid and entertaining for the reader. 
• Hyperbole : This is an exaggeration to emphasise a point to the reader. For instance: I have waited forever for this to happen . This makes the sentence more dramatic and grabs the reader’s attention, which makes the emotions more memorable.
• Alliteration : This is having two or more words with the same letters consecutively in a sentence. An example of this could be: the big bug bit the little bee . This will have a different effect depending on whether the letters sound soft or harsh, but generally alliteration adds a rhythmic sound to the sentence and accentuates your descriptions.

Some revision techniques

Although the topics for the creative writing section are unpredictable, they are usually very broad so your child can use their imagination to think of a plot or build on the descriptions they have already practised. They can start off by writing short stories on the themes mentioned above in this article, and attempt to implement the literary techniques throughout their writing.

It’s crucial to keep your reader hooked throughout your story, so having an interesting plot and characters will help, but it’s also important to focus on developing the techniques listed. Use past paper questions and practice writing short stories under timed conditions, then read over it and see how many techniques your child managed to implement. 

If your child is struggling to come up with ideas, it may be useful to encourage them to pick up one of their favourite books and allow them to get inspiration from there. This will encourage their creative thinking skills to grow; the first few pages of a book are especially important as they sometimes outline the main characters and setting of the entire story. 

Reading and analysing the first few pages can allow them to imagine how they’re going to start their own. Even better, try to encourage them to annotate the pages they read with how the characters are displayed, the emotions, actions and the techniques used. After this, they can try to use their structure and techniques in their own writing. Adding these techniques can improve their score tremendously in the eleven plus creative writing section.

General tips and informative articles on 11 Plus:

• 11 Plus for Parents
• 11 Plus Creative Writing
• 11 Plus English
• 11 Plus Non Verbal Reasoning
• 11 Plus Maths
• 11 Plus Verbal Reasoning
• 11 Plus Comprehension Tips
• 11 Plus Reading List
• What Is 11 Plus Exam
• 11 Plus Maths Questions

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• Creative Writing

Booking for summer 2024 is open!

11+ creative writing summer workshop, 11+ creative writing workshop.

• Advance your child’s 11+ writing skills with our two-day workshop.
• Prepares for writing tasks in all top grammar and independent school 11+ entrance exams.
• Detailed feedback given on two pieces of work to promote significant improvement in writing skills.

Course Details 2024

School year.

Children currently in Year 4 & Year 5

Course Length

Two days (9.00am – 1.30pm including 30min break) in July or August 2024

Schools this workshop prepares for:

Grammar schools that use a writing task as part of their exams, such as Tiffin and Tiffin Girls’ School, Henrietta Barnett and the Sutton grammar schools.

Independent schools that use a writing task as part of their exams.

Key Course Benefits

Expert instruction.

Learn from highly experienced tutors who specialise in 11+ creative writing instruction.

Master Key Concepts

Fundamental creative and persuasive writing concepts are covered to ensure your child is fully prepared for their upcoming exams.

Personalised Feedback

Your child's work will receive expert marking, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses.

Writing Coursebook Included (PDF Download)

Marked writing piece between sessions.

After the first one-day session, your child will submit a piece of writing which will be marked in detail before the second session.

The advantages of this process include:

• Focused improvement: expert feedback pinpoints exact areas for development, supercharging the effectiveness of the next learning session.
• Tailored teaching: our tutors adjust the second session based on feedback, enhancing learning efficiency.
• Immediate application: students apply insights quickly, solidifying learning and boosting confidence.

Click sample marking to zoom!

Comprehensive writing skill development.

Our Creative & Persuasive Writing Workshop, specifically designed for students taking the 11+, aims to enhance writing skills to excel in stage-two grammar school and independent school 11+ exams.

Developed by an expert in creative writing, the course covers a wide range of writing styles to prepare students for various exam scenarios.

Balanced focus

This well-rounded workshop ensures students receive a balanced focus on both creative and persuasive writing formats, allowing them to develop proficiency in multiple aspects of written communication.

Essential writing skills mastery

The course covers all necessary key skills, including vocabulary, language methods, ‘show don’t tell’, developing descriptions, planning, structure & paragraphing, SPaG, sentence variation and key exam tips.

This holistic approach equips students with a strong foundation in writing.

Hands-on practice and constructive feedback

Students engage in exam-style practice questions, simulating real test scenarios. They receive in-depth feedback from experienced instructors, enabling them to make immediate enhancements and progress in their writing abilities.

This hands-on approach builds their confidence and prepares them for success in competitive exams.

Find out about other parents' experiences with Examberry

11+ creative writing workshop booking information, in-person: group.

• All exclusive coursework resources included
• Two-day course (4 hours each day)
• Taught by a creative writing specialist
• Detailed feedback on two pieces of work
• Friendly, focused group teaching
• Maximum of 16 children in each class

The course runs on the following dates:

• Saturday 27 th July & Sunday 28 th July – Online (9.00am-1.30pm)
• Tuesday 30 th July & Thursday 1 st August – Online (9.00am-1.30pm)
• Tuesday 6 th August & Thursday 8 th August – Online (9.00am-1.30pm)
• Tuesday 20 th August & Thursday 22 nd August – Online (9.00am-1.30pm)

*Cancellations are subject to a charge of 50% of the course fee if this occurs within 7 days of the course starting.

*Please be aware that the class you sign up for may not go ahead depending on student sign up. In this instance we will contact you to offer an alternative date.

One-off fee

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Eleven Plus (11+) Creative Writing Course| 11+ Creative Writing Classes & Workshop

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• Creative Writing Course
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11+ Creative Writing Course (Online)

11+ Creative Writing Course

*UPDATE* - see here for future updates

Please WhatsApp us on 07922197154 or email us at [email protected] to place your child on our waiting list.

All classes are taught by Richard Gray.

The Creative Writing Course has been designed to provide all the necessary literary devices and writing techniques for students to succeed in the Eleven Plus (11+) Creative Writing section. The course content covers both fiction and non-fiction writing.

Students will attend either one session a week during term time. Please note that this course is suitable for both Yr 4 & Yr 5 students.

11+ Creative Writing Class - Online

Class a - tuesday, class c - thursday, class b - thursday.

Class A Tuesday - 5.00pm to 6.30pm 

Location: Zoom

Duration: 1 hour 30mins (per lesson)

Cost: £550 per term (8 lessons per term)

The term fee includes homework marking/personalised feedback.

Class B Thursday - 4.00pm to 5.30pm 

Class C Thursday - 6.00pm to 7.30pm  

Class D - Sunday

Class e - sunday.

Class D Sunday - 12.30pm to 2.00pm  

Class E Sunday - 2.45pm to 4.15pm 

Class F - Sunday

Class F Sunday - 5.00pm to 6.30pm Location: Zoom

11 Plus Creative Writing

What is creative writing, how do we teach and improve creative writing, why is creative writing important.

Creative writing requires students to write either a short story or complete a continuous prose exercise such as writing a letter, report or newspaper article.

Creative writing demands planning, creativity and executing a well-written piece in a structured manner, all within a tight time frame. 

Students may be given a title or a few opening lines to continue. Alternatively, there may be a small variety of writing topics which the student must choose from. 

Creative writing is a major component in the 11+ and its importance is weighted differently depending on the school setting the exam.

Creative writing gives the opportunity for students to demonstrate to the examiner that they are competent in SPAG (spelling, punctuation and grammar) as well as showcasing their ability to articulate their imagination into words.

Examiners are looking for specific content which we ensure our students include in their writing. Examiners also seek an effective 'beginning, middle and ending', so Crystal Tuition gears our writing exercises to focus on this.

Firstly, we ensure our students are confident with including similes, metaphors and onomatopoeia etc. in their creative writing. We also provide training on how to implement other key literary techniques.

Secondly, we encourage students to utilise all five senses (sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch).We also assist our students with time management and planning/drafting techniques. 

Finally, we regularly review our students' writing so that we can monitor progress and provide feedback on what aspects of creative writing that they can improve.

Creative Writing Themes

Here are some typical themes which regularly come up:

• Natural Environment
• Urban Environment
• Holiday Destination
• Feelings/Emotions
• Holiday/Day Out/Travel
• Hobbies/Activities/Sports
• Diary/Journal
• Family/Friends

Creative Writing Titles

Here are some creative writing example titles:

• A Haunted House
• Stranded on a Desert Island
• An Alien Visitor
• My Hero is...
• A Day at the Beach

Creative Writing Tips - Why We Are The Best

Richard Gray is a creative writing specialist and has made classes fun, educational and informative, so students look forward to their lessons.

Creative writing is often considered difficult for schools to teach, but when students are taught in a proper manner by a creative writing specialist, their written work shows vast improvements within just a few lessons.

Show! Don't Tell....

We teach students to not directly express their feelings in their narrative, but rather imply them instead. Here's an example of what we show our students.

For example, our students do not use:

"I walked away feeling sad and alone."

Rather, they are taught:

"Trundling away in despair with tears streaming down my cheek like a waterfall, I departed dejectedly. A wave of sadness washed over me; sadness filled my heart and misery plagued my mind."

Similes & Metaphors

Most students will understand what the difference is between a simile and a metaphor; however, we train our students to such an extent that they are able to churn out examples like this without hesitation:

"The fierce, ferocious tiger growled menacingly and bared its teeth, which were as sharp as pick-axes. Its claws were razor blades, and its eyes glowed like headlights on a cold, dark winter's night."

Personification

Personification is attributing human characteristics or qualities to a non-human. Students often forget to include this in their creative writing, but at Crystal Tuition we utilise a plethora of examples, so our students always have a phrase or sentence that they can easily pull out in the exam.

The sentence below demonstrates the standard of creative writing that our students strive towards:

"The chestnut-brown leaves danced gracefully in the gentle breeze. The soft wind caressed my hair and kissed my cheek as I strolled leisurely in the sparse forest."

Competitive Advantage

11+ exams have become increasingly competitive over the years, which is why we want to ensure our students have the best chance of exam success. By equipping our students with the exact literary techniques that examiners are looking for, our students have a massive advantage over rival students. 

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Please note that you must register on the Crystal Tuition Waiting List before accessing the payment page.

If you have been invited to join the Crystal Tuition Creative Writing Course, you should have received an email with the subject line: " Crystal Tuition gave you private page access. "

Please follow the instructions in this email to create a password, allowing you to access the private payment page.

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The Marie Redmond Tuition 11+ Creative Writing Course

Please note : The creative writing course is strictly limited to students that attend our term time courses .

Every week there is a focus which can include story settings, characters, openings, events / problems and resolutions. Students practise writing in a variety of formats such as stories, plays, newspaper articles and letters. They are taught to use a variety of literary techniques and we show them how to draft their work, as well as reviewing and editing.

Homework is set every week and students consolidate skills that have been taught during the lesson. Homework is submitted via email and the creative writing teacher annotates the text, as well as writing a short report about the piece. General points about the texts are also reviewed at the start of the next lesson.

One lesson per week on Zoom, lasting 45 minutes.

Fee, including books: £23 per lesson (£25 from September 2024)

The creative writing course can be selected on the registration form when booking a term time course. If your child is already attending our term time course and you would like them to join the creative writing course, please contact us . The creative writing course is strictly limited to students that attend our term time courses and we are unable to make any exceptions to this.

Lesson Times

The creative writing course takes place on Tuesdays during term time:

• Group 1: 4:30-5:15pm
• Group 2: 5:30-6:15pm
• Group 3: 6:30-7:15pm

Creative Writing Course Term Dates (2023-24 Academic Year)

Fees (2023-24 Academic Year)

Creative Writing Course Term Dates (2024-25 Academic Year)

Fees (2024-25 Academic Year)

FAQs About The Creative Writing Course

The creative writing lessons take place once a week during term time.

There are a maximum of 10 students in each creative writing lesson.

The fee, including resources, is £23 per lesson. Please note: new registrations for the creative writing course are only available to students attending our term time courses.

All creative writing course payments are required by Direct Debit or credit/debit card. As the weekly lessons take place virtually, the government does not allow us to accept Childcare Vouchers or Tax-Free Childcare for the creative writing course ( click here to find out why ).

Invoices are issued at the beginning of each month and due on receipt.

We will email you a separate monthly invoice for the creative writing course on the 1st of each month and it will be due on receipt. The payment will cover the cost of all lessons during that month.

If you wish to cancel your child’s attendance on the creative writing course, you will need to let us know by the end of the month to cancel their attendance for the following month.

Photograph of Stephen King by Pinguino K is licenced under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic licence.

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11+ Preparation Classes (FACE TO FACE/ONLINE)

11+ weekly preparation classes for children preparing for the 11+ exams running all year round. Children are free to join us at any time throughout the year, with spaces available for children Year 3 and above.

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What is the 11 Plus Preparation Programme?

Our 11+ Preparation Programme provides knowledge and instruction in all topics and areas including maths, creative writing, comprehension, creative comprehension, non verbal reasoning, verbal reasoning, puzzles and logic, exam practice and interview experience. We prepare for the entrance exams in most private and grammar schools in London and the surrounding counties, and have successfully prepared over 800 children to date for schools such as St. Paul’s, Wetherby, Godolphin and Latymer, City of London, Putney High, King’s College School, Wallington, Tiffins, Henrietta Barnett and  many more.

Bear in mind, many children will not be able to achieve the high results required for admission (depending on how soon preparation begins, the natural abilities of the child, and the increasing levels of competition) and so we carry out ongoing assessment in order to let you know as soon as possible how likely it is for your child to pass and under which circumstances success will be most likely. We operate a strict policy whereby we only continue tuition for children who are suitable in terms of ability, potential and personality. We provide feedback on these issues and will be in a position to comment on this after 4-8 weeks of instruction (depending on the level and age of child).

How is the Course delivered?

We offer online classes and face to face classes in a school.

Students receive two hourly lessons each week, an hour in Maths/Reasoning and an hour in English/Reasoning, taught by live and experienced tutors using video calling and an interactive whiteboard. All classwork, homework, mock exam papers, assessments, online practice questions/assessments are included and will be posted to students. Homework is the linchpin of the course and ensures students receive appropriate practice to achieve mastery for 11+ success. In addition, students benefit from an easy hand-in and return homework system.

As a summa ry students receive:

• Homework posted via royal mail/courier, complementing our online lessons and following the 11+ syllabus
• 1 hour of Maths/NVR online lesson per week in small groups (maximum 3 students) with an exceptional tutor
• 1 hour of English/VR online lesson per week in small groups (maximum 3 students) with an exceptional tutor
• Regular feedback on your child’s progress and recommendations from our expert course leader
• Mock tests every 4-6 weeks 
• Marking service and personalised feedback on completed homework
• Access to ou r online portal with over 10,000 practice questions and tests in Maths, English, verbal reasoning and non verbal reasoning

Students receive 2.5  hour lessons every Saturday, and the sessions are split in half for Maths/Non-verbal Reasoning and English/Verbal Reasoning. Lessons are in small groups of 6 per tutor. Managing tutors are very competent and possess over 10 years of entrance exam experience. All classwork, homework, mock exams, assessments, online practice questions/assessments are included.

• Homework following the 11+ syllabus
• 1 hour of Maths/NVR face to face lesson per week in small groups (maximum 6 per tutor)
• 1 hour of English/VR face to face lesson per week in small groups (maximum 6 per tutor)
• Inte rview practice and feedback

How do I get started?

Free assessments and a free trial lesson are available for all new students.

Contact us now to book a free trial lesson .

Who is the 11 Plus preparation class for?

Currently, the 11 Plus Preparation Programmes is available for students in year 3 to year 6. Children are placed in groups according to their year group and ability.

Our Year 3 course lays the foundation for students so that they are efficient at key problem solving techniques required for all four subjects (maths, English, verbal reasoning & non-verbal reasoning). Year 3 children will also be introduced to technique, timing and mock exam practice. Advanced vocabulary work and creative writing are also taught during the larger group sessions to encourage discussion and to enable children to learn from each other. This enables children to develop their writing skills to a high level within a supportive and fun environment.

We recommend children start from the latest  Year 4 , so as to ensure children have the time to attain the skills necessary for this kind of assessment. This course introduces harder topics whilst working on mastering the key core skills in maths and english. Children learn how to approach a variety of questions and are given plenty of opportunity to practise the techniques required for all four subjects (maths, English, verbal reasoning & non-verbal reasoning).

This 11 Plus Preparation Course prepares Year 5 pupils for their 11 Plus entrance examinations into grammar and private schools. Tuition follows the 11 Plus syllabus and covers the full range of topics. At this level, there is a larger emphasis on practice and proficiency, as well as interview techniques, as this is an essential aspect of the test for those children sitting 11+ exams for private schools.

Finally, for Year 6 , children are taught how to gain maximum marks with efficient exam techniques.  Practice papers, group interviews and exam questions centred around numeracy, literacy and reasoning will also be elaborated in the 4 months.

We have classes running all year. Children are welcome to join us at any time of the year as our classes are designed to cover the entire syllabus, irrespective of the start term. Ideally however, children should be enrolled as early as possible in order to get the maximum benefit from the classes. This is important because many schools now require a pre-exam before the main November/December exam, giving students three months less to prepare. An early start ensures that your child will get adequate practice before these exams, removing the panic of last minute preparations and cramming. Despite this, we have also seen significant improvement with children who attend just a week/few weeks before the exam. There are also the intensive courses in Easter, Summer, October half term and Christmas  available to those who find this option most suitable.

We have personally helped students gain acceptance into schools such as:

• St. Paul’s School
• Notting Hill and Ealing
• Latymer Upper
• North London Consortium
• Dulwich College
• Westminster
• Queen’s College
• Whitgift School
• Trinity School
• City of London School
• King’s College School
• Putney High School
• Emanuel School
• Francis Holland
• Wilson’s School
• Wallington Grammar School
• Tiffin School
• and much more…

Our success in 9+, 10+ and 11+ preparation over the past few years can be found below:

2023: 10+ and 11+ success

2022: 9+, 10+ and 11+ success

2021: 11+ success

2020: 9+. 10+ and 11+ success

2019: 9+, 10+ and 11+ success

2018: 9+, 10+ and 11+ success

Where and when are our classes held?

Our 11+ preparation classes are held either online or in school (face to face) in our Victoria location. Both options are controlled by our highly experienced course managers, with instruction given by competent teachers, who follow our programmes closely, ensuring the best service possible.

Students take live online classes with a tutor in small groups of 2-4 students. This ensures a dynamic environment for children to learn and also allows for each child to receive enough attention.

We make use of an online interactive whiteboard alongside online video calling via Google Meet. This tried and tested method is very easy to use – thanks to our years of experience working with students internationally, we now have a track record of effective online tuition with children from ages 8 to 18 in many subjects. The only pre-requisite for the student is that they are at Key Stage 2 level and thus mature enough to engage online comfortably.

Our two hourly designated lessons are fairly flexible and can be held at any time throughout the week. We work with parents to ensure an appropriate time is scheduled for all of our students.

Price: £336/month for both subjects or £180/month for one subject

AT SCHOOL (face to face)

Our weekly Saturday classes in Victoria are very popular and have been running successfully for over 8 years. Children are in a maximum of 6 students per tutor, with classes being delivered by experienced tutors.

Location: Westminster City School, 55 Palace Street, SW1E 5HJ

Time: Every Saturday 10.30am – 1.00pm

Price: £380 /month for both subjects or £225 / month for one subject

11 Plus London has helped over 800 children in the past 12 years; you can be assured your child will receive:

– tried and tested classes and courses  proven  to improve children’s chances of success

– excellent teaching with small group sizes – ensuring maximal attention for each child

– experienced teachers who are able to help your child identify their weaknesses, play on their strengths and make notable improvements

– honest, personalised feedback throughout the process to assist you in your entrance exam journey.

Check out our verified reviews on Google.

“Very happy with their classes. My daughter enjoys their classes very much and got in to the schools for the 11+. Would recommend.”

LENNON SMITH

“They are simply the best in town. My son has been able to pass the 11+ exams and is currently at Wilson’s Grammar School. They make sure that the child gets to the required level and prepare him really well. They also give regular feedback and make recommendations to achieve the desired results. Highly recommended.”

INTISAR CHAUHAN

“Our son had a terrific experience with the tutors of 11 plus LONDON which helped him get into top secondary school. He came in very late into the preparation but loved the intensive courses and the very personal and caring attitude of the tutors. With their vaste expérience they knew exactly what he needed to increase his chances of succès in a very short period of time.”

ISABELLE PAAGMAN-BORRONI

“Jane and Andrew are very responsible and extremely helpful. Their tutoring is very effective and personalized. We sincerely appreciate their help. My son got offers from top London schools including CLS. Highly recommended!.”

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• 11 Plus Creative Writing – Example Topics and Tasks

11 Plus Creative Writing – Example Topics and Tasks

Schools can of course ask anything so these example tasks shouldn’t be used as stock answers.

Pupils will however find that developing a full description bank of characters, emotions, action, the natural world and the built environment etc will help them to deliver effective and creative descriptions on the day.

Using those description banks within these sample stories will help them to develop their work further and enable them to embed their thoughts so they can deliver properly on the day.

Remember if you are going to tackle any of these sample writing topics and tasks you should always plan to revisit your work a few days after you have done it. As part of the process children who often re-write their work to improve it find they make better progress.

Good resources to help with creative writing are rare. If you need help then we do recommend this creative writing preparation course . Since we started recommending it we have had very good feedback from our users, whether they have used it to prepare for an 11 Plus exam or an Independent entry test.

11 Plus creative writing example topics list

The following topics and tasks have come up in either in grammar school or independent school 11 plus writing tests:

Core themes for creative writing topics and tasks:

Many stories have core themes or emotions or feelings within them. When developing your descriptions banks these are useful areas to think about:

Animals – Typically describe your pet or your favourite animal or an animal you are frightened of. Be prepared to be use literary devices like personification or exaggeration or even simple similes to bring your description to life.

Emotions and feelings – Stories often include a requirement to describe emotion like fear, or joy or what it feels like to be lost or alone. They could easily ask you to describe enjoyment through a title like My brilliant day. Sometimes the titles may overtly lead you in a very clear direction. Lost ! and Alone! Are two previous examples that have come up.

Activities you enjoy doing – This is chance to describe the activity itself ( whatever you like from mountaineering to gardening and everything in between) plus how it makes you feel. Again your development of description banks should have helped you.

The natural world – Could be hills or mountains, rivers or streams or lightning or the rain or the feeling of sunshine or how a meadow looks or a field of wheat. Children who cover the natural world in their descriptions development work always find it useful.

The built environment – Think houses or offices blocks or cottages or castles.  Roads and bridges, churches and sheds.  Developing some thoughts about how to describe the built environment is always useful.

Story Titles:

Story titles can be long or short.  Here are some examples of story titles which have come up in both Grammar School and Independent School tests.

• The Day Trip
• The Broken Window
• The Abandoned House
• The Voice in the Darkness
• Write a story with Alone as the title, where you suddenly realise that you are on your own.  It may be a true or entirely made up, but it should include your thoughts and feelings as well as what happened.
• Write a story (true or made up) about a visit you make to some relations of your own.
• Write a letter to a cousin inviting him to stay with you. You should try and interest him in some of the varied and unusual activities he can take part in.
• Describe a situation which you have experienced which might also be called A Magical Moment, showing what your thoughts and feelings are.
• Write a clear description of an animal you know well.  Make sure you describe what it does and how it behaves as well as what it looks like.
• I prefer Winter to Spring.
• The door and what was behind it.
• The Prince of Darkness is a Gentleman.
• Ash on an old man’s sleeve.
• Write a story that begins with the words – 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).

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English and Creative Writing

The Franklin College Department of English and Creative Writing is committed to the careful study of the individual expression and cultural values found in English, American, and world literature.

The department is one of Franklin College’s most exciting intellectual communities. Our faculty of dedicated teacher-scholars share with students their expertise in, and enthusiasm for, literature from a variety of genres, periods, and cultures—works drawn from the traditional canon to the works of emerging artists, from Greek tragedy to graphic novels, from Shakespearean sonnets to postmodern poetry. Small class sizes mean professors get to know their students and can engage with them in intense debates and deep analyses of literary works that continue outside the classroom.

Our dedicated faculty of practicing writers and scholars guide students in small classes and workshops that cover a variety of genres, as well as provide students with frequent out-of-class opportunities to exercise and hone their craft. Creative writing students can expect a rigorous yet collegial environment that allows for engaged learning, collaboration and experimentation.

• Explore This Page
• Why English and Creative Writing?
• Major Handouts & Course Catalog
• Writers' Series

Meet Our People

Why english and creative writing at franklin college.

Dynamic classroom experiences.

Our professors use a variety of approaches that focus on how language and literary forms recreate both individual experiences and the large, impersonal forces that shape cultures and historical periods. In so doing, we seek in our classes to understand the many varieties of the human condition. In addition to taking courses with our award-winning faculty, our creative writing students benefit from the creative writing program’s reading series, which brings talented poets, fiction writers, memoirists, and playwrights to teach and study with them each year.

Experiences beyond the classroom.

Not only do English and creative writing majors learn a great deal in the classroom, they also take part in activities related to the disciplines. Such activities regularly include working on the editorial board of the college literary journal, the   Apogee  (founded in 1961); attending performances and creative-writing readings; and participating in other events in and around Franklin, Indianapolis, Bloomington, Louisville, and elsewhere in the region.

Global engagement.

With opportunities to study abroad during entire semesters, during the college’s four-week Immersive Term, or over the summer, English majors have recently taken courses in England, France, Spain, Costa Rica, Germany, Uganda, Japan, and elsewhere.

Interdisciplinary commitment.

In keeping with the college’s strong interdisciplinary character, English and Creative Writing majors frequently choose to pursue a second major or a minor in disciplines such as  elementary education ,  French ,  history ,  multimedia journalism ,  political science ,  philosophy ,  psychology ,  religious studies,  or  Spanish . Recent English courses have been cross-listed in  theatre  and the liberal arts program, and students may count an upper-level course in  French  or  Spanish  literature toward their English degree.

Connecting passion with work.

Our faculty advisers are committed to helping students find careers in fields that excite them. Recent graduates have used their English degrees to pursue rewarding careers in teaching, publishing, health care, marketing, business, the performing and creative arts, communications, technical writing, and non-profit management. Others have gone on to graduate programs in English, law, divinity, library science, and counseling.

Spark your imagination.

Program handouts.

• English Major Handout
• Creative Writing Major Handout

Courses of Study

Students who choose to study english and creative writing at franklin college can pursue two different majors — english and creative writing. both are also available as a minor. in addition, we offer an additional minor in professional writing..

Immerse yourself in literature, history and the human condition as a Franklin College English major.

Experiment with language and style, developing a unique voice.

Creative Writing

Carlson-stauffer visiting writers’ series.

The English and Creative Writing department is proud to sponsor the Carlson-Stauffer Visiting Writers’ Series, which brings nationally recognized authors to campus. All events are free and open to the public.

Series Background

The series is named for two beloved professors emerita, Kathy Carlson and Emily Stauffer, both of whom retired in spring 2015. Together, their combined service at Franklin College spanned close to 70 years. The series began in 2015 and has allowed the department to host dozens of writers from across the country. Writers hold a publicly open reading. Typically, they also interact with creative writing students at a meal, visit creative writing classes to conduct a masterclass in their genre, and/or offer feedback on students’ writing.

Participating Writers

Visiting writers have been poets, fiction writers, YA authors, writers of non-fiction, and multi-genre writers. Some notable names include:

• Marcus Wicker, 2015
• Maggie Messitt, 2016
• Jamaal May, 2017
• David Tomas Martinez, 2018
• Terrance Hayes, 2019
• Nafissa Thompson-Spires, 2019
• Ross Gay, 2019
• Adrian Matejka, 2020 (and 2023)
• Brooke Lauren Davis (’15) — YA novelist and alumna
• Samantha Fain (’20) — poet and alumna
• Eugene Gloria, 2021
• Dan Chaon, 2022
• Saundra Mitchell, 2023
• Angela Jackson-Brown, 2023
• Matthew Minnicucci, 2023
• Brittany Means, 2024
• Monica McClure, 2024

This fall (2024), the department will welcome back Samantha Fain (’20) to celebrate the release of her latest poetry collection,  Are You There .

On Nov. 28, 2023, the department welcomed poet Matthew Minicucci for his second visit in our series. Matthew read from his fourth poetry collection, Dual, which was released by Acre Books. The event was held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023 in the B.F. Hamilton Auditorium. A book signing followed the reading.

“I believe that you get a sense of belonging and that you matter. Personally, I enjoy the conversations with professors and other faculty members and getting to know them.”

Emmarae Arensdorff ’22

Express your creativity through apogee, our annual literary journal., apogee is franklin college’s student-run literary magazine that accepts previously unpublished work in poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, drama, and visual art. apogee is an annual publication published in late spring. submissions are open during the summer and fall..

Questions about  Apogee ? Contact our Faculty Advisor.

Learn more about English and Creative Writing at Franklin College

Our mission.

By honing a diverse set of reading and writing skills, the English and creative writing department’s majors and minors recognize the artistic achievements, insights, and possibilities inherent in literature to create their own meaningful work as they prepare for professional positions, graduate study, and civic engagement.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students in English and Creative Writing will be able to:

•     Read and communicate effectively through creative and expository writing.
•     Make arguments about texts using literary terms, techniques, history and movements.
•     Access, analyze and synthesize complex information, using diverse perspectives.
•     Solve unstructured problems individually as well as collaboratively.

Our Faculty

In addition to their commitment to the classroom, faculty in the English and creative writing department maintain active scholarly agendas, publishing their research and presenting at major national and international conferences on a wide variety of topics, including the intersections of narrative theory and gender theory; the limitations of humanity in Shakespeare’s  Richard II ; modernist irony as a response to colonial exhibitions; flipped classroom pedagogy; landscape and medieval gender roles; feminist readings of global modernism; and deforestation in contemporary Anglophone Caribbean literature. In addition, our creative writing faculty have won awards and national attention for their work.

Requirements

Introductory courses provide students with an understanding of different creative genres, as well as the fundamentals of creative writing processes, literary citizenship and the contemporary literary landscape. Students learn to read like writers, engaging in literary analysis to appreciate the nuances of text construction. In later courses, students perform genre-specific studies, closely studying, deploying and sharpening particular writing techniques, and engaging in significant revision and experimentation as they hone their unique voices and join ongoing literary conversations.

As creative writers, we untangle texts and cultural contexts to discover new strategies for reading and writing, with students interrogating both the worlds of the texts they read and write, and their own world, understanding how texts communicate, shape and move all of us. Through guided practice, students gain confidence, empathy, and practical critical writing and thinking skills that allow them to make powerful contributions to the world.

Meet the talented professionals who will help guide you on your creative journey.

Emily Banks, MFA, Ph.D.

Katie Burpo, M.F.A.

Susan Crisafulli, Ph.D.

Richard Erable, Ph.D.

Anna James, Ph.D.

George Phillips, Ph.D.

Department of english and creative writing.

101 Branigin Blvd. Franklin, IN 46131 Johnson Center for Fine Arts

317.738.8271

Monday - Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridfay, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

	Southern Utah University
	Aug 19, 2024   2024-2025 General Catalog [Current]     2024-2025 General Catalog [Current] | Student Success Advisor(s) Program Learning Outcomes   CIP Code: 23.0101 Program Summary The Creative Writing Minor offers introductory, intermediate, and advanced classes in the genres of Fiction, Poetry, and Creative Nonfiction. The Minor has been designed based on hallmarks for undergraduate courses suggested by the Association of Writing Programs which include a three-tiered curriculum in the genres of fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction; a robust literary focus; an undergraduate literary journal; and a reading series of visiting writers. Students also have the opportunity to design a focused “track” through their electives. The Creative Writing Minor prepares students for careers with writing and editing components. The Minor serves undergraduate students as a complement to a variety of disciplines, including Psychology, Criminal Justice, Communication, and the Sciences. Program Information All courses must be passed with a “C-” (1.7) or better to be counted in the minor. English - Creative Writing Minor Curriculum (21 Credits) Core required courses (6 credits). ENGL 2320 - Creative Writing in the Genres 3 Credit(s) ENGL 2400 - Introduction to Literary Studies 3 Credit(s) Creative Writing Options (6 Credits) Complete two of the following: ENGL 3010 - Intermediate Poetry Writing 3 Credit(s) ENGL 3030 - Intermediate Fiction Writing 3 Credit(s) ENGL 3040 - Intermediate Creative Nonfiction Writing 3 Credit(s) Electives (9 Credits) Choose any upper-division English Department offerings  6 Credit(s) Choose any 4000-level creative writing course   3 Credit(s) Total Credits, Minor: 21 Program learning outcomes. Compose original fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction, showing a critical awareness of aesthetics, prosody, and narrative techniques. Identify, describe, and analyze the literary features of fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction. 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