Plan in three boxes: Beginning (who, where), Problem (what goes wrong), Ending (how it is solved and how the character changes).
Open with action, speech or a question, not ‘One day’.
Show feelings through actions: ‘Her hands shook’ instead of ‘She was scared’.
Use your five senses in at least one description.
Reread and improve one thing: a stronger verb, a better adjective, or clearer paragraphs.
Worked example 1
Starter: ‘The lift stopped between floors, and the lights went out.’ Model opening.
Start with the moment of the problem.
Add a sense (sound).
End the paragraph with a question to pull readers on.
Answer: The lift shuddered, groaned and stopped. Then the lights went out. Somewhere above, a cable creaked like an old door. Zara pressed every button she could feel. Nothing. And then, in the dark, someone beside her whispered, ‘Don't worry. This happens every Tuesday.’
Print it
Activity prompts
Choose a starter. Plan with Beginning / Problem / Ending, then write at least three paragraphs.
The postcard was dated fifty years in the future.Open-ended — check the plan has a clear problem and ending.
Every cat in town sat facing the same direction.Open-ended — does the ending explain why?
The map had a new island on it this morning.Open-ended — use a sense in your description.
My shadow started moving before I did.Open-ended — show feelings through actions.
The school tannoy crackled: ‘Do not open the art cupboard.’Open-ended — use speech to open a paragraph.
Grandad's old radio picked up a message meant for me.Open-ended — how does the character change?
Mixed · ages 7–14
Story starters
NameDate
Choose a starter. Plan with Beginning / Problem / Ending, then write at least three paragraphs.
1.The postcard was dated fifty years in the future.
2.Every cat in town sat facing the same direction.
3.The map had a new island on it this morning.
4.My shadow started moving before I did.
5.The school tannoy crackled: ‘Do not open the art cupboard.’
6.Grandad's old radio picked up a message meant for me.
Mixed · guidanceGuidance & teaching notes
Story starters — guidance & teaching notes
Choose a starter. Plan with Beginning / Problem / Ending, then write at least three paragraphs.
1.The postcard was dated fifty years in the future.Open-ended — check the plan has a clear problem and ending.
2.Every cat in town sat facing the same direction.Open-ended — does the ending explain why?
3.The map had a new island on it this morning.Open-ended — use a sense in your description.
4.My shadow started moving before I did.Open-ended — show feelings through actions.
5.The school tannoy crackled: ‘Do not open the art cupboard.’Open-ended — use speech to open a paragraph.
6.Grandad's old radio picked up a message meant for me.Open-ended — how does the character change?
Tips
Common mistakes
Stories that stop without an ending — plan it first.
