Writing stories is fun BUT there are a few things that you have to

think about before you start writing. Your story will be much better/
more interesting when you have a close look at this planning sheet.
After reading it you should make your own planning sheet, fill it out
and then……grab your pen and some paper and there you go!

Setting: Characters: Conflict /

Where does it take How do they? problem!!!!!!!:
place? How old are they?
-Caught cheating
When does it take place? How do they look?
-Fell in the water
-Broke some eggs
WHERE:
FEELINGS: -Lost keys, wallet,
-A big city
Sad, happy, nervous, direction
-Japan, The U.S.A etc
excited, sick, tired, athletic -Forgot homework
-In the sea
etc -Got an injury
-At an amusement park
AGE: -Fell down the stairs
-At home
Twelve, fourteen, eighty, -Was too late for class
WHEN:
one-hundred etc for the third time
-In the past, present or
APPEARANCE:
future
Fat, skinny, short, tall,
-During a birthday party
handsome, cute, ugly,
-During a holiday
casual, punky etc
-During a lesson at school

End of the story

Solution of the problem A story usually has a happy

ending BUT that’s all up to
the writer of course.
-Had regret and talked it
Development of the story: Decide for yourself and
over
Describe what happens right remember….never cut off a
-Got medicine
after the problem. For story and leave the
-Made it up
EXAMPLE: readers confused.
-Made agreements
-Made promises
Went to see a doctor
-Bought a new lock (lost
Had to go to the principal
keys)
Was/were punished
Stay in bed for 2 weeks
Every story has a BEGINNING, MIDDLE and END.
Which information would you include in each part o f the story? Write the words in
the box under the correct category:
Setting - characters - conflict- development – solution - end

BEGINNING MIDDLE END

Let’s Analyse a Story!

1. What is the story about?

2. Identify the beginning, middle and end. Use different colours for each section.
3. What is the main tense?
4. Find instances of direct speech. Is this formal or informal language?
What tenses can you use with direct speech?

Task: Write your own story!

Your English teacher has asked you to write a story. Your story must begin with this
sentence: I felt nervous when the phone rang.
 SOME TIPS:

Use exciting words (adverbs/adjectives) but not too many!.

You have to use the sentence provided to start your story.
Useful expressions to start sentences:
A couple of hours/minutes later, after a while, suddenly, just then,
almost immediately, the next morning/day, eventually, at ….o’ clock,
finally.

CHECKLIST WHEN YOU’VE FINISHED YOUR STORY:

Do all the sentences begin with a capital letter?

Have you put commas, full stops, question marks and
exclamation marks in the story?
Did you use some direct speech?
Have you used the simple past and past continuous throughout
the story?
Are there adjectives and adverbs to describe people/things?
Does the story make sense? Does it have a beginning, middle
and end?
Did you write at least 4 paragraphs?