Writing · Both
Narrative & Descriptive Writing
Creative writing is marked for content, organisation and technical accuracy. A clear structure and vivid but controlled language score higher than a long, messy plot.
Strong openings
Avoid “My name is… and I woke up”. Try:
• Action in progress
• A striking image or sound
• Dialogue
• A mystery or question
Drop the reader into a moment.
Show, don’t tell
Tell: “She was nervous.”
Show: “She wiped her palms on her skirt and counted the floor tiles.”
Use **senses** (sight, sound, touch, smell) and precise verbs. Vary sentence length – short sentences for tension.
Worked example
Improve: ‘The street was scary.’
Solution: “Streetlights flickered. Somewhere a bottle rolled, then stopped. He kept his keys between his knuckles.”
Structure tips
• One main event or moment (not a whole life story)
• Build to a turning point
• End with image, reflection or twist – not “then I woke up”
Practice questions
1. What does ‘show, don’t tell’ mean?
2. Name two ways to open a narrative.