Paper 1:
Creative Writing
In the exam you're normally given two options: a descriptive piece or a narrative piece. Neither is worth more or less than the other so it's up to you to choose which suits you best. Though describing the same thing for 45 minutes can see a little tough, I'd argue that the description is actually easier than the narrative. The problem with writing a short narrative, is its shortness.
In the exam you're normally given two options: a descriptive piece or a narrative piece. Neither is worth more or less than the other so it's up to you to choose which suits you best. Though describing the same thing for 45 minutes can see a little tough, I'd argue that the description is actually easier than the narrative. The problem with writing a short narrative, is its shortness.
To do this well you need to make sure that your plot is very, very, very, very simple. You'll only have 45 minutes to write it, and that doesn't leave a lot of space for character development or events.
To do this well you need to make sure that your plot is very, very, very, very simple. You'll only have 45 minutes to write it, and that doesn't leave a lot of space for character development or events.
Really, you should be able to tell your storyline in one sentence, any more than that and it's probably too complex for the exam.
Really, you should be able to tell your storyline in one sentence, any more than that and it's probably too complex for the exam.
I've included some of my own below to give you an idea of how much plot I've managed to include...
I've included some of my own below to give you an idea of how much plot I've managed to include...
Top Tip:
Top Tip:
Read over the stories above and pick one STRUCTURE that you think you could use. Then, Google some images and see if you can find a way for your chosen structure to become a story connected to that image. The key with a structure is that you can practice with it, but it will still fit any end you choose.
Read over the stories above and pick one STRUCTURE that you think you could use. Then, Google some images and see if you can find a way for your chosen structure to become a story connected to that image. The key with a structure is that you can practice with it, but it will still fit any end you choose.
But also, there are literally millions of short stories on the web, simply because writing is such a pleasure and sharing stories is so fundamentally human. To help you filter through some of them, you'll find a list of some of my favourite places below:
But also, there are literally millions of short stories on the web, simply because writing is such a pleasure and sharing stories is so fundamentally human. To help you filter through some of them, you'll find a list of some of my favourite places below: