Creative writing is a form of writing that provides a student with the opportunity to express themselves within the form of prose or poetry. It can encompass fiction writing such as stories, descriptions, play scripts and poems. It is a loose term that fits many different forms of writing; indeed some non-fiction work can be classed as creative, such as biographies/autobiographies.
When a student is writing creatively, they can be encouraged to show personality and flair, being original and engaging as a writer are skills that translate well to a reader. Often, it is children that come up with the most bizarre and fantastical ideas. It is a teacher or parents job to facilitate and nurture this with encouragement and assistance in skills development.
You can download our FREE 50 SPAG (spelling, punctuation and grammar) writing exercises booklet resource by clicking here. We hope you find it useful! 🙂
General tips for developing Creative Writing Skills
Read, read and read!
Encourage your child to read a variety of different text types, be these short stories, anthologies, newspapers aimed at children, or huge and dense volumes of a classic novel. If your child is not that interested in reading, start off by introducing texts linked to topics that they enjoy. Check out our sample 11+ reading list by clicking here.
Make use of a thesaurus and dictionary
A thesaurus is very useful for helping your child find synonyms of words and extending their vocabulary. It is great to refer to if they need to up-level a word in their writing, or to help them avoid using the same word multiple times.
A dictionary is of course a very practical book too. It can be used to find out the meaning of words that they don’t fully comprehend (a word that they have either heard or read). New words and their definitions can be written in a ‘home-made’ glossary, which is simply a small exercise book with words and their meanings added in alphabetical order.
A dictionary and thesaurus can be used in book form, but there are also electronic and online versions available.
Revise pieces of writing
Encourage your child to get used to self-editing and improving their writing. This does not mean that their original work is not good enough, but that they have the skills to make their writing even more fantastic. Getting them to read their work through once complete is a good place to start, as they will often notice things themselves that can be edited. This can be done with your support at first, but once they get the hang of it, they will be able to be a bit more independent with it.
Keep a writing journal
Give your child a journal/exercise book that they can write down ideas and notes in. This could be interesting new words they have learnt, inspiration for characters and settings, reading book lists, a glossary, even creative sketches that could inspire them to write. You may be surprised how quickly this book get filled up and how useful it can be in their writing.
Encourage freehand writing
As well as answering questions and being set work, it is crucial for children to be encouraged to write about their own ideas and interests and be expressive. This freedom helps children develop a love of writing.
Writing in different forms
Children need to get used to writing in different forms and styles, some of which they will inevitably enjoy more than others. A straightforward exercise to assist this is to ask them to continue a piece of writing. For example, they plan and write the next chapter of a story and then read the real chapter to compare. Alternatively, they can write the next part of a comprehension extract they have read or the next verse in a poem.
Quality over quantity
Also known as effort over excess exertion, this is arguably one of the most crucial tips when it come to honing writing skills.
The quality of what is written is far more important than how much is written. A one and a half page story, where your child has put in their best effort, is a more worthwhile venture then two hastily written double-sided stories.
Plan to succeed
If your child is completing a piece of writing, it is usually important that they plan it first. This can be a quick brainstorm or a more detailed plan, depending on the length of what is being written. It doesn’t have to take ages – five minutes is often enough – but it will give their work more structure, and probably save them from having writer’s block halfway through.
Do all pieces of writing need to be planned? Though a plan is not essential it is often very helpful, particularly for more academic or longer pieces of writing. If your child wants to independently write something such as a diary entry or a fact page, suggest (but don’t insist on) planning as this may transform a fun idea they have had into a laborious task.
Creative writing tips for entrance exams such as the Eleven Plus.
- Look at past papers and sample tests to get an idea of the types of writing questions that could come up. This can be more predictable for some examining boards then others.
- Find out if the school or examining board releases an exam specification and/or marking guide for the writing part of the exam. These documents can prove very useful when attempting to gauge not only what could come up, but also how marks are awarded.
- Work on skills that are linked to good writing, such as good spelling, building vocabulary and developing knowledge and understanding of grammar and punctuation.
- Ask your child to attempt some sample questions. Then read through their work and give them constructive feedback. This can be either verbal or written. Feedback can be given through the star and a wish format. Let them know what you liked about their work (stars🌟), as well as ways it can be improved (wishes 🌠).
- As the exam approaches, encourage your child to get used to completing a piece of writing within a set period of time. This doesn’t have to be a pressure filled-event. You can buy fun timers and make it a challenge rather than a chore, so that they are not having to keep their eye on the clock.
Services we offer linked to Creative Writing:
- One-to-one tuition with Sarah: a qualified teacher and writer, who holds a BA Honours in English with Creative Writing, as well as a Postgraduate Certificate in Primary Education. This can either be national curriculum or 11+ focused. Click here for more information.
- Writing feedback service, where you email us a piece of your child’s writing and it is returned with written feedback and targets for improvement. – Click here for more information.
- Writing Projects: One-to-one lessons where a booklet is produced over a period of time. Lots of options available, such as recipe books, a long story with chapters, a poetry anthology and many more. Click here for more information.
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