After the description you’ll need to get the story moving – so use some direct speech! Then finish off your first half-a-page by describing one of the characters.

One of the reasons why it is a good idea to have two characters in your stories is that it makes it easy to use direct speech to cover a lot of plot in a few words:

        
Using direct speech will enable you to make what is going on clear to the reader. Then you need to describe one of the characters. Remember to focus on a detail.

Kelda, a girl I taught a few years ago, was a big fan of Bald Worm, and listened carefully to his advice about how to begin a story. We had been studying gangster stories, and she decided to write in that style. Note how:

1. Kelda begins her story with a very exciting first line – it really grabs the reader’s attention.
2. She sets the scene using our descriptive skills
3. She uses speech and shown feelings
4. Kelda finishes her first half-a-page by describing one of the characters (the beautiful lady)

Enjoy this opening to a comic story about a bumbling teacher – and note the way another of my old pupils, Wendy, sets the scene at the beginning. I’ve highlighted the character description for you to study:

You will now have written half-a-page (fifteen lines or so, depending on the size of your handwriting).

(c) Nick Hitchen 2007

Last updated on August 14, 2007