Steps to write a story.

1. Writing a story

2. Writing a story
• Stories can be written either in the
first or the third person and present a
series of events, real or imaginary.
• To write a story we first decide on the
type of story, the plot and the main
characters.
• Our story can be a comedy, a spy story,
a thriller, an adventure story, a
detective story, a fairy tale.
• We normally use past tenses in stories.
E.g. He stood on the deck looking out to the sea as
the ship was leaving the harbour.

3. • When writing a story, we need to keep a
time sequence in mind. Stories describe a
sequence of events which need to be
linked with appropriate sequence words
such as:
• First, Then/Next, After/Before,
During/Meanwhile, Finally, As soon as, The
moment that, no sooner… than,
Hardly…when, Immediately, Since, While,
Until, By the time, As long as.
E.g. He stood up and walked towards the door. Meanwhile,
Stella was poking the fire.

4. • Using a variety of adjectives
(disgusting, amusing, astonishing) and
adverbs (fearlessly, cautiously,
amazingly) will make our stories more
interesting to the reader.
E.G. He carefully approached the empty house and knocked on
the wooden door.

5. • We can use descriptions of people,
places or objects to create
atmosphere and emphasise specific
parts of the narration.
E.G. Behind the desk there was a cheerful little girl looking
at me smiling shyly.
We can use direct speech to make our
stories more dramatic.
E.G. “What’s this?” she asked.

6. Introduction
In the first paragraph, we write when and
where the event happened, who the people in
the story were and what happened first.
Main Body
In the main body paragraph, we describe the
events in the order they happened. One of
the events should be the climax event. We
can use so, because, and, also to join out
sentences or ideas.
Conclusion
In the last paragraph, we write what
happened in the end and how the people in
the story felt.

7. Descriptive Techniques
To make your story more interesting to the reader
you can:
• Use a variety of adjectives and adverbs that
bring the text to life.
E.G. The lovely old lady smiled warmly at me.
• Use direct speech and a variety of verbs such as:
exclaimed, screamed, announced, mentioned,
stated, expressed, shouted to avoid using said all
the time.
E.G. Instead of saying “Let’s go.” he said, you can say
“Let’s go” he exclaimed.
• Use your senses (sight, sound, smell, taste, touch).
E.G. I heard the sound of shattering glass and saw
people running hurriedly towards the exit.

8. Beginning and Ending a
story
• The beginning and ending of a story is very
important. A good beginning will stimulate
interest and make the reader want to continue
reading the story. A good ending will give the
reader a sense of satisfaction.
• Remember that more than one technique may
be used to begin or end a story

9. Ways of starting a story
• Create atmosphere by describing
the weather, people, setting the
scene.
• Using direct speech, either a
statement or a question.
• Expressing someone’s mood or
feelings.
• Directly addressing the reader.
• Asking a rhetoric question.

10. Ways of ending a story.
• Using direct speech.
• Asking a rhetoric question.
• Describing your reaction, feelings or
mood.
• Describing other people’s reaction or
feelings.
• Creating a feeling of suspense or
mystery.