Writing Paper Part 2. Task Type: Story

Question
You have seen details of a story-writing competition in a magazine and have decided to enter:

Write your story for the magazine (around 120-180 words).

What you need to do to pass
Use our checklist first to understand what the examiner wants you to do.

Ideas for writing
Ask yourself the following questions to help you get started:

• Where were you and what were you doing when the letter arrived? These background details will help you set the scene for the story.
• When and how did the letter arrive? Were you expecting it, or was it a complete surprise?
  
• What was in the letter? Some good news or something unpleasant? Be inventive and try to think of something original!
  
• What was your first reaction on reading the letter? How did you feel later on?
  
• What happened as a consequence of receiving the letter? How did your life change? Was the change a positive one or do/did you have any regrets?
  

Drafting and proofreading your work
You should look at your first draft of the task and decide:

• Does your story keep to the point of the title?
  
• Does the story develop in a clear and logical way?
  
• Is the language correct with a good range of structures?
• Will the reader enjoy reading your story?
• Is the style OK?
  
  

If the answer to any of these questions is 'no' you will need to do some more drafting!