Year 7 English

Creative Writing

Develop your narrative skills with voice, show don't tell, effective dialogue, and tension-building techniques.

Narrative Voice

Narrative voice (or point of view) is who is telling the story. The voice you choose shapes how the reader experiences everything. There are three main options:

First Person ("I")

The narrator is a character in the story. We see everything through their eyes and feel their emotions directly.

"I crept down the hallway, my heart pounding so hard I was sure the whole house could hear it."

Third Person Limited ("He/She")

The narrator follows one character closely but is not inside the story. We know only what this character thinks and feels.

"She crept down the hallway. Her heart pounded so hard she was sure the whole house could hear it."

Third Person Omniscient ("All-knowing")

The narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of all characters. Can move freely between perspectives.

"She crept down the hallway, terrified. Downstairs, her brother was equally afraid, clutching a torch under the covers."

Show, Don't Tell

Strong writing shows the reader what is happening through actions, sensory details, and body language — rather than telling them directly. This lets the reader experience the story rather than just being informed about it.

TELLING

"He was nervous about the exam."

SHOWING

"He tapped his pen against the desk, reading the first question three times without taking in a single word. His mouth felt dry."

Tip: Use Your Senses

To "show", describe what a character sees, hears, smells, touches, and tastes. Include physical reactions: sweating palms, a clenched jaw, a racing heartbeat.

Writing Effective Dialogue

Good dialogue does more than just show characters talking. It reveals personality, advances the plot, and creates tension. Each character should sound different based on their background and personality.

Rules for Writing Dialogue

1. Use inverted commas (speech marks) around spoken words.

2. Start a new paragraph for each new speaker.

3. Punctuation goes inside the speech marks.

4. Use varied speech verbs: whispered, stammered, snapped, muttered.

5. Add action beats between dialogue to show what characters are doing.

Example: Dialogue with Action Beats

"We need to leave. Now." Marcus grabbed his bag and threw it over his shoulder.

Zara didn't move. "I'm not going anywhere until you tell me the truth."

He stopped at the door, his hand gripping the frame. "You really don't want to know."

Building Tension

Tension keeps readers turning pages. It is the feeling that something important, dangerous, or exciting is about to happen. Here are the key techniques:

Short Sentences

Create urgency and quicken the pace.

"She ran. The footsteps followed. Closer. Faster."

Withholding Information

Don't reveal everything at once. Let the reader wonder.

"There was something in the water. Something large."

Foreshadowing

Drop hints about what is coming to create unease.

"If only she had listened to the warning, everything might have been different."

Setting and Atmosphere

Use the environment to reflect the mood.

"The streetlight flickered once, twice, then died. Darkness swallowed the alley."

Key Concepts Summary

●Narrative voice: first person (I), third person limited (one character), or third person omniscient (all-knowing).
●Show don't tell: use actions, sensory details, and body language to convey emotions.
●Dialogue should reveal character, advance plot, and include action beats.
●Build tension with short sentences, withholding information, foreshadowing, and atmospheric setting.