🎓 Pilot Course

11+ Creative Writing Fundamentals

The core descriptive and narrative writing skills for the 11+, taught through vivid stories — one technique at a time.

📦 3 blocks ✍️ 21 lessons 🎯 Creative Writing

Block 1 — Finding & Planning Ideas

8 lessons
1
🏛️
Taking Inspiration
Greek Myths · Nathaniel Hawthorne
Where ideas come from — influence, imitation and emulation of other writers.
Plan →
2
🏭
Writing from Experience
Hard Times · Charles Dickens
Turn your own life, places and observations into fiction.
Plan →
3
🗺️
Planning
The Selfish Giant · Oscar Wilde
Shape ideas into a story — conflict, structure and intent before you write.
Plan →
4
🪞
Using Symbols
Markheim · R. L. Stevenson (1885)
Symbolism, motif and theme — objects that carry a deeper idea.
⚙ Scaffold Open → Review → Plan →
5
⚗️
Unity of Effect & Cohesion
Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde · R. L. Stevenson (1886)
Make every choice serve one overall effect.
Plan →
6
❄️
Choosing Words for Effect
The Merry Men · R. L. Stevenson (1887)
Diction, connotation and semantic fields — words that carry meaning.
Plan →
7
🌍
Senses & Atmosphere
Around the World in Eighty Days
Use all five senses to build a setting and create atmosphere.
✓ Built Open → Review →
8
🐴
Setting
Black Beauty · Anna Sewell (1877)
Time, place, viewpoint and context — a world the reader steps into.
⚙ Scaffold Open → Review → Plan →
1
🚀
ISPACE
A Honeymoon in Space
Vary your sentence openings (ISPACE) to give a strange quest rhythm and flow.
Plan →
2
👓
Narrative POV & Perspective
A Matter of Fact
Tell the same event from different points of view.
Plan →
3
🔍
Specificity
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer · Mark Twain (1876)
Precise, specific detail drawn from knowledge and research.
Plan →
4
🎩
Characterisation Pt. 1
Great Expectations · Charles Dickens (1861)
Build a rounded character with STEAL — speech, thoughts, effect, actions, looks.
Plan →
5
🦜
Characterisation Pt. 2
The Story of Doctor Dolittle
Reveal character indirectly — show kindness or selfishness through actions.
Plan →
6
🦕
DRPOISAM Pt. 1
The Land That Time Forgot
Use DRPOISAM to turn an object into something charged with story.
Plan →
7
🐇
DRPOISAM Pt. 2
Through the Looking-Glass · Lewis Carroll (1871)
Use DRPOISAM to describe a surreal, dreamlike place with control.
Plan →
8
🏰
Beginnings & Endings
The Blue Castle
Shape openings and endings around a character’s transformation.
Plan →
1
🤠
Structure and Pace
The Lone Star Ranger
Control structure and pace in a race-against-time story.
Plan →
2
🐉
Generic Conventions
Grimm Tales
Use, adapt or subvert the conventions of a genre.
Plan →
3
✒️
Descriptive Skills
Tales of War · Lord Dunsany
Sharpen vivid, controlled description that carries mood and meaning.
Plan →
4
⏳
Flashbacks and Foreshadowing
Rip Van Winkle
Control time with flashback and foreshadowing.
Plan →
5
🎭
Avoiding Cliche, Humour and Style
Arsène Lupin versus Herlock Sholmes
Spot clichés and rewrite for fresh, surprising style.
Plan →
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