Here are some activities that will help to spark your child's imagination when it comes to creative writing. There are exercises to create interesting characters, stories, letters, comics and poems and they can even design the cover for their bestseller!
Creative writing
Creative writing
Activities to support children's creative writing.
Planning a story
All good stories need a good idea. Here are some story starters.
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Planning your storyGet your story going with this quick plotting sheet. Who's your main character? What is the setting? How does it end?Age: 7+ yearsDownload -
Create a characterTurn this stick figure into a character by adding clothes and accessories. Fill in the blanks in the thoughts and speech bubbles, too.Age: 5-6 yearsDownload
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Make your mind wanderTry writing a story, article or poem about this picture.
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Creating charactersFill in these profiles to bring the protagonist of your ghost story to life.Age: 7+ yearsDownload
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Finding ideas for your storyFeeling stuck? Try borrowing a character from a book or film, and add new traits to make it your own.Age: 7+ yearsDownload
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Story pick and mixChoose three cards, then make up your own story with them.
Poems and letters
Here are some different methods of writing: interviews, poems and letters.
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What is poetry?Lots of people have some ideas about what poetry can be... but the truth is, nobody has a final answer...
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Ridiculous rhymes and ludicrous limericksIt can be a lot of fun thinking up amusing rhymes, or give a silly, bizarre description of a person in a limerick.
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Write an interviewAsk your family for an interview – or make up an interview with a fictional character such as Sleeping Beauty!
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Letter writing with WilmotTop tips on how to write a letter with Wilmot, Postmaster for The Impossible Postal Express.
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Write a letter to a child in 20302020 has been a significant year in our history and you were a part of it. We’d like to invite you to write a letter to a child in 2030 telling them what life was like for you last year and send it to us.
Comics and cartoons
Draw funny stories with these comic strip activities.
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Draw some comic book charactersFollow the instructions to create different characters.Age: 7+ yearsDownload
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Cartoon storyWhat do you think the animals are saying? Add speech bubbles to show their conversation.Age: 5-6 yearsDownload
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Write a comic strip storyFill in the blanks to write your own story.
Design a cover
All great pieces of writing need an eye-catching title and cover. Here's how to design yours.
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Design a coverCan you design a bestselling book cover? Choose your title then design the cover.
Online story writing videos and activities
Watch carefully chosen videos about creative writing. Meet a girl who wants to be a writer, transform yourself into a fairytale character on which to base your story, or write 'The Book of Me'. Here is a selection of Usborne Quicklinks all about creative writing and story starters.
