How to make your story captivating
Many parents and students have wondered how to make their composition captivating and alluring.
Does it mean that I would be able to score well with a great plot ?
Is it necessary for me to use idioms, phrases or good words ?
These are two of some common questions students asked frequently.
Being a creative writing for the past 8 years, I normally advise students to follow with the basic needs of a story :
1) Climax is necessary
2) Elaboration of the climax is crucial
3) At least 2 idioms ( Try to have around 4 - 6 idioms)
4) At least 1 vivid verbs every two sentences.
5) Your story must have at least 3 emotions - one emotion for each part; introduction, climax, conclusion.
6) Have to start with a strong starter.
7) A good twist to the story, away from the norm (only recommended for advance writers as there is a danger of going out of point.
Beside the basic "criteria", the main question is why is it that even when I have all these, I don't seem to be able to ace my writing.
Well, the main issue lies in your elaboration of the climax.
To many students, they feel that having a climax means elaborating on the victim's injuries and emotions. That is actually true but how you elaborate it is the crucial part.
Let's take for example, many students describe pain in a brief 1 to 2 sentences:
I was moaning and groaning in pain. Blood oozed out of my forehead.
These two sentences are good and viable if you are in Primary 1, 2 or 3.
If you are in the upper primary level, these two sentences are certainly nowhere close to helping you score an A.
Climax refers to how someone describes the rise of the event. You should not jump straight to the reaction of moaning as the readers, your teachers, want to know how the climax developed. Just like the usual show not tell ! Just that, this time you have to show and tell.
I lay sprawl on the cold hard ground, gradually losing my consciousness. At that moment, I could feel no pain, not even the pricking of pins and needles. From the corner of my eyes, I saw passers-by crowding around. A few of them seemed to be fishing out their phone; perhaps to dial for help. I wanted to scream for help but no matter how hard I tried, no words seemed to be coming out, not even a soft murmur. As my eyes wandered and my vision become blur, I became oblivious to my surrounding. Within minutes, I was gasping for air, as if I was drowning in an ocean. My lungs were shut tight and then, the whole world became dark.
In this short paragraph, you can see that there is a sequence, a step by step process in the climax. This is what the teachers and readers want to read.
Lastly, as a teacher or parent, it is our duty to educate the children and enlighten them that, YES, memorising of good words and phrase is crucial. But sometimes, if you are able to elaborate and plot your climax in precision, simple sentences and a few good phrases will be sufficient.
Thank you for your time to read this through.
Due to the request of many parents, we have decided to come up with a set of writing guide. This writing guide will include:
Phrases and emotions classified by the different themes
Guide to writing good introduction and conclusion
How to write a captivating climax. 10 practice exercises.
The writing guide will be sold at $8.90 net. Interested please email me at :
