Free 11+ creative writing sheet: building suspense (PDF)
Ways to make the reader wait: short sentences, slowing a moment down, a sound before a sight, and a story about a noise in the night. For Years 4 to 6, writing stories and descriptions for the 11+.
What’s in it
The first page has the ways to make a reader wait, each with an example, a drawing of how tension rises and drops, and words for moving quietly, small sounds, light and shadow, and fear in the body. The second page slows one moment right down, builds a sentence up step by step, tells the same moment flat and then tense, shows reveals that are smaller and kinder than the reader feared, and ends with a model paragraph, paragraph hooks and what to leave out.
The third page is a whole story written from a five-minute plan, with numbered notes on what each part does. Every word, phrase and story on the sheet is written for Rush, and its methods match our creative writing guide: a five-minute plan, starting where the problem starts, and showing instead of telling. Each group of words is named as well as coloured, so it prints clearly in black and white.
- Page 1Ways to make the reader wait, the shape of suspense, and words for movement, sounds, light and fear
- Page 2Slowing a moment, flat then tense, a kinder reveal, openers, hooks and what to leave out
- Page 3A five-minute plan and a whole story, “Tap, Tap, Scrape”, with notes on what each part does
All three pages
In colour, and just as clear on a black-and-white printer. Print them back to back.
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Page 1 of 3 
Page 2 of 3 
Page 3 of 3
Planning a story against the clock
The guide shows how 11+ writing tasks are set, a five-minute plan, and what markers look for.
More free printables
Everything for creative writing is on one page: all 15 creative writing printables. Or see every subject.
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Describing the woodsWords and phrases for the woods: trees, paths, light and creatures, its sounds and smells, and a story about a dog that runs off the path.
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Describing the seasideWords and phrases for the seaside: the beach, the sea, rock pools and the pier, and a story about a tide coming in.
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Describing a stormWords and phrases for a storm: wind, rain, thunder and lightning, seen from indoors and out, and a story about a power cut.
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Describing an old houseWords and phrases for an old house: rooms, stairs, dust sheets and creaking floorboards, and a story about a bang in the attic.
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Describing a city at nightWords and phrases for a city after dark: streetlights, traffic, crowds and the river, and a story about getting lost at the Christmas lights.
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Describing snow and iceWords and phrases for snow and ice: falling snow, frost, icicles and frozen ponds, and a story about a sledge that ends up on the ice.
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Describing a caveWords and phrases for a cave: passages, chambers, stalactites and echoes, and a story about the lamps going out.
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Describing a journeyWords and phrases for a journey: stations, trains and the view from the window, with cars and ferries too, and a story about finding the right stop.
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Describing a schoolWords and phrases for a school: classrooms, corridors, the hall and the playground, and a story about a first day and a fire bell.
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Describing a characterWords for faces, hair, clothes, hands and voices, why one telling detail beats a list, and a story about a grumpy new neighbour.
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How characters move and speakVerbs for how characters move, body language, words for speaking and how to set out speech, and a story told mostly in dialogue.
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Feelings, shown not toldSeven feelings shown through the face, hands, voice and what a character does, never named, and a story that goes from nervous to proud.
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Story openingsSix ways to open a story, where to start, what a first paragraph must do, openings for common 11+ titles, and a story with a strong start.
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Story endingsFive ways to end a story, tying the ending to what the character wants, what to do with five minutes left, and a story whose ending does the work.
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