Free 11+ creative writing word bank: describing a character (PDF)
Words for faces, hair, clothes, hands and voices, why one telling detail beats a list, and a story about a grumpy new neighbour. For Years 4 to 6, writing stories and descriptions for the 11+.
What’s in it
The first page has words for faces, eyes, hair, build, clothes, hands and voices, the verbs for what faces do, a labelled picture of a character, and sounds and smells that belong to a person. The second page shows how one telling detail beats a list, showing someone through what they do, carry and say, a character built up step by step, two characters side by side, comparisons, opening lines, a model paragraph 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 1Faces, eyes, hair, build, clothes, hands and voices, what faces do, and a labelled character
- Page 2One detail beats a list, do, carry and say, building a character, two characters, comparisons and what to leave out
- Page 3A five-minute plan and a whole story, “Over the Fence”, 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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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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Building suspenseWays 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.
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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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