GCSE English Language: Writing Fiction

Not sure how to approach writing fiction in your GCSE English Language exam? It can be tough to produce a story that makes sense in the time given, let alone include the language devices, interesting vocabulary and figurative techniques that will make the examiner sit up and take notice. Catch Up in English GCSE's writing fiction course will help you.
Join the course

Succeed in writing fiction

  • Approaching the question

    Understand how to break down, plan for and structure a piece of fiction in the exam.

  • Key techniques

    Know some key techniques you can use to make your writing effective.

  • Practice exercises

    Complete practice exercises to build up to a full piece of writing.

Course curriculum

  • 1

    Chapter 1: Course Overview

  • 2

    Chapter 2: Breaking Down the Question

  • 3

    Chapter 3: Planning Your Work

    • Lesson overview

    • Planning Your Work

    • Why plan?

    • How to plan

    • Planning a narrative

    • Narrative example

    • How to plan descriptive

    • A second descriptive example

    • Stretch planning
  • 4

    Chapter 4: How to Start Your Answer

    • Lesson overview

    • Starting Your Answer- Introduction

    • Once Upon a Time

    • Narrative and descriptive examples

    • No-nos

    • Improve My Work
  • 5

    Chapter 5: Paragraphs

    • Lesson overview

    • Lesson introduction

    • The Basics

    • Getting Fancy

    • Paragraphing quiz
  • 6

    Chapter 6: Sentence Structure

    • Lesson overview

    • Lesson introduction

    • The three sentence types

    • Simple sentences

    • Compound sentences

    • Complex sentences

    • Creating an effect

    • Comma splices

    • Sentence structure quiz
  • 7

    Chapter 7: Punctuation

    • Lesson overview

    • Lesson introduction

    • Apostrophes

    • Colons

    • Semicolons

    • Punctuation exercises
  • 8

    Chapter 8: Using Dialogue

    • Lesson overview

    • Lesson introduction

    • Using dialogue tags

    • Action

    • A final note

    • Dialogue exercises

    • Dialogue exercises - answers
  • 9

    Chapter 9: Vocabulary

    • Lesson overview

    • Lesson introduction

    • Levelling up your vocabulary

    • A note of caution

    • Tone
  • 10

    Chapter 10: Linguistic Techniques

    • Lesson overview

    • Lesson introduction

    • Sound devices

    • Figurative devices

    • Linguistic techniques quiz
  • 11

    Chapter 11: Concluding Your Answer

    • Concluding your answer

    • Lesson introduction

    • Finishing a story

    • Two possible story endings

    • Ending a description
  • 12

    Chapter 12: Checking Your Work

    • Lesson overview

    • Lesson introduction

    • What to check

    • Tips and tricks

    • Conclusion
  • 13

    Practice Questions

    • Practice questions