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Lost

Story Writing

Foundation

30 minutes

CSSE

Kent

Independent

The Prompt

“Write a story titled "Lost".”

Planning Hints

4 tips to help you plan your response

Who is lost — your character, an animal, an object with sentimental value?

Where are they lost — a forest, a city, a building, a foreign country?

Build tension: what makes the situation feel worse as time passes?

Resolution: how are they found or how do they find their way?

Starter Sentences

Suggested opening lines to get you started

“The path had disappeared. I was sure it had been right here, between the two oak trees.”

“It started as an adventure. It didn't stay that way for long.”

“Three left turns and a right. Or was it three rights and a left?”

Key Techniques to Demonstrate

Techniques the examiner will be looking for in your response

Annotated Model Answer

A high-quality example response with techniques highlighted

Three left turns and a right. Or was it three rights and a left? The market stalls all looked the same — a jumble of bright fabrics, spices piled in pyramids of gold and rust, voices haggling in a language I couldn't understand. I spun around. Nothing was familiar. "Mum?" My voice came out smaller than I intended, swallowed instantly by the noise. The crowd surged around me like a river, and I was a stone in its path — bumped, jostled, ignored. I pressed my back against a wall and tried to breathe. Think. That's what Dad always said. Don't panic — think. I closed my eyes and listened. Somewhere beneath the chatter and the clatter of pots, I could hear music. The man with the accordion — he had been playing near the fountain, and the fountain was near our hotel. I was sure of it. I followed the sound. It threaded through the alleyways like a trail of breadcrumbs, growing louder with each turn. Left, then right, then through a narrow passage where cats dozed on warm stone. And there it was: the fountain, its water catching the late afternoon sun in tiny diamonds of light. Mum was sitting on the edge, phone in hand, her face tight with worry. When she saw me, the worry cracked open into relief so fierce it looked almost like anger. She pulled me into a hug that smelled of sunscreen and coffee, and for a long moment, neither of us said anything at all.

Hover or tap the highlighted phrases to see the technique and explanation

Techniques Used in This Answer

Sensory Detail (x2)

Show Dont Tell (x2)

Extended Simile

Short Sentences

Simile

Metaphor

Ready to Write?

Practice this prompt under timed conditions, just like the real exam. You have 30 minutes.

Planning Templates

Suitable for story writing

Story Mountain

The classic 5-part narrative structure. Perfect for story writing prompts where you need a clear beginning, middle, and end.

5 steps|3-5 minutes

4-Paragraph Plan (CSSE Style)

A focused structure for shorter writing tasks (15-20 minutes). Ideal for CSSE where you only write 2 compulsory paragraphs, but this plan gives you 4 strong ones if time allows.

4 steps|2-3 minutes