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Literary Techniques

Master the literary techniques that examiners look for in 11+ creative writing. Each technique includes clear definitions, real examples, exam tips, and practice exercises to help you write with confidence.

23 techniques

4 categories

CSSE, Kent & FSCE aligned

All Techniques

Literary Devices

Sentence Craft

Narrative Craft

Structure & Organisation

Showing 23 of 23 techniques

Literary Devices

Figurative language that brings your writing to life · 7 techniques

Literary Devices

Foundation

Simile

A comparison between two things using the words "like" or "as".

“The fog hung like a thick grey curtain across the harbour.”

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Literary Devices

Foundation

Metaphor

A direct comparison that says something IS something else, without using "like" or "as".

“The classroom was a zoo after the teacher left.”

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Literary Devices

Foundation

Personification

Giving human qualities, feelings, or actions to something that is not human — an object, an animal, or an idea.

“The wind howled through the empty streets, searching for someone to torment.”

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Literary Devices

Foundation

Alliteration

The repetition of the same sound at the beginning of nearby words.

“The slippery, slimy snake slithered silently through the grass.”

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Literary Devices

Foundation

Onomatopoeia

A word that sounds like the thing it describes.

“The leaves crunched underfoot as I made my way through the autumn woods.”

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Literary Devices

Intermediate

Pathetic Fallacy

Using weather or the natural environment to reflect or mirror a character's mood or the atmosphere of a scene.

“Grey clouds gathered overhead as I walked to school, dreading the day ahead.”

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Literary Devices

Advanced

Extended Metaphor

A metaphor that continues across several sentences or an entire paragraph, developing the comparison in depth.

“The crowd moved like a river — eddying around bargains, pooling at popular corners, occasionally spilling into the road.”

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Sentence Craft

Techniques for varied, powerful sentences · 5 techniques

Sentence Craft

Foundation

Short Sentences for Impact

Using a very short sentence (sometimes just one or two words) to create drama, shock, or emphasis.

“I reached for the door handle, my heart pounding, my fingers trembling, my breath caught somewhere between my chest and my throat. It was locked.”

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Sentence Craft

Foundation

Varied Sentence Openers

Starting sentences in different ways instead of always beginning with "I", "The", or "He/She".

“Cautiously, I pushed the door open.”

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Sentence Craft

Intermediate

Embedded Clauses

A clause inserted into the middle of a sentence, usually between commas or dashes, that adds extra information.

“The old man, who had lived in the village for sixty years, knew every stone in every wall.”

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Sentence Craft

Intermediate

Effective Dialogue

Using speech between characters to reveal personality, move the plot forward, or create tension.

“"We need to leave," she whispered, her eyes fixed on the door. "Now."”

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Sentence Craft

Foundation

Ellipsis for Suspense

Using three dots (...) to create a pause, suggest something left unsaid, or build suspense.

“I pushed open the door and there, on the table, was... nothing. The room was completely empty.”

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Narrative Craft

Story-level skills that examiners reward · 9 techniques

Narrative Craft

Foundation

Show, Don't Tell

Instead of telling the reader what a character feels ("She was scared"), showing it through physical actions, sensations...

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Narrative Craft

Foundation

Sensory Detail (Five Senses)

Using sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste to create vivid, immersive descriptions.

“Sight: The garden was a patchwork of colour — deep purples, fiery oranges, and the soft pink of roses.”

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Narrative Craft

Advanced

Foreshadowing

Hinting at something that will happen later in the story, creating a sense of anticipation or unease.

“"Don't go in there," Gran had said that morning. I should have listened.”

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Narrative Craft

Foundation

Rule of Three

Grouping ideas, adjectives, or phrases in threes for emphasis and rhythm.

“The room was dark, cold, and silent.”

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Narrative Craft

Intermediate

Contrast and Juxtaposition

Placing two opposite or very different things side by side to highlight their differences and create a powerful effect.

“The park, so full of laughter that morning, was now eerily empty.”

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Narrative Craft

Intermediate

Creating Atmosphere

Using a combination of setting description, word choice, sentence length, and literary devices to create a specific mood...

“Tense atmosphere: Shadows pooled in the corners of the room. The clock ticked. Nothing else moved.”

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Narrative Craft

Advanced

Pacing and Slow-Motion Writing

Controlling the speed of your narrative — slowing down at key moments for drama, speeding up when action is happening fa...

“SLOW: The vase tipped. I watched it fall — slowly at first, as though deciding whether to go through with it. Light caught the glaze. The painted flowers blurred. Then it hit the floor, and the sound of breaking filled the room like an explosion.”

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Narrative Craft

Intermediate

Reflection and Circular Endings

Ending a story by reflecting on what has happened, what has been learned, or by circling back to an image or idea from t...

“Circular: Opening — "It was supposed to be an ordinary Tuesday." Ending — "Tuesday would never feel ordinary again."”

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Narrative Craft

Intermediate

Emotive Language

Choosing words specifically to make the reader feel a particular emotion — sympathy, anger, joy, sadness, or outrage.

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Structure & Organisation

Planning and organising your writing · 2 techniques

Structure & Organisation

Foundation

Powerful Openings

Starting your story or description in a way that immediately grabs the reader's attention.

“Action opening: "Run!" The word tore through the darkness before I even saw who had shouted it.”

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Structure & Organisation

Foundation

Purposeful Paragraphing

Breaking your writing into paragraphs at the right moments — when the time, place, topic, or speaker changes.

“New paragraph for new time: "That evening..." / "Three hours later..."”

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Ready to Practise Your Writing?

Put these techniques to the test with our exam-style creative writing prompts. Each prompt is designed to help you practise the skills that examiners reward.