Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Write Your Own Story
- StageEarly Years
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Write Your Own Story is a free printable creative writing activity. Children become the author and make up a story of their own. It needs only a pencil, and page 2 gives the grown up notes on how to use the sheet, help for children who find it hard, and a stretch idea.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages, give page 1 to your child and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Children act as the author and write a story that is completely their own. The sheet invites them to use their creativity and have fun. There is no right answer, so they decide who is in the story, where it happens and what takes place. Some children will write a few sentences. Others will want to keep going. Both are fine.
Ways to build a story
Start with a character
Ask who the story is about. It could be a child, an animal, a robot or a giant. Give them a name and one thing they love or fear.
Choose a setting
Decide where and when the story happens. A cold forest, a busy school or the bottom of the sea each give very different ideas.
Add a problem
Most stories need something to go wrong or something to find. The problem gives the character something to do.
Plan an ending
Decide how the problem is solved. A child who knows the ending can write towards it and is less likely to stop halfway.
Why children enjoy writing their own stories
Writing a story lets children use ideas from the books they have read, the games they play and the things they imagine. They get to make every choice. That freedom can feel exciting, but it can also feel like a lot. A simple plan with a beginning, a middle and an ending gives children somewhere to start.
In English in the National Curriculum for England, writing includes planning what to say, drafting, reading work back and making improvements. A story is a friendly way to practise all of these. Children also practise spelling, punctuation and choosing interesting words, because they care about getting their own idea across to a reader.
Skills and curriculum link
- Creative writing
- Imagination
- Planning a story
- Writing sentences
- Choosing interesting words
- Reading work back
Ideas to help with a story
- Beginning, middle and endA story usually introduces the characters, then a problem, then a way it is sorted out. Talking through these three parts first can help.
- CharactersReaders enjoy characters who want something. Ask what your character wants and what might get in the way.
- SettingDescribing a place with the senses helps. What can the character see, hear and smell?
- TitlesA title can be chosen first or last. Some children find it easier to write the story and then decide what to call it.
Key words
- AuthorThe person who writes a story.
- CharacterA person, animal or creature in a story.
- SettingWhere and when a story takes place.
- PlotWhat happens in a story, from start to finish.
- ProblemSomething that goes wrong or needs solving in a story.
- EndingThe last part of a story, where things are sorted out.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has the notes and ideas for you.
- Talk before writing. Ask who the story is about and where it takes place. A minute of chat gives children a flying start.
- Let your child write in their own way. Spelling and neatness can wait. Ideas matter most in a first draft.
- Ask them to read the story aloud. Listen for places where they might add detail, or fix a word or a full stop.
- Celebrate the finished story. Display it, read it to a relative, or keep it in a folder of their own writing.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Start with talking, not writing. Ask your child to tell you the story out loud first. Offer a simple frame: who, where, what goes wrong and how it ends. You can write the first sentence together or scribe their ideas.
To stretch confident children
Add a second problem so the story has a twist. Try describing a setting using three senses. Or write the story again from a different character's point of view and notice what changes. Read both versions aloud and compare them.
Make it a game
Play pass the story. One person says the first sentence. The next person adds the second, and so on around the group. Stop after a few turns and see how silly or exciting the story has become. Then write it down.
Mistakes to watch for
Watch forThe story has no ending and just stops.
Try thisAsk, "How does the problem get solved?" Plan the ending before writing, even as a quick note or drawing.
Watch forEvery sentence starts with the same word, such as "Then".
Try thisRead it aloud together. Ask your child to change two sentence openings, using words about time or place.
Watch forThe child writes very little and says they have no ideas.
Try thisGive two choices, such as a dragon or a dog, a castle or a beach. Choosing between two things is easier than inventing from nothing.
Talk about it
- Who is the main character, and what do they want most?
- Where does your story take place? What can your character see and hear there?
- What is the biggest problem in your story?
- How does your character feel at the end? Has anything changed?
- If you wrote a second story, which character would come back?
- What is your favourite sentence, and why?
Take it off the page
Draw the setting
Draw the place where the story happens. Add labels or short sentences to say what is there.
Make a character card
Fold a piece of paper. Draw a character on the front and write their name, likes and fears inside.
Tell a story aloud
Tell a story at bedtime or in the car, taking turns to add a line. Practising out loud makes writing easier later.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit beside your child to talk through ideas, then step back and let them write. Praise the ideas first. Choose just one thing to improve, such as a missing full stop, so the task stays enjoyable.
Teachers
Use it as a quick writing task, a wet playtime activity or a starting point for a longer piece of writing. Children can plan, draft and then read their work to a partner. It also works as supply cover.
Home educators
Writing a story fits easily into a home education day. Add illustrations, make a small book with folded paper, or build a collection of stories over several weeks. Children can see their own progress.
Where this fits in your child's writing
Before writing their own story, children usually enjoy hearing and reading stories, retelling them and talking about characters and events. Learning to write clear sentences with capital letters and full stops also helps, as does having a good bank of words to choose from.
After this, children can build longer stories, add dialogue, describe settings in more detail and learn to edit their own work. They may also try other kinds of writing, such as letters, diaries or poems, using the same planning habits.
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Write Your Own Story for?
The page does not give a set age. It suits primary aged children who enjoy making up stories. Younger children can tell their story aloud while an adult writes it down, and older children can write at greater length.
- What do we need to do this activity?
A pencil is enough. Some children like to add colouring pencils or crayons to draw their characters and settings. Having a spare piece of paper for planning ideas can also be useful before writing begins.
- Is there a right or wrong story?
No. The activity is about imagination, so every story is valid. Adults can help by giving feedback on one or two things, such as a clear ending or an interesting word, rather than correcting everything.
- What is on page 2?
Page 2 is for the grown up. It has notes on how to use the sheet, help for children who find writing hard and a stretch idea. There are no answers, because a story has no single correct version.
- How long should my child spend on it?
There is no set time. Let your child stop when the story feels finished, or come back to it another day. A short story that your child is proud of is better than a long one written under pressure.
- What if my child says they cannot think of anything?
Start by talking. Offer two choices for a character and two for a setting, and let your child pick. Then ask what could go wrong. Small choices make a blank page much less daunting.
- Can this be used in the classroom?
Yes. It works as a short writing task, a planning exercise or a starting point for a longer piece. Children can share their stories in pairs or read them to the class. Teachers can adapt it to any ability.
Preview the full PDF
Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.