Y05W13WR The Door I Decided to Open

Part 1

How to Write

Narrative – Short story

A short story draws a reader into a character’s world and carries them through an experience that changes something. It is written for an audience who wants to be engaged and moved — not just informed. The tone is vivid and personal, making the reader feel present in the moment and curious about what comes next.

  • Ideas & content: Give your character a clear situation and a problem or tension that matters. Include specific details rather than general descriptions, and make sure something genuinely changes by the end.
  • Structure & cohesion: Move from orientation to complication to resolution. Use paragraph breaks to shift scenes or time, and connect moments with time words and action to keep the story moving forward.
  • Voice & audience: Find a consistent narrative voice that brings the reader close to the character’s experience. Show feelings through actions and reactions — not just by stating them.
  • Language choices: Choose strong verbs and sensory detail. Use dialogue to reveal character. Vary sentence length — shorter sentences create tension, longer ones build atmosphere.
  • Conventions: New speaker, new line — every time. Use speech marks correctly. Keep your tense consistent throughout.

Common pitfalls: Starting too slowly with too much backstory — get into the situation quickly and let detail emerge naturally. Telling the reader how a character feels instead of showing it through what the character does.

Part 2

Your Task Plan for Today

The brief

Question: Write a story about what happens when you decide to open the door.

Stimulus: On the way to school one morning, you notice a small wooden door built into the base of an old tree in the park. You have walked past this tree hundreds of times before. The door was never there before today. It is slightly open.

Task Analysis: You found a mysterious door. Your story is about opening it and what you discover. Build the mystery step by step. Make the reader curious. Show what is inside and how you feel.

Quick Plan

Before you write, plan:

  • The moment you see the door — what does it look like?
  • Why you decide to open it — are you brave? Curious? Scared?
  • What is inside — something magical? Something ordinary? Something strange?
  • How you feel after — scared? Amazed? Disappointed?

Opening strategy

Start by describing the door so the reader can see it: its colour, size, how it feels. Make them curious about it. Show why you want to open it.

Show, don’t tell details

Use the five senses. What do you see inside? What sounds do you hear? What does the air smell like? Does something feel strange in your hands?

Turning point

The moment you open the door is important. Make it real. Does it creak? Does light pour out? Does something move? Give this moment space in your story.