Getting a good GCSE creative writing plot going can be difficult, here are some ideas to help you out.
Ahead of your exams, here are a selection of GCSE creative writing ideas and prompts to hopefully provide some inspiration.
Go out of this world
Aliens, Alien worlds and Sci-Fi in general is another creative writing topic where you can let your mind run free. If you're given a prompt to write a story involving a storm, it doesn't need to be a storm on earth.
Going out of this world allows you to be really descriptive in your language and paint a picture of a completely unique world and species. Plot lines to consider could include an space mission that goes wrong or the discovery of alien life while exploring another planet.
Superhuman powers
Discovering you have a supernatural ability is a great way to begin a story. You can take it in many directions - what is the power? Does it make you feel anxious and fearful or suddenly powerful and unafraid? What are consequences of its use? Does it have any limitations? How will others react?
Write from real life
Take inspiration from your real life experiences. For example, if you're asked to write a short story about a friendship or a story about an animal, think of times spent with your own friends or pets.
Time travel
Time travel is always a good plot line when you're stuck for ideas as you can really let your imagination run wild. Going forward in time allows to make up a completely new world with no limits, while going backwards can make for an interesting story as you mix the past and present.
Disaster
Disaster movies do well at the box office and can provide for a great creative writing story line. Whether it's a comet threatening to destroy the planet, a mega tsunami that could wipe out the whole of the UK or something as ridiculous as the plot of The Core, you can go to town with your writing if you follow this route.
Mystery
Whodunits? are another popular plot to choose and can allow you to really tell a story and lead the reader on quite the trail. Perhaps consider starting at a murder scene with the grizzly discovery of a body before flashing back and telling how it all came to be.
Transpose a story
Transposing a story involves rewriting it in a different context. For example, a tale such as the Boy Who Cried Wolf could be rewritten as a factual news article. The Guardian newspaper did just this with their fantastic Three Little Pigs TV ad:
Romance
An idea as old as writing itself: Love and romance is something we can all relate to and you'll probably have some personal feelings that you can incorporate into your work. Possible plot lines could be a tale of unrequited or forbidden love.