The story must include:
an envelope
a castle
(Give your story a title but don't spend too much time on it.)
First
sentence: When Julia saw the black limousine pulling up beside her, her heart froze.
When
Julia saw the black limousine pulling up
beside her, her heart froze. She had just finished her shift
at the café and was walking home through the quiet streets of the old town. The
limo's dark windows reflected the orange
light of the setting sun.
(Use
of past perfect to say what happened before the story started, and past
continuous to set the scene. Useful in the first paragraph of your story.)
The
back door opened gradually. Somebody wasn't in a hurry. A man in a elegant grey
suit stepped out, holding a small envelope. He walked toward her with a serious
expression.
(Gradually.
B2-level adverb to say how actions happened. Also see 'slightly'.)
'Julia
Martin?' he asked.
(Dialogue:
notice how the speech marks and punctuation are used.)
She
nodded, too astonished to
speak.
(Astonished.
B2 adjectives to describe feelings.)
'This is for you,' he said, handing
her the envelope. 'You've been chosen.'
(This
is a present participial phrase, which provides additional
information about the subject of the main clause. Other examples: 'Sit down
now,' said the teacher, looking very cross. 'I
won't do that again,' said Mary, shaking her
head sadly.)
'Chosen?
For what?' she finally managed to say.
He
smiled slightly.
'All will be revealed at the castle.'
Before
she could ask more, he turned, got back into the limo, and drove away.
Julia
stared at the envelope in her hands. Her name was written in golden ink. Inside was a single black card with one word:
Tonight.
Her
curiosity burned
like fire. She looked up at the disappearing limousine. Something told
her that her life was about to change forever.
(burned like fire: Use of figurative or metaphoric
language.)
And
somehow, she wasn't afraid. She was ready. (189 words)
(The
ending to this story works because it is the beginning of a new story that
leaves the reader wondering.)
When Julia saw the black limousine pulling up beside her, her heart froze. She had just finished her shift at the café, and was walking home through the quiet streets of the old town. The limo's dark windows reflected the orange light of the setting sun.
The back door opened gradually. Somebody wasn't in a hurry. A man in a elegant grey suit stepped out, holding a small envelope. He walked toward her with a serious expression.
'Julia Martin?' he asked.
She nodded, too astonished to speak.
'This is for you,' he said, handing her the envelope. 'You've been chosen.'
'Chosen? For what?' she finally managed to say.
He smiled slightly. 'All will be revealed at the castle.'
Before she could ask more, he turned, got back into the limo, and drove away.
Julia stared at the envelope in her hands. Her name was written in golden ink. Inside was a single black card with one word: Tonight.
Her curiosity burned like fire. She looked up at the disappearing limousine. Something told her that her life was about to change forever.
And somehow, she wasn't afraid. She was ready.
(189 words)
Copyright © 2025 Practising English
All rights reserved
