Writing an imaginative essay

What is an imaginative essay? Creative writing where you invent. It can start from real events, things you have seen, or your own experience. It is usually descriptive or reflective (thinking about what something means).

'Imaginative' does not mean 'anything goes'. Invented stories need more structure, not less, because the reader has nothing familiar to hold on to.

The sample: 'My Life as EcoFlash'.

1. Introduction. Catch the reader's attention and state the situation at once: 'Imagine an ordinary 13-year-old student who is also a secret superhero protecting the environment. That's my life as EcoFlash!'

2. Setting and context. Who she is by day, her powers, what she wears and carries. Explain the unusual things briefly (a green suit, a glowing leaf symbol, a seed pouch), then move on.

3. One central idea. Here: protecting the environment. Everything in the essay serves it, and events follow logically, even though the idea is impossible.

4. A turning point. Her little brother nearly gives away her secret, and she has to convince him it was a magic trick. Without such a moment there is no story, only a description.

5. Conclusion. Reflect, don't just repeat: 'Being EcoFlash is not just about powers but also responsibility… even small changes can make a big difference, and that's what keeps me going.'

Checklist before you write (on being a scarf blown off a clothesline, or a magical book that takes you to another time):

• a title;
• a captivating opening;
• the setting and time;
• a main character with special traits;
• one central idea;
• sensory details and a simile or two;
• a turning point or moment of realisation;
• a reflective ending.