How to write a quality Original Story Composition

By Sudhir Sahasranaman on 01 Jun 2025

Tags: Original Story, English Language ICSE, Sudhir Sahasranaman, SWS, Study with Sudhir, ICSE 2026,


To write a quality Original Story composition, you need to take care of these aspects. The story should have a tight storyline with an engaging opening, a riveting middle part and an ending that completely bowls over the examiner. You need dialogues, interesting characters, a setting to the story, a plot. The reader should feel compelled to stay with the story. There could be a moral lesson in it. The story could be motivational. 
 
The question might give you a title to the story or it could give you an opening or closing phrase or it could mention the two or three characters who must be part of the plot. The challenge is to let your imagination soar and work out a plot that is immensely readable. Stories with a touch of humour, dollops of emotion or the intrigue of suspense work well.
 
Elements to bear in mind : 
 
(a) If you are a compulsive reader of fiction, this is certainly a good format to attempt because your mind would then naturally veer towards characters and plots. 
 
(b) While being imaginative is a plus, you also need to be economical with words. Students in the past have often got lost in the world they create and are not able to track the number of words they write. Keep an eye on the word limit. 
 
(c) Do not include more than 2 to 3 characters. Including more characters will overcomplicate the plot and you may exceed the word limit.
 
(d) If the opening line provided to you has a lot of action in it, the first paragraph has to lift the suspense while ensuring you retain the dramatic element. Write all details to lend authenticity to your story. The introduction should be an engaging hook and make the examiner curious to know what happens next.
 
(e) Ensure your storytelling maintains a quick pace to complement the dramatic opening line. 
 
(f) It is important to ensure that the twist in your story is dramatic and not tame. Think of yourself as a reader and ask yourself - would you find your plot interesting?
 
(g) Use dialogues in the first person where relevant.