What is a diary entry?

• A diary entry is a form of recount where the writer explains what happened to them
• It describes the events and emotions that took place
• It talks about thoughts and feelings in a reflective way

Task Examples:

Write a diary entry about your favourite birthday

Write a diary entry from your first day at school

Write a diary entry from a character in your favourite book

Write a diary entry from your favourite historical figure

How to Structure a diary entry

It will begin ‘Dear Diary’ with a date

Paragraph 1: Introduce the event and your feelings about it You won’t believe what happened today…..

Paragraph 2: What happened next, how did it make you feel?

Paragraph 3: What are your thoughts for tomorrow?

Sign off I must go now diary because sleep beckons…….

Diary Writing Advice:

• Always plan your response first
• Use the first person ‘I’
• Talk to your diary as if it is a character
• Include thoughts, feelings, and opinions
• Write about the event in chronological order
• Use the past tense
• Include emotive language
• Include detailed descriptions and devices
• Vary your sentence structures
• Use interesting punctuation
• You can use informal, relaxed language
• You can speak openly and honestly as if you are confiding in your diary
• Proofread your work carefully

The above will help strengthen 11+ students’ creative writing skills and help them perform relatively better than their peers in their competitive exam preparation.

Join our 7+, 8+  or 11+ creative writing classes led by our expert, highly qualified, and experienced teachers to help your child improve their writing skills.