Diary / Recount - Gabriel's 11+ Writing Lab

Task Type: Diary / First-Person Recount

What's the Task?

Imagine you are the main character in an adventure! A diary entry or a first-person recount asks you to write from their point of view, using "I", "me", and "my". You'll share their direct experiences, thoughts, feelings, and observations as events happen. You might be asked to write a diary entry about discovering a hidden animal sanctuary, or recount the thrilling moment you escaped from a giant eagle's nest. It’s all about putting yourself in the character's shoes (or paws!) and telling the story as if it happened to you. Time and length are usually similar to other writing tasks.

Exam Success Checklist

To write a convincing diary or recount, keep these points in mind:

Consistent 'I' Voice: Remember you ARE the character. Stick to using "I", "me", "my", "mine" throughout.
Show Feelings Clearly: Don't just say "I was scared." Show it! "My heart hammered against my ribs, and my breath caught in my throat." Describe the character's emotions vividly.
Logical Order (Chronological): Tell the events in the order they happened. Use time words like 'First', 'Next', 'Then', 'After that', 'Finally'.
Include Sensory Details: What did the character see, hear, smell, touch? Including these makes the experience feel real for the reader.
Personal Thoughts & Reflections: What did the character think about what was happening? What questions did they have? Include these inner thoughts.
Correct SPaG: Always check your Spelling, Punctuation, and Grammar!

14th August
Deep in the Serpent's Tooth Jungle

My legs still feel like jelly. I can hardly believe what I saw just an hour ago. I was tracking the path of the elusive Sun-Wing butterfly, pushing through thick, wet leaves, when everything went utterly silent. Even the screeching insects stopped. A prickle of unease crawled up my spine. That's when I saw it.

At first, I thought it was just a shadow pooling beneath the giant ferns. But the shadow *moved*. Two eyes, the colour of molten gold, blinked open in the darkness. They weren't reflecting light; they seemed to glow from within. My breath hitched. Slowly, gracefully, a creature emerged, sleeker and darker than any panther. Its fur seemed to drink the dappled sunlight, making it almost invisible against the jungle floor. It moved with a liquid silence that terrified me more than a roar would have.

It paused, fixing those hypnotic eyes on me. I was frozen, my hand hovering over the emergency flare in my pocket, but unable to move a muscle. Was it hostile? Curious? I couldn't tell. It simply watched me for what felt like an eternity, then, as silently as it appeared, it melted back into the shadows. Gone. My heart is still pounding like a drum. What *was* that creature? The locals whisper legends of a 'Shadow Cat', but I always thought they were myths. Not anymore. I need to be more careful out here.

Why it works: Consistent first-person ("I", "my", "me"). Shows feelings ("legs feel like jelly", "prickle of unease", "breath hitched", "terrified me", "frozen", "heart is still pounding"). Clear chronological order of events. Includes sensory details (sight: "molten gold" eyes, dark fur, dappled sunlight; sound: silence). Contains personal reflection and questions ("Was it hostile?", "What was that creature?").

Recount Strategy: The 'FEAR' Formula

When writing a recount or diary entry, especially about an exciting or scary moment, try using the 'FEAR' formula to structure your thoughts:

Feelings: How did 'I' (the character) feel at that exact moment? Start with the emotion. (e.g., Panic surged through me...)
Events: What was happening right then? Describe the key action clearly and in order. (e.g., ...as the branch I was holding started to crack.)
Actions: What did 'I' do immediately in response? (e.g., I desperately scrabbled for a hold on the slippery rock face above.)
Reflection: What was 'I' thinking? What question popped into my head? What did I realise? (e.g., Would I make it? This climb was far more dangerous than I'd thought.)

Using FEAR helps you include those crucial personal feelings and thoughts alongside the action, making your recount much more engaging!

Graphic illustrating the FEAR formula: Feelings, Events, Actions, Reflection

Use FEAR to capture exciting moments!

Ready to Practise?

Put yourself in someone else's shoes! Try writing a diary entry or a first-person recount using the FEAR formula for exciting parts. Find some great prompts in the Practice Zone!

Scribbles the monkey mascot looking thoughtful

Monkebius says: "To write a great diary, pretend you ARE the character! What would *you* think, feel, and do in their adventure?"