Are you looking for tips to help edit creative writing? BINGO! You’re in the right place.

This worksheet includes editing tips that you can scan for and use to level up your writing.

Tips are detailed below:

Story Editing ChecklistMain ProblemInclude a clear main problem for your main character.Does your character act to solve the problem?Difficult ChoicesGive your main character difficult choices to make.Make sure they try to act like a hero, not a villain.DetailsExpand sentences into paragraphs.For example: Instead of writing “He was bullied,” show us what happened:
Every day after school, four Year 6s waited for Jim by the bike sheds.
“Look who it is,” their leader sneered. “Lucky us.”ThoughtsShow what your character is thinking.Hopeful: I’m sure if I just try again… One more time.Suspicious: What’s Anna doing over there?Afraid: What if I can’t do it?DialogueLet characters speak instead of just telling the reader.“Don’t lie to me!” Mum said.“Stay here,” Dad told me.SimilesCompare things using like or as.A bully as mean as a hungry hawk.Her hair shone like the river in moonlight.Sensory InformationInclude descriptions of:TastesSmellsFeelingsSoundsPhysicalityShow emotions through body language.Instead of ‘I felt scared’, write ‘I could hardly breathe.’Instead of ‘I was sad’, write ‘I felt like my heart would break.’Strong VerbsReplace ordinary verbs with stronger ones.I went to my car → I sprinted to my car.I looked in the bag → I peeked in the bag.DescriptionsDescribe people and places.What are they wearing?Where are they? For example: The room was old and dusty with high windows.Unique Two-Word AdjectivesCreate interesting descriptions. For example:Egg-yolk yellowWashing-machine wavesWeather to Reflect MoodUse weather to match the feeling of the story.Sunny day = hopeRain clouds gathering = danger is approachingNew Idea? New LineStart a new line whenever the speaker or idea changes. For example:“What’s that odd noise?”
“It’s a kitten.”
“But why is it in my house?”OnomatopoeiaUse sound words for impact.Crunch!Argh!PunctuationRead your story aloud.If you pause, you might need a comma.If it’s a new idea, you might need a full stop.SpellingCheck any words you’re unsure about using a dictionary.

You can download my Editing Bingo resource here.

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