1. Personal, reflective writing

2. How to do it Think about a time when you felt beastly. Write about this time, remembering to include your thoughts and feelings.

3. How not to do it A very short essay: I was on holiday. I stepped on a jellyfish. It was very sore. It gets us started.

4. How not to do it A very short essay: I was on holiday. I stepped on a jellyfish. It was very sore. It gets us started.

5. How not to do it A very bad essay: A very painful event I remember is when I went off on holiday and was stung by a jellyfish. We were going to Tenerife with my aunt and cousins. When we had booked the holiday we had to wait sixteen weeks until we left. On the day we left we set the alarm clock for six. The alarm went off at six and we got up and dressed. I put on my new hat, sunglasses and shorts. I went downstairs and my dad cooked us all bacon, eggs and beans. When we ate I was made to wash up the dishes. We all went into the hall and got our suitcases. We put all the cases at the bottom of the stairs and called the taxi. When the taxi came it tooted its horn and we all got in. Glasgow Airport, please. Said my mum. The taxi drove us to the airport. Too much irrelevant detail, no atmosphere or setting, no reason to keep reading!

6. How to do it Feelings, feelings, feelings Make it as VIVID (vibrant, colourful, stunning) as possible So, it doesnt just hurt –Focus on ALL FIVE SENSES!!! –…especially at the start.

7. A good example Forked lightning danced across my limbs. My lips formed a silent o of agony as my brain struggled for words to express this new and intense pain. I could almost smell my flesh burning from the heat as the pain made my knees buckle. The gently lapping waves and even the sea-breeze itself froze to see my misery. My throat refused to swallow the tasteless pool that had once been lemon ice-cream. The laughter and shouting of happy children was an echo as all my senses competed to focus upon the fire which was blazing upwards from my feet.

8. A good example Forked lightning danced across my limbs. My lips formed a silent o of agony as my brain struggled for words to express this new and intense pain. I could almost smell my flesh burning from the heat as the pain made my knees buckle. The gently lapping waves and even the sea-breeze itself froze to see my misery. My throat refused to swallow the tasteless pool that had once been lemon ice-cream. The laughter and shouting of happy children was an echo as all my senses competed to focus upon the fire which was blazing upwards from my feet.

9. A good example Forked lightning danced across my limbs. My lips formed a silent o of agony as my brain struggled for words to express this new and intense pain. I could almost smell my flesh burning from the heat as the pain made my knees buckle. The gently lapping waves and even the sea-breeze itself froze to see my misery. My throat refused to swallow the tasteless pool that had once been lemon ice-cream. The laughter and shouting of happy children was an echo as all my senses competed to focus upon the fire which was blazing upwards from my feet.

10. A good example Forked lightning danced across my limbs. My lips formed a silent o of agony as my brain struggled for words to express this new and intense pain. I could almost smell my flesh burning from the heat as the pain made my knees buckle. The gently lapping waves and even the seagulls themselves froze to see my misery. My throat refused to swallow the tasteless pool that had once been lemon ice-cream. The laughter and shouting of happy children was an echo as all my senses competed to focus upon the fire which was blazing upwards from my feet.

11. A good example Forked lightning danced across my limbs. My lips formed a silent o of agony as my brain struggled for words to express this new and intense pain. I could almost smell my flesh burning from the heat as the pain made my knees buckle. The gently lapping waves and even the sea-breeze itself froze to see my misery. My throat refused to swallow the tasteless pool that had once been lemon ice-cream. The laughter and shouting of happy children was an echo as all my senses competed to focus upon the fire which was blazing upwards from my feet.

12. A good example Forked lightning danced across my limbs. My lips formed a silent o of agony as my brain struggled for words to express this new and intense pain. I could almost smell my flesh burning from the heat as the pain made my knees buckle. The gently lapping waves and even the sea-breeze itself froze to see my misery. My throat refused to swallow the tasteless pool that had once been lemon ice-cream. The laughter and shouting of happy children was an echo as all my senses competed to focus upon the fire which was blazing upwards from my feet.