How to Write a Personal Narrative

How to Write a Personal Narrative The personal narrative essay can be the most enjoyable type of assignment to write because it  provides you with  an opportunity  to share a meaningful event from your life.  After all, how often do you get to tell funny stories or brag about a great experience and receive school credit for it? Think of a Memorable Event   A personal narrative can focus on any event, whether it is one that lasted  a few seconds or spanned  a few years. Your topic can reflect your personality, or it can reveal an event that shaped your outlook and opinions. Your story should have a clear point. If nothing comes to mind, try one of these examples:   A learning experience that challenged and changed you;A new discovery that came about in an interesting way;Something funny that happened to you  or your family;A lesson you learned the hard way. Planning Your Narrative Start this process with a brainstorming session,  taking a few moments to scribble  down several memorable events from your life. Remember, this doesn’t have to be high drama: Your event could be anything from blowing your first bubble gum bubble to getting lost in the woods. If you think your life doesnt have that many interesting events, try to come up with one or more examples for  each of the following: Times you laughed the hardestTimes you felt sorry for your actionsPainful memoriesTimes you were surprisedScariest moments Next, look over your  list of events and narrow your choices by selecting those that have a clear chronological pattern, and those that would enable you to use colorful, entertaining, or interesting details and descriptions.   Finally, decide if your topic has a point. A funny story might represent irony in life or a lesson learned in a comical way; a scary story might demonstrate how you learned from a mistake.  Decide on the point of your final topic and keep it in mind as you write. Show, Don’t Tell   Your story should be written in the first-person point of view. In a narrative, the writer is the storyteller, so you can write this through your own eyes and ears. Make the reader experience what you experienced- not just  read what you experienced. Do this by imagining that you are reliving your event. As you think about your story, describe on paper what you see, hear, smell, and feel, as follows: Describing Actions Dont say: My sister ran off. Instead, say: My sister jumped a foot in the air and disappeared behind the closest tree. Describing Moods Dont say: Everyone felt on edge. Instead, say: We were all afraid to breathe. Nobody made a sound. Elements to Include Write your story in chronological order. Make a brief outline showing the sequence of events before you begin to write the narrative. This will keep you on track. Your story should include the following: Characters: Who are the people involved in your story? What are their significant character traits? Tense: Your story already happened, so, generally, write in the past tense. Some writers are effective in telling stories in the present tense- but that usually isnt a good idea. Voice: Are you attempting to be funny, somber, or serious? Are you telling the story of your 5-year-old self? Conflict: Any good story should have a conflict, which can come in many forms. Conflict can be between you and your neighbor’s dog, or it can be two feelings you are experiencing at one time, like guilt versus the need to be popular. Descriptive language: Make an effort to broaden your vocabulary and use expressions, techniques, and words that you don’t normally use. This will make your paper more entertaining and interesting, and it will make you a better writer. Your main point: The story you write should come to a satisfying or interesting end. Do not attempt to describe an obvious lesson  directly- it should come from observations and discoveries. Dont say: I learned not to make judgments about people based on their appearances. Instead, say: Maybe the next time I bump into an elderly lady  with greenish skin and a large, crooked nose, Ill greet her with a smile. Even if she is clutching  a warped and twisted  broomstick.