Have you ever wanted to write an essay? But not just any kind of essay. A narrative kind. That does not only focus on the simple things about you, but the details you want the world to know? Of course there are some important or small details that you can add to it as this type differs from the other essays you may have written. Writing out something personal for your readers to know about. The topic would be about you. If given the chance to write something about you to share to the world, would you have taken up that opportunity? I know that some would, if given the chance and if you choose to do so as well, you must at least have some ideas on what that is about, the purpose and how to write a good personal narrative too. So sit back, relax and scroll through the 100+ examples of personal narratives.
A personal narrative from the term itself is a narrative stating about the personal life of the person. This type of narrative is often told in the first person point of view. It is called a personal narrative since the author is telling a story about their own life, their experiences, their dreams and aspirations and anything that can be used for information about the author. It is however different from an autobiography. The personal narrative, focuses mainly on the author’s experiences on anything that they may want to talk about. The topic could range from anything under the sun as long as the author has experienced it from their own lives. This essay contains its own beginnings, body and the end. However, for this type of essay, this is far more specific.
Just like an essay and a story, a personal narrative has its own elements. These elements have their own part to play to make your personal narrative a success. If you plan on getting to know your personal narrative on a personal level, you should at least know the elements that form it. Here are your elements.
What story, essay or a narrative that does not start with the beginning? Like all literary pieces, or when you are planning on writing a speech or an essay, you must always start with a beginning. Whether you make it short or long would depend on how you want it. As long as you have a starting point to your writing. Giving an introduction to what your story is about would also be a part of the beginning. Introducing the characters or the people in your story are also found here. Basically all the necessary things that should be found would be in the introduction. It does not have to be too long nor too short of course.
The second part of your elements would be the course of action, also known as your plot in your story. If you wonder what goes on in the course of action or better known as the plot, this is the part where you write what your story is about. Depending on how you may want to choose your story, this is where the action begins. Everything that has happened in your story is placed here. The introduction was merely an appetizer for your readers, to get them in or to lure them in to reading. This part of your story would be the main course. All that happens in your story, the good, the bad and the worst case are placed here with a lot of detail. However, do be careful how you may word things.
Who are the characters of your story? Most of the time, the individuals of your story are written on the introduction as it is most likely where it is expected. However, for some, when they write out their personal narrative and may want it to be different, they often write it in the course of action, or the plot. Regardless of what part of your story you do want to write, you must also add up some information about who these people are and how they are a part of your story. A short description is enough to let your readers engage in the story and to let them know who these people are. A character in your personal narrative that does not have any information or detail may confuse your readers.
Where did it happen? Your setting in your personal narrative can have more than just a single setting. But you must also be very specific and careful. Avoid adding locations that do not exist, as this personal narrative is not a fictional work of art. It is based on real life experiences coming from you as the author. If you are not sure as to the exact location of your experience, you can simply add the name of the country or island or town. As long as you make sure that the place you had your experience which would be used in your essay is true.
The grand finale makes up the conclusion, a lesson learned part of your story. Of course the lesson learned or the moral of your story may depend if you wish to place it as well. As this is your story, you control how you want it to end as long as they are still true. The grand finale would depend on how your experience went. How your story based on your experience ends should remain true to its form. Avoid adding something that you believe would make the story sound better, again this is not a work of fiction.
It goes without saying, having to learn what makes a personal narrative can be quite useful. Especially with the next topic. How to write a good personal narrative? What do you think are the things that you need to make such a good personal narrative? Let’s find out shall we?
What does this mean by telling your story? This means that every detail from the elements of a personal narrative is present. Your characters, the plot, the location, your introduction to the place, characters and what happened should at least be present. Simply put, when you want to write a good personal narrative, write it out as if you were writing a story.
There would be a time when your readers or even yourself may ask what is the purpose of you writing out your personal narrative? If you plan to make your narrative a story for everyone to read, to learn more about you or to even know what you went through, show it. Avoid beating around the bush when you write what the purpose of your story is going to be. At least this way your readers would get the big picture.
To make your story more interesting for your readers, try a different approach. Rather than using passive voice, use an active voice and in first person as much as possible. For some writers, they often take risks in writing their personal narrative by letting the characters tell the story. This may sound odd for some, but it also works for others. However, the main thing here is to avoid dragging your story. Let it run its course. Let it be.
What better way than to give life to your writing by writing from your heart? It is not easy to write about personal experiences and to have it read by a lot of people. But to make your personal experiences more relatable for the general public, you must and at least give life and feeling. Let the world know how you felt during those situations. Let your readers sympathize with you during those moments.
This is the number one tip I can always give out to people who write a lot. Having to proofread your work not only saves you a lot of time having to redo everything. Especially if your narrative is more than a page long. Drafting out your work, proofreading that and finalizing everything can also be helpful.
A personal narrative is a kind of non-literary piece. This kind of essay gives you the opportunity to tell your story through the experiences you have made.
Avoid making up things as you go along. Your personal narrative is not a work of fiction. It is a work of nonfiction. Everything that you have written down must be true. From the people, location and to the story itself.
Trust your instinct when you remember your story. Avoid giving too much information or too little. Always proofread your work.
This may depend on the person writing it. But a personal narrative cannot be too short, since it is expected to be quite a long story.
As a personal narrative has its own conclusion, so does this article. From the beginning to its plot, and the end. If you plan on writing your own personal narrative, you may now have an idea on how to begin. If you still think you are a bit confused with how you start, you can always ask yourself, what experience do you wish to share to the public. Check out the tips for more as well.