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Student Opinion

650 Prompts for Narrative and Personal Writing

By Michael Gonchar

• Oct. 20, 2016

Update, Sept. 4, 2019: Check out our newest evergreen collection of “ 550 Prompts for Narrative and Personal Writing ” that includes dozens of new prompts.

Update, Feb. 15, 2019: Learn more about how to use our 1000s of writing prompts by watching our free on-demand webinar: “ Give Them Something to Write About: Teach Across the Curriculum With New York Times-Inspired Daily Prompts. ”

Every school day since 2009 we’ve asked students a question based on an article in The New York Times.

Now, seven years later, and in honor of the Oct. 20 National Day on Writing , we’ve collected 650 of them that invite narrative and personal writing and listed them by category below. Consider it an update of a previous post, and a companion to the list of 301 argumentative writing prompts we published in 2015.

Here is a PDF of all 650 prompts , and we also have a related lesson plan, From ‘Lives’ to ‘Modern Love’: Writing Personal Essays With Help From The New York Times .

Below, a list that touches on everything from sports to travel, education, gender roles, video games, fashion, family, pop culture, social media and more. Like all our Student Opinion questions , each links to a related Times article and includes a series of follow-up questions. All questions published since May 2015 are still open to comment by any student 13 or older.

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200 Narrative Essay Topics: Academic, Funny, Personal Life

A narrative essay tells a story about a specific event or experience. A well-written essay helps readers visualize the exciting story clearly and vividly. However, students often struggle to write a narrative essay because they don’t have the best topic.

To tell the reader an exciting story, first, you must choose good narrative essay topics for your story. Once you select the right idea, it means you are half done with your essay.

Table of Contents

What Is A Narrative Essay

A narrative essay uses primarily descriptive and sensory information to validate the author’s point and story.

In simple words, a narrative essay is all about storytelling from the author’s perspective, which attracts the reader’s attention and helps them create a vivid and exciting image of the story.

According to (Students” writing: 84-91), A narrative essay has three mandatory elements:

• Character:  The essay has two main characters, the author and some other characters, who relate to each other and the story.
• Theme:  A theme or motif is always the central point of the narrative essay, primarily portrayed in the thesis statement.
• Dialogue:  The conversation between the characters is referred to as dialogue.

Whenever you come up with  writing a narrative essay , please consider these elements to make it perfect.

How Do We Make A List of Top Narrative Essay Topics?

To create lists, we start by brainstorming our experiences, emotions, and situations that happen most often. Then, we note our ideas by focusing on which are most common in other students and how they can engage and inspire the readers.

We are sure that our crafted list includes a mix of narrative essay topics, including personal experiences, funny topics, fictional ideas, and sports events. Finally, we develop a wide collection that showcases our creativity and connects with our audience on a deeper level.

Our efforts are the key to your solution to the narrative essay topic. With that in mind, let’s begin.

Choose Topics For A Narrative Essay In 4 Simple Steps

Choosing a narrative essay topic can be straightforward if you follow these four simple steps:

Recall Your Personal Experiences

Think about the critical events, challenges, and moments of joy in your life. Consider the moments that have shaped you and left a lasting impression. Using this practice, you can choose a specific moment of your life from the narrative essay topics below.

Identify Themes and Emotions

Determine the central theme or emotion you want to convey in your essay. Every student has their own emotional state, allowing them to write about their interests. Choose a topic that matches your desired message, whether you want to talk about personal growth, school life, or sharing a funny incident.

Keep your audience in mind

Think about what would engage and resonate with your readers. For example, pick a motivational incident from your life if your target audience is broader. Furthermore, if your target audience is just a class of teenagers, try to choose funny topics for a narrative essay.

Narrow Down Your Choices

Make a list of top narrative essay topics and check out each one by one based on their significance and the details you can provide. Select a topic on which you have a lot of information, offer the wealthiest narrative, and allow you to tell a compelling story.

By following these steps, you can select a  narrative essay writing  topic that is meaningful and engaging.

70 Most interesting and trendy Narrative topics for Students

Interesting and trendsetter narrative essay topics always remain the top priority for students. What sets these ideas apart from others? The topics were primarily adopted from everyday student life, and after brainstorming, we evaluated 70 mostly relatable issues.

We have further categorized these topics on different academic levels in the section below. Read further and find a suitable topic of interest from the lists below.

Narrative Essay Ideas for Middle School

• Things to do when bored in the classroom
• A funny classroom incident that makes us laugh
• The day when I met my best friend for the first time
• A unique family tradition that inspires me a lot
• Why did I learn to play a musical instrument
• A Christmas day I will never forget
• Riding a bike for the first time: my review
• The time I got lost in the jungle
• Helpful advice from my Grandparents
• My first sports game in school
• It was the best summer vacation I spent
• A time when I stood up for my rights
• My experience in solving mathematical problems in fun ways
• A school trip to a historical place
• The most exciting book I’ve read
• A time I got in trouble
• Making new friends in school
• The best gifts I’ve ever received
• What I learn from a challenging school project
• I learn to perform publicly

Narrative Essay Topics for High School

• My experience with high school bullying
• My major academic achievement
• A mentor helps me in creative learning
• My experience with peer pressure
• How do I manage to overcome school obstacles
• The moments when I make the difficult decision
• How I prepare myself for future career
• The Impact of social media on my life
• My challenge in sports
• Volunteering myself for student councils
• The Importance of friendship in my life
• My tricks to balance school and extracurricular activities
• A book or movie that inspired me a lot
• My plans to get admission to college
• How do I overcome my lack of confidence
• I set myself aside from school violence activities
• How do I manage my expenditure with an online paying job
• The moment when I discovered my passion
• Powerful quotations that I read for self-motivation.

Choosing a topic is a little bit easy, but writing a narrative essay is a little bit hard. To overcome writing barriers, we have compiled some  examples of a narrative essay , which will ultimately help you out in writing a compelling essay on your own.

Narrative Essay Topics Ideas for College

• How do I find the best college for my study
• A significant turning point in my life
• What challenges do I face in living away from home
• A time when I failed and bounced back
• My life-changing Internship experience
• My personal experiences of studying abroad 
• Excitement of the day when I got my driver’s license
• My favorite subject in college and why
• My efforts in time management
• An Inspirational guest lecture 
• A significant personal growth moment
• Dealing with homesickness
• How my college roommate became my buddy 
• I tried to manage my budget in college life
• My tips to avoid distraction

Good Narrative Essay topics on Learning and Education

• How do I overcome a learning challenge
• My most memorable school project
• A field trip to remember in whole life
• Hurdles I face in learning a new language
• Positive impacts of technology on my education
• My experience with remote learning
• A memorable time I failed and what I learned from the failure
• The book that inspired me a lot
• My experience in participating in a Science fair
• My opinion about extracurricular activities on learning
• My interesting group study session with friends
• The Importance of education in my family
• My passion for reading books
• An Inspiring educational speaker to which I listen
• My techniques for preparing for a significant exam

These above-mentioned ideas for narrative essays are common and relatable to every student’s academic life. If you have chosen a topic but don’t know how to write an essay, just read these  tips to improve narrative writing  for your essay.

70 Good Narrative Essay Topics for Students: Personal To Sports Life

Writing an effective narrative essay allows students to explore the depth of their experiences. These essays can range from author reflections to humorous anecdotes. 

Here are 70 narrative essay topics: personal life tales, literary adventures, and funny and thrilling sports moments. Each topic offers a unique opportunity to engage the readers and reflect on the actual factors of life.

Personal Narrative Essay Topics About Life

• What happens to me on my first day at school
• It was a memorable birthday that gave me a lot of surprises
• A family vacation in beautiful mountains
• My first day in learning to ride a bike
• My favorite pet, which is no longer with us
• My feeling when I Win a competition at school
• A day at the beach with my friends
• Funny moments in my first time cooking
• A surprise gift that I got from my father
• A visit to the zoo for the first time
• My academic journey with my best friend
• How I overcome my fear of dogs
• Challenges in moving to a new house
• A holiday tradition in my village
• A time when I got lost
• A remarkable achievement in my career
• Helping a stranger was the best moment in my life
• Crying on my last day at school
• A day well spent in the park with school friends
• How did I develop my interest in literature 

Literacy Narrative essay topics

• What I feel when someone motivates me
• My personal opinions towards book reading
• Learning to write essays is easy for me: you know why?
• Discovering a new genre of literature helps me
• I learned a way to write assignments that leave a positive impact
• Why my teachers love me more than others in school
• Assisting others in hardships makes me feel proud
• Influence of my favorite author and why?
• The best advice that I have ever got from parents
• Online gaming helps me a lot with critical thinking
• A collection book of poems which I gave to my little sister
• How I benefit from the writing guide 
• The first time I wrote a story
• A literary character I relate to myself
• Why do I not watch horror movies?
• The first time I enjoyed poetry.
• My favorite science fiction novel
• How reading helps me in overcoming a challenge
• My poor writing skills make me feel embraced in class
• My recommendations on books to read about religion 

Funny Narrative Essay topics

• The day I wear mismatched shoes
• Prank my friend once, which goes wrong
• An experience when I got stuck in the elevator
• A hilarious miscommunication moment occurred during my presentation
• A disaster happens to me at a costume party
• The worst haircut makes my friends laugh at me
• The time I got lost in my neighborhood
• A funny camping experience with my friends
• My first and probably last dance experience in school
• The funny moment when my cell phone got caught in the classroom
• My pet caused chaos on the day of my brother’s wedding
• The funniest mistakes I have made in my science project
•  The Day I Played a Joke on My Teacher
• My Funniest Social Media Mishap
• The moment when I tried to speak a foreign language for the first time

Bonus tip:  Funny narrative essay writing is sometimes hard for students because of its limited humorous nature. To overcome this issue we have developed a free  AI essay writer  tool which will add fun and humor in your essay.

Ideas for Narrative Essay about sports

• My first sports team experience
• How do I heal from a bad injury in sports
• Cheering moments when I scored the winning goal
• Why do I always try to learn new sports?
• Sports helped me build confidence
• The most challenging game I have ever played
• My relationship with a coach
• My major sports rivalry, which ends up with a fight
• My team-building experience
• Personal recommendation to deal with sports pressure
• Sports helped me develop discipline
• Share your first childhood sports mishap
• Motivate my friends to get involved in sports
• The Impact of sports on my life
• My funniest sports moment

Blunders while narrative writing happens when you choose a topic on your own without preparation. Worry not, just pick the best topic from the above list and then follow these common  mistakes to avoid in narrative essay  to make it error free.

60 Unique Topics about Narrative Essay

If your narrative essay is unique compared to the others, then it is a win-win situation. In the lists below, you will find unique topics, whether you want to write about a fictional story, hobbies, motivational stories, or say something about some cultural and societal issues. 

Fictional Narrative Essay Ideas

• A mysterious package arrives at my door
• The night when I dream about time travel
• My survival on a deserted island for months
• It’s a story about my four friends and a magician.
• My childhood dream was to become a professional athlete.
• A World Where Animals Can Talk
• Living in a world without electricity
• I discover a portal in my backyard
• Dreaming about being friends with an alien, which turns out to be true
• A tale about a person who walks on water with superpowers
• A secret behind the haunted house in my neighborhood
• Imagining a school where children have magical capabilities
• My opinion on the diary of a Pirate Captain 
• A day when everyone speaks the truth
• A robot becomes my best friend

Best Narrative Essay Ideas On Hobbies and Interests

Every student has a natural instinct to develop hobbies and interest in their lives. Below are some narrative essay topics which primarily focus on hobbies and interests.

• My love for painting makes me feel proud
• My journey in learning a new language
• I found pleasure in planting trees in my garden
• My friend’s passion for hiking
• My thrill for collecting vintage items
• Creating my first DIY project
• My love for playing chess
• My passion for cooking and trying new recipes
• My collection of books, which I read a lot
• Hearing birds chirp in the morning gives me a boost
• Writing my first short story
• Why I volunteer myself at an animal shelter
• Learning to dance: my first class
• My passion for traveling to discover new cultures
• Benefits of creating my blog on the Internet

Narrative Essay Topics Related To Culture And Society

• My experience of a cultural festival for the first time
• Growing up in a multicultural family makes your experience more enjoyable
• A tradition that has been passed down in my family
• The positive effect of my cultural heritage on my identity
• Why I found it challenging to adapt to a new cultural environment
• Learning about my ancestry and heritage
• My experience in participating in a traditional ceremony
• The role of food in my culture
• My experience with cultural exchange programs
• A memorable visit to a historical, cultural site
• The Influence of Media on Cultural Perceptions, in my opinion
• My recommendations on how to preserve cultural heritage
• The challenges of being bilingual
• The role of religion in my society
• Positive impacts of social media on society, according to my opinion

Best Motivational Ideas for Narrative Essay

• A story of personal growth
• Rebuilding my life after a significant loss
• It was a precious time when I made a difference in my community
• How do I conquer my biggest fear of life
• The power of positive thinking in shaping your life
• My strategy to turn failure into success
• A journey of self-discovery
• How do I find inspiration in unlikely places 
• How I stay motivated during tough times
• The influence of a mentor in my life
• Finding a way to utilize my inner strength
• Family support in my achievements
• Random acts of kindness return with a big reward in my life
• My motivation to stay strengthened in hardships
• My secret ways to appreciate the little things

Writing a narrative essay is a daunting task for many students. To understand the reason behind why it is hard to write you must go through these  examples of narrative essay types  and find out the differences for each one.

Questions to help you choose a narrative essay topic

If you still need clarification about selecting the best topics for a narrative essay even after watching out from the above list. Just stay calm and think about these questions mentioned in the list below, and you will find a solution to choosing a topic.

Focusing on these questions will help you uncover the best moments in your life. These questions are most common and generic in every student’s life.

Use our words as your narration

Writing a narrative essay to express your experiences is difficult, as it requires words that show emotions and feelings to engage the reader. Consider using our  professional essay writing service  to make the process easier and more helpful. Our skilful and experienced team will provide a polished, well-structured essay that effectively communicates your narrative to your audience.

No Confusion Left In Your Mind Now

You can now easily choose suitable narrative essay topics from the above lists. These rewarding topics allow you to explore and share meaningful experiences with the readers.

Whether you write about personal narrative essay topics, educational journeys, funny incidents, or memorable sports events, we have covered each aspect. Take out your pen, choose a topic, and begin writing down your experiences and thoughts to make the reader remember your words.

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89+ Personal Narrative Ideas To Spark Your Creativity

If you're a writer, storyteller, or filmmaker searching for that spark to ignite your creative journey, you're not alone. Crafting a compelling personal narrative, be it an essay, a short story , or the script for your next film, requires diving into the vast sea of your experiences, reflections, and the world around you.

This blog presents over 89+ personal narrative ideas designed to catapult you from any creative slump. From exploring transformative moments of personal growth and lessons learned in everyday life to delving into the depths of cultural awareness, mental health, and the intricacies of relationships with family, friends, and even your best friend, I've curated a comprehensive list that speaks to college and school students, seasoned writers, and everyone in between.

Whether you're drafting a narrative essay for a college application, seeking the best narrative essay topics for your next project, or simply looking for a new story to tell, these ideas will guide you through the process of translating the richness of life into the written form.

A long list of personal narrative ideas

1.  The journey of rediscovering my passion for painting after years of neglect sparked by an unexpected encounter with a street artist.

2.  How a single conversation with my grandmother over her old photo album reshaped my understanding of family history and legacy.

3.  The transformative summer I spent volunteering at a wildlife sanctuary and how it altered my perspective on conservation.

4.  Facing my fear of heights by embarking on a solo mountain climbing adventure, discovering resilience I never knew I had.

5.  The bittersweet experience of packing up my childhood home, unearthing memories and lessons in every nook and cranny.

6.  How adopting a shelter dog with a troubled past taught me about patience, unconditional love, and second chances.

7.  The struggle and triumph of completing my first marathon, reflecting the mental and physical challenges along the way.

8.  Returning to my hometown after a decade abroad, noticing the changes in the place and within myself.

9.  My journey of learning a new language in adulthood, embracing the awkwardness, mistakes, and eventual breakthroughs.

10.  The night I spent under the stars after getting lost on a hiking trail, leading to unexpected introspection and self-discovery.

11.  How a chance encounter with a childhood friend rekindled a friendship that I thought was lost to time.

12.  The process of writing and self-publishing my first novel, navigating the doubts, rejections, and ultimate sense of achievement.

13.  Overcoming my fear of public speaking through an impromptu speech at a community event, finding my voice in the process.

14.  A road trip across the country with no destination in mind, learning to appreciate the journey rather than the destination.

15.  How a brief stint in a coffee shop job taught me the value of hard work, human connections, and the stories behind every cup.

16.  The life-changing decision to switch careers in my 30s, facing uncertainty with hope and hard work.

17.  Embarking on a quest to trace my ancestry, leading to surprising discoveries and connections with distant relatives.

18.  The challenge of living without technology for a month, uncovering the joys and difficulties of a disconnected life.

19.  My experience with learning to cook from scratch during a lockdown, leading to a newfound appreciation for culinary arts.

20.  The emotional rollercoaster of adopting and raising twins, highlighting the chaos, love, and unique lessons learned.

21.  How building my first boat from scratch anchored me during a tumultuous period, teaching me about persistence and craftsmanship.

22.  Surviving a natural disaster, recounting the fear, solidarity, and community rebuilding efforts that followed.

23.  The unexpected joy and creativity found in starting a balcony garden in the city, connecting with nature in an urban environment.

24.  How a year of saying "yes" to new experiences transformed my life, leading to unexpected adventures and friendships.

25.  Navigating the complexities of maintaining a long-distance relationship, discovering the importance of communication and trust.

26.  The challenge and reward of teaching English in a foreign country, immersing myself in a new culture and way of life.

27.  My struggle with and recovery from a mental health crisis, shedding light on the importance of support and self-care.

28.  Learning to ride a bike as an adult, overcoming embarrassment and fear to embrace a new form of freedom.

29.  The profound impact of a random act of kindness from a stranger, prompting me to pay it forward and spread kindness.

30.  How participating in a traditional cultural festival deepened my understanding and appreciation of my heritage.

31.  The exhilarating experience of my first solo backpacking trip across South America, discovering independence and the kindness of strangers.

32.  Facing the challenge of minimalist living for a year, learning the value of simplicity and the art of letting go.

33.  How joining a local theater group reignited my passion for acting and taught me the importance of community and creativity.

34.  The emotional journey of writing letters to my future self over a decade, and the profound experience of reading them years later.

35.  Navigating the ups and downs of starting a small business from scratch, embodying the essence of entrepreneurship and resilience.

36.  The transformative experience of attending a silent meditation retreat, confronting my inner thoughts and learning mindfulness.

37.  Embarking on a quest to visit every national park in my country, uncovering the beauty of nature and the adventure of exploration.

38.  How learning to play a musical instrument as an adult taught me about discipline, patience, and the joy of music.

39.  The poignant experience of hosting an exchange student, opening my home and heart to new cultures and forming lifelong bonds.

40.  Conquering the challenge of writing and directing my first short film, navigating the intricacies of storytelling and collaboration.

41.  The bittersweet journey of caring for an aging parent, embracing the role reversal with love, patience, and understanding.

42.  How a year of photographing one portrait a day expanded my perspective on humanity and the stories we carry.

43.  The exhilaration and terror of skydiving for the first time, confronting fears and embracing the thrill of the fall.

44.  Learning the ancient art of pottery, finding solace in the clay and the timeless process of creation.

45.  The challenge of integrating into a new community after moving to a foreign country, learning the nuances of language and culture.

46.  How a simple act of planting a tree evolved into a lifelong commitment to environmental stewardship.

47.  The journey of self-discovery and acceptance through exploring my gender identity, embracing my true self amidst challenges and triumphs.

48.  Surviving a shipwreck adventure, a tale of resilience, teamwork, and the will to survive against the odds.

49.  How a summer spent working on an organic farm changed my relationship with food, health, and sustainability.

50.  The challenge of completing a 100-day creative project, discovering the power of consistency, creativity, and personal growth.

51.  Navigating the complexities of adopting a child, the emotional rollercoaster of the process, and the joy of becoming a parent.

52.  How a chance encounter on a train led to a deep conversation and a shift in my perspective on life and human connections.

53.  The experience of building my own tiny house, embracing minimalism, and the freedom of a simplified lifestyle.

54.  Overcoming social anxiety through stand-up comedy, finding humor in fear and the courage to stand in the spotlight.

55.  The profound impact of volunteering at an animal rescue center, learning about compassion, resilience, and the bond between humans and animals.

56.  How a year of traveling with no fixed itinerary taught me about spontaneity, adaptability, and the beauty of the unknown.

57.  The journey of reconnecting with my ancestral roots through traditional cooking, weaving a tapestry of family history and cuisine.

58.  Overcoming the isolation of remote work by creating a community of digital nomads, discovering the balance of freedom and connection.

59.  The exhilaration of completing my first triathlon, a testament to the power of setting and achieving seemingly impossible goals.

60.  How a spontaneous road trip with no destination led to unexpected self-discovery and the realization that sometimes, the best plan is to have no plan at all.

61.  The challenge of living on a sailboat for a year, learning to navigate both the sea and the close quarters of personal relationships.

62.  How joining a competitive debate team in college taught me the art of argument, the value of diverse perspectives, and the importance of being well-informed.

63.  The transformative journey of hiking the Appalachian Trail solo, discovering the limits of my endurance and the strength of my will.

64.  Learning to live with a chronic illness, finding strength in vulnerability and a new perspective on health and happiness.

65.  The adventure of teaching myself to code, leading to a career change that was both challenging and rewarding.

66.  How a year without buying anything new taught me about consumerism, creativity, and contentment with what I already have.

67.  The unexpected journey of tracing my family tree, uncovering secrets, stories, and a connection to historical events.

68.  The emotional process of writing a memoir, confronting past traumas, and the catharsis of putting it all on paper.

69.  How adopting a minimalist lifestyle transformed my space, my habits, and my mindset towards possessions and priorities.

70.  The challenge and enlightenment of a 30-day digital detox, reevaluating my relationship with technology and social media.

71.  Embarking on a culinary journey to master the art of bread-making, discovering patience, precision, and the warmth of homemade bread.

72.  The experience of building a community garden from scratch, fostering neighborhood connections, and learning the value of collective effort.

73.  How a series of random acts of kindness changed my outlook on life, encouraging a chain reaction of generosity and empathy.

74.  The struggle and success of quitting smoking, a personal tale of addiction, determination, and rediscovery of health.

75.  Learning the ancient technique of calligraphy, finding beauty in each stroke and the meditative process of writing by hand.

76.  The journey of self-publishing my poetry collection, navigating the realms of creativity, vulnerability, and the pursuit of artistic dreams.

77.  How a backpacking trip through Asia taught me about simplicity, spirituality, and the universal language of kindness.

78.  The experience of fasting for the first time, exploring the physical, mental, and spiritual insights gained through the practice.

79.  Overcoming a fear of water by learning to swim as an adult, a story of conquering personal barriers and discovering aquatic freedom.

80.  The decision to live off-grid for a year, learning about sustainability, self-sufficiency, and the profound connection with nature.

81.  How volunteering with refugees reshaped my understanding of resilience, hope, and the power of community support.

82.  The process of restoring an old family heirloom, uncovering its history, and preserving a tangible piece of my heritage.

83.  Embarking on a quest to read one book from every country, expanding my worldview through the lens of literature.

84.  The experience of attending a traditional wedding in a foreign country, immersing myself in the culture, customs, and celebrations.

85.  How learning to dance salsa opened up a new world of rhythm, connection, and cultural appreciation.

86.  The challenge of creating a documentary film about a local issue, learning the power of storytelling to inspire change.

87.  Adopting a zero-waste lifestyle, navigating the challenges and rewards of reducing my environmental footprint.

88.  The journey of reconnecting with a long-lost friend, bridging years of silence with newfound understanding and forgiveness.

89.  How a simple journaling habit evolved into writing a novel, discovering the therapeutic power of words and the joy of storytelling.

90.  The adventure of moving to a rural village to learn traditional farming techniques, embracing a simpler, slower way of life.

These narrative writing topics, ranging from the deeply personal to the universally relatable, are designed to inspire writers, storytellers, and filmmakers at all stages of their journey.

Whether you're a college student seeking the perfect narrative essay topic for an assignment, a high school student contemplating the life lessons that have shaped you, or a seasoned writer eager to dive into new depths of personal growth and cultural awareness through your work, this comprehensive list offers a starting point for anyone looking to put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard.

Remember, the power of personal narratives lies in their ability to connect with the reader through shared experiences, descriptive language, and the raw honesty of telling stories from the first-person perspective.

From the challenges of navigating college life and the transformative moments of everyday life to reflecting on past experiences with your best friend, family traditions, or even a memorable encounter with street food, each narrative essay, short story , or personal reflection contributes to the vast tapestry of human experience.

So start writing, embrace the different styles and perspectives that make your voice unique, and share your own life stories and essays that resonate with the world.

After all, every good story , every lesson learned, and every moment of personal reflection not only enriches your own life but also has the potential to inspire, enlighten, and connect with readers and audiences far and wide.

Frequently Asked Questions About Personal Narrative Ideas (FAQs)

What is a personal narrative.

A personal narrative is a story told from your own life, using descriptive language and emotional depth to share personal growth experiences, life lessons, or transformative moments. It's about telling stories that resonate with the reader, often written in the first person, to create a direct connection.

How do I choose personal narrative essay topics?

Start by reflecting on your own life experiences. Consider moments of personal growth, cultural awareness, or any transformative moments.

Good narrative essay topics can arise from everyday life, a tough decision, your best friend, mental health journeys, family traditions, or even your first pet. The key is to find a story only you can tell.

Can you give examples of narrative essay topics for college and school students?

Absolutely! Here's a vast array of ideas to ignite your creativity:

The toughest decision you've ever made.

A day that changed your life.

Learning something new about yourself through a job interview.

Overcoming obstacles during your college life.

A journey of cultural awareness through traveling or meeting new people.

Your first impressions when moving to a new school or city.

A short story about your first encounter with your best friend.

How do I write engaging personal narratives?

Engaging personal narratives combines key storytelling elements with a deep reflection on personal experiences. Use these tips to start writing:

Choose a compelling topic: Your narrative should revolve around a pivotal moment or insight from your own life.

Use descriptive language: Paint vivid pictures in the reader's mind to make your story come alive.

Write from the first person: This perspective helps the reader feel close to the experience.

Reflect on lessons learned: Every good story includes insights or life lessons that the writer has gleaned from their experiences.

What are some narrative writing topics that focus on everyday life but still capture interest?

Everyday life is filled with stories waiting to be told. Here are a few ideas that can make for compelling narratives:

The life lessons learned from street food adventures.

The transformative power of your favorite course or teacher in high school.

Recounting the first day at a new job or college and the lessons learned from that experience.

Describing the best gift you've ever received and why it was so meaningful.

How can personal narratives enhance college applications or essays?

Personal narratives allow college students to showcase their unique perspectives, experiences, and personal growth.

By sharing specific stories from their own life, students can demonstrate their resilience, creativity, and ability to reflect on their past experiences.

These stories can be particularly powerful in essays for college, providing a deeper insight into the applicant's character beyond grades and test scores.

Any tips for writing a personal narrative essay for the first time?

Writing your first personal narrative essay can be a journey of self-discovery. Here are some steps to guide you:

Reflect on your life: Think about moments that have shaped you.

Start with a draft: Don't worry about perfecting it on the first go. Writing is a process.

Focus on sensory details: Use the five senses to bring your story to life.

Be honest: Authenticity resonates with readers.

Revise and edit: Look for ways to improve clarity, flow, and impact.

How do personal narratives differ in written form compared to other types of narrative writing?

Personal narratives are distinct for their deep focus on personal experience, written usually in the first person to engage the reader with an intimate glimpse into the writer's life.

Unlike other forms of narrative writing that might employ the third person or explore fictional stories , personal narratives hinge on real-life experiences, personal growth, and the lessons learned from those experiences.

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13 Thought-Provoking Personal Narrative Prompts

by Suzanne Davis | Sep 12, 2019 | Writing Essays and Papers | 2 comments

To be a person is to have a story to tell. –Isak Dinesen

What stories are within you?  A personal narrative is a story from your life. So, it is simple to write.  Maybe.  If you come up with an experience you’re dying to share–it is easy to get started. But, it isn’t always easy to think of an idea for a personal narrative.  So, I put together a list of 13 personal narrative prompts to help you find a compelling story you long to write about.

The idea of longing to write it is important because personal narratives need to show readers what your experience was like.  Desire to write inspires you to put more effort into your narrative’s description, character development, and plot.  Sounds a lot like writing a fictional story doesn’t it? Both are narratives, they need to engage your readers and show them something unique.

Personal narrative writing shows settings, people, actions, and feelings. When you write a personal narrative, you describe a story so that your reader sees, feels, and understands what you experienced.    When you write a personal narrative, you describe a story so that your reader sees, feels and understands what you experienced. Click To Tweet

You show (don’t tell) readers a personal story .  Check out the post “How to Master Writing a Compelling Personal Narrative Essay” https://www.academicwritingsuccess.com/writing-a-personal-narrative/   to see how to use the show don’t tell approach in writing personal narratives.

Finding an engaging personal narrative prompt will help you discover a memorable essay.  Let’s find the right topic for you.

13 Personal Narrative Prompts

One of the best ways to show a personal story is to select a small episode or anecdote from your life and dig deep into it.  These 13 personal narrative prompts help you find a great essay topic.

#1 Favorite School Memory

Write a story about your favorite school memory.  Who was there? Where was it?  How did it happen?  How does it end?  Focus on one single event.  For example, if you played the violin in school you could tell a story about playing the violin in a concert.  Or if you played on a soccer team, you could tell the story of your tryout.

# 2 Worst School Memory

This is the opposite of #1.  Select a memory that is focused on a terrible situation.  What triggered that situation and what happened?  What was the result?  For example, this could be a situation where you were bullied.  Describe what happened, and how it ended for you.  Did anyone defend you, or help you?  Or did the bullying continue?

#3 Frightening Story

Write a story about a scary or frightening moment in your life.  What happened?  How was it scary?  Are you still frightened?  Fear is a strong emotion and it motivates people to keep reading and find out what followed.  Some examples of frightening moments are being trapped in a cave, lost in the woods or inside an old house with strange noises, or a traumatic event.  A frightening experience could also be any personal event where you didn’t feel safe and were afraid something terrible was going to happen.

# 4 “Just Between Friends” 

Write a story about something that happened between you and a friend.  Is it something important you experienced together?  Did your friend do something to help you?  Did that person hurt you?  Or did you do something to help your friend?  Did you hurt a friend?  Some ideas for this topic are an activity or event you both participated in, something you both started, a great act of kindness, a sacrifice one of you made to help the other.  It could also be something where you betrayed your friend, or your friend betrayed you.

#5 Family Story

This is similar to the topic of friendship except in this case it’s something that happened within your family.  What occurred, who was there, and what did you do? Is there an important funny, sad, or happy event in your family?  Did you do something important or special with your family?   Some examples of this topic are the birth of someone in your family, the death of a loved one, or something fun you did with your parents, siblings or grandparents, etc.

Write a story of the best, strangest, or worst thing that happened to you on a vacation or trip to another place.  Focus on one event or experience. One mistake writers make with this essay idea is they describe an entire travel experience, and that isn’t interesting to your readers.  Some ideas for this writing prompt are getting lost in a city, being pickpocketed on a trip, or visiting a historical site.

#7 First Love

First loves are powerful and vivid stories.  Consider a story about how you met that person or a significant memory between you. This could be something wonderful, funny, or even terrible,  If the relationship is over how did it end?  Were you heartbroken?  These stories, or a story about any important relationship, leave an imprint on us.

#8 Success Story

Write a story about something you accomplished.  Describe what you did to achieve success, and how you reached your goal.  Were there obstacles you had to overcome? This is a tricky essay topic because sometimes people focus on the feelings of success or the final achievement rather than the story of how they succeeded.  Some ideas for this topic are to write about winning an event, earning an honor, confronting a personal challenge, or getting over a phobia.

#9 Personal Failure

Write about how you failed to do or failed to achieve something.  Describe what you tried to do, how you failed, and what you gained/learned from it.  Everyone fails at something.  Your readers understand the feeling of failure.  Some people connect with these personal narratives more than stories of success because they empathize with you. People learn a lot through failure, so when you write this type of story, hint or convey what you learned from failing.

#10 Accident

Write a story about an accident you caused or an accident that happened to you.  This could be negative as in a car accident or maybe it’s an accident of good fortune.  Describe how the accident occurred, who was involved, and how it ended.  Was it a bicycle accident?  How did it happen?  Did someone get hurt?

#11 Unresolved Experience

Describe something that happened to you, but where there’s no resolution.  What was the experience and how did it occur? What don’t you understand or know about the experience? Then, instead of having a resolution to the story, convey how you feel about not knowing what happened.

#12 An International or National Event or Incident

Write a personal story describing how you acted, witnessed, or responded to a significant national or international event or incident.  Did you play in the Olympics, or join a protest?  Did you survive a natural disaster?  What was your role in this circumstance?  What did you do?  For example, if you were in a hurricane describe what happened, who you were with, and how you survived.

#13 Change the World Experience

One of the best experiences I had in my life was creating and organizing a family literacy program for public schools. There are several stories within that experience I could write. If you were a volunteer for an organization or participated in a service project, think about what happened.  Was there a moment that changed everything? What occurred? Did any of those stories change you, your community, or another person?  These stories can be very moving because they have impacted you, what you believe, and how you see or view others. 

Choose a Personal Narrative Prompt and Write

The most important factor to consider in a personal narrative is yourself.  Choose an idea for a personal narrative that intrigues you.  If your narrative bores you, it’ll bore readers.  You want to write a descriptive personal story with vivid characters, actions, and emotions.

Also, select a story you want to share with others.  You’re revealing not just what happened to you, but also a piece of yourself.  Is your personal story something you want people to know?

It’s your story .  You decide what to write and who reads it.  Then write it well.

What is your favorite personal narrative topic?  Please share it below! 

Great prompts, Suzanne! I especially liked #10 the unresolved experience. Very thought provoking. These prompts would also be great for personal journaling.

Terri, thank you. You’re right. These writing prompts would work well with personal journaling. I’m glad you liked #10. It’s one of my favorites!

[…] So which descriptive essay prompt inspires you?  And if you want more creative writing prompts, check out my blog post, “13 Thought-Provoking Personal Narrative Prompts” https://www.academicwritingsuccess.com/13-thought-provoking-personal-narrative-prompts/ . […]

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30 Personal Essay Prompts

Why are personal essay prompts often so . . . blah?

I’ve sometimes found myself scouring the internet trying to find something valuable in the way of a prompt, maybe to share with students, and been disappointed by the results. But after a deep dive into some superb craft books, and some more diligent research, I’m excited to share the following 30 prompts (note: there are going to be more where this came from, so stay tuned!):

Personal Essay Prompts 1-10

1. ABC Segments . Write the alphabet on a sheet of paper. Pick one letter. Make a list of all the things you can think of that start with that letter – ideas, concepts, emotions, objects. Choose one word from that list and write a paragraph. Repeat. Three times works well. You can also use the same approach with colors, cities, seasons, and numbers. – Anne Panning, Rose Metal Press Book to Flash Nonfiction

2. Rewriting a Disagreement. Reflect upon your most recent intense altercation or disagreement with someone in real life. It should be an occasion where you were sure of the rightness of your position. After you ruminate on this experience of discord for a few minutes, write the scene from the other person's point of view.…Often this exercise takes two or three revisions before one understands that they need to let go of their personal sense of right and wrong. A ny judgment we bring to the page will dampen the freedom of the prose. And it is this freedom that the writer is after; the freedom to write about what it means to be human. — personal essay POV exercise adapted from Elizabeth Straut. 

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This comprehensive, 10-week group class will teach you specific techniques and skills that will empower you to write great short stories. By the end of the class, you’ll have two finished stories and several new ideas. Asynchronous means there are NO meetings (well, one, but it’s optional). But because it’s a group class, students still engage in online conversations, peer review, and build community.

Work with an instructor whose own stories have appeared in The Paris Review, Ploughshares, Boston Review, Conjunctions, Guernica, and countless other great literary magazines.

3. I'm a terrible person . Think of a time in your life when you behaved less than perfectly. You didn't take the high road. You were mean to the class nerd. You shoplifted a sweater. You read your best friend's diary. But also list why a reading audience or reader might still root for you. Write an essay about what you did, why you did it, how it worked out, what you'd do differently today if you saw others repeat your mistakes and how it makes you feel now. —Adapted from Margot Leitman's Long Story Short.

4. Opposing Values. Make a list of opposing values or conflicts that pull you in different directions over your lifetime. For example: 

money/spirituality

appearances/truthfulness

Impressing others/pleasing myself 

Is there one conflict of values running through all? Money, appearances, and impressing others are important to your family. But you find they aren't your values. Choose a pair of opposing values to work with. Write down the first time you became aware of the conflict. Write down other times the conflict surfaced. Choose one, and write an essay on the scene and insights you have now. — Adapted from Tristine Rainer's Your Life As Story. 

5. Three Braided Objects. Take three disparate objects randomly from your purse, backpack, or shelves. Set them in front of you and begin writing, allowing fifteen minutes for each object. See if you can use a common image or theme to bind these together.  —Adapted from Brenda Miller, Writing Creative Nonfiction.

6. Rewriting a Scene. Without using first-person pronouns (I, me, mine, my, we, our, ours), write an accurate scene about an incident you witnessed firsthand. Then take the above scene and rewrite it twice, expressing a different tone—anger, fear, humor, sarcasm, etc.—between the lines. —Adapted from Philip Gerard, Writing Creative Nonfiction.

7. Thesaurus Essay. Make a list of words about a particular subject. Words for mountain bikes or international treaties, words for welding or Lauren Bacall– it doesn't matter so long as you're drawn to the topic. Read around, searching out specific verbs, nouns, and adjectives. Or explore the networks between words. Create a word-hoard or group of words that conjure your subject matter in your medium. Muse these words to write your piece. The words will work on you. —Judith Kitchen: Rose Metal Press Book of Flash Nonfiction.

8. Privacy . What have you kept to yourself — for a few days, a couple of months, your whole life? What makes you lock the door or clear your browser history? Draw the blinds and write.  —The Sun

9. Reality vs. Desire . List three real-life people or fictional characters you relate to. Then list three real-life people or characters you wish you were like. Who do you relate to, and why is there a gap? What characteristics do the aspirational people have that you wish you did? Use this to start an essay with, "I wish I could be more like ___, but instead, I'm more like ___." —Adapted from Margot Leitman's Long Story Short.

10. Pressure . Write about a time you were persuaded to do something dangerous or didn't want to do. Or someone you know tried to pressure you into something, and you resisted. What was at stake? What did you win or lose by succumbing (or fighting) to that pressure?  —Adapted from Monica Wood's The Pocket Muse: Endless Inspiration

Personal Essay Prompts 11-20

11. Apologize. Write an apology to someone in your past. Focus not purely on the emotion but on an event, an image, or your own "piece of wood." See where that takes you. When you're finished, look at your opening and ending sentences. Is there a relationship? Can you form one? – Brenda Miller, Rose Metal Press Book of Flash Nonfiction. 

12. Story told a thousand times. Think of the story you've told most often in your life. Everyone has one. Your friends/family likely beg you to tell it. Now try to identify what's universal about that story. Is it a universal feeling? Struggle? Common misconception?—Adapted from Margot Leitman's Long Story Short.

13. Pain & Joy. Choose a painful period of your life. Now list 12 moments during that period where you experienced joy as human warmth, nature's endurance, inner quiet, or beauty or character—even if you weren't fully aware of those moments at the time. Take one of those moments and write an essay. –Adapted from Tristine Rainer's Your Life As Story. 

3. Quirks & Stories . Write down a list of 10 quirks about yourself. Then, are there stories that explain these quirks? What makes you such a fabulous baker? What was the dumbest thing you've been competitive about? Choose one and write about how the quirk manifests in your everyday life, the earliest memory of that facet of your personality, and why you think you're so weird. —Adapted from Margot Leitman's Long Story Short.

14. Odd jobs. Start an essay with "I was a…" and describe the most unusual job you've had, even if it was unpaid or only lasted a day (spoiler: you were fired). Or write about the first day of your last job or the last day of your first job. —Adapted from Margot Leitman's Long Story Short and Monica Wood's The Pocket Muse: Endless Inspiration

15. On Animals. Pets are a popular topic for essays. Take it a little further than, "I love my dog. He's so cool!" What lessons has your dog taught you? Does your cat's experiences parallel your own in some way? Do you remember your first encounter with a wild or pet animal—how old were you, and what did you think? Is there an animal who influenced the direction of your life? When was your first pet loss, and when was the most recent? What did those experiences teach you about the process of loss and grief?  

In my family, animals were _____

My least-favorite pet was ____ but …. 

My favorite pet was ____, but …. 

If I were a (wild) animal, I would be a _____ 

16. The Moment You Lost It. Think of a time you emotionally snapped. You lost your cool. You freaked out. You worried passersby. Recount the story with details, but find the humor in it now. Was it such a big deal? Why was it such a big deal at the time? Did it trigger an earlier memory or feeling? Do you regret it now? —Adapted from Margot Leitman's Long Story Short.

17. Memory chain . Look at an object in the room. Ask yourself what the thing reminds you of, and wait for a memory to arise. Write down details of that memory, even if bullet points. Write fast. Then wait a moment and ask yourself what that initial memory reminds you of. Write down that memory. And what, then, does that memory remind you of? Continue writing quickly for 6-7 chain links. 

Choose one of the memories and write down all details—sensory, thoughts, feelings, dialogue, and what you wish you would've done or said differently.

Next, look over the piece, and think about how a stranger would read it. What do you need to revise to help them understand the importance of this memory? What do you need to rearrange, add, or cut altogether? –Adapted from James Moffett and Writing True by Sondra Perl

18. Use a photo. Look at an older photo of yourself with others from long ago. Write in the present tense about what you were thinking and feeling back then. Describe the setting, who the people are, and the social dynamics using show versus tell, including dialogue. Imagine what others in the photo are thinking and the moment from their point of view. –Adapted from Writing True by Sondra Perl

19. Take the L. Remember a time when you won something you didn't expect to win or a time when you lost something you expected to win. But still took something positive from the experience. This could mean winning the game or getting into college—or not. Think of critical points that would make others root for you. —Adapted from Margot Leitman's Long Story Short.

20 . Unloved. What's your most unloved possession? How did it come into your possession? Do you need it? Why do you keep it? What does it represent? How does it disappoint you?  —Adapted from Monica Wood's The Pocket Muse: Endless Inspiration

Personal Essay Prompts 21-30

21. Someone else's story. Think about someone else's essay, account, or situation that's long stayed with you. Now find your spin on it. What was your opinion of the situation? Does it remind you of a similar situation where you made a different choice? How would you have handled the situation differently? How do you justify or make sense of what happened? —Adapted from Margot Leitman's Long Story Short.

22. Write a letter . Write a contradictory letter, such as a thank-you letter you don't mean. An apology you are insincere about. A "sorry you lost" letter for an enemy. Congratulations to someone you're insanely jealous of. 

23. Twists. Choose a day that was supposed to be the best day of your life but was one of the worst. Or a worst day that turned out to be the best. Which problems or benefits could you have anticipated, and which were impossible? Is it something many people go through? Do you enjoy life's twists and surprises, or do you dread them? What did you learn, or how did that day or experience change you? —Adapted from Margot Leitman's Long Story Short.

24. Discomfort . Write as sympathetically as you can about someone who gives you the heebie-jeebies. Someone you distrust, you dislike, you fear might be a "nice guy who keeps to himself" or otherwise discomforts you. Why is he like this? Why do you have this reaction? How many are like him or her in the world, and have you known people like this before? Do you ever make others uncomfortable or feel as though you don't fit in, and how? —Adapted from Monica Wood's The Pocket Muse: Endless Inspiration

25. Idols. Who did you look up to but don't anymore? Who took their place? What teacher, pop star, family member, or religious leader has been a guiding light in the darkness? Or was it all smoke and mirrors? Tell us your true story. —The Sun

26. Common Folks' Phrases. Recall a phrase common to one of your communities and use it to begin a piece of flash nonfiction. Allow yourself to speak from the persona of the group. Then find a place to step forward and speak more personally. Turn toward the end of the piece, and consider how the persona you've established fits into or separates from the group persona. Be aware of the tensions between different aspects of yourself and how the short piece invites you to explore your character quickly. 

– Lee Martin ("Dumber Than"), Rose Metal Press Book of Flash Nonfiction Plant

27. It's a Trap . Write about a time you baited someone or something in a trap. A lighting bug, a rat, a lover. What steps did you take? What would you recommend or not recommend to others? Why did you want to capture it? Was it causing harm or bringing joy? Did you keep the object of your desire or lose interest? Or fear the next step? Would you do something similar today? If you wish, compare or contrast with a time you felt trapped. When did you realize it had happened, and what happened next?

28. Conflict. Look for tensions, conflict, and irony in your life and how they illuminate larger themes while being very concrete. 

A beautiful evening ruined by a joke 

A day when everything changed

Someone accidentally destroyed something irreplaceable

Something you don't know (and don't want to)

A painful loyalty 

A time you worked hard toward a morally ambiguous goal

—Adapted from Monica Wood's The Pocket Muse: Endless Inspiration Multi-Step Essay Prompts

29. Angles. Write four one-page first-person sketches about yourself from different POVs. Write a portrait of yourself or your character from the POV of: 

Someone who loves you

Someone who will never understand you

Someone who despises you 

Someone who wishes to understand you

—Adapted from Your Life is a Book by Brenda Peterson and Sarah Jane Freymann

30. Digress. Begin writing a scene that contains some descriptions or actions. Produce 4-10 sentences, then stop. This is your first paragraph. Then digress where the thoughts grow naturally out of what you have, then take on a life of their own. Use one of the following prompts: 

That reminds me… (or I am reminded of, along those lines…)

I used to think… (that was before, I realize now…)

But it is also true … (an alternate perspective)

–Judith Kitchen: Rose Metal Press Book of Flash Nonfiction

Digress Part II. Begin writing a scene that contains some descriptions or actions. Produce 4-10 sentences, then stop. This is your first paragraph. Reuse this paragraph but change the topic in some active way. Or even an abrupt change. 

Digress Part III. Begin writing a scene that contains some descriptions or actions. Produce 4-10 sentences, then stop. This is your first paragraph. Then write something that refers to one detail in the opening paragraph, a tangential digression. Imagery or detail association links the sections. Repeat it twice more, creating a three-part piece. 

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295 personal narrative ideas: diverse topics for your essay.

January 6, 2022

Personal narrative writing involves writing about a real-life experience. It’s like non-fiction. You’re writing a story about yourself because it happened to you. At some point, your stories are the perfect personal narrative writing ideas because they are yours.

This way, you get to connect with people. As a student in high school, college, middle school, or university, you can impress your teachers or professors with good personal narrative topics. By choosing the perfect topic, you can create a stellar essay to earn high grades.

Characteristics of a Good Personal Narrative Piece

As a kind of writing which relies on individual experience, your story must:

Have a Clear Purpose This could be a narration of why the story is important to you. The purpose of the story must be clearly expressed without making direct statements about it. Organized Facts and Events The fact you are writing a story about your life doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be organized. You should write sequentially as much as possible to make it organized and lucid. Sensory Description You must also describe your feeling in a way the audience can connect with it. If you need to describe how the cold touch of rain sliced through your skin on a winter dawn, do it. Let your audience feel it as much as you felt it. Involve Readers Your readers must feel important while reading your story. To achieve this, your story must carry them along. If there’s something you need to explain, explain it to make everything clear to them. Include Conflict A story is incomplete without conflicts. This is why you must create enthralling conflicts for your characters. The higher the stake, the better the feelings when the protagonist scales through it.

All these, in addition to a thesis statement are all important features that must be seen in any personal narrative writing.

The Structure of a Personal Narrative Essay

After knowing what your personal essay must have as its features, you must also structure your essay properly. To do this, you should follow this organizational structure:

• Introduction

This is where you grab your readers’ attention. You should set the scene where major characters of the story are also introduced. After this, discuss the role of the argument and introduce the characters. Your introduction must be captivating. Note that you’re writing a story, not a paper.

This is where everything about the story is shared. You must add all the details you know to your story. For instance, the hiking experience must be profoundly discussed, and so do the events that changed you. If you also want to talk about people, describe them. Doing this lets you show your readers, not tell them the story. When you need to change the course of the story, you can write in a new paragraph.

Our list will be extremely helpful to start your essay, but we can assist you even more along the whole process if you want to pay for essay online and save your time for something more entertaining.

Personal Narrative Writing Prompts

As students, one of the most important essays you may ever write is a personal narrative one. This is one of the ways to reveal yourself to strangers and friends. It’s a way to knows more about yourself and other people. You can consider these ideas for a personal narrative piece:

• Identify your most threatening challenges
• What would you say are your survival strategies?
• How do you cope when you fail?
• Would you say that you can’t succeed unless you fail?
• Discuss what you do to achieve your goals
• Do you think “leave your comfort zone” is a sham?
• What do you think about yourself when you’re scared?
• Would you say you don’t mind loneliness?
• What does crying mean to you?
• What are your fears?
• Do you harbor superstitions, what are they?
• Do you feel no one is seeing you as they should
• Write about your rules for life
• Write about your response to bullies
• Write about how you give yourself peace
• How do you relax within the limited time you have to yourself?
• What do you do for fun?
• How do you integrate feedback to improve?
• Would you say becoming an adult is difficult?
• What is the responsibility that scares you the most and why?
• When was your saddest day and why was it?
• How does stress not make anything easy for you?
• Do you act anyhow when you’re provoked?
• How do you perform under pressure?
• Can you discuss what makes you happy?
• Discuss what criticism means and how you take them in
• Discuss what your decision-making process is like
• Explain what motivates you the most
• Do you think you have self-control
• Are you presently easy or hard on yourself to reach your goals?
• Can you work under any circumstances?
• Do you think you’re a creative person?
• What are the conditions that helped you maximize your potentials
• Would you say you’re emotionally intelligent?
• Would you say you can perform the most when you collaborate
• Are you ready for the competitive workplace?
• Would you say you’re a great speaker?
• Would you say you’re a better listener?
• Do you think you’re an agreeable person?
• Discuss what you think about peer pressure.

Personal Narrative Essay Ideas

For your personal essays, how do you discover great essay ideas? You can consider custom personal narrative prompts which are unique to specific events. Some of the topics which are target-oriented are:

• Discuss a time you took more risks than others
• What makes you a daredevil?
• What has made you brave?
• Would you say you’re impulsive?
• Discuss your strategies against boredom
• What are the pranks you’ve ever fallen for
• How do you apologize when you’re wrong?
• Do you think you’re a cynical person?
• Discuss three things that annoy you
• Would you say you’re materialistic?
• Do you consider yourself a minimalist?
• How do you say goodbye?
• Are you on the right or the left?
• What do you think people think about you?
• Why do you think what others think should matter?
• Write about your role model
• Would you say you’re weird?
• Would you say you’re a nonconformist?
• Do you believe in magic?
• Why should you be inspired by people?
• Do you think your role models are heroes?
• Would you think role models must be famous
• Outside your family, are you a different person?
• Within your family, do you want to be someone else?
• Which live show do you love the most?
• Discuss how someone has made a difference in your life
• What are the kinds of music you like?
• Discuss what you’d put in a thank you note
• Write what you’d do if you’re to invite your enemies to dinner
• Recall a time to speak to a large audience of people and write how it felt
• Do you think family is everything?
• Do you think you can’t be anything without family?
• Would you say you want to change your role in the family?
• What are the programs that keep you closer?
• If your life would be a movie, which of the autobiographies would it be?
• Choose a profession of your choice and discuss why
• What do you think about sacrifice?
• Discuss a family treasure
• Would you say you have hobbies someone has adopted
• Why are you called your name?

Personal Narrative Ideas High School

As high school students, you also need to develop personal narrative essays. These could be essays about your parents, neighbors, or your home. Choose from these personal narrative ideas for high school students:

• Describe your relationship with your parents?
• Would you say your parents permit you?
• Discuss the freedom your parents give you
• Do you think your curfew hours make it difficult to live?
• Would you say you enjoy your parents, why?
• Would you prefer to be a parent too?
• What do your parents do with your bad report card?
• Would you say parenting is difficult?
• Do your parents like online learning?
• Are your parents hard on you to do things?
• Do you think parenting could be something to be embarrassed by?
• How did your parents influence the school you attended?
• Do your parents let you create things on your own?
• Do you think you have great teachers and patients?
• What will your neighbors say about you?
• Which characters perfectly describe your neighbors and why?
• What is a common slogan in your environment?
• What are the TV shows you can’t stop watching?
• What do you think about supporting community sport?
• Write about the mayor of your city
• Where is your favorite place?
• Write about your favorite joint
• Write about a park you love
• Discuss how you spend time with nature
• Would you say you see bad things every day?
• Do you love your home?
• What is your favorite ad slogan and why?
• What does chatting with the police feel like?
• Have you ever been assaulted?
• Do you think you’re easily annoyed?

Personal Narrative Topic Ideas

If you’d love to discuss anything at all, there are tons of custom ideas on narrative writing. Some personal narrative ideas are also based on religion, sexuality, race, and many other issues of the world today. Consider:

• Would you say you have no religion?
• Do you think the older generations are too religious?
• Write about how you know about other religions
• Write about what you know about other religions
• Discuss the difference between male and female
• Do you acknowledge the rights of trans people?
• Do you think the LGTBQ is complicated?
• Will you share parental responsibilities?
• What do you know about sex?
• What do you know about gender issues?
• What is your experience of love?
• How does being a ‘real man’ feel?
• Do you think you can be biased?
• Is there a difference in the ways sons and daughters are treated in the home?
• Should there a more pressure on daughters than men
• Discuss your racial identity and why it’s important to talk about it
• Would you say you’re a feminist?
• Discuss your encounter with sexual harassment
• Discuss what you think about catcalling
• What do you think about social hierarchies?
• Discuss the last time you interacted with someone of another race
• Do you think you have racial biases too?
• Would you say you experienced racism before, as black
• Which one is more important to you: money or love
• Are you happy with yourself?
• Would you say money can’t buy happiness too?
• What do you pay attention to the most in the world?
• Do you think it’s okay to be addicted to phones
• How do you teach people about money?
• What are the most important things in your life?

Personal Narrative Writing Ideas

As an attempt to discuss something that deals with people’s daily affairs, good ideas for personal narrative may be hard to come by. Rather than go through the trouble of finding how to think of ideas for a personal narrative, these are custom ideas for you:

• What are the things that matter most for you?
• Narrate what you hope to have in your dream home
• Narrate your experience as if you’d lived in the woods
• Narrate your most fun childhood memory
• Discuss what your passion was as a child
• Explain what you loved most as a child
• Write about your favorite childhood shows and books
• Discuss your favorite childhood picture book
• Write about your childhood influences
• Discuss your childhood most loved places
• Discuss the little things your parents did they made you happy
• Write about the first time you went out with your parents
• Narrate your experience of a swing
• What was your favorite song as a child? Write a response to it
• Which food do you wish you’d eaten as a child
• Narrate what made a gift the best you ever had
• Write about what your most memorable letter
• Write about the divorce of a family friend or neighbor
• Discuss the consequence of separation from a state
• Write about how migrated from a place to another
• Write about how angry your father or mother could be at themselves
• Write about your favorite memories of sleepovers
• How did it feel when you found something you thought you’d lost?
• What are your most prized lessons of teenage years?
• Would you do something else differently not as an adult when you were 13?
• Narrate the achievements that made you proud
• Discuss the rites you engaged in
• Write about your message to the older generation
• Write a message to the younger generation
• Describe yourself as if you’re a 13-year-old right now
• Share a story of your ethical dilemma
• Discuss your sex experience; whether you had it not
• Write about something you cared about that you shouldn’t have
• Write about something you didn’t care about but you should have
• Discuss the last time you collected money from a stranger
• Write about the last time a stranger kissed you
• Discuss your memorable lying experience
• Narrate your experience with drugs
• Explain your experience with gossiping
• Have you ever cheated in exams?

Personal Narrative Ideas College

As a college student, you can also develop incredible personal narrative pieces. Through these pieces, you can connect with your colleagues and share your ideas. Consider these personal narrative prompts:

• Why did you choose the screen time you chose?
• What would you do without a smartphone?
• Narrate your gaming experiences and the thrill you feel
• Write about the apps that do nothing but reduce you
• Would you say tech takes a huge responsibility for change in your life?
• Would you say you are interested in technology?
• What is your experience of religion?
• What is your experience of God?
• Narrate if you’ve had an encounter with God or religion before
• Explain what you’d do if you have control over others
• Narrate what you would control if you can
• Narrate what you can do without thinking otherwise
• What would you say are your best features of YouTube
• Narrate your experience of a date over the internet
• Narrate your experience of seeking to advice online
• Discuss your favorite online sports
• Write about your online sad story
• Write about a terrible experience of bullying online
• Discuss how you fact check what you read online
• Write about how you express yourself online
• Would you say you trust Wikipedia?
• Would you say you enjoy online reviews?
• What is your comment on porn?
• Would you give your passwords out?
• If you have a partner, will you share everything?
• What would you do if you just made a fraudulent purchase?
• Do you chat with anonymous people?
• How do you keep your passwords safe?
• Are there things your parents won’t believe that is on the internet?
• Write about why you trust social media
• What is your favorite Facebook experience?
• What is your favorite Twitter experience?
• What is your experience of wrong grammar structure online?
• Did you ever go through Instagram feeds with envy?
• Did you ever download a stranger’s picture because you like them?

Personal Narrative Ideas for Middle School

At this stage, you have also had plausible experiences of life. What can you say about your life, or your experiences? You can write from these interesting personal narrative ideas:

• What do you know about poo divas and who’s your favorite?
• Write about your first karaoke performance
• Write about the artists you’d like lined up
• Narrate your earliest connection with music
• Narrate your earliest experience of music
• Write about the most loving but sad thing that ever happened to you
• Why do you avoid people?
• Narrate your experience of being stalked
• Discuss how you think social media has been abused
• Tell a story about your most favorite songs
• Tell a story about the music which has inspired you the most
• Which television show would you bring back?
• Which of your childhood commercials is your favorite?
• Why do you prefer cartoons?
• Discuss how television helped your family stay together
• Narrate the work nature of your parents
• Discuss your experience of being cheated
• Which music star do you love?
• Which music tells you about life?
• Which artist tells stories the most?
• How does the music you listen to Influence you?
• Narrate what you think are the best period of your life yet
• Narrate your favorite movies
• Narrate a public performance experience
• Discuss the bad things about horror movies
• Write about your favorite comedians
• Narrate your experience of gaming
• Would you play violent games?
• Do you think zombies are real?
• Do you feel guilty or excited that you kill zombies?

Good Ideas for a Personal Narrative Essay

If you need to discuss cool events and languages, there are good personal narrative topics for you. Some of these topics are:

• Narrate your experience at the museum
• What is your favorite visual artist?
• Discuss your most fascinating work of art
• Write about the importance of education
• Would you say you can’t live without art
• Which words do you like using?
• Which words don’t you like using?
• What are the slangs you used to love?
• What has changed since you started using some words
• Would you call someone a shag? Why?
• Which word do you think people use too much?
• Narrate what you consider a great conversation
• Discuss your time with a lover
• Narrate your experience discussing with your mum
• Narrate your experience discussing with your dad
• Narrate your experience teaching your grandparents about something on a smartphone
• Write about a time you felt you talked too much
• Write about a time you used satires
• Write about a time you attacked people but didn’t feel bad
• What would you say are the most terrible things you’ve done?
• If you had to learn a language, which would it be?
• How do you use your body language and why do you use it?
• If you can influence someone’s memory, what would it be and why would you do it?
• Write about what stresses you the most about school without using F words or castigating anyone
• Discuss what you once looked forward to but no longer look forward to
• Would you rather take private classes, online classes, or physical classes with other students and why would you choose your choice?
• Discuss your experience with bullying and what you could have done when you were bullied or when someone you know was bullied
• Write about the kind of school you wish you had attended and the experience you wish you had had
• Write about the things you hate the most about going to your religious places and the things you wish they had
• Discuss what it would mean to not be educated at all.

Interesting Personal Narrative Ideas

There are also interesting personal narrative essay ideas across all classes. You can choose these essay ideas for your college, high school, middle school, or university assignments. Options to consider are:

• What have you had to do which you didn’t like?
• Discuss how best you once participated in class
• Write about a memorable experience of school you wish were yours
• Write about a memorable experience of a relationship you wish you could have
• Discuss your first encounter with a difficult subject and write when you realize you may fail the course
• Tell a story about what you thought is fascinating about relationships that are no longer fascinating?
• Tell a story about what you think about digital skills and why it is important in the future
• Would you say that programming and computer coding offers more opportunities than any other skills?
• Narrate a terrible experience of yours after you failed an exam and what your parents did
• Narrate the saddest day in class for you
• You were invited to speak to your class about how you spent your weekend or holiday, what were the things that ran through your mind and did you speak?
• Like your friends, you had many terrible and shameful experiences while studying simply because you’re a shy person, narrate some of the most important and terrible moments of your school life
• Write a story about a teacher you would like to appreciate detailing the important things the teacher had done to you without isolating the bad things he or she had also done
• Discuss the textbook you ever felt disgusted with and why you did
• Do you think your teachers are as vast with technology as they ought to be, and would you feel bad if you had insulted them at one time or the other when you were young?
• Narrate the most arousing party you went to focusing on the sensory details which made it different from other parties and proms
• If you will deliver a speech about the horribleness of physical bullying or cyberbullying, focusing on experiences that could make people cry, how would you write the speech and how would you perform it?
• Would you flog students you considered rebellious in your class if you were a teacher, even if the student is truly stubborn and should have probably been in a juvenile center?
• What are the mental health issues you wish people had talked about the most when you were in high school?
• If you could talk to the authorities about the things you think were important for students which weren’t done, what would they be, and how would you do it?

Get Narrative Essay Help

With these exciting topics, you can create a professional personal narrative essay based on your adult or childhood experiences. However, if you need someone to write your essay or assignment, you can hire top-notch writers online.

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Narrative Essay

Narrative Essay Topics

Best Narrative Essay Topics 2024 for Students

12 min read

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Many students have a hard time picking interesting topics for their narrative essays.

Without a good topic, their stories can be boring and won't get good grades.

Here we’ve made a list of simple and fun narrative essay topics to help your essay stand out.

So, keep reading to find the perfect narrative essay idea for you!

• 1. Narrative Essay Topics for Students
• 2. Unique Narrative Essay Topics for Students
• 3. Narrative Essay Topics on Different Themes
• 4. How to Choose a Topic for a Narrative Essay?
• 5. Tips for Writing Narrative Essays

Narrative Essay Topics for Students

If you're a student looking for a diverse range of topics, we've got you covered with a diverse selection of narrative essay topics. 

Narrative Essay Topics for Grade 3

• My favorite birthday party
• A day at the zoo
• The best trip I ever took
• My first pet
• A time I helped someone
• My funniest school day
• A rainy day adventure
• My favorite family tradition
• The day I learned to ride a bike
• A visit to the park

Narrative Essay Topics for Grade 4

• My best friend
• The most exciting day of my life
• A time I got lost
• A memorable sleepover
• A day at the beach
• My favorite holiday memory
• The day I found a hidden treasure
• A special family vacation
• A time I overcame a fear
• An unexpected surprise

Narrative Essay Topics for Grade 5

• My First Day at a New School
• The Time I Learned to Ride a Bike
• A Visit to a Haunted House
• The Day I Met a Real-Life Superhero
• My Most Memorable Family Vacation
• A Surprising Encounter with an Animal
• The Mystery of the Missing Homework
• The Best Birthday Party I Ever Had
• When I Lost a Tooth
• My Adventure in a Fantasy World

Narrative Essay Topics for Grade 6

• An Unforgettable Camping Trip
• The Day I Discovered a Hidden Talent
• A Mysterious Letter and Its Consequences
• A Time I Had to Stand Up for What's Right
• The Thrilling Mystery of a Forgotten Diary
• A Memorable Encounter with a Famous Person
• My Journey Through a Fantasy Land
• The Day I Learned a Valuable Life Lesson
• An Unexpected Act of Kindness
• A Secret Adventure in an Abandoned Place

Narrative Essay Topics for Grade 7

• The Most Exciting Adventure of My Life
• The Day I Overcame a Fear
• A Memorable School Field Trip
• The Strangest Mystery I Ever Encountered
• An Unforgettable Encounter with Wildlife
• A Life-Changing Decision I Had to Make
• The Best Book I Ever Read and Why
• A Day in the Life of a Time Traveler
• The Importance of Friendship in My Life
• A Valuable Lesson Learned from a Mistake

Narrative Essay Topics for Grade 8 

• A Time I Faced a Difficult Moral Dilemma
• The Most Memorable Summer Vacation
• The Impact of a Life-Altering Decision
• An Unexpected Act of Kindness I Received
• The Day I Stepped Out of My Comfort Zone
• A Historical Event I Would Like to Witness
• A Special Family Tradition and Its Significance
• A Personal Achievement I'm Proud Of
• A Challenging Obstacle I Overcame
• A Journey Through My Creative Imagination

Narrative Essay Topics for Grade 9

• The Transition to High School: Challenges and Triumphs
• A Life-Changing Encounter with an Inspiring Mentor
• My First Part-Time Job and What I Learned
• The Day I Realized the Power of Empathy
• The Impact of a Personal Passion or Hobby
• An Unforgettable Travel Experience Abroad
• A Meaningful Community Service Project I Participated In
• The Role of Technology in My Life
• A Defining Moment in My Cultural Identity
• My Vision for the Future: Dreams and Aspirations

Narrative Essay Topics for Grade 10

• The most challenging experience of my life
• A time I stood up for something I believed in
• How I overcame a major obstacle
• The impact of a special teacher or mentor
• A moment that changed my perspective on life
• An unforgettable road trip
• My experience with peer pressure
• A time I failed and what I learned from it
• A significant cultural or family tradition
• A memorable high school event

Narrative Essay Topics for O-Levels 

• The Day I Took a Leap of Faith
• An Unforgettable Journey into the Unknown
• A Life-Altering Decision I Made in High School
• An Encounter with a Stranger That Changed My Perspective
• The Role of Resilience in Overcoming a Personal Challenge
• The Impact of a Cultural Exchange Experience
• A Lesson Learned from a Unique Life Experience
• The Importance of Perseverance in Achieving a Goal
• My Most Memorable Academic Achievement
• A Glimpse into My Future: Aspirations and Ambitions

Narrative Essay Topics for Highschool

• The Moment I Discovered My Passion
• A Life-Changing Journey Abroad
• A Challenging Decision That Shaped My Future
• An Unexpected Act of Kindness That Touched My Heart
• The Role of Resilience in Overcoming Adversity
• A Personal Experience That Shaped My Values
• The Impact of Technology on My Generation
• A Time I Took a Stand for a Cause I Believe In
• A Memorable Leadership Role I Assumed
• A Glimpse into My Ideal Future: Aspirations and Goals

Narrative Essay Topics for College

• The Journey to Finding My Academic Passion
• A Life-Altering Study Abroad Experience
• The Transformational Impact of a Challenging Decision
• Navigating the Transition from College to the Professional World
• An Unforgettable Encounter with a Mentor or Role Model
• The Role of Adversity in Shaping My Personal Growth
• A Significant Ethical Dilemma I Faced in College
• How My College Experiences Have Shaped My Worldview
• The Impact of Technology on My College Education
• A Personal Reflection on My Career Aspirations and Goals

Narrative Essay Topics for University Students

• The Evolution of My Academic and Career Goals at University
• An Eye-Opening Internship Experience That Impacted My Future
• A Transformative Study Abroad Journey
• Navigating the Complexities of Balancing Work, Academics, and Social Life at University
• The Role of a Unique Research Project in My Academic Growth
• A Personal Account of Overcoming a Significant Academic Challenge
• A Meaningful Leadership Role in a University Organization
• The Journey of Self-Discovery Through Elective Courses at University
• The Impact of Peer Relationships and Networking at University
• How My University Education Has Shaped My Perspective on Global Issues

Unique Narrative Essay Topics for Students

We've gathered distinct narrative topic ideas to fuel your creativity. Let’s look at some personal narrative ideas to inspire your narrative writing.

Descriptive Narrative Essay Topics

• A Peaceful Day by the Riverside
• Exploring a Haunted House
• My Favorite Childhood Memory
• A Walk Through an Ancient Forest
• The Perfect Winter Wonderland
• An Evening at a Carnival
• A Visit to a Vibrant Art Gallery
• The Spectacular Colors of Autumn
• A Day in the Life of a Beach
• An Exciting Night in the City

Personal Narrative Essay Topics

• A Life-Changing Decision I Made
• A Moment of Personal Triumph
• Overcoming My Greatest Fear
• A Meaningful Lesson from a Personal Challenge
• The Role of a Special Friend in My Life
• A Time When I Broke a Personal Record
• The Impact of a Mentor on My Life
• My Journey to Self-Discovery

Literacy Narrative Essay Topics

• My Earliest Memory of Learning to Read
• The Book That Sparked My Love for Reading
• A Life-Changing Experience in a Library
• The Impact of a Special Teacher on My Writing Skills
• How Technology Has Shaped My Writing Habits
• A Personal Reflection on My Writing Journey
• The Role of Literature in Shaping My Perspective
• Writing as a Tool for Self-Expression and Healing
• How I Overcame Writer's Block
• The Significance of Storytelling in My Life

Engaging Narrative Essay Topics

• The Mystery of a Lost Treasure Map
• An Unlikely Friendship That Changed My Life
• A Day in the Life of a Professional Athlete
• The Journey of Starting My Own Business
• A Haunting Experience in a Historic Place
• A Memorable Road Trip with Friends
• My Encounter with a Famous Celebrity
• The Day I Conquered My Greatest Fear
• An Adventure in a Foreign Land
• A Life-Altering Decision at a Crossroads

Narrative Essay Topics on Different Themes

Narrative essays allow you to share personal stories on various themes, such as funny moments, childhood memories, vacations, and happy times. Here are some themes with topic ideas to inspire your creativity and reflection:

Funny Narrative Essay Topics

• The funniest thing that ever happened to me
• A time I embarrassed myself in public
• A prank that went hilariously wrong
• The day everything went wrong but turned out great
• My most awkward moment at school
• A silly misunderstanding
• A funny family tradition
• A comical incident with my pet
• The time I tried to cook and failed
• A laughable sports mishap

Childhood Narrative Essay Topics

• My first day of school
• A memorable playdate with friends
• A childhood dream that came true
• A lesson I learned from my parents
• A favorite toy and the adventures we had
• The day I met my best friend
• A family trip from my childhood
• A time I got into trouble and how I handled it
• My favorite birthday as a child
• A special holiday memory

Vacations Narrative Essay Topics

• My best summer vacation ever
• An unexpected adventure during a vacation
• The most relaxing vacation I’ve had
• A family road trip
• A visit to a place I've always wanted to go
• An unforgettable experience at a resort
• Exploring nature on a camping trip
• The funniest moment on vacation
• A cultural experience in a new city
• The day I got lost on vacation

Narrative Essay Topics About Happy Moments

• The happiest day of my life
• A time I felt really proud of myself
• A moment of pure joy with family
• A celebration I'll never forget
• Achieving a goal I worked hard for
• A surprise that made me smile
• The day I made a new friend
• A happy memory with my pet
• A time I helped someone and felt happy
• A fun day at the park

Narrative Essay Topics About Pets

• The day I got my first pet
• A funny incident with my pet
• Training my pet
• The adventures of my pet and me
• A time my pet comforted me
• A day in the life of my pet
• My pet's quirky habits
• A time my pet saved the day
• How my pet changed my life
• A special bond with my pet

Narrative Essay Topics About Favorite Places

• My favorite place in my hometown
• A visit to a place of historical significance
• A place where I feel at peace
• The most beautiful place i've ever seen
• A hidden gem I discovered
• My favorite place to hang out with friends
• A place that holds special memories
• The best vacation spot i've been to
• A place I visit when I need inspiration
• A place that makes me feel happy

How to Choose a Topic for a Narrative Essay?

Choosing the right topic for your narrative essay can be a daunting task. Before you start writing, it is important to invest some time in researching and brainstorming. 

Here are a few tips to help guide you in selecting an interesting and engaging narrative essay topic: 

• Reflect on Your Personal Experiences: If you are writing about a personal narrative topic, consider the impactful moments in your life and think about experiences that have left a strong impression on you.
• Identify a Clear Message or Theme: Determine the central idea or theme of your narrative. Decide what lesson, insight, or emotion you want to convey.
• Engage Your Audience: Consider your target audience and what will resonate with them. Choose a topic that captures their interest and keeps them engaged.
• Play with Different Perspectives: Explore the option of incorporating different viewpoints. Combining personal and external perspectives can add depth to your narrative.
• Test Your Idea: Get feedback from a friend or classmate. Assess if your chosen topic is likely to resonate with your audience.
• Stay True to Your Voice: Balance considering your audience with being authentic. Let your unique voice and storytelling style shine through in your writing

Tips for Writing Narrative Essays

Once you have selected a topic for your narrative essay, it is time to start writing. 

Here are a few tips to keep in mind as you write your story: 

• Start with a Strong Hook: Begin your narrative essay with a captivating hook, such as an engaging anecdote, a thought-provoking question, or a vivid description. 
• Follow a Clear Structure: Organize your narrative essay outline with a clear structure. Most narratives follow a chronological order, but you can also use flashbacks or nonlinear storytelling when it serves your narrative. 
• Build Tension and Conflict:  Create tension and conflict in your narrative to add depth and maintain reader engagement. Whether it's a personal struggle, a moral dilemma, or an external challenge, these obstacles will keep readers eagerly anticipating what comes next.
• Revise and Edit:  After completing your first draft, take the time to revise and edit your work. Review it for grammar and spelling errors, but also examine the overall structure and flow of your narrative.
• Practice, Practice, Practice:  Like any form of writing, improving your narrative essay skills takes practice. Keep writing and experimenting with different topics, styles, and approaches to develop your storytelling abilities.

Before you start writing, make sure you read some narrative essay examples to learn how to organize your thoughts and structure your story.

In summary, no matter the type of essay you are writing about, you need a topic to start with. Our collection of narrative essay topics offers fresh, distinct ideas. 

These topics are crafted to ignite your creativity and captivate your audience. They cover a diverse range of experiences, making it easier for you to connect with your readers on a personal level.

Still, struggling to write a compelling narrative essay? MyPerfectWords.com  is here to help you out!

We stand as the most reliable narrative essay writing service with a specialized focus on crafting exceptional essays designed for high school and college students. Our customer support team is also available 24/7, request write my essays online whenever you need assistance.

Frequently Asked Questions

How are narrative essay topics different from other essay types.

Narrative essay topics are usually based on personal experiences, so they are more emotional and creative than other types of essays. Also, they are often more open-ended, so you have more freedom to choose what to write about. 

Where can I find good narrative essay topics?

There are a few ways to find good topics for your narrative essay. You can look through books or magazines for ideas, or search online for inspiration. You can also brainstorm with friends or family members to come up with ideas. 

What do I write a narrative essay about?

You can write a narrative essay about anything, but it is usually based on personal experience. Try to recall interesting incidents from your life to develop a narrative about. 

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Personal Essay Topics

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• Writing Essays
• Writing Research Papers
• English Grammar
• M.Ed., Education Administration, University of Georgia
• B.A., History, Armstrong State University

A personal essay is an essay about your life, thoughts, or experiences. This type of essay gives readers a glimpse into your most intimate life encounters and lessons. There are many reasons you may need to write a personal essay, from a simple class assignment to a college application requirement . You can use the list below for inspiration. Consider each statement a starting point, and write about a memorable moment that the prompt brings to mind.

• Your bravest moment
• How you met your best friend
• What makes your mom or dad special
• How you overcame a fear
• Why you will succeed
• Why you made a difficult choice
• A special place
• A place you try to avoid
• When a friend let you down
• An event that changed your life
• A special encounter with an animal
• A time when you felt out of place
• An odd experience that didn't make sense at the time
• Words of wisdom that hit home and changed your way of thinking
• A person you don't like
• A time when you disappointed someone
• Your fondest memory
• A time when you saw your parent cry
• The moment when you knew you were grown up
• Your earliest memory of holiday celebrations in your home
• Times when you should have made a better choice
• A time when you dodged a dangerous situation
• A person you will think about at the end of your life
• Your favorite time period
• A failure you've experienced
• A disappointment you've experienced
• A surprising turn of events
• What you would do with power
• What superpower you would choose
• If you could switch lives with someone
• How money matters in your life
• Your biggest loss
• A time when you felt you did the wrong thing
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• An experience that you've never shared with another person
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• A first encounter with a stranger
• Your first handshake
• Where you go to hide
• If you had a do-over
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• Your proudest moment
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• The world a hundred years from now
• If you had lived a hundred years earlier
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• The greatest discovery
• If you could change one thing about yourself
• An animal that could be in charge
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• Your most unfortunate day
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• An experience with death
• Why you'll never tell a lie
• If your mom knew, she'd kill you
• A kiss that meant a lot
• When you needed a hug
• The hardest news you've had to deliver
• A special morning
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249 Personal Narrative Ideas

A personal narrative essay is based on stories, experiences, events, memories, and interactions. Hence, while writing, you need to write in the first person.

While on it, you need to think about epic moments in your life, memorable things, and things that entertained you along the way. It also acts as a way to evaluate some great experiences and special moments you had with your friends or relatives. While on it, try to know your audience and consider what they will feel while reading your narrative essay. Additionally, it should have a sort of emotional influence on the audience Therefore, try to be as descriptive as possible.

This should make the reader feel like they were there with you. This article will provide some great personal narrative ideas and how to structure one.

A Personal Narrative Writing Piece Structure

Just like any other type of essay, it needs to have an introduction, body, and conclusion. You also need to know how to think of ideas for a personal narrative.

Before Starting Try to remember the story that you want to give and create a draft of how you will phrase the story. Also, try to figure out the words that you will use to make your narrative interesting. The preparation process is essential. However, try not to overthink. Introduction The introduction should provide an overview of what to expect. Try your best to explain your view of the topic and what the essay will entail. In addition, try your best to use the introductory paragraphs to get the reader’s attention. Just be creative enough to make them want to read more. Body The body should provide a clear idea of what happened. You can creatively show the events by importance. Moreover, try to structure the story in a way that everything flows from one thing to another. Try to use transitional words to connect various sentences. In addition, use the correct sentence structure for easy readability. Conclusion The conclusion paragraph should entail a summary of the story. This can be in terms of the lesson gotten, why the experience was memorable, and key takeaways. However, be cautious to ensure everything you write here is related to the essay. Once you are done, read the essay and remove or add what seems important for the essay.

You can release yourself from a long writing process and pay attention to more important or joyful activities. Buy dissertation online and our experts will guarantee you perfect result and good mood.

Impressive Personal Narrative Ideas

Are you looking for the best personal narrative prompts? You can start with these. They are mostly geared to understanding your personal experience in different activities.

• Describe how you overcame your greatest fear.
• Evaluate your greatest experiences of courage.
• Evaluate any major mistakes you have made and the lessons learned.
• The importance of new experiences in our lives.
• The importance of first work experiences to individuals.
• A professor you will never forget.
• Evaluate any dangerous experience you’ve ever had.
• The most epic experience that happened to you when young.
• The feeling of losing a friend.
• How to deal with grief.
• The best way to learn a new skill.
• An embarrassing experience that happened to you.
• The importance of taking part in extracurricular activities.
• The thrill of attending a sporting event.
• The thrill of attending a concert.
• The importance of helping people in need.
• How does it feel to learn a secret?
• The family member with whom you have the greatest bond.
• An inspiration class in your life.

Personal Narrative Writing Prompts

How has your life been from the start? These personal narrative writing prompts will help you to remember the best memories of childhood and school.

• The worst moment in which you felt scared and alone.
• Your best vacation experience.
• The best strategy to use to make friends.
• Your first day at a new school with new classmates.
• Your experience of making new friends in a new school.
• The most enjoyable festive season in your life.
• The best birthday celebration in your life.
• The most painful lesson you have ever learned.
• Your major life fears.
• An experience when a stranger helped you.
• The best day of your life.
• The most tragic event in your life.
• Your experience with socializing with a new pet.
• The best way you dealt with a natural disaster
• A time you found yourself in issues and was called to see the principal.
• A hard depression experience you would want to forget.
• The outcome of a serious argument with someone.
• The result of someone treating you unfairly.
• Your first skiing experience.

Personal Narrative Essay Ideas

Do you want to get high grades? You can consider any of these personal narrative essay ideas for a start. They are the best topics that you can use in college.

• Your best cooking experience.
• How does it feel to help a stranger?
• The impact of racial prejudice.
• Have you ever misjudged someone? How did it feel?
• The best beach experience in your life.
• The best present you have ever experienced.
• The negative result of getting an injury.
• Your first experience driving a car.
• Your first experience driving a tractor.
• The negative and positive effects of ending a relationship.
• The negative and positive effects of starting a relationship.
• Your first plane trip.
• How did you feel after using an airplane for the first time?
• How does it feel to meet a stranger?
• The best trip you have ever gone on.
• The negative effects of being punished from a personal experience.
• The importance of learning a life lesson.
• Your favorite hiking experience.
• The importance of hiking and having nature walks often.

Best Ideas for A Personal Narrative

While at school, you need to provide professional work that will help you to get top-notch grades. As students, you should always strive to get the best grades of all-time in college, high school, or university.

• Your experience when you learned some deep truth about someone.
• A tradition that surprised you.
• How circumstances can change some cultures.
• The most evident food traditions in your family.
• Your cultural identity.
• How culture defines someone and their personality.
• How did it feel to take part in an argument?
• Dealing with a bully.
• The repercussion of a person who commits suicide to the family.
• Your experience after graduating from high school.
• The effects of being involved in a car accident.
• The negative effects of humiliation.
• The importance of different acts of charity.
• How did it feel to help a friend?
• The negative effects of school fights.
• How did you feel when someone got beat up at school?
• Has a doctor ever neglected your health condition?
• A tough decision, you have ever made.
• A total stranger that changed your life completely.
• A person’s deeds that amazed you.

Personal Narrative Ideas High School

The experiences in high school are numerous. You should spend your high school trying new hobbies, sports, and forming valuable friendships.

• A day that you will never forget.
• The impact of failing in a class.
• The experience when you helped to save someone’s life
• An experience when you were sick at school.
• How did it feel when you failed in your best subject at school?
• A day that you would wish to live again.
• The emotions that crowd your mind when you fail an exam.
• The experience in a haunted house.
• The happiness that comes with winning a prize.
• Your first job experience.
• The experience when you got a flat tire.
• How do you spend your free time?
• The hobbies you are highly invested in.
• Your first police encounter.
• Your experience in an emergency room.
• The impact of going for internships.
• The craziest party in your childhood.
• Your worst emotional experience
• Your worst physical pain experience.
• How do you control your emotions?

Personal Narrative Topic Ideas

Are you good at narratives? You can use any of these personal narrative topic ideas to remember some great experiences that you had in the past.

• Your most memorable dream in childhood.
• The best subject you cared about in high school.
• The worst humiliation experience.
• Has someone ever been humiliated before you?
• Your after school hobby when young.
• The best experience with your best friend.
• The greatest school achievement.
• The best hobby that you like.
• Write about a close friend that you lost touch with completely.
• A conversation you had that changed your perception of things.
• The influence of your dad on you.
• A productive business relationship you have ever had.
• The best motivation that you like.
• As you grow up, your circle of friends also changes, how’s the experience?
• How does it feel to make an entirely new group of friends?
• The best way to share experiences and build relationships.
• The most illegal experience you have ever had.
• The most cowardly act you have ever observed.
• Explain the morals brought forth by the police teachers and parents.
• Something’s that has ever undermined your morality.

Personal Narrative Writing Ideas

You need to be creative with these personal narrative writing ideas to write your best essay. However, if you can’t remember an incident, you can still try to be creative and formulate a good experience.

• How the government should deal with homeless people.
• Write about abandoning your responsibility to take part in a hobby.
• Evaluate your talent development.
• Do you think your favorite hobby should be taught in school?
• What are your most heartfelt interests?
• Your obsession over something.
• Why do some parents overlook some hobbies?
• Do you think your hobby can help you to get a job?
• The most memorable inspiration in your life.
• A movie inspiration that made you do great things.
• The best thing you have ever done for someone.
• Your best book.
• Your best book character inspiration.
• The steps were taken by successful people to reach success.
• The most successful person that inspires you
• Where do you derive your inspiration from?
• One of the most insignificant events that have greatly inspired you.
• Have you ever felt that you could do something better than someone else?
• The worst betrayal you have ever experienced.
• How to aim higher for better results.

Personal Narrative Ideas College

The beauty of these research topics is that you are not limited to the kind of things that you can write. It is your story and experiences. Hence, no one can judge you about what you write.

• An experience where you expected to fail an exam, but you ended up passing.
• The best way to prepare for exams.
• The one time you felt your professor was wrong about a certain concept.
• The best lecture that has ever inspired you.
• Are your lecturers and professors open to discussions?
• How did you kick-start your college life?
• Do you think college is a great place to fulfill your lifelong dreams?
• How to have the best experiences in college.
• The best partying experience in college.
• Reality shows that you would want to be part of.
• If you could turn back time, where would you travel back to?
• Which superpower would you want to have while in college?
• If you were a movie director, which movie would you make?
• If you were the best-selling musician, how would you go about making a successful album ever?
• One of your best museum experiences.
• Your first trip experience abroad.
• Your best food experience.
• The experience of your favorite rock bands at one of the most memorable venues.
• A book that changed your opinion of certain things.
• Relation between your favorite superheroes.

Personal Narrative Ideas For High School

High school should be one of the most exciting experiences for you. This is because you get to grow, get new experiences, and form new bonds. Here are some topics that you can use for your essay.

• The best school experiences.
• Your experience graduating from high school.
• Your favorite teacher.
• What do you do after school?
• The craziest thing that happened to you after prom night.
• A shocking incident in high school.
• The best way to rehearse for the drama competitions.
• How do you prepare for a debate competition?
• How to travel to school through bad weather.
• How did you spend a day when school was canceled?
• Your least favorite class.
• The worst experience failing a class.
• The worst experience getting caught cheating.
• The best tips on how to top a class.
• Your favorite subjects.
• Your first day at high school.
• The most memorable time in high school.
• The best moment in high school.
• The toughest decision you have ever made in high school.
• The moment that changed your life in high school.

Personal Narrative Ideas For Middle School

Being in middle school teaches you a lot. These are some of the best personal narrative ideas for middle school. They are simple, straightforward, and straightforward.

• The biggest surprise in your life.
• The most memorable holiday in your family.
• The biggest fear you had in middle school.
• A situation you thought things would get worse.
• Your first day at school.
• Your favorite meal at school.
• A fight with your best friend.
• How you got your first pet.
• The unique family tradition that you have.
• Your experience being called to the dean’s office.
• The worst conflict with your father.
• A memorable wedding you will never forget.
• Your favorite childhood memory.
• The worst betrayal experience.
• The best life accomplishment.
• Your favorite theater movie.
• How you lost your faith in humanity.
• The best space planet you would want to travel to.
• Your experience as a tornado.
• A trip you will never forget.

Good Ideas For A Personal Narrative Essay

Finding a good topic can take you time. Here are some good ideas for a personal narrative essay. You won’t regret using any of these topics.

• How your creativity can save the day.
• The best guide on how to dance at parties.
• Things to do while waiting in line.
• If given a billion dollars, how would you spend it in a day?
• A dream that came true and changed your life.
• An experience that made you almost die.
• The most important experience in your digital life.
• The most random way you have ever made a friend.
• How is partying destructive?
• Your worst experience with alcohol.
• Has math ever saved your life?
• The importance of self-control.
• Have you ever been a leader at least once in your life?
• The importance of a competitive nature when playing a sport.
• Discuss your superstitions.
• Assumptions people have about you.
• The most daring experience you have ever had.
• The worst risk you have ever taken?
• Pressure on women to have ideal bodies.
• The purposes of the feminist movement.

Interesting Personal Narrative Ideas

Do you love narrating your personal experiences? Well, these topics will play a big role in that. Just ensure you creatively explain your narrative well.

• The importance of gender education at school.
• A moment that changed your life.
• An experience growing up in the countryside.
• The best experiences while growing up in the city.
• A disastrous trip you experienced.
• Have you ever risked your life for someone?
• An accident you experienced.
• The impact of losing a precious object.
• Do you think you are a special person?
• Your first job interview experience.
• Visiting a park for the first time.
• A visit to Disney world.
• The earliest birthday party that you recall.
• A memorable incident when you were younger.
• Your earliest childhood memory.
• An incident that involved your crush.
• How did your first romantic relationship start?
• How would life be if you never met your best friend?
• Your favorite movie that defines relationships.
• Have you ever fixed a broken friendship?

Good Personal Narrative Topics

Life is full of exciting stuff to do. Hence, you can use these personal narrative topics to give your story.

• A moment you had to cover for your friend
• The first time you got into a fight with a friend.
• Getting in trouble with a close friend.
• Your relationship with your friend’s pet.
• Ever been in a position you needed to choose between friends?
• Your favorite holiday and festival.
• A trip home for Easter.
• The scariest Halloween.
• The best family holiday traditions.
• A foreign cultural event you won’t ever forget.
• How it feels spending a holiday alone.
• Your first experience traveling yourself.

Get The Best Personal Narrative Idea

These are some of the best personal narrative ideas that you can ever use. They are elaborative, simple, straightforward, and exciting to write about. If you are not comfortable with your writing, you can always pay for thesis online. Our rates are cheap, and you will get your work fast.

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Top 50 Personal Essay Topics

You might be set a personal essay as a criterion for your admission to college or it might be set at any time during your academic career. A personal essay is essentially a form of self-expression. It draws on other essay formats – like a narrative essay – but of all academic assignments it is the loosest and least dogmatic. It can be more prosaic than other more technical formats demand. Whatever form, at its core is the presentation of your experience or emotions. It is a time when you can find your muse and really express yourself in the written word.

• I went to college to say thank you to my parents
• How being bullied made me the person I am today
• William Blake is the poet I most admire
• My spirit of adventure
• How I propose to spend the long vacation
• Why I am taking a gap year
• What the “art of conversation” means to me
• Why I left Facebook
• I want to be able to drink legally before I’m 21
• How being in a band helped my leadership skills
• Why I chose a career in the medical field (or any other field)
• My first experience as a babysitter
• Becoming an older sister (or brother)
• I will be a lifelong learner
• My father (mother) is my hero
• Life skills I learned in college
• Why I love the Golden Age of Hollywood
• Chocolate is my comfort food
• The reasons I keep a food diary
• The bravest thing I have ever done
• The one thing I would change about the world
• I will never forget the day that …
• The advice I would give to a new high school student
• My siblings and childhood
• How I would spend $1 million
• The place I would most like to live
• The proudest moment of my life so far
• Did I feel pressured into going to college?
• Why I joined an online dating site
• I wish I had looked after my teeth
• The things I learned from my grandmother (father)
• I’m proud to be a Millennial
• The way I deal with my allergies
• Why opera moves me so much
• My love of Shakespeare
• I will never prefer eBooks over printed books
• Why pole dancing is my favorite form of exercise
• I wasn’t allowed a pet as a child. Today I have 5 pets.
• Why marine pollution breaks my heart
• I took a gap year but wish I had traveled more
• Why I plant a new tree every year
• I do not use social media
• I wish my mother had taught me to cook
• Visiting museums has taught me a great deal
• Monet and Van Gogh are my favorite artists
• An eclectic music taste makes me interesting
• I want to enter local politics in my 40s
• It’s time I learned to appreciate my Irish roots
• There was a time when …
• If I ruled the world …

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100+ Personal Essay Topics For College And Writing Tips

Table of Contents

Looking for interesting personal essay writing ideas? We’ve got a bunch…

A personal essay is a typical assignment for high-school and college students. It’s a type of non-fiction that incorporates a variety of writing styles. Personal essay topics usually include real stories, experiences, and opinions of people.

Writers need to give an account of their own experience and express their thoughts on the subject of a paper. The key to success is to make an attempt to combine narration and opinion together. In this article, you will find a short writing guide and 100+ engaging personal essay topic ideas.

How to write personal essays?

Keep in mind that personal writing is always subjective. It is based on the writer’s observation, feelings, opinion, and experience. You are the speaker, so it’s quite natural to use such pronouns as I, my, me, we, and our.

First of all, most essay writing websites will say that you need to find a compelling topic. College personal essay topics include a lot of things.

Students may be asked to

• state their opinion about an issue
• document what they observed
• share a story
• give a description of an object, event, place, person
• relate a specific subject to their own life

Whatever theme you choose, it’s crucial to start an introduction of your paper with a strong hook to capture the audience’s attention. Introduce the subject in the first paragraph. Think about the main idea you want to communicate.

In the body of your paper, inform readers about the subject. It’s better to create an outline before to start writing. It will help you organize your thoughts, stay focused, and write clearly and concisely. Start each paragraph with a new idea. Show, don’t tell. Use strong verbs and include a lot of sensory details.

End with a thought-provoking conclusion. You need to explain what lesson you have learned, how your experience contributed to your development as a person and shaped your personality.

Why choose personal persuasive essay topics for writing

When writing on personal persuasive essay topics, writers must state their position or opinion on an issue and try to persuade people to accept their point of view, telling stories and appealing to their feelings and emotions.

That differs from elaborating on personal argumentative essay topics, when students have to support their point of view with strong arguments, reasons, relevant examples, appropriate illustrations, etc.

These types of papers are not easy to write as well as papers on personal cause and effect essay topics.

But there are important reasons why you may want to do that.

• You’ll improve communication and critical thinking skills .
• Challenging themes can help you stand out from the crowd.
• You will be able to demonstrate your creativity and ability to apply persuasive techniques.

… Can’t decide what idea to choose?

Here we have gathered a wide variety of moving ideas for your inspiration. Whether you need personal experience essay topics or personal narrative essay topics, we’ve got you covered.

Personal essay topics: what are they about?

You may write on any subject. Popular themes include hobbies, nature, childhood, illness, travel, making a difficult choice, learning something new, friends, family, and relationships.

You may use some personal challenge essay ideas and tell about overcoming an obstacle. Or you can buy argumentative essay if you don’t have time to work on college tasks tonight.

Actually, the subject is not as important as you think. Readers want to see your point of view that reveals your unique personality.

• How you met a special person in your life?
• A person you admire most.
• The best place in the local area.
• A place where you would like to live your whole life.
• Works of art you admire.
• The job of your dream.
• Your biggest disappointment.
• Books that made a great impression on you.
• What annoys you?
• Your family traditions.
• Are you addicted to technology?
• What modern songs inspire you?
• Could you live without money?
• Do you like commercials?
• What is your best method of studying?

Personal narrative essay topics

• Tell about your first trip abroad.
• The most unfortunate event ever happened to you.
• What happened during your first day at school?
• What is your first childhood memory?
• What is your most memorable family event?
• Did you experience failure?
• What games did you play when you were a child?
• The biggest challenge you have overcome.
• Do you remember your first birthday party?
• Tell how you learn something new.
• Have you ever encountered a wild animal?
• Tell about the first time you were home alone.
• How you cooked a meal for the first time?
• Tell how you helped someone.
• How you overcame fear?

Personal experience essay topics

• What things make you feel happy?
• How you came to healthy eating habits?
• How did you celebrate Christmas?
• Did you bring a stray animal home?
• How did you learn to drive?
• How you met a famous person?
• How did you learn something from enemies?
• Describe the accidents you witnessed.
• How you got hurt?
• Describe disastrous trips or vacations.
• Fantastic concerts you attended.
• Describe terrifying nightmares.
• Your reaction when provoked.
• Experience of being a leader.
• A friendship breakup experience.

Personal argumentative essay topics

• What could you live without?
• Why are you concerned about environmental issues?
• How much money do you need for happiness?
• What does your ethnic identity mean to you?
• Significance of personal growth.
• Male and female roles in your family.
• Your attitude to feminism.
• Explain what does it mean to be a Human.
• Most precious moments of your life.
• What is more critical: wealth or happiness?
• Your attitude to getting a tattoo.
• Is it important to be crazy about fashion?
• Your opinion on cosmetics surgery.
• Significance of healthy lifestyle choices.
• Your favourite holiday destinations.

College personal essay topics

• Have you been in love with someone?
• What is your life’s goal?
• What does success mean to you?
• How freedom matters in your life?
• How you leave the comfort zone?
• Things you appreciate in life.
• What things do you hate?
• How you met college roommates?
• Your plans on spending a gap year.
• How you got your first job?
• Describe intellectual challenges you would like to solve.
• What did you learn from failures?
• Outdoor activities you like most.
• Explain your commitments.
• What motivates you?

Personal persuasive essay topics

• Your opinion of distant learning and online education.
• Can listening to music help complete your homework faster?
• Can hobbies help in a future career?
• Is it ethical to buy products tested on animals?
• Why is volunteering important?
• Should drugs be banned?
• Your favourite restaurant everyone should visit.
• Things to do to help our world survive.
• How can we make the world a better place?
• Is it possible to avoid stress?
• Should zoos be forbidden?
• How online shopping makes me spend more money?
• Why I don’t smoke.
• Things I want to be doing when I become 85.
• Why do I recommend students to study abroad?

Personal cause and effect essay topics

• Why I don’t watch TV.
• Reasons I go in for sports.
• Effects of social media on the daily routine.
• How my failures make me stronger?
• Books that changed my world view.
• Reasons why I study computer science.
• Influence of my parents on my life choices.
• Importance of learning math for my future career.
• Effect of being a single child.
• How my pets make me a better person?
• Influence of regular exercise on my health and wellbeing.
• What makes me rebel against my parents?
• How did my parents help me to study?
• Why going to college made me an independent person?
• What caused my burn out?

Feel free to use our good personal essay topics for creating amazing pieces that will make a powerful impression on your readers and get you high grades.

Can’t grab your thoughts together and come up with a perfect personal essay? No worries! Our writers will do all the writing, while you enjoy your free time. Psst, it takes a few clicks only…

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Jim Peterson has over 20 years experience on speech writing. He wrote over 300 free speech topic ideas and how-to guides for any kind of public speaking and speech writing assignments at My Speech Class.

There’s no way to cheat the system and avoid writing a narrative essay. Every student has written it at least once. However, while the great majority find this type of essay pretty easy and not challenging, many students struggle to understand the point behind the personal narrative essay.

In this article, you’ll learn:

• How to write a personal narrative essay like a pro.
• Why is essay writing critical?
• What exactly is a personal narrative essay?
• What is the structure of this essay type?
• How to choose a unique narrative essay topic?

Before you know it, ideas will start pouring in, and you’ll find the assignment wasn’t a difficult task after all!

In this article:

What is a Personal Narrative Essay?

1. introduction, 3. conclusion, how to write a personal narrative essay, how to choose a personal narrative topic.

A personal narrative essay is usually the preferred type of essay for students. It is commonly referred to as “short storytelling” and lacks the intense research and reference of argumentative and other essays.

Personal narrative essays are all about you and the story you want to tell. It helps shape the future writer in you and takes the reader through a journey. It can be an emotional piece of writing featuring a funny, sad, or surprising event or memory.

You will write a personal narrative essay in first person participle unless your assignment states otherwise. It aims to depict a particular narrative and a crucial moment within it.

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Personal narrative essays are typically assigned to high school students to help advance their creative writing skills, but the structure of this essay is applied to many other writing assignments.

An integral part of your personal narrative essay is the plot and story, as well as the characters featured in it. You can learn more about the structure and essential elements of personal narratives in the sections below, including some tools used by professional writers like a thesis statement or hook sentences. You’ll know how to write a personal narrative essay like a pro by the time you’re done!

Structure of a Personal Narrative Essay

The personal narrative essay certainly provides the most freedom and flexibility when writing. Of course, like any other text written by high school students or college students, it needs to have an outline and structure. But, don’t worry, it isn’t complicated. It’s there to help you arrange and organize your writing content.

A personal narrative essay consists of three parts:

The introduction is the most crucial part of the essay. It’s the beginning, and it includes your hook statement or sentence, which you use to grab the reader’s attention. Depending on how effective your hook is , the reader will decide whether or not to keep reading.

Another element present in your introduction is the thematic statement. These sentences summarize the essence of your story. They are a little tricky to master, and if you want to learn more, you can use a thematic statements guide to gain some insight into the topic.

Finally, don’t forget your transition word and sentences at the end of the introductory paragraph (and throughout). It’s essential to include those in your work.

Think of it as a burger – the introduction and conclusion are the burger buns, and the body of your essay is the delicious filling inside: all the cucumbers, meat patty, and mouthwatering sauces go here.

When we write personal narrative essays, we use the body of the narrative essay to explain the critical elements of our personal story. As a standard, your body should feature three paragraphs describing your views, stories, and ideas. This is where you will feature your characters and mention where the main event occurs.

Make sure to start your first paragraph with a topic sentence. Topic sentences work as introductions and typically come naturally. They are used as smooth transitions which bridge your introduction and body.

Keep your telling of the events in chronological order. This is the easiest way and most professional way to write. I will help you avoid getting tangled in your storytelling.

This is where you put the climax of your story. The conclusion is where we wrap up and give the readers what they have been waiting for. Summarize your story, and don’t get tempted to add any new elements in this paragraph. Otherwise, you’ll confuse the reader.

The point of the personal narrative essay is to tap into the student’s personal life and challenge them to write about their experience. A great personal narrative essay shows what happened through vivid details, and it’s an excellent written example of your inner world. The overall story should exemplify your creative writing, feelings, and morals, whether trying to convey interesting thoughts or a specific event. The are several essential elements that need to be present in your personal narrative essay:

• Choose the Right Topic

The main challenge leading to procrastination is everyone’s most dreaded part – choosing the suitable personal narrative essay topics. I get it. It’s a lot of pressure to focus your entire personal essay on one subject. In addition, you need to choose a theme with an emotional impact, which is a tough decision. However, if you’re struggling to find your topic, browsing essay topics on the web can provide you with various ideas and may even lead to some new inspiration.

Since personal narrative essays are based on thought or actual experiences, choose a topic that excites you. For example, think of a specific moment that you vividly remember. A moment that’s important to you that you can retell through the form of a personal narrative essay. Or perhaps some philosophical thoughts have been on your mind lately? You can use those to inspire your narrative essay topics research.

• Write an Outline

Think about the main event, and using the structure discussed above, pinpoint the most critical moments of your story. Next, try to create a personal narrative essay outline. This is a great way to prevent your story from filling with irrelevant details and form a straightforward narrative. Writing an outline helps keep your essay in order. Outlines make personal narrative essays and other written work easily digestible for the reader.

• Grab Attention with a Hook Sentence

Any essay needs a good hook statement, but the personal narrative essay needs it the most. Good hook sentences can convince the reader to go through your entire essay. It grabs the reader’s attention and piques their interest, making them want to read along. With this type of essay, you can be as creative as you want with your hook sentence, but if you’re struggling to come up with one, hook example lists do exist. Take the time to check out all the different hook examples for inspiration.

• Create Powerful Descriptions

You won’t need to do tons of research for your essay. Since it’s a personal take on events or thoughts, you don’t need to reference anyone. But what you should do is come up with a vivid description. I’m not saying pack your essay full of descriptions, instead, describe a scene or thought and try to submerge the reader into it. It helps to think about adjectives related to the five senses. Then, using your creative writing skills, try to paint a picture with your words.

• Get Familiar With Transition Words and Use Them

No matter the essay type, whether it’s an argumentative essay or a personal narrative essay, it is vital to use transition words and sentences. The ones we don’t use in our speech but often apply in text: moreover, however, nevertheless, whereas, as well as, etc. You can find other words in the list of transition words that could work to your benefit with a simple Google search.

• Add Emotions

The point of a narrative essay is to convey the way you feel to the reader through your personal story and experience. This can be hard on new students, and it’s often the most challenging part of an essay. Try to tap into your personal experience, and don’t be shy! Since you’re telling the story in the first person, it’s easier to talk about emotions and provide insight into your thoughts.

• Maintain Consistency

It’s easy to get distracted focusing on the vivid details or crucial moments. Grabbing the reader’s attention is essential, but getting to the point. Be realistic – have you been staying focused on the point you’re trying to make? Be sure the events in your own story are linked well enough to convey the broader message.

You might want to tell the whole story as it happened, but that’s not always necessary. So instead, go back to your essay topic. Is what you’re writing still consistent with your subject? If not, chop off the unnecessary bits. It might be challenging, but it will make for a cleaner story and free some room for other, more helpful information.

• Deliver a Moral

What is the significance behind your story? What made you choose this same event? Since this is a personal narrative essay, don’t worry too much about providing evidence – no one will fact-check your story. Instead, think about the moral or the significance behind your experience. What is the broader message?

• Check Your Work (Twice, Like Santa)

What? Read the whole thing? Again? Yes, proofreading your work is a must and checking it twice matters. Learn to go through your text and look for different things each time. Proofread once and look for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors. This is also the time to look for punctual mistakes and contextual inaccuracies.

I recommend a fun brainstorming session for anyone stuck with choosing their personal narrative essay topic. Grab a piece of paper and write down a “personal narrative essay” in the middle. Circle the word. Now write down the first words and thoughts that come to mind, no matter how relevant. Maybe you think of the word “pet.” Write that down, circle it and connect it with a line to “personal narrative essay” in the middle. Maybe the word “pet” makes you think of your old cat Timmy. Write down Timmy, circle it, and connect it to “pet” with a line. Perhaps there’s a great story lurking in there.

Repeat the process and try to answer these questions:

• What are some of the most significant events in your life?
• Have you ever faced an obstacle or challenge in your life?
• Did you successfully overcome it? If not, did you learn something?
• What are some funny stories you can think of?
• What are some sad events you can think of?
• Have you experienced betrayal in your life?
• Is there a place you traveled to that made an impression on you?
• What is your greatest accomplishment?
• Can you think of a surprising story from your past?

List as many of your ideas as you can from answering these questions. If you run out of space on your sheet, use another one – don’t let that stop you! The more choices you have, the better.

Believe it or not, even this article uses the structure of a narrative essay – it has its own introduction and body, and here is where I deliver the conclusion!

Unlike in a personal narrative essay, I can give you new information!

You can find information on all sorts of essay writing. For example, how you can perfect your 500-word essay or ideas on topics for psychology research , and even examples of debate speech topics , the internet can be full of interesting topics and resources you can use for your next written piece.

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50 Narrative Essay Topics

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but a narrative essay can also tell an exciting story and create vivid pictures in the reader’s mind! We’ve got 50 narrative essay topics designed to prompt students to craft memorable written narratives. These can be modified for students in elementary, middle and high school. Feel free to print the entire narrative essay topics list for plenty of inspiration for your next narrative essay assignment!

Narrative Essay Topics

• Your first day of school.
• Your most exciting day of school
• A field trip that your class took.
• Your favorite summer vacation.
• A trip that included something unexpected or surprising.
• A time that you experienced something spooky.
• A time that you experienced something truly frightening.
• A time that you learned something new that changed you in some way.
• The moment when you met someone who changed your life.
• The day that you got your first pet.
• A move from one place to another.
• Something funny that happened to you.
• Something funny that happened to one of your family members or friends.
• Something embarrassing that happened to you.
• Your favorite birthday party.
• A birthday that was disappointing.
• A big storm (rain, snow or even a tornado!).
• A time that the power went out.
• A summer day when the temperature got much higher than expected.
• A time when you went to an amusement park.
• A time when you got lost somewhere.
• A memorable experience with a favorite family member.
• A sad experience with someone about whom you care.
• Your most exciting moment playing sports.
• Your most exciting moment performing in a play, singing, playing music or dancing.
• An experience that left you feeling frustrated.
• An experience that was hard but ended up being worth it.
• A time that you experienced rejection.
• A weird encounter with a stranger.
• A random act of kindness.
• A time that you took a stand for someone or for an issue that you care about.
• A moment when you thought you might get hurt but didn’t.
• Breaking a bone (or otherwise suffering an injury).
• Your first time away from home for the night (or longer).
• A time when you experienced a historic event.
• Where you were when a major event happened. (Note: You don’t need to have been at the site of the event; this prompt is about where you were when you found out about the event and how you reacted.)
• A time when you rebelled against your parents or teacher.
• A dangerous experience.
• A misunderstanding between yourself and someone else.
• A difficult decision that you had to make.
• The end of a friendship or relationship.
• The beginning of a friendship or relationship.
• A time when you judged someone first and then realized that you were wrong about the person.
• A time when someone judged you first and then realized that he or she was wrong about you.
• A moment when you felt that you were starting to grow up.
• A time when you saw one or both of your parents in a different light.
• A time when you looked up to your older sibling.
• A time when your younger sibling looked up to you.
• A time when you were grateful to be an only child.
• An experience that you think has only ever happened to you!

Looking for more essay topics? Compare and Contrast Essay Topics Descriptive Essay Topics Cause and Effect Essay Topics Persuasive Essay and Speech Topics

164 Narrative Essay Topics for School & College Students

A narrative essay tells a story about a series of events. At the core of this kind of essay can be a personal experience or a fictional plot. Any story can be a basis for a narrative essay!

Narratives can look similar to descriptions. Still, they are different. A descriptive essay aims to explain the details of a specific moment. Narrative writing focuses on a sequence of events to tell a complete story.

In this article, we have prepared a list of narrative essay topics for high school, college, and university students. The topic ideas are divided by spheres. In the collection below, you’ll find the ideas based on personal experience as well as fictional narrative essay topics. Make use of resources offered by our custom writing experts to write any paper!

• 🔝 Top 10 Topics
• 📖 Fictional Topics
• 🧑✍️ Personal Narrative
• ✈️ Traveling
• 🧒 Elementary

✏️ Middle School

🧑‍🏫 high school.

• 👫 Relationships
• 🧸 Childhood
• 💡 Writing Guide and Tips

🔝 Top 10 Narrative Essay Topics: High School

• Your childhood role model
• How you overcame hardship
• The best news you have ever heard
• The time you experienced culture shock
• A story of how you mistreated someone
• The most memorable encounter you’ve had
• An unexpected event that changed your life
• The most embarrassing conversation you’ve had
• When you realized you were wrong in an argument
• A person who changed your opinion on something

📖 Fictional Narrative Essay Topics

The art of writing fiction is all about narrating a story. In a fictional narrative, you are free to create a tale that doesn’t relate to real life. Take a look at the fictional narrative essay topics below:

• Write a narrative where a girl discovers her superpower.
• A story about a land that has 25 hours in a day.
• Describe your version of the future.
• Fiction narrative where a person discovers big city life.
• Come up with an apocalyptic story.
• A group of scientists discovering a new world inside the Earth.
• Write about a hamster that prevented a house robbery.
• A person who saves the country from mass-produced poisoned food .
• A group of high school students helping to improve their city.
• A new civilization in a far away galaxy.
• Write about a grandfather who was secretly a spy.
• A narrative about a person waking up from the surgery with a different identity.
• Create a story about a mysterious musical instrument.
• A college student who won the presidential election.
• Compose a story about a painting that looks different in every new house.
• An anonymous person sends lots of money to the poor.
• Come up with a fictional narrative about a family with unusual tendencies.
• A movie star who lives out their roles in real life.
• Passengers of an airplane encounter a UFO.
• A narrative where a farmer grows strange plants.
• Write about an orphan who finds out about their inheritance .
• Story of siblings who resolve a long-lasting argument.

🧑✍️ Personal Narrative Essay Topics

A personal narrative is devoted to the author’s own experience. Therefore, feel free to write in first person. Include your thoughts and emotions. Do your best to describe the details of your narrative. This will help the reader to relive the story with you. Here is the list of excellent topic ideas for your essay:

• Memories of your first sports coach.
• A story of how you dyed your hair.
• Write about something you did against your parents’ will.
• Recall a day when you got in a fight with your best friend .
• What was the most exciting adventure in your life?
• An unfortunate situation that had a good ending.
• Write about the time when you had to train hard for a competition.
• Describe the turning point of your life.
• An experience when you had to overcome your fear.
• Write about the circumstances that brought you and your parents closer.
• Describe a memorable conversation with someone.

• An imaginary world you’ve created as a child.
• Who gave you the most valuable lesson in your life?
• One time when you regretted doing something.
• A particularly embarrassing situation you went through.
• Your memories of seeing something very beautiful.
• A moment that made you proud of yourself.
• Recall a time when you taught a child to do something.
• What was the most memorable news report you saw in your life?
• Describe a day when you stood up for someone.
• Write about the best birthday party you’ve ever had.
• Share your experience of being lost.

📚 Literacy Narrative Essay Topics

Literacy narrative revolves around reflecting on feelings connected to reading and writing. For this type of essay, think of yourself as a reader and a writer. You can describe any reading experience, whether it is a book, email, or social media post.

• The most touching piece of writing you’ve ever read.
• Write about a book that impacted you the most.
• A news article that changed your view on life.
• What book character do you most identify with?
• Talk about a piece of fiction that captured your imagination.
• What was your favorite novel growing up?
• The scariest story you’ve ever read.
• Recall your emotions after reading a heartfelt social media post.
• What is the most boring book you’ve read?
• Describe a book that you would reread over and over again.

• Your experience of reading a story to a child.
• Have you ever read something that taught you a lesson?
• Do you see yourself becoming a professional writer?
• Recall the day when you had to complete your first writing assignment.
• How does sharing thoughts on social media make you feel?
• If you were to write a book, who would be the main character?
• Talk about the most personal thing you’ve ever written.
• Describe your experience of composing a poem.
• Why can someone have difficulty with writing?
• Recall what it was like to read for the first time.
• What does journaling mean to you?
• Have you ever been proud of something you wrote?

✈️ Narrative Essay Topics about Traveling

In this section, you get to engage your creativity! A narrative essay about traveling is supposed to show the reader what it’s like to explore the world. Present a story taking place in a real or imaginary location:

• Your first time traveling to another country.
• Friends taking a trip to the Great Canyon.
• Write a narrative about traveling to your dream location.
• Describe a trip to the Taj Mahal.
• A day-long road trip.
• Share your experience of visiting a historical site.
• Come up with a story about getting around the airport .
• What to do if you are lost in a foreign country?
• A day in the life of a flight attendant.
• Write about eating unusual foods from around the world.
• Describe talking to a local in a foreign language .
• A narrative about going on a seven-day cruise .
• Tell the reader about the most breathtaking view you’ve ever seen.
• Write a story about riding a train.
• A short narrative about an out-of-state road trip.

• Traveling to see your family on holidays.
• Come up with a narrative about hitchhiking across America.
• What is it like to travel in the air balloon?
• How to prepare for a trip around the world.
• What to do if your luggage got lost in a foreign country.
• Describe packing a suitcase for a long trip.
• A story about a person missing their plane.

🏫 Narrative Essay Topics about School

This section is for all grades! Writing a narrative essay about school gives you a chance to share your personal experience as a student. You can write about precious memories, challenges, or influential people in your school career. Pick one of the narrative essay topics about school from this list:

🧒 Elementary School

• Write a story with your favorite teacher as the main character.
• Describe your first day at school.
• A fun memory with your best friend.
• What is your favorite thing to do during a break?
• Tell your reader about something interesting you learned in class recently.
• A day when you had to leave school early.
• Recall your favorite celebration with classmates.
• Write about your favorite school subject.
• A story about your most unusual day at school.
• How did you bond with your classmates?
• Come up with narrative about a memorable event at the cafeteria.
• The last day of school before the summer break .
• One time when you forgot to bring something to the class.
• Describe how you worked on a science project.
• The most challenging class you took in middle school.
• A story of how you pranked a friend.
• Have you ever won a school competition?
• The day when you’ve decided on your future profession.
• Write about the teacher who impacted you the most.
• A story of a serious conversation you had about your grades .
• The day when you got in trouble with the principal .
• Reflect on a class you will never forget.

👫 Narrative Essay Topics about Relationships

Narrative essay about relationships focuses on presenting a story about connections between people. You can write about your family, friends, or loved ones. Make sure to pick a statement that you will expand on in your story. Use the following list of narrative writing topics to come up with your narrative about relationships.

• A conflict between generations.
• What is it like to be in love?
• Write about how hatred can destroy relationships.
• Describe an example of loyalty.
• A story about maintaining friendship via social media .
• Come up with a narrative where people with opposite personalities are getting along.
• Tell the reader about somebody being generous.
• Write about a couple being honest with each other.
• A story where classmates treat each other with respect.
• Describe a family that maintains loving relationship no matter what.
• A story where you help somebody who used to be your enemy.
• How friendliness can brighten up a person’s day.
• Talk about the pain of ending a relationship .

• Children learning from their parents about empathy.
• A narrative about food connecting people.
• Come up with a story about unfulfilled expectations.
• The importance of authentic conversations in a friendship.
• What relational patterns do you see in your family?
• Manifestations of real love in everyday life.
• A story when someone makes a sacrifice for the sake of others.
• Describe a situation where parents are bonding with their child.
• Talk about the most meaningful relationship in your life.

🧸 Childhood Narrative Essay Topics

Childhood narrative essays are about sharing memories from the time when you were little. You can write about playing with friends or a day when you fell off the bike. Or, ask your family members to recall some episodes from your childhood.

• A story of how you received your nickname.
• Write about playing with your favorite toys.
• What is the most memorable place you went to when you were little?
• What kind of friends did you have when you were little?
• Did you ever break anything?
• Recall your earliest childhood memories.
• What was the first valuable lesson you’ve learned as a kid?
• Share your favorite childhood sports memory.
• A story of your first triumph.
• What did you enjoy doing when you were little?

• A moment from your childhood that your parents often recall.
• Which talents did you have when you were a child?
• What was it like to grow up with your siblings?
• Write a narrative about your favorite pet.
• The most memorable childhood moment with your family.
• Were there any challenges you had to overcome as a kid?
• What was your favorite children’s book ?
• Did you ever get lost when you were little?
• An exciting sleepover you had with friends.
• Write a story about how you and your friends went on an adventure.
• A family holiday that you will remember forever.
• What was your favorite food in your early years?

💡 Narrative Essay Writing Guide and Tips

As you already know, writing a narrative essay is very similar to telling a story. Here are a few tips to remember for narrative writing:

• Tip 1: Use your memories. Take time to write down everything you can recall about the event. You can use it as a basis for your paper.
• Tip 2: Be clear. Stick to the main idea of the essay. It’s better not to add characters or details that are not relevant to the story you’re telling.
• Tip 3: Choose words carefully. In an essay words to are like paint on a canvas. The use of vivid language can help you create a story worth reading.

Now, pay attention to this step-by-step guide. It will help you outline an on-point narrative essay:

• Introduction. In the opening paragraph, determine the main idea of the paper. Make a clear thesis that reflects the purpose of your narrative. To help yourself with this part, you can try a narrative essay thesis generator .

In this essay, I want to share my happiest childhood memory of playing with my older brother.

• The body. Since you are writing the narrative essay as a story, make sure to tell the story well. Think through the plot with conflict, climax, and a powerful conclusion. Take your time to introduce the setting and the characters. All this will make your paper entertaining and easy to read.
• Conclusion. Bring your narrative to a logical end. Expanding on the thesis statement will help you write a great conclusion.

Playing with my older brother taught me the true meaning of family, and I’m very grateful for it.

We hope this article helped you figure out how to write a narrative essay!

You may be also interested in:

• How to Write a Narrative Essay: Easy Guide and Useful Tips
• How to Start an Autobiography about Yourself: Full Guide + Autobiography Examples
• How to Write a Creative Essay: Tips, Topics and Techniques
• Breaking Down the Types of Essays: a Complete Guide for Success

🔍 References

• Narrative Essays: Purdue University
• Nailing the Craft of Narrative Writing: WeAreTeachers
• Narrative and Reflection Writing Samples: Western Technical College
• Drafting a Narrative: Walden University
• Scholarly Personal Narrative: University of Vermont
• The Power of Personal Narratives in the Classroom: University of Washington
• Fiction Writing Basics: Purdue University
• How to Write a Literacy Narrative: Pen and the Pad
• Literacy Narratives: UNC Charlotte
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Where to Begin? 6 Personal Essay Brainstorming Exercises

←8 Do’s and Don’ts for Crafting Your College Essay

Creating the First Draft of Your College Application Essay →

The Common App publishes a list of 7 prompts each year. They ultimately ask for similar types of responses, regardless of slight alterations year-to-year. The Common App prompts provide you with a forum to write about yourself, using whatever anecdote or vehicle you wish in order to communicate something profound and genuine about yourself to adcoms.

If this feat seems daunting or spellbindingly vague to you, you are not alone. For virtually every student applying to college, the moment when you sit down to draft your personal statement is likely the first—and may end up being the only—time in your life when you are pushed to describe your entire identity succinctly and eloquently. So, where to begin?

As with any writing assignment, the best way to approach the personal essay is to brainstorm what it is you want the entire essay to communicate about you to the adcom that will be considering you for admission. Read on for 4 surprising brainstorming exercises that will lead you to an effective personal statement strategy.

1. Consider the four core questions.

When writing your personal statement, there are four questions that your essay should answer:

• “Who am I?”
• “Why am I here?”
• “What is unique about me?”
• “What matters to me?”

These questions are important because they help bring awareness to the kind of person you are and touch on things such as your personality traits, your journey throughout high school, the interests and skills that make you unique, and what’s important to you. Colleges want to understand how you became who you are, and where you’re going (successful alumni reflect well on their school, after all!).

2. Try freeform writing.

To help answer these questions and start brainstorming, freeform writing is a good place to start. Begin by writing down 3-5 aspects of your personality or experiences and spend some time constructing narratives out of these different combinations.

This process of getting some ideas on paper and seeing how they can relate to each other can help you better identify a prompt that works for you. For example, you might note that you enjoy tutoring students in STEM, and are now working with a local school to create a Women in STEM initiative in your school district. You may also have tried previous initiatives that failed. These experiences could be constructed and applied to a number of Common App prompts. You could address a specific identity or interest you have associated with STEM, discuss what you learned from your failed initiatives, explore how you challenged the lack of women in STEM programs in your school district, envision solving for the lack of women involved in the science and mathematics fields, etc.

3. Make a list of opinions you firmly hold and explain them.

This exercise requires you to think about aspects of your identity that you have actively chosen. While exercise #4 asks you to consider what parts of your identity you have struggled to overcome, this exercise asks you to consider what aspects of your identity you are most proud of—those opinions that you hold because you chose to believe in something specific of your own accord.

This is an important brainstorming exercise because it should get you thinking about things you are passionate about. Ultimately, you will want to write your personal statement about something that defines you, gets you excited, and can exhibit your ability to think and speak for yourself. So now, before you start writing, make a list of the things that you care about most, and explain why you feel that way about them.

This list can include everything from your political affiliation to your stance on McDonald’s decision in the past year to serve breakfast for longer. The point of this exercise is that there is no right or wrong way of going about it, no topic that is more worthwhile than any other so long as you are passionate about it.

4. Make a list of your character flaws.

While the ultimate goal of the personal essay is to present yourself in as positive a light as possible to adcoms, the challenge is to do so in a way that is realistic and genuine. To do this, you’ll need to do some serious thinking about what types of character flaws accompany your best traits.

There are two main reasons why we suggest that students not shy away from talking about their own shortcomings as well as their achievements. The first reason is quite simple: a personal statement that paints a picture of its writer as perfect and without flaws will come across as dishonest and unrealistic. Obviously, you want to avoid this at all costs. Second, and even more important, if you are able to write a personal statement that acknowledges your flaws and recognizes that you are imperfect, it will reflect positively on you and vouch for your maturity.

If it feels counterintuitive or scary to dwell on anything other than successes, do not fret: that is the expected reaction to this advice. But if done correctly, acknowledging that you are not perfect can add genuineness to any personal essay. So, how to discuss character flaws? There are several ways to go about this.

One way is to discuss a character flaw that you have always struggled with and worked to improve upon throughout your life. In this scenario, discussing flaws can help introduce a discussion about growth or maturation and give your personal statement a nice narrative arc. Yet another way to discuss your character flaws is to acknowledge how certain struggles or personal shortcomings have shaped your identity, allowing you to go into more detail about the ways in which you were able to better yourself by identifying a flaw in yourself and being willing to fix it.

The thinking here is that students have no difficulty remembering all of the accomplishments, productive experiences, and glowing achievements that they want to include in their personal statements. After all, it is easy to write about these things. It is much harder to force yourself to think about aspects of your identity that rankle, and to think about how these things have shaped you.

5. Reflect on your choices and why you made them.

Another brainstorming exercise that can help you think of a topic is to reflect on what choices you’ve made and why. Once you come up with a list, it will be easier to see what you value and the direction in which you can take your essay.

Think about some of these questions to get the juices flowing:

• Why are they my best friend?
• Under what circumstances did we become friends?
• When did we last fight?
• If I had to spend 10 days doing the same exercise or physical activity, what would I choose? Why?
• Say I had to pick one food, and my three closest friends or family members could only eat that food for one week. What would that food be and why?
• Say I had to start a business selling something, and I would achieve the average level of success (financially, socially, etc) within that business, what would I choose to do?
• What movie would I want to take the place of a character in and which character would I want to play? Why?
• What class or teacher did I like most, and why? What class or teacher did I dislike most, and why?
• If I had to choose between singing, doing standup comedy, or dancing in front of 18,000 people, what would I choose? Why?

6. Make a list of anecdotes, childhood memories, or stories about yourself. Then choose one and make it your “vehicle.”

Finally, you should conclude your brainstorming session by searching for a vehicle: an anecdote that you can use to frame your personal statement.

You can use anecdotes in your personal statement in a number of ways. Some students choose to open with one, others close with one, and still others will use two or three anecdotes in order to add color and rhetorical flair to the points they are trying to make about themselves. The best types of anecdotes are the ones that tell the most about you or give insight into your character.

When we help students write their personal statements, we usually begin by brainstorming a few potential anecdotes to use in your essay. But if you are wondering what the point is of using an anecdote— Why use one at all when I could save words and just talk about myself ?—it’s useful to first understand why telling a story or two makes your personal statement stronger.

Ultimately, you will want your personal statement to communicate something about your character and personality that is unique and appealing to schools. When an adcom reads your personal statement, they are looking to hear about you in general, they are looking to learn something unique or special about you (so they can differentiate you from other applicants), and they are also looking for evidence that you would be a valuable addition to their community. But the fact of the matter is that these are fairly broad and vague directives to write about if you don’t have something specific to focus on.

This is where the anecdotes come in to save the day! They help instigate a conversation about yourself, your personality, your identity, and your character while also giving you something concrete to talk about. This is why we call it a “vehicle”—it can exist in its own right, but it carries with it important information about you as well.

Now that you know what the purpose of this vehicle is, it should be a little easier to brainstorm the anecdote(s) that you choose to frame your personal statement with. If you are not yet sure what to write about in your personal statement, you can start brainstorming anecdotes from your childhood, from favorite family stories to fond memories, from hilarious vacation mishaps to particularly tender moments. Do your parents have favorite stories to tell about you? Write those into your list as well.

Once you have a collection of stories to work with, you may begin to see certain patterns forming. Perhaps all of your favorite stories take place in the same setting—a vacation home that meant a lot to you or in the classroom of your favorite teacher. Maybe, you will realize that all of your fondest memories involve a certain activity or hobby of yours. Or, alternatively, you may notice that one story from your childhood mirrors or foreshadows a like, dislike, or accomplishment that would come to fruition later in your life.

If you already know what you want to say about yourself, you can come at the same exercise from another angle: try to think of several anecdotes that could be potential vehicles for the message about yourself that you want to transmit. If you want to illustrate that you love to learn, try to think pointedly about where that love comes from or what you have done that proves this. In this case, remember that any given anecdote can reveal more than one thing about you.

It is hard to imagine all of the possible personal statements that could come out of this brainstorming session, but it is almost certain that this exercise will help you come up with several concrete points to make about yourself and provide you with a tangible way to say those things.

Final Thoughts

If after doing these six brainstorming exercises, you still don’t feel ready to write your personal statement, fear not! Writing a personal essay is daunting and won’t be done in three steps, or even three days! 

For more guidance, check out these blog posts:

How to Write a Personal Statement That Wows Colleges

How to Come Up With an Idea for a Personal Statement

How to Write the Common App Essays

Mastering the Personal Statement

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Personal Experience Essays

Personal experiences are the threads that weave the fabric of our lives. Writing a personal experience essay isn't just about storytelling; it's about finding meaning, connecting with others, and leaving your mark on the world. So, why should you write an essay about your personal experiences? Let's explore the importance together! 🌟

Personal Experience Essay Topics 📝

Selecting the right essay topic is key to crafting a compelling narrative. Here's how to pick one:

Personal Experience Argumentative Essay 🤨

Argumentative essays based on personal experiences require you to defend a viewpoint or argument. Here are ten intriguing topics:

• 1. Argue for or against the idea that personal experiences are the most influential factors shaping an individual's personality.
• 2. Defend your perspective on whether overcoming adversity through personal experiences builds stronger character.
• 3. Debate the impact of personal experiences on shaping one's political beliefs and values.
• 4. Argue for the significance of sharing personal experiences in order to promote empathy and understanding among diverse communities.
• 5. Defend the idea that personal experiences play a crucial role in career development and decision-making.
• 6. Debate the ethical implications of sharing deeply personal experiences in the era of social media and oversharing.
• 7. Argue for the therapeutic benefits of writing about and reflecting on personal experiences.
• 8. Defend your perspective on whether personal experiences should be a central part of school curricula.
• 9. Debate the influence of personal experiences on an individual's approach to health and wellness.
• 10. Argue for or against the notion that personal experiences can serve as catalysts for social change and activism.

Personal Experience Cause and Effect Essay 🤯

Cause and effect essays based on personal experiences explore the reasons behind events and their consequences. Here are ten topics to consider:

• 1. Analyze the causes and effects of a life-changing personal experience on your academic or career choices.
• 2. Examine how personal experiences can lead to personal growth, increased self-awareness, and improved well-being.
• 3. Investigate the effects of travel experiences on personal perspectives and cultural understanding.
• 4. Analyze the causes and consequences of sharing personal experiences with others, including its impact on relationships.
• 5. Examine how personal experiences can influence one's hobbies, interests, and leisure activities.
• 6. Investigate the impact of a significant personal experience on your family dynamics and relationships.
• 7. Analyze the causes of personal transformation through exposure to diverse cultures and environments.
• 8. Examine how personal experiences can shape one's attitude toward risk-taking and adventure.
• 9. Investigate the effects of sharing personal experiences through writing, art, or storytelling on your personal well-being.
• 10. Analyze the causes and consequences of personal experiences that challenge societal norms and expectations.

Personal Experience Opinion Essay 😌

Opinion essays based on personal experiences allow you to express your subjective viewpoints. Here are ten topics to consider:

• 1. Share your opinion on the importance of documenting personal experiences for future generations.
• 2. Discuss your perspective on whether personal experiences should be kept private or shared openly.
• 3. Express your thoughts on how personal experiences have shaped your sense of identity and self-worth.
• 4. Debate the significance of personal experiences in fostering empathy and compassion among individuals and communities.
• 5. Share your views on the role of personal experiences in building resilience and coping with life's challenges.
• 6. Discuss the impact of personal experiences on your approach to decision-making and problem-solving.
• 7. Express your opinion on the therapeutic benefits of writing or talking about personal experiences.
• 8. Debate the influence of personal experiences on your sense of purpose and life goals.
• 9. Share your perspective on how personal experiences can inspire creativity and artistic expression.
• 10. Discuss your favorite personal experience and the lessons or insights it has provided.

Personal Experience Informative Essay 🧐

Informative essays based on personal experiences aim to educate readers. Here are ten informative topics to explore:

• 1. Provide an in-depth analysis of the impact of a specific personal experience on your career choices and aspirations.
• 2. Explore the therapeutic benefits of journaling and writing about personal experiences for mental health and well-being.
• 3. Investigate the history and significance of storytelling as a means of preserving personal experiences and cultural heritage.
• 4. Analyze the connection between personal experiences and the development of emotional intelligence.
• 5. Examine the influence of personal experiences on decision-making processes and risk assessment.
• 6. Investigate the role of personal experiences in shaping cultural perceptions and worldviews.
• 7. Provide insights into the art of crafting compelling narratives based on personal experiences.
• 8. Analyze the impact of personal experiences on an individual's resilience and ability to adapt to change.
• 9. Examine how personal experiences can serve as valuable life lessons and sources of wisdom.
• 10. Investigate the therapeutic benefits of group discussions and support networks for individuals sharing similar personal experiences.

Personal Experience Essay Example 📄

Personal experience thesis statement examples 📜.

Here are five examples of strong thesis statements for your personal experience essay:

• 1. "Through the lens of personal experiences, we uncover the profound impact that seemingly ordinary moments can have on our lives, reshaping our perspectives and guiding our journeys."
• 2. "Personal experiences serve as powerful mirrors reflecting our growth, resilience, and capacity to navigate life's challenges, ultimately shaping the narratives of our existence."
• 3. "The sharing of personal experiences is an act of vulnerability and courage, fostering connections, empathy, and a deeper understanding of the human condition."
• 4. "Our personal experiences are the brushstrokes on the canvas of our identity, influencing our choices, values, and the stories we tell ourselves and others."
• 5. "In exploring personal experiences, we embark on a journey of self-discovery, unlocking the untold stories that shape our uniqueness and enrich our shared human tapestry."

Personal Experience Essay Introduction Examples 🚀

Here are three captivating introduction paragraphs to kickstart your essay:

• 1. "Amid the chaos of everyday life, our personal experiences are the constellations that guide us, the moments that define us. As we embark on this essay journey into the depths of our own stories, we unravel the threads of our existence, each tale a testament to the power of the personal."
• 2. "Picture a canvas where the brushstrokes are the chapters of your life—a canvas waiting for you to paint your experiences, thoughts, and emotions. The personal experience essay is your opportunity to create a masterpiece that reflects the colors of your journey."
• 3. "In a world of noise and distractions, our personal experiences are the melodies that resonate within us. As we venture into the heart of this essay, we uncover the symphony of our lives—a composition of highs, lows, and the beauty in between."

Personal Experience Conclusion Examples 🌟

Conclude your essay with impact using these examples:

• 1. "As we close the chapter on this exploration of personal experiences, we are reminded that our stories are the threads that connect us all. The journey continues, and each experience, no matter how small, contributes to the tapestry of our shared humanity."
• 2. "In the final brushstroke of our personal experience essay, we recognize that our stories are not finite; they are ever-evolving, ever-inspiring. The canvas of life awaits, ready for us to create new narratives and continue shaping our destinies."
• 3. "As the echoes of our personal experiences linger, we stand at the intersection of past, present, and future. The essay's conclusion is but a pause in the symphony of our lives, with countless more notes to be played and stories to be written."

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How to Write a Personal Narrative: A Step-by-Step Guide

“As I sat down to write this article, memories flooded back, each one a brushstroke in the painting of my past…”

That could be the beginning of your personal narrative. Writing it lets you turn your memories and experiences into stories that click with others. This type of writing goes beyond school assignments or essays for college applications; it’s a chance to get really good at sharing your life's events in ways that matter. 

In this article, we're going to explore what personal narratives are all about and guide you through a simple seven-step process to create your own. You’ll learn how to pull out moments that make your story stand out and how to tweak your writing until it’s just right. We’ve got practical examples for you to follow along, making sure you have everything you need to tell your story. 

What is a Personal Narrative?

A personal narrative is a way to tell your own story. It's a style of writing that puts your experiences front and center, inviting readers into your world. Teachers often assign personal narratives to encourage free, expressive writing. 

The personal narrative definition is wider than academic settings, though. . These narratives can also show potential employers who you are beyond your resume. At its core, writing a personal narrative is a form of storytelling, using a first-person perspective to bring real-life tales to life. Whether it's for a grade, a job, or just for fun, it's about getting your story out there.

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How to Write a Personal Narrative: Steps

In this section, we'll break down the process into manageable steps, starting with how to zero in on the right topic that speaks about who you are.

Step 1. Choosing a Personal Narrative Topic

The first step in crafting your personal narrative is picking the perfect topic. It should be something meaningful to you, something that has not just happened, but also shaped who you are or has a significant story behind it. Here’s how to frame your personal narrative ideas:

• Story Arc : Your narrative is like a mini-movie. Start with setting the scene, build up to the main event, and wrap up with a reflection. For example, if you’re writing about your first solo travel experience, begin with your initial feelings, describe the challenges you faced, and end with what you learned about yourself.
• Thematic Focus : Instead of moving through time, center your narrative around a central theme. Maybe it’s about resilience, and you could link different times you had to be resilient, ending with a major life challenge.
• A Day to Remember : Sometimes a single day can tell a lot about you. Pick a day that was particularly memorable and unpack it from start to finish. Maybe it was a seemingly ordinary day that brought unexpected lessons or joys.

Step 2. Working on Your Personal Narrative Outline

When putting together your personal narrative, starting with a solid outline can help keep your story on track. Here's how you can lay it all out:

• Introduction: Kick things off with a hook that grabs attention, like an intriguing question or a vivid snapshot of a key moment. Set the scene and introduce the main theme.
• Setting and Characters : Give a good sense of where your story is unfolding and who's involved. Paint a clear picture of the backdrop and the key people.
• Plot Development : Lay out the events in the order they happened, or group them around major themes. Build up to your main event, adding conflicts or challenges as you go.
• Climax : This is the high point of your story, where everything comes to a head. Make it a moment that has the most impact.
• Resolution : Wrap up the main storyline, showing how things settled down after the climax.
• Reflection : Spend some time reflecting on what happened. Share what you learned or how you changed because of the experience.

If you're looking for help crafting your personal narrative, consider checking out some legit essay writing services to get professional guidance.

Step 3. Writing the First Draft of Your Personal Narrative

Now let’s move on to the fun part! Don't worry about getting everything perfect right away — the first draft’s goal is to let your story flow naturally:

• Start with Your Hook: Revisit the introduction you outlined and flesh it out. Begin with the attention-grabbing sentence that will make readers want to continue.
• Let the Story Unfold: Follow your outline, but allow yourself some flexibility. As you write, new memories or details may come to mind. Embrace them! Think about what you saw, heard, and felt during these moments. Were you sitting in a sunlit room, listening to the hum of a busy street outside? Maybe you felt the chill of an autumn breeze? 
• Stay True to Your Voice: This is your story, so let your unique voice shine through. Whether you're humorous, reflective, or serious, maintain a consistent tone that feels authentically you. Keep the tone conversational and straightforward, as if you’re telling this story to a friend. 

Once the first personal narrative draft is done, set it aside for a bit before revisiting it with fresh eyes.

Step 4. Revising Your Personal Narrative

Once the first personal narrative draft is done, set it aside for a bit before revisiting it with fresh eyes:

• Tighten Up the Story : As you go through your draft, focus on making everything clear and to the point. If you’ve talked about how nervous you were before a big event more than once, try to combine those thoughts into one powerful sentence that really captures how you felt.
• Keep Your Tone Consistent : Make sure your voice stays the same throughout the story. If you start off with a casual, conversational tone, like saying, “I couldn’t shake the nerves before my big test,” stick with that style instead of suddenly becoming formal later on.
• Adjust the Pacing : Pay attention to how smoothly your story flows from one part to the next. When you’re describing a key moment, like meeting someone important or going through a major experience, give it the detail and time it deserves. Let those moments develop naturally without rushing.
• Enhance Your Descriptions : Make your imagery more vivid to help the reader visualize your story. For example, instead of just saying, “The room was noisy,” you could say, “The room buzzed with excited chatter.” These small tweaks can make your story feel more alive and engaging.

Step 5. Adding Personal Touches

As you polish your personal narrative, focus on making it uniquely yours. You can include personal reflections on your experiences. For example, if you’re writing about a challenging project, discuss not just the struggle but how it impacted you personally and professionally.

Besides, add unique details that only you can share. Instead of generic descriptions, use specific anecdotes or sensory details, like how the scent of freshly baked cookies from your grandmother's kitchen made you feel nostalgic.

Last but not least, incorporate dialogues or direct quotes from people involved in your story to add authenticity and depth. For instance, if your mentor gave you advice, include their exact words to capture the moment’s impact. This approach will help you understand how to write a personal narrative that is both engaging and deeply personal.

Not sure where to begin? You can always buy a narrative essay from experts who can help shape your story.

Step 6: Editing for Clarity and Style

When you’re editing your personal narratives, the goal is to make sure everything flows smoothly and makes sense. Here’s how to get it just right:

• Clarify Your Message: Check for any parts of your story that might be a bit confusing. If you talked about being excited about a project and then suddenly shifted to its challenges, make sure to connect these thoughts clearly. For instance, you might rephrase it as “I was excited about the project, but I soon faced some unexpected challenges, like tight deadlines.”
• Simplify Complex Sentences: Break down long or complicated sentences. Instead of saying, “My enthusiasm for the project, which was incredibly high despite the difficulties I faced, was the driving force behind my perseverance,” you could simplify it to, “Even though the project was tough, my excitement kept me going.”
• Smooth Transitions: Check how your paragraphs and sections flow together. If you jump from describing a problem to the solution without a clear link, add a transition. For example, “After struggling with the project’s challenges, I realized that asking my mentor for help was the key to overcoming the obstacles.”

Oh, and read your narrative out loud. This can help you spot any awkward phrases or spots where the story might be a bit choppy. It’s a great way to catch any issues and make those final tweaks to get everything just right.

Personal Narrative Prompts

Here are ten personal narrative prompts to get you thinking about different moments in your life:

Need more tips on how to get started? Check out this guide on how to start a narrative essay to kick off your writing with a strong opening.

Personal Narrative Examples

Here are a few personal narrative beginnings to spark your creativity. These snippets are designed to get you started and inspire your own storytelling.

Wrapping Up

As you finish up your story, think about how those moments shaped who you are today. It's not just about what happened, but how it changed you. When learning how to write a personal narrative, it’s important to focus on the moments that truly matter to you and tell them in your own voice. This way, your narrative can really connect with others. 

Remember, the best stories come straight from the heart, so trust yourself and let your experiences shine through!

If you're working on a personal statement, you might want to explore a personal statement service that can help you create a compelling narrative.

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How to Start a Personal Narrative?

Can a personal narrative be about anything, what is the format of a personal narrative.

Daniel Parker

is a seasoned educational writer focusing on scholarship guidance, research papers, and various forms of academic essays including reflective and narrative essays. His expertise also extends to detailed case studies. A scholar with a background in English Literature and Education, Daniel’s work on EssayPro blog aims to support students in achieving academic excellence and securing scholarships. His hobbies include reading classic literature and participating in academic forums.

is an expert in nursing and healthcare, with a strong background in history, law, and literature. Holding advanced degrees in nursing and public health, his analytical approach and comprehensive knowledge help students navigate complex topics. On EssayPro blog, Adam provides insightful articles on everything from historical analysis to the intricacies of healthcare policies. In his downtime, he enjoys historical documentaries and volunteering at local clinics.

• The New York Times. (2020, January 7). Personal Narrative Essay Winners. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/07/learning/personal-narrative-essay-winners.html

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The Best Personal Narrative Ideas For High School Students

Writing a  narrative essay  is like telling a little story from your life. Close people become the characters of your essay, and you become both a writer and the main hero. If you have received a personal narrative essay as your high school assignment, don’t worry if you have no idea what to write about — this article has got some great personal narrative ideas for high school.

What Is a Personal Narrative Essay and How to Write It

Essays of this type require a vivid plot filled with sincere emotions and memories.

Here are a few tips on how to write a personal narrative essay:

• The most important step is to find a  narrative essay topic  that will be interesting for both you and your potential reader. Make a short research to see what suits you — it has to be something personal and important to you.
• Use a descriptive language in your essay. It means that your story has to be written with the help of various expressions and words that you don’t often use. Read examples of an author you like if you are not sure how to do that.
• Make a strong point. The purpose of your narrative essay is not only to share your thoughts but to teach others something new. Your story should teach others something you’ve learned from your own experience. Try to make the lesson of your narrative both fun and useful.
• Make sure to work on the plot of your narrative essay.  Use an outline . It has to reach the climax, the highest point of emotional intensity, and give the story a great turn. Add a little twist to surprise your readers.

Top High School Personal Narrative Essay Topics

Here are  some great topics  for the personal narrative essay for high school students. Choose the one that you like the most and get your straight A in class!

• What was the most unpleasant experience of your life?
• Describe an experience when someone has told you a secret information about them. How did it make you feel?
• Describe the worst and the best day in details.
• How did the first day of high school go for you? Include a detailed description of your feelings.
• How did you meet your best high school friends? Where did it happen?
• What is the best person that you have met? How did he or she influence you?
• Which music inspires you? How often do you listen to it?
• What teacher inspired you? How do you like his or her classes?
• Tell about a time when you took part in any school event.
• Describe a situation when you and your parents misunderstood each other or didn’t agree with your opinion. How did you solve this situation?

Other Personal Narrative Essay Topics

Narrative essay topics from that list will be both  great for high school  students and those who are already in colleges or university. Even if you are not a student, you can use these  narrative topics  to practice your writing skills and put your memories and emotions on a paper.

• Describe the hardest decision of your life that you had to make.
• Tell about words or phrases that annoy you when someone uses them.
• Which talent do you have that you are proud of?
• Describe problems that you face every day. How do you cope with them?
• What movies have inspired you? When did you watch them?
• Describe the trip when you traveled to another city or country. What did you do?
• What animal would like to be?
• How did you overcome your biggest fear?
• What is your biggest loss in life?
• Which failures did you experience in your life and what did they teach you?

These were the most popular topics that are great for a personal narrative essay.  Start your writing  as soon as possible. If these topics are not what you were looking for, try to look for some more essay topics online — and you will find the one that is perfect for you.

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Narrative Essay Outline

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Design A Winning Narrative Essay Outline

Coming up with a narrative essay outline is essential so that you can have an overview of how to present your story. When you follow a narrative essay outline template, you can be sure that you are going to write a good narrative essay that will engage your readers. Whether you are looking for a narrative essay outline example or just looking for help on how to create one, having an outline is useful in structuring your work and ensuring that it is coherent. To get professional help with narrative outline and for further guidance on how to improve your narrative essay, contact The Student Helpline .

Significance Of Narrative Outline

A narrative essay outline is a roadmap that will be used when writing a story that is either personal or fictional. It usually comprises an introduction, body sections that contain events or scenes, and a conclusion. Narrative writing outline is important because it assists the writer in developing a logical structure and a coherent story. A narrative essay outline examples can be used as a guide for developing a narrative essay.

How To Write A Narrative Essay Outline?

A narrative essay outline template helps to organise your personal story. It assists in categorising events, characters, and reflections. It is important to understand how to construct this outline to produce a good narrative essay. The points given below present the narrative outline with the brief information.

• Narrative Essay Outline Format: Hook, Background Information, Thesis Statements
• Body Paragraph 1: Setting, Character involved, Action and Dialogue
• Body Paragraph 2: Rising Actions, Conflict Development, Character Growth
• Body Paragraph 3: Peak of conflicts, Turning Point, Emotional Intensity
• Conclusion: Resolution, Reflection on the experience, Final thoughts or lessons learned

Personal Narrative Essay Outline To Structure An Appealing Essay

Examples of personal narrative outline show how to organise your personal story. These are the outlines that contain all elements to enable you to create an interesting personal narrative. These elements are comprehensively discussed below:

• Introduction: Hook, Background, Thesis Statements
• First Key Event: Setting, People Involved, What Happened
• Second Key Event: Connection to the first event, Details of the occurrence, your reaction and reflection
• Third Key Event: How it relates to previous events, Significant moments, Impact on you
• Conclusion: Summary of events, Lesson learned, How the experience changed you

Literacy Narrative Outline Components

Among all the college narrative essay outline templates, literacy narratives are particularly helpful. They assist in framing your learning in language and literature, guaranteeing a linear flow of experiences and reflections in your essay. The format of literacy narrative outline is simplified below.

• Introduction: Hook, Background Information, Thesis Statements
• Early literacy experiences: First memories of reading and writing, Influential people, challenges or successes
• Turning point in literacy: Significant event or realisation, Changes in attitude or approach, Impact on your literacy skills
• Current Literacy Practices: Your relationship with reading/writing now, How you use literacy in daily life, Ongoing challenges or achievements
• Conclusion: Reflection on your literacy journey, lessons learnt, future literacy goals

How To Create A Narrative Story Outline?

Narrative story essay outline templates help in developing fictional or non-fictional stories. They help to control such important components as characters, their evolution, plot and themes, thus providing a clear and coherent storyline. The narrative essay outline is simplified below:

• Introduction: Hook, Setting introduction, Main character introduction
• Rising Action: Inciting incident, character’s goal, Challenges and obstacles
• Climax: Peak of conflict, Major decision or action, Turning point
• Falling Action: Consequences of climax, Resolution of smaller conflicts, Character growth
• Resolution: Final outcome, Character’s new understanding, Tie-up of loose ends

Narrative Essay Outline College Level Requirements

College narrative essay outline templates are formal and at the same time, the students are free to be creative. They assist in maintaining the narrative and analytical approaches in check, guaranteeing that your narrative conforms to college writing standards and norms. Here is the college narrative essay outline for students.

• Introduction: Engaging Hook, Context of the Story, Thesis Statement
• Background: Relevant information about yourself, Setting of the Story, Other key characters
• Main Events: Chronological order of occurrences, Vivid details and descriptions, Your thoughts and feelings
• Reflection: Analysis of the experience, lessons learnt, How it impacted your life
• Conclusion: Restate thesis, Summarise key points, Final reflective essay thought

5 Paragraph Narrative Essay Outline Template & Format

The 5-paragraph narrative essay outline template is suitable for brief narratives because of its simplicity. It modifies the personal narrative outline examples to align with a more formal structure suitable for academic works. Here is the template for 5 paragraph narrative essay:

• First Event: Topic sentence, Detail of the events, your reaction or feelings
• Second Event: Topic sentence, Detail of the events, your reaction or feelings
• Third Event: Topic sentence, Detail of the events, your reaction or feelings
• Conclusion: Restate thesis , Summarise main points, Final reflective thought

Tips For Writing Good Narrative Essay

A narrative essay outline is required to be written appropriately to provide all the information. The outline assists in organising your ideas and making sure that the flow of events is coherent and logical. Here are the best tips for organising ideas in the narrative outline.

• Begin narrative essay outline with an engaging hook to engage the readers and keep them interested
• Identify and describe the main characters of the story.
• Introduce the scene to set the tone of the story.
• Create a powerful conflict that will be the basis of the plot.
• Employ concrete descriptions to make the story captivating.
• Use dialogue to make the characters more realistic in outline for narrative essay.
• Explain how the character changes or evolves over the course of the story.
• Create suspense up to a certain point or to a specific climax or discovery.
• End with a conclusion and a thoughtful analysis of the events.
• Make sure that the narrative outline has a consistent narrative voice.

Draft Narrative Outline With The Best Narrative Essay Writer

When writing a narrative essay, it is essential to have a proper structure of the outline. This foundation helps your story make sense, and keep the readers engaged from the beginning to the end. When you are following the outline for narrative essay, you can easily plan your ideas, create characters, and even construct conflict.

Just a reminder, it is important to note that great narrative essay examples are developed from well-thought-out narrative essay outline. When you are in the process of editing your essay, think about how each aspect of the paper relates to the whole. If you need help with your narrative outline or any other writing services , feel free to contact The Student Helpline for professional help.

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Personal Narrative Outline

Why is creating an outline an important step in writing a personal narrative.

The benefits associated with a narrative essay outline is that it helps a person to systematise ideas and plan out the events in logical order. It makes work easier and ensures that there is a flow between the different sections of the essay. The Student Helpline provides tips on how to write an outline for a narrative essay.

How To Write An Outline For A Narrative Essay?

Personal narrative essay outline begin with the major events and place them in a time sequence and then provide other relevant information. It is recommended that the narrative essay should have an introduction and conclusion. The Student Helpline offers personal narrative outline examples to help you improve your narrative essay writing process.

Which Statement Best Explains The Reason To Create An Outline For A Narrative Essay?

A Narrative writing outline helps in organising the work and makes it easier to make sure that all prominent aspects are covered and organised systematically. It is a guide to writing narrative essays. The Student Helpline provides information to assist you in developing a narrative essay outline.

How To Write An Outline For A Personal Narrative Essay?

An outline of narrative essay begins with the major actions. Then write how you felt in the essay. Structure it chronologically with the narrative outline. The Student Helpline can help you create an effective personal narrative essay outline.

How Do You Write A Personal Narrative Outline?

The overview of a personal narrative outline is the events, organising them in chronological order, and then explaining them. You are not supposed to forget to add your feelings and thoughts. The Student Helpline provides individual support in crafting appealing personal narrative outlines from experience.

What Is A Personal Narrative Outline?

A personal narrative outline is an outline that guides in the flow of events of your story and their details, together with your feelings and thoughts about the happenings. The Student Helpline provides you with help on how to come up with a personal narrative outline helpful for your case.

How Do You Write An Outline For A Narrative Essay?

First, write down the major events of the story and set them in chronological order then fill in the minor events into your outline for narrative essays. When doing an outline, students should be keen to include an introduction and a conclusion. The Student Helpline offers professional guidance on how to write a narrative essay outline.

How To Outline A Narrative Essay?

Begin with major events in your outline for narrative outline, organise them in a sequence, and then add more information. You need to have an introduction and a conclusion. The Student Helpline provides guidelines and tips on how to write a narrative essay.

What Is A Narrative Essay Outline?

A narrative essay outline is a framework of main events, supporting details, and a logical sequence of events in a story. The Student Helpline provides you with the necessary tools to develop an effective outline for narrative essays.

How To Write A Narrative Outline?

Students are expected to list down events, organise them chronologically, and add more details. While creating the outline for personal narrative, make sure that the essay has an introduction and a conclusion too. Reach The Student Helpline to assist you in making a good outline for the narrative essays.

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36 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Writing Your Personal Statement

April 25, 2017

Phase I of Writing Your Personal Statement: 36 Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Begin

In less than 650 words, you have to persuade a stranger to care about you and your application. That’s why the Common App personal statement is one of the most discussed aspects of the college application. Think about how much time you spend on homework, standardized testing, and extracurriculars. This single essay will influence admissions officers as much as these other factors. You could be the perfect applicant, but if your reader doesn’t get to know you and CARE about YOU, you won’t be admitted.

There is no formula for creating the perfect personal statement. The best personal statement topic for your friend might not work well as a topic for you. The topic that might inspire your friend to show his most unique thoughts, the challenges he’s overcome, and the maturity he has gained, might not help you reveal what’s most interesting and compelling about you.

So, how can you write the best possible personal statement for you and your application? Here are the first steps in the process.

1. Start early!

The worst thing you can do is rush the creation of your personal statement. The next two steps below might take weeks...and these occur before you even have a good first draft and can start multiple rounds of edits. You should edit your personal statement multiple times. You should get feedback from as many family members, friends, and teachers as you can.

But, before you get to this stage, you need to choose the perfect topic (and the best Common App essay prompt )  for you .

So, when is the right time to start the process of writing your personal statement ? You should start brainstorming for your personal statement as early as the spring of your junior year and as late as the summer between junior and senior year.

Why shouldn’t I start earlier? A successful personal statement relies on having a strong and mature sense of yourself. It can also rely on your understanding of what you’d like to do in college, what type of college community you’d like to be a part of, and why you care about your education. Starting too soon might mean you need to start over (see step 3) after you really do some soul-searching about college.

There is a lot of thinking and planning that happens before you start writing, so that’s why you should start early. You will complete your best work when you’re not up against a deadline and you’ll be able to start over (again, see step 3) if this is in your best interests.

2. Brainstorm

If you complete this stage of the process with care and attention, you won’t be faced with Step 3. This step in the process helps you pinpoint that perfect topic for you... which won’t be the same perfect topic for someone else.

To start the process of writing your personal statement , ask yourself the series of 36 questions below. These will help generate topics that will be important and meaningful to you. Keep a written list of possible topics you could choose.

• What’s your main academic area of interest?
• Why does this matter to you?
• When did this interest first start to matter to you? Was there a specific event that sparked your interest?
• How did your interest evolve over time?
• Did you ever face a really big challenge in continuing to learn about or study this topic?
• Was this challenge the result of your gender, race, or religion?
• Was this challenge the result of your family’s socio-economic background or the result of the culture of the place you lived?
• Would you still pursue this academic interest if you earned a very small income with your future job in this area?

Activities:

• What’s an extracurricular activity you do that’s incredibly rare?
• What’s an extracurricular activity that has shaped your personality and character?
• Why does this activity matter so much to you?
• When did this activity first start to matter to you? Was there a specific event that sparked your interest?
• How did your interest in and commitment to this activity evolve over time?
• Have you done something with this activity that no one else you know has done?
• Did you ever face a really big challenge in continuing to pursue this activity?
• Was this challenge the result of your family’s socio-economic background?
• Was this challenge the result of the culture of the place you lived?

Life-events:

• Is there something you’ve done or experienced that changed you forever in a positive way?
• How did this event make you more mature, compassionate, self-aware, determined, or strong?
• Is there a day from your life that you reflect on often? Why is this day so memorable to you?
• Are you similar to or different from your parents / siblings? What made you this way?
• When did you feel like you didn’t fit in with a group of people? What made you different than others?
• Is there something (non-academic / extracurricular) that you devote A LOT of time to? Why do you do this?
• What have you done that didn’t earn you praise, attention, or success?
• What makes you feel like your life is meaningful and important to you?
• What is one thing that you would never change about yourself or your life experiences?

Once you’ve created your list of topics, you’ll need to start narrowing them down. For each topic, ask yourself:

• Is this a topic I care about?
• Is this a topic that I’ve cared about for more than 1-2 years?
• Is this a topic I think shows something about my character and personality?
• Is this a topic that shows something impressive and / or unique about my achievements or activities?
• Is this topic memorable to me? Do I think about this fairly often in my life?
• Am I the only student in my high school class who would write about this topic?
• Does this topic show only positive things about my character, maturity, and perspective on life?
• Would I be interested in reading about this topic if someone else wrote about it?
• Could I write 10 pages about this topic (far more than you’ll need to write, of course)?

If the answer to most or all these questions is “yes!” you’ve probably landed on an ideal topic for you! And get started with writing your personal statement ! 

I talk more about choosing your personal statement topic, as well as some of the best topics and worst topics here:

3. Start over?

Have you already written your 650 words? Ask yourself: is this best possible story I could tell about myself to admissions officers? What does this story show about me? Is there anything that’s negative in this essay? Is there anything that would make me appear privileged, immature, irresponsible, unfriendly, boring, or unmotivated?

One of the best skills you can develop while writing your personal statement is not to be too attached to your writing. Good editors make BIG changes. And sometimes “big change” means starting over from scratch.

I’ll share my story as a cautionary tale. After careful planning, I wrote the first draft of my personal statement during the summer before my senior year of high school. I was really proud of it. I’d developed a (I thought) complicated and literary metaphor throughout the personal statement. I printed it off. I gave it to my dad to read. He read it through once and said, “you should start over from scratch.”

I was shocked and horrified. What about the more than 5 hours I’d spent planning and writing this essay? My dad pointed out to me the ways in which my personal statement didn’t show the most impressive things about me. It was fine. But it wasn’t unique. It wasn’t personal.

Writing your personal statement is a very strategic part of your college application. There are many "bad" topics you should avoid , there are many “good” topics you could choose, but there are a few that are “outstanding” because they bring a new, personal, thoughtful, and insightful angle to your application and your personal story. This is the personal statement you want to write! Your personal statement needs to engage your readers in less than 650 words in a way that convinces them to believe in you. Your admissions officer will need to advocate for you in order for you to be admitted. You want this person on your side.

Ask your family, friends, and teachers to read your personal statement or consider the topic you’ve selected. Do they feel like this piece of writing or this topic shows the person they know and love? Could this topic make a stranger care about you in the way that your family, friends, teachers care about and support you? This is your personal statement topic selection goal!

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Tackling the Personal Essay: Tips from a Notre Dame Admissions Counselor

Published: August 30, 2024

Author: Zach Klonsinski

If you ask almost any admissions professional which part of reading applications is their favorite, it’s likely their answer will be a resounding, “The essays!” Essays are where we get to engage with students’ hopes, fears, dreams, life experiences (and more) in their authentic voice. We are humbled every year getting to “meet” all the incredible young people who are applying to Notre Dame through their essays!

Yet, writing an essay introducing yourself can be really hard. Maybe you’ve never done so before, or you haven’t for a really long time, and often it will seem really awkward. That’s OK!

It feels hard because it is–or at least it can be.

Don’t worry, though! I love sharing tips with applicants about the personal essay that will hopefully help you see it as an opportunity to learn more about yourself and then share that discernment with the colleges who will be fortunate enough to receive your application!

Getting started

The easiest way to get started is by simply brainstorming! I love using pen and paper (I’m anti-pencil, though I realize that may be a divisive opinion). The physical materials help me feel less constrained by technology, though you may find the technology comforting.

Use bulleted lists or short phrases to capture ideas, life experiences, values, and more. Every day, set aside five minutes to write about yourself or your college discernment process without stopping to think. Where does your mind lead you when you get out of your own way?

Ask your friends and family to help you identify values that are important to you or things that make you.. well… you! Often it’s easier to highlight and say nice things about someone else than it is ourselves, so lean on those who know you well!

Group these collective nuggets to see if any patterns or stories emerge. Do you see any prompts on your application that align with your brainstorming? The Common Application, for example, has seven to choose from, including a make your own prompt! Start writing on one that makes you pause, as that means you might have something to say! Don’t be afraid to go longer than your word count or to use an atypical form of writing.

While that specific level of chaos may not work for you, I always recommend staying away from sentences and avoiding constraining yourself while writing because…

Editing is more than spelling and grammar!

When we want to “edit” something, it can be tempting to start–and just as quickly end–with spell check. (Yes, your essay should have proper spelling and grammar, but please know we are not reading your essay with a red pen “grading” every single comma.)

What is far more important–though also far more intimidating–is your essay’s content.

What really improved my writing actually had nothing to do with me–rather, it was finding trusted editors to give me honest and constructive feedback. While it’s tempting to have your best friend or family member read your essay, I’ve found my best editors possess a strong rhetorical mind, ask thoughtful questions, and are not afraid to tell me when something isn’t working the way I think it is.

This may describe someone close to you, but maybe not. Maybe there’s a classmate or teacher who you have always admired, even if you don’t know them that well. Editing is an incredibly vulnerable process; don’t be afraid to lean into that vulnerability! I promise that a strong editor who works with your voice and style–rather than rewriting your essay how they would have–will help bring forth an authentic essay you didn’t even realize you could write!

Speaking of, authenticity will lead to your best essay

The best application essay is the one that helps us get to know you. Period. Full stop. Any topic can be a good topic, any topic can be a bad topic. At the end of the day, the topic you choose to write about is only a gateway to help us get to know you!

Let’s think of it another way. Say you printed out your essay at your school, without your name or other identifying information on it, and someone who knows you picked it up and read it. If they said, “I bet this is (your name)’s essay,” I can already tell you’re on the right track. There’s something truly you about it!

Where can I find more about writing application essays?

I’m so glad you asked! On our On-Demand Sessions webpage , you can find a number of helpful recorded sessions from our College Application Workshop series. One of them, co-presented by yours truly, is called “Crafting the Perfect College Essay”. My colleague Maria Finan and I present our own tips and tricks for about 20 minutes and then take questions from a virtual audience for the remainder of the 45 minute session. I invite you to check it out, as well as the other sessions we have recorded!

Ready to Write Your App Essays? Advice from an Admissions Counselor on the Notre Dame Supplement

Zach Klonsinski is a senior assistant director with the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

He is the regional counselor for Minnesota, Missouri (Kansas City), Wisconsin, Rwanda, Kenya, France, Portugal, Spain, Andorra, Monaco, and China - Beijing

• Read Zach's profile.

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Personal Narrative Essay Short Story with Questions Activities College Prep Unit

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Description

Introduce students to personal essay writing with this no-prep resource. Perfect for a short reading response lesson or as an introduction to writing personal essays for college or scholarship applications , this resource features Richard Post's personal essay, "The Mile," as a model for students to explore.

"The Mile" captivates readers with its authenticity and introspection, showcasing essential elements of personal essay writing. Engage students in analyzing narrative voice, descriptive language, and storytelling techniques. Thought-provoking response questions deepen understanding of the essay's themes, while the included literary analysis essay assignment hones critical analysis and writing skills.

This resource not only offers an engaging reading experience but also serves as a model of student work. By analyzing "The Mile," students find inspiration for their own personal essay writing and learn effective techniques from the author. Encourage students to reflect on personal experiences and craft compelling narratives that capture readers' attention.

Whether for a short lesson or enhancing a personal essay writing unit, this no-prep resource sparks creativity and develops strong analysis and writing skills. Immerse students in the world of personal essay writing and witness their growth and expression.

Your purchase includes the following (See PREVIEW):

• The short personal essay "The Mile," by Richard Post (written exclusively for The Language of Educational Art)
• 9 accompanying response questions (w/ answer key) designed to further your students' understanding of the structure and thematic concepts found in personal narratives
• A self-checking Easel activity version of the analysis questions
• A literary analysis essay assignment that builds on students' thematic understanding of "The Mile" and the work might be viewed by a college admissions officer (40 points - tied to 4 Common Core Standards)
• A link to an editable rubric that allows for grading customization and seamless integration into Google Classroom and many other Learning Management Systems (LMS's)

NOTE: This product is also a component of L-EA’s " Personal Essay Writing Workshop ." If you are looking for a complete personal essay writing unit, please check out that larger resource.

SYNOPSIS OF 'THE MILE':

Inspired by Roger Bannister, the author Richard Post starts his junior-year track and field season by setting a personal goal to run a sub five-minute mile. As he strives to become a better athlete, teammate, and competitor, Richard learns the true purpose of goal settings and hard work.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Richard Post came late to writing YA literature, but he has been a storyteller and raconteur his entire life. When he’s not writing short stories for The Language of Educational Art, he enjoys fishing for rock bass on Higgins Lake, hunting pheasants on the farms of mid-Michigan, bottling sun pickles (here's his famous recipe ), hosting “whoopie” parties for his grandchildren, and playing cribbage. He lives with his wife Beverly in St. Louis, Michigan and Orange Beach, Alabama. 

LITERATURE CONTENT:

Antigone : A Thousand Acres : The Awakening : A Christmas Carol: Activities : A Christmas Carol: Quizzes : Common Core Essay Rubrics Collection : The Glass Menagerie : Great Expectations: Activities : Great Expectations: Quizzes : Heart of Darkness : Literary Analysis Essay Workshop : The Metamorphosis : The Power of One : A Prayer for Owen Meany : Short Fantasy Story w/ Analysis Activities : Short Horror Story w/ Analysis Activities : Short Personal Essay w/ Analysis Activities : Short Realistic Fiction Story w/ Analysis Activities : Short Science Fiction Story w/ Analysis Activities : Short Stories w/ Analysis Activities Bundle :  Their Eyes Were Watching God : Theme Essay Workshop : A Thousand Acres : To Kill a Mockingbird: Activities : To Kill a Mockingbird: Quizzes : Writing Literary Analysis Directions

LESSONS, UNIT, AND  BUNDLES:

A Christmas Carol Complete Unit Bundle : Childhood Game Narrative Bundle : Childhood Memory Narrative Bundle : Choice Reading Unit : ELA Essays Assessments Bundle : ELA Writing Workshops Bundle : End-of-Elementary Reflection Essay : End-of-Middle-School Reflection Essay : End-of-Senior-Year Reflection Essay : End-of-the-Year Reflection Essay : End-of-the-Year Time Capsule Activity (FREE) : Create Your Own Children’s Book : Create Your Own Holiday Children’s Book : Create Your Own Superhero Project : Creative Writing Workshops Bundle : Daily Writing Prompts Bundle : Deepfake Awareness Training : Experiential Learning Projects Bundle : Expository Workshops MEGA Bundle : Family Narrative Bundle : Great Expectations Complete Unit Bundle : Growth Mindset Writing Prompts : Greek and Latin Vocabulary Bundle : Letter to Your Future Self (FREE) : Literary Devices: Creative Writing Prompts (FREE) : Literary Devices: Creative Writing Worksheets (FREE) : Literary Terms Units Bundle : Narrative Guides: 6-Genre Creative Writing Bundle : Personal Hero Essay Project : Persuasive Letter to Santa : Research Guide: 50 Topics Bundle : Research Unit Bundle : SAT Words of the Day Bundle : Seasonal Narrative Guides: 7-Holiday Creative Writing Bundle : Show & Symbolism Narrative Writing Assignment : Six Word Autobiography : Song Lessons: Analyzing Literary Devices Through Pop Music : Student Choice Biography Research Project : To Kill a Mockingbird Complete Unit Bundle : Travel Writing Prompts : Veterans Day Research Project : Writing Literary Analysis Bundle

EASEL BY TpT RESOURCE:

Student assignments for this resource are available as EASEL by TpT activities, which create a seamless link between our content and your learning management system (LMS). Additionally, all of our EASEL activities are immediately ready for student use; no prep work  is required on your end! Simply grab the link and go. NOTE: to access other resource files for this product (presentations, rubrics, Google Forms, answer keys, terms of use, or teacher notes) be sure to also download the product PDF.

FILE FORMAT:

All The Language of Educational Art's short story analysis products are provided in print-ready PDFs and can accommodate many digital delivery strategies . Please contact me if different file types or page edits are desired. I can accommodate most requests within 24 hours.

L-EA’S CLASSROOM:

The Language of Educational Art produces ready resources for the overworked English teacher. All L-EA content is created to be straightforward, engaging, digital-delivery ready, and clear enough for a “10-second sub plan.” If there is content you wish I had, let me know and I’ll create it. Easier still, give us a follow and enjoy our store .

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• Essay Editor

How to Write a Family Essay with Examples

Writing about your family gives you a chance to think about your own experiences and what matters to you. It lets you look at how your family works together and share important stories from your life. This guide will help you write a good family essay that others will find interesting, whether you're doing it for school or just want to put your family's story on paper.

What is a Family Essay?

A family essay is a personal story that talks about your experiences with your family, your relationships, and what you value. It's a type of personal essay that teachers often ask students to write to see how well they can tell their family stories.

The main goal of a family essay is to share your own thoughts on family values, traditions, and how you're all connected. It's a chance to talk about the love in your family, share favorite memories, or describe the strong bonds between family members.

Useful Tips for Writing an Essay on Family Topics

To write a great family essay, you need to plan and write carefully. Here are some helpful tips:

• Start with something interesting: Begin your essay with a fun fact or story about your family to get the reader's attention right away.
• Make a clear main point: Write a short statement that sums up the main idea of your essay. This will guide your writing and help readers understand what you're focusing on.
• Do your research: Find out more about your family's history, traditions, and cultural background. This will make your essay more real and detailed.
• Organize your essay well: Arrange your thoughts into a clear introduction, middle sections, and conclusion. Each part should lead smoothly into the next.
• Use clear descriptions: Make your family members and experiences come to life with detailed descriptions. This will help readers feel connected to your story.
• Include your own thoughts: Share how you feel about family events or how your family works together. This makes your writing more real and personal.
• Check and fix your work: After you finish writing, take time to read over and improve your essay. Look for grammar mistakes, make sentences better, and make sure your ideas are clear.

When thinking about how to write about your family, remember that being real is important. Your own point of view and experiences will make your essay special.

Interesting Ideas on Family Essay Related Topics

Picking a good topic is important when writing about your family. Here are some ideas to get you thinking:

• How family traditions have changed over time
• How technology affects how families talk to each other
• Finding a balance between being yourself and what your family expects
• How extended family members fit into today's families
• What we learn from family arguments and how we solve them
• How cultural background affects how families work together
• What "family" means in different types of families
• Why family support is important for personal growth
• Dealing with differences between older and younger family members
• How shared experiences make family bonds stronger

When you write about these topics, think about how they relate to your own life. For example, if you're writing about how technology affects family communication, you could share a story about how video calls help you stay in touch with relatives who live far away.

Remember, the best family essays mix personal stories with concepts about how families work and how they fit into society.

Family Essay Example: Why family support is important for personal growth

“ Family support is similar to having a group of people who both encourage you and protect you. It's more than just having people nearby; it's about having individuals who truly want you to succeed. When I was afraid of speaking in front of others, my sister's encouraging words helped me get through my first presentation. And truthfully, who else but family would listen to you practice guitar poorly without complaining? This kind of support without conditions gives us the bravery to try new things outside of what we're used to. It's also a way to learn from others - I've learned many things, from cooking advice to useful life tips, from different family members. Even when we don't agree, we grow; those serious discussions at dinner taught me how to defend my opinions and express my thoughts clearly. Yes, family can be frustrating at times, but they're also the ones who will stop what they're doing to help you move or listen to you when you're worried late at night. This combination of care, challenges, and support creates a special environment where we can be our true selves and slowly become the best versions of ourselves. ”

Closing Remarks

Writing a family essay helps you learn about yourself and think deeply. It's a chance to look closely at your relationships, celebrate what makes your family special, and understand more about how your family affects your life and the world around you.

Remember, the process of writing about your family can be just as rewarding as the finished essay. Take this opportunity to think about how your family has shaped your life and let your true voice come through in your writing.

Ready to bring your family story to life? Let Aithor's intuitive AI writing tools help you write a compelling and heartfelt family essay that captures the essence of your unique experiences.

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Vassar College

Writing Your Personal Statement

While we often think of the importance that health professions schools put on numbers (GPA, test scores, hours of experience), the personal statement is also crucial. This is where you are able to show the schools who you are, how you have gained skills and developed in the competencies needed to be a healthcare provider, and share your ability to communicate. This essay should demonstrate your values, your best qualities, what you are passionate about, and how all of that has led you down the path to this career. To really make your point, use experiences, activities and stories that highlight the qualities in you that are important when considering this healthcare career. You want to show that you are ready and committed, not just say it.

The Essay Itself

The personal statement will be a significant part of the decision for a school to choose whom they will interview, so crafting a will written and interesting essay which highlights who you are as an individual is important. The personal statement should not just be a narrative version of your resume, and not necessarily organized chronologically – it is the story of you as a person and your path toward a healthcare career.

Before you begin your personal statement, you need to familiarize yourself with the parameters specified by your application. Depending on the application service or school, there are different requirements and expectations for the personal statement.

Character Limitations

• AMCAS and AACOMAS - 5,300 characters – including spaces
• MD/PhD through AMCAS – 3000 characters for why MD/PhD and 10000 characters for the research experience essay
• AADSAS, OptomCAS, OTCAS, CASPA, and PTCAS - 4,500 characters

Typically the personal statement text fields of most applications do not offer formatting options, so you won’t be able to bold, underline, or italicize text.

Your application may have a specific prompt around which you should orient your personal statement. Make sure that your statement adequately addresses the prompt. For some applications the prompt can change from year-to-year, so be sure to verify the prompt for your application cycle.

What Should be Included: Content

So, what should be in a personal statement?

• What motivates you to move down the path towards a healthcare career?
• What do you want schools to know about you that hasn't been disclosed in other sections of the application?
• You cannot address all of them – 4500-5300 characters is just not long enough – so based on your experiences think about highlighting those that most convey who you are.
• What makes you who you are and different from everyone else?
• How do you hope to contribute to the field once you are practicing?

Once you have considered some or all of the above questions is there a thread or theme that runs throughout (besides wanting to be a healthcare provider)? How do you hope the readers of this statement would describe you after reading it?

What Should be Included: Writing Mechanics

In writing the actual essay, know that proper grammar and punctuation is key. Clarity in your writing and logical organization is also important. You do not want the reader to stop reading because they are struggling to understand what you are trying to say. If you have difficulty organizing, you can consider using the PEEL structure:

• Point – topic sentence, what is the point of this paragraph?
• Evidence – what evidence supports the point I am trying to make?
• Explanation – why is what I am saying relevant?
• Link – link to the next paragraph – this is what will help your narrative flow.

Also – look for the thread or theme if you observed one in your brainstorming. Make sure that the story of your WHY is the story that comes through.

Final Points

• Be ready to write multiple drafts!
• Avoid Clichés
• Be genuine and authentic
• Proofread carefully – and get others to read it and give feedback

Other Resources

Online Personal Statement Workshop  (University of Minnesota)

Medical School Personal Statement: The Ultimate Guide (Shemmassian)

6 Tips for Writing Your AMCAS Personal Comments Essay (AAMC)

The pre-health advisor is available to read your personal statement and provide feedback. You can email [email protected] with a link to a Google Doc, or submit it through the statement submission form . Please send a near final draft of the statement – not a rough draft. Consider using the Writing Center for basic feedback and grammar help. If you are struggling in the brainstorming phase, please make an appointment using Handshake .

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Aug 30, 2024

Jekyll & Hyde: Ages-old story reflects current personal and societal conflicts

Lynne Cope Hummell

Photography By

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Robert Louis Stevenson’s 1886 tale of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde has been read and retold for nearly 140 years. The saga of the kind and respectable Dr. Henry Jekyll and his duality with the murderously evil Edward Hyde was adapted in 1990 as a musical that found its way to Broadway in 1997.

And this month, that version of the story has found its way to Hilton Head Island, where Main Stage Community Theatre will bring the dynamic characters to life with Jekyll & Hyde, The Musical at the Seahawk Cultural Center Sept. 12-22.

The multiple messages brought by characters in the story offer insights into similar struggles faced by today’s world of humanity.

“Some see the story of Jekyll and Hyde as a cautionary tale,” said Bryce Cofield, director of the MSCT offering.  

“I think that’s what makes it so relatable,” said Daniel Cort, who appears in the show as both Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. “If we’re honest with ourselves, we all have a light and dark side – and of course, what mind-altering substances typically do is they bring the dark, the shadow side, to the surface. Hyde is not a monster; he’s just a darker version of the same man.”

Cofield, who was born and raised on Hilton Head Island and now lives in Jacksonville, Florida, is directing for the second time with MSCT. At Hilton Head Island High School, Cofield was a stand-out performer in both the Seahawk Theatre Guild and the Out of the Blue Show Choir. He also appeared in a number of productions with Main Street Youth Theatre, the precursor to Main Stage.

Cofield is familiar with Jekyll & Hyde , having served as assistant production manager for Alhambra Theatre in its production of the musical.

Cofield’s directing debut was in 2015, for MSCT’s The Addam’s Family , which featured Cort and his wife, Debbie Cort. “To be able to reprise Jekyll and Lucy together on stage, with Bryce again at the helm, is like a super fun reunion,” Daniel Cort said.  

“Bryce is wildly creative and a phenomenal director,” said Cinda Seamon, president of the board of directors for MSCT. “We are excited to have him back with us.”

Actors returning to the MSCT stage include Kourtnie Dwornikoski (Emma), who played Maria in Sound of Music; Paddy Myers (Bishop of Basingstoke), who also was in Sound of Music; Scott Milne (Poole), who appeared in Our Town and Oliver; and John Chao (Sir Archibald Proops), who played Capt. Georg von Trapp in Sound of Music,   Matthew Bell (Simon Stride and Spider) who appeared in Oliver, and Noah Housey (Bisset) who has appeared in numerous MSCT productions.

The large cast of 25 includes MCST newcomers Tommy Ballard, who plays Sir Danvers Carew,   Seth Harvey, who plays General Glossop, and Monica Franklin, who plays Lady Beaconsfield.

In addition to the cast, a 10-piece orchestra of musicians, recruited by music director Josh Wall, will be on the stage as well, along with several dancers from Bluffton School of Dance, choreographed by director Dawn Rosa Miller. Melinda Bray is assistant music director.

The cast of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde listed left to right: Tommy Ballard, Kourtnie Dwornikoski, Daniel Cort, Debbie Cort, and Kyle Price.

While the general presumption of the theme of the story is good vs. evil, there are also themes of mental illness and addiction. An early scene depicts Jekyll in an insane asylum, worrying that an underlying evil has caused his father to become ill, so Jekyll begins his quest to find a cure.

Through his experiments, Jekyll produces a formula that he believes will separate the good from evil. Meeting resistance from the aristocracy, Jekyll makes the fateful decision to use himself as the subject of his experiment; thus beginning his descent into darkness.

For one of the actors, the story is personal.

“This is my story,” said Cort. He has played the characters before, but this time both the script and the characters hold a much deeper meaning than in the past.

“His father has gone mad and, fearing what he can’t control, Jekyll’s obsession begins,” Cort said.  

The story takes a drastic turn when Jekyll begins to become the very thing he has committed to eradicate.

“My parallel story is having a father who struggled with mental illness and alcoholism.   In my obsession to try to save him, I too became an alcoholic,” he said. “My father was a man that was a charismatic and highly respected professor, yet his hubris and pride drove him down a dark path.”

Cort said his own recovery journey has informed the way he now perceives and portrays his characters.  

“I’m not acting up there. I just go back to those places of despair and loneliness,” he said. “The lie of mind-altering substances is the illusion that we feel powerful because we are stripped of our inhibitions. In reality, it is slowly diminishing and destroying us.”

“That’s what I’m hoping people take out of the show – it’s OK to not be OK,” Cofield said. “Just get the help you need before it’s too late. This whole story is a cautionary tale, watching somebody’s fear and ego destroy them.”

Cort added, “And it doesn’t have to end that way. There is hope.”

To support that hope, for this production, Main Stage has partnered with the local chapter of the National Association on Mental Illness (NAMI), the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization. The local chapter will host an information booth at all performances.

“Jekyll & Hyde” performances are Sept. 12-22 at 7 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday at Seahawk Cultural Center, 70 Wilborn Road on Hilton Head Island. Tickets are $30 adult, $15 student and are available at mainstagecommunitytheatre.org.

If you have concerns about your mental health, connect with counselors at NAMI at (843) 686-3100 or namilowcountry.org.  

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Photo credit

Building your personal brand requires moving through a sequential, three-step process . The first step, Know, focuses on brand discovery, uncovering your unique promise of value. Once you’ve defined your brand, you can articulate your story in the Show phase. Then, you can expand your brand's visibility and connections in the third step, called Grow. Leveraging the power of AI in all three steps can transform your personal branding efforts. The key lies in knowing which AI prompts to use so you can glean the most meaningful and actionable insights.

Using AI ensures that every step of your personal branding journey is informed by data-driven decisions, maximizing your potential for success. Before beginning, gather the content about yourself that you can share with ChatGPT. Then, use these prompts:

Know: Personal Brand Discovery

What are my unique strengths and how can they benefit others?

Starting with this prompt allows AI to help you identify and articulate your core strengths. AI tools can analyze your professional experiences, skills, and feedback from colleagues to provide a clear picture of your unique capabilities. By understanding how these strengths benefit others, you can craft a narrative that positions you as an invaluable asset in your field.

What do others think are my greatest strengths and differentiation using this feedback (paste in content from your LinkedIn recommendations, performance reviews, testimonials, 360 assessments, etc.)?

Your brand is held in the hearts and minds of those who know you. To validate your self-perceptions, make sense of the feedback you have received over time. There is likely too much data for you to synthesize yourself. That’s where the power of AI can help.

Show: Telling Your Brand Story

How can I effectively communicate my personal brand story?

Your personal brand story is the backbone of your brand identity. This prompt helps AI generate a cohesive and compelling narrative by pulling together key elements of your career journey, personal values, and professional milestones. A well-crafted brand story not only humanizes your brand but also resonates deeply with your audience, making your message more memorable and impactful.

What personal anecdotes and experiences should I highlight to build trust and authenticity?

Authenticity is the cornerstone of a strong personal brand. This prompt helps AI sift through your professional journey to find personal anecdotes and experiences that highlight your authenticity. Sharing these stories can build trust with your audience, making your brand relatable and trustworthy. AI can help identify the most impactful stories and suggest ways to present them compellingly.

Grow: Expanding Your Brand

What are the best practices for networking and relationship-building in my industry?

Networking is essential to career success and a critical component of personal branding. Use this prompt to get AI-driven advice on best practices for networking and relationship-building specific to your industry. ChatGPT can offer tips on where to connect with industry leaders, how to approach networking events, and ways to maintain meaningful professional relationships.

What are the most relevant keywords and phrases to include in my professional profiles?

SEO isn’t just for websites. It’s crucial for personal branding as well. By asking ChatGPT to identify the most relevant keywords and phrases, you can optimize your LinkedIn profile, resume, and personal website to ensure you appear in search results for your desired roles and industries. This prompt helps you stay current with industry trends and ensures your profiles are aligned with what your stakeholders are looking for.

How can I enhance my online presence and engagement?

In today’s digital-first environment, your online presence is often the first impression you make. Use this prompt to get AI-generated strategies for enhancing your visibility and engagement on social media platforms. GhatGPT can provide tailored recommendations on content types, posting frequencies, and engagement techniques that will help you build a rich and interactive online presence.

What are the potential gaps in my current personal branding strategy?

Use this prompt to have AI analyze your existing branding efforts and identify any gaps or areas for improvement. Whether it’s inconsistencies in your messaging, a lack of engagement, or missing elements in your brand story, AI can provide actionable insights to help you refine and enhance your strategy.

How can I leverage multimedia to strengthen my personal brand?

Incorporating multimedia elements like videos, podcasts, and infographics can significantly enhance your brand’s appeal. This prompt guides AI to suggest the best multimedia formats for your brand and how to effectively use them. By diversifying your content, you can reach a broader audience and keep your brand fresh and engaging.

Leveraging AI in personal branding isn’t about replacing your unique human touch, it’s about enhancing it. These AI prompts can help you uncover insights, optimize your strategies, and ensure your personal brand stands out in a crowded marketplace. The essence of personal branding lies in authenticity, relevance, consistency, and continuous improvement. By embracing these AI tools, you can elevate your personal branding efforts and achieve greater professional success.

A pioneer in personal branding and virtual presentation skills, William Arruda helps professionals stand out in the digital world. Join the course and transform your online meetings and presentations into powerful, engaging, branded experiences.

New Times, New Thinking.

• The Weekend Essay

What is Starmer’s story?

England’s summer riots have violently exposed the failure to resolve our national question.

By Anthony Barnett

As William Morgan was being arrested in Liverpool during the riots this August, he can be heard on a police bodycam exclaiming “I’m English, I’m English”. It has the force of outrage, as if it meant they were handcuffing the wrong person – but also of self-justification. He got sentenced to two years and eight months after pleading guilty to violent disorder and possessing an offensive weapon. Morgan was far from alone among the rioters in proclaiming his Englishness. He was taking part in the latest incarnation of a historic tradition of English urban hooliganism and mob violence that has run through the nation’s lymph system since the 18th century. One that from the 1950s has taken on a racist, Powellite form, pumped and refreshed by a vile media.

As well as anti-immigrant racism , a cauldron of socio-economic reasons generated the discontent of 2024, with two novel aspects added to the mix. First, social media transmitted deceitful rumours, incitement and goading at lightning speed, fortified by Elon Musk’s X and Nigel Farage’s calculated empathy. But more resonantly, the riots broke out almost immediately after a supposedly decisive general election, making them appear as violent protests against the result, an English echo of the 6 January storming of Congress by Donald Trump’s supporters. Across the country, the rioters’ chant was “give us our country back”. Only a few may have actually wrapped themselves in St George’s flag. But the desire for a missing national cause goes far beyond the riots themselves.

A few weeks earlier, standing outside No 10 on 5 July, speaking as Prime Minister for the first time, Keir Starmer told us: “Our country needs a bigger reset. A rediscovery of who we are. Because no matter how fierce the storms of history, one of the great strengths of this nation has always been our ability to navigate a way through to calmer waters.” Leave aside the linguistic muddle (a big reset that is a rediscovery in fierce storms of a perpetual capacity to return to calm water?). The call to give us our country back that sounded out in the riots came as a reminder of the unresolved politics of nationhood that stalk “Great Britain”, a country that, whatever the Prime Minister may say, is not “a nation” and will not be calmed by his claim that it is.

In these pages , Jason Cowley recently quoted the new Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, as saying the far-right rioters had “forgotten about what it means to be English” and should reintegrate “back into Britishness”. It is an instruction that reveals, but hardly resolves the conundrum. Immediately after the election Cowley wrote: “If narratives shape politics, what is the story Keir Starmer wants to tell about Britain?” After the rioting, and with a much greater urgency, Cowley asked again: “What does it mean to be English, or even to integrate back into Britishness, when the Prime Minister himself says he wants to lead the country on a rediscovery of who we are?”

[See also: The history of English rioting repeats itself ]

The Saturday Read

Morning call.

I believe that Starmer has already told us what he thinks the narrative for England and Britain is and should be. It is there in plain sight. Perhaps the reason it seems hidden is because it is so unbelievable. Nonetheless, it is spelled out explicitly in the Labour manifesto and proclaimed implicitly in the ubiquitous Union Jacks branding every ministerial appointment. Starmer believes Great Britain will be true to itself and its future by “making Brexit work”, and that his task as a superb public administrator is to ensure this happens. But the Brexit Labour is attempting can’t be made to “work” any more than you can have a successful car crash. This is not just a matter of the contradiction of trying to retain “sovereignty” while getting closer to the European Union. At the heart of its impossibility is the effort to resurrect the British state in “national” form.

This is the paradox that condemns our national question to its violent torpor. The British state was an amazing administrative and military achievement, but it was an imperial one, governed by its own global form of sovereignty. It lost its primacy in the Second World War , yet managed to preserve itself in a Churchillist form after 1945 by securing a subordinate role within the American postwar hegemony. As western Europe revived to become an economic powerhouse, pressure from Washington as much as the self-interest of Whitehall led to the UK’s belated joining of the then European Economic Community in 1973.

A new strategy – or “narrative” – was born, of becoming a “bridge” between the US and Europe. The Washington terminus of this bridge always had primacy, lauded in terms of an intangible “special relationship” and an alliance for freedom, while the connection to Brussels was justified as a transactional necessity. Meanwhile, the ghost of glory past was never confronted, let alone eradicated. In 1982, after her Falklands victory, Thatcher boasted that “Britain has not changed” and remained “the nation that had built an empire and ruled a quarter of the world”. The mindset was echoed two decades later, when Tony Blair cabled President George W Bush a week after British forces had tagged along with the US invasion of Iraq to tell him, “Our ambition is big: to construct a global agenda around which we can unite the world.”

But by 2010 all such ambition was shattered – by military humiliation in Mesopotamia and the great financial crash – while the centuries-old magic of parliament itself evaporated in the grubbiness of the expenses scandal. Three narratives were broken at the same time: pride in British military success; belief that the free market knows best; and faith in the honourable integrity of our ruling institutions. Each had helped ensure a general consent to the way we are governed, despite the antiquated nature of our constitution and institutions. As they disintegrated Nigel Farage pointed the way out of the ruins. Blame it on Brussels and leave the European Union!

When David Cameron called for a referendum in the hope of skewering Ukip, he calculated that Farage’s obvious bigotry would have ensured a reluctant majority for staying in the EU. But many other figures shared a belief that, once “freed” from the EU, Britain could find its way back to the greatness of Thatcher. Among the most significant of these was Paul Dacre, then editor of the Daily Mail . Fearing the loss of his last, best opportunity, in February 2016 he plastered this huge headline across his paper’s front page: “Who will speak for England?” His furious editorial demanded that acceptable politicians capable of winning (such as Michael Gove and Boris Johnson) step forward to take the lead in the referendum from the likes of Farage. Buried within the editorial was a telling aside: “Of course, by England… we mean the whole of the United Kingdom.”

If you are English, you need to read this sentence out loud while imagining what it must be like to be Scottish, Irish or Welsh. Dacre was not calling on leaders to speak for England. He is calling for the opposite, leaders who will make a claim on all the nations of the archipelago that make up Britain. This is the “narrative” – an English insistence that our role in the world is to be “Great Britain” – that won the 2016 referendum. And it is a narrative that Starmer is now seeking to implement after the failures of Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak to do so.

We need to understand the duplicitous, Janus-nature of this Brexit narrative. Scotland, London and Northern Ireland voted by decisive majorities to remain in the EU. But every region of England outside London voted for Brexit and took the country with them. (It was only the vote of English retirees that clinched Brexit’s narrow majority of 80,000 in Wales, where many of the young had left to work in London and voted for Europe.) Brexit, then, was an English decision. But it was not a vote “for” England but for Great Britain, in which the English asserted a claim on “the whole of the United Kingdom”.

However, many if not most of the liberal Remainers who scorn Brexit as an expression of “English nationalism” are just as Anglo-British as those who voted Leave. This is the most difficult issue for English progressives to internalise and accept. Many cling to the multinational nature of Britishness as a way of avoiding the dangers of bigotry, rather than confronting it. They can’t accept that the only successful way of opposing Brexit-Englishness is by creating an actual English polity. This reality is so unappealing that it requires elucidation.

Overtly, Brexit was about leaving the EU. For the hedge funds and corporate interests that hate regulation, this was a coherent if misguided and selfish project. But for the average Daily Mail reader, the inner psychic project was not about the UK leaving the EU. Rather, it was an opportunity to expel the EU from the UK. “Leave means Leave” did not mean our leaving to go somewhere else. On the contrary, we would boot them out and, once rid of them, return to being “what we are”.

There can be no such going back. We cannot return to 1982 when Margaret Thatcher was regnant, the Falklands made us proud, the neoliberal boom was about to take off, and Boris Johnson was 18. Since then we have been transformed existentially by being part of the European single market, by the ending of the Cold War and the unification of Europe. What “we are” is no longer what we have been. The consequence of our departure is that we have forever thrown away the privileged position of being in the EU and yet also outside the euro, which gave us the best of both worlds. One that allowed us to “opt out” of the European narrative by continuing to be Great Britain – an uncodified multinational monarchy, where the population are subjects rather than citizens, that clings to a pre-war, imperial concept of sovereignty. This never comfortably fitted with the shared sovereignty, freedom of movement and market regulation that have become the norm for European countries. EU member states cannot risk re-offering membership to a major country that refuses to make the transition.

[See also: The rise of disaster nationalism ]

Nation, constitution and democracy are joined together like the spine, the hip bone and the thigh bones. There are, to repeat Cowley’s call, only two broad narratives available for the UK. The forward-looking one is to embrace European normality, in which England becomes England. But for the English, including many if not most Remain and progressive voters, this remains a psychologically unbearable reality. After all these centuries “Great Britain” remains their self-conception. The only alternative therefore is an endless effort to update ourselves and the constant promise of “Change” (the word plastered over the Labour manifesto and pledged by the aptly rain-sodden Rishi Sunak when he called the election). Change dedicated to remaining fundamentally the same. It is as true for Starmer as it is for perhaps Farage and whoever the Tories will choose as their new leader, just as it is for perhaps the most brilliant of Labour’s new MPs, Torsten Bell, whose new and eloquent economic treatise is titled Great Britain? How We Get Our Future Back .

So when Starmer announces that it is time to “turn a corner on Brexit”, as he did this week on his way to Germany to meet Chancellor Olaf Scholz, it is the same old Great Britain that is turning the page, a country now encircled by external, non-negotiable Brexit “red lines” and committed to the crucial inner project of the subordination of the peripheral nations to the authority of the British state. On Tuesday, just before he went to Berlin, Starmer gave a speech heralded as a “state of the nation” address from the Downing Street garden. He had plenty of time for due consideration, to properly address the riots and deliver his response to them. Yet he failed to address the politics of nationhood. While he rightly saluted those who spontaneously cleared up after the riots as far more representative than the wreckers, he declined to thank those who mobilised politically in the counter-demonstrations that outnumbered the far right. Instead, along with stern warnings of law and order and economic hard choices, he made a feeble appeal to the “coming together of a country”.

This attempt to construct a “disciplined consensus” was first analysed as long ago as 1978 by Stuart Hall and others in Policing the Crisis . It is a dangerously weak response to the riots, as the cry to “give us our country back” draws on a racist definition of Englishness , first articulated by Enoch Powell in 1968. The serpent of Powellism was caged not killed and awaits moments of weakness to strike again. This is why Nigel Farage stands to gain the most from the upheaval, with Professor Matt Goodwin at his shoulder to provide some apparently academic kudos. Speaking out of his bottom , Goodwin sought to analyse the riots through the language of “English in terms of ethnicity”, “majority decline” and mass immigration. It amounted to an apologia – claiming that there really is an exclusive English ethnicity that understandably feels itself a victim of the way we are governed. The notion is, of course, as preposterous as it is treacherous. Englishness is not an ethnicity. There are no “true-born” English. We have known this since 1701 when Daniel Defoe wrote:

A true-born Englishman’s a contradiction In speech an irony, in fact a fiction. A banter made to be a test of fools… Since scarce one family is left alive, Which does not from some foreigner derive.

Here, however, is the rub. If in Scotland or Wales a Goodwin-like media-academic were to claim that being Scottish or Welsh was an ethnicity, the push-back against such a racist claim would be loud and immediate. But not here in England. The noble but ignored John Denham and the ever-reasonable Sunder Katwala express their disagreement with Goodwin. But no leading English politician has yet to speak out for our nation, or even about it, aside from Caroline Lucas in her recent masterpiece, Another England . And she now has understandably stepped down from parliament.

Cowley is right to insist that there has to be a credible new narrative. It cannot be Starmer’s effort to put the Great back into Britain by sheer force of good administration, professional branding and the promise he reiterated from the garden of No 10 that “crime has consequences”. Far from the negative appeal for the English to “reintegrate back into Britishness”, what is needed is a positive and genuine politics that speaks for English democracy, supported by fresh institutions suited for our country’s modern multi-ethnic nature. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own parliaments; now it is England’s turn. In his interviews, letters and in their theatrical celebration, so far only Gareth Southgate’s England squad has expressed the exceptional pluralism and positivity of a 21st-century England. But football can only illustrate the potential. England has to be actually represented politically.

Until this happens there can be no return to full membership of our common European home. The progressive route to achieving this is as straightforward as it is seemingly impossible. First, we have to embrace the fact that Britain is not a nation and that, if it is to flourish as a United Kingdom, it can only do so as a constitutional federation. To achieve this, the perfectly named House of Commons should return to being England’s parliament, with a new upper house becoming the federal chamber with elected representatives from each nation, provided each freely decides to be part of it. This is essential. England cannot become a progressive country while it holds other nations prisoner against their will.

There is no “third way” that avoids confronting this. Ireland, Scotland and perhaps now Wales too, are already European countries in their own distinct fashions. We in England may have to find our own independent way back to the EU. Let’s not be afraid of this. We are nationally English, culturally British and European, and fully able to find a significant role inside the wider multinational entity of the EU where, whatever happens, we will be together with our immediate neighbours. I believe that, culturally, British ness will flourish if we are all liberated from the politics of Great Britain. The alternative – cleaving to a dysfunctional Westminster state – is a recipe for further unrest. Only a move towards real democracy in a modern, participatory form can see off the rabid display of frustration and wounded pride that Brexit has unleashed but cannot assuage.

[See also: Tom Nairn: The detective of world history ]

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• Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/fact-checking-warnings-from-democrats-about-project-2025-and-donald-trump

Fact-checking warnings from Democrats about Project 2025 and Donald Trump

This fact check originally appeared on PolitiFact .

Project 2025 has a starring role in this week’s Democratic National Convention.

And it was front and center on Night 1.

WATCH: Hauling large copy of Project 2025, Michigan state Sen. McMorrow speaks at 2024 DNC

“This is Project 2025,” Michigan state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, D-Royal Oak, said as she laid a hardbound copy of the 900-page document on the lectern. “Over the next four nights, you are going to hear a lot about what is in this 900-page document. Why? Because this is the Republican blueprint for a second Trump term.”

Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, has warned Americans about “Trump’s Project 2025” agenda — even though former President Donald Trump doesn’t claim the conservative presidential transition document.

“Donald Trump wants to take our country backward,” Harris said July 23 in Milwaukee. “He and his extreme Project 2025 agenda will weaken the middle class. Like, we know we got to take this seriously, and can you believe they put that thing in writing?”

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Harris’ running mate, has joined in on the talking point.

“Don’t believe (Trump) when he’s playing dumb about this Project 2025. He knows exactly what it’ll do,” Walz said Aug. 9 in Glendale, Arizona.

Trump’s campaign has worked to build distance from the project, which the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, led with contributions from dozens of conservative groups.

Much of the plan calls for extensive executive-branch overhauls and draws on both long-standing conservative principles, such as tax cuts, and more recent culture war issues. It lays out recommendations for disbanding the Commerce and Education departments, eliminating certain climate protections and consolidating more power to the president.

Project 2025 offers a sweeping vision for a Republican-led executive branch, and some of its policies mirror Trump’s 2024 agenda, But Harris and her presidential campaign have at times gone too far in describing what the project calls for and how closely the plans overlap with Trump’s campaign.

PolitiFact researched Harris’ warnings about how the plan would affect reproductive rights, federal entitlement programs and education, just as we did for President Joe Biden’s Project 2025 rhetoric. Here’s what the project does and doesn’t call for, and how it squares with Trump’s positions.

Are Trump and Project 2025 connected?

To distance himself from Project 2025 amid the Democratic attacks, Trump wrote on Truth Social that he “knows nothing” about it and has “no idea” who is in charge of it. (CNN identified at least 140 former advisers from the Trump administration who have been involved.)

The Heritage Foundation sought contributions from more than 100 conservative organizations for its policy vision for the next Republican presidency, which was published in 2023.

Project 2025 is now winding down some of its policy operations, and director Paul Dans, a former Trump administration official, is stepping down, The Washington Post reported July 30. Trump campaign managers Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita denounced the document.

WATCH: A look at the Project 2025 plan to reshape government and Trump’s links to its authors

However, Project 2025 contributors include a number of high-ranking officials from Trump’s first administration, including former White House adviser Peter Navarro and former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson.

A recently released recording of Russell Vought, a Project 2025 author and the former director of Trump’s Office of Management and Budget, showed Vought saying Trump’s “very supportive of what we do.” He said Trump was only distancing himself because Democrats were making a bogeyman out of the document.

Project 2025 wouldn’t ban abortion outright, but would curtail access

The Harris campaign shared a graphic on X that claimed “Trump’s Project 2025 plan for workers” would “go after birth control and ban abortion nationwide.”

The plan doesn’t call to ban abortion nationwide, though its recommendations could curtail some contraceptives and limit abortion access.

What’s known about Trump’s abortion agenda neither lines up with Harris’ description nor Project 2025’s wish list.

Project 2025 says the Department of Health and Human Services Department should “return to being known as the Department of Life by explicitly rejecting the notion that abortion is health care.”

It recommends that the Food and Drug Administration reverse its 2000 approval of mifepristone, the first pill taken in a two-drug regimen for a medication abortion. Medication is the most common form of abortion in the U.S. — accounting for around 63 percent in 2023.

If mifepristone were to remain approved, Project 2025 recommends new rules, such as cutting its use from 10 weeks into pregnancy to seven. It would have to be provided to patients in person — part of the group’s efforts to limit access to the drug by mail. In June, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a legal challenge to mifepristone’s FDA approval over procedural grounds.

WATCH: Trump’s plans for health care and reproductive rights if he returns to White House The manual also calls for the Justice Department to enforce the 1873 Comstock Act on mifepristone, which bans the mailing of “obscene” materials. Abortion access supporters fear that a strict interpretation of the law could go further to ban mailing the materials used in procedural abortions, such as surgical instruments and equipment.

The plan proposes withholding federal money from states that don’t report to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention how many abortions take place within their borders. The plan also would prohibit abortion providers, such as Planned Parenthood, from receiving Medicaid funds. It also calls for the Department of Health and Human Services to ensure that the training of medical professionals, including doctors and nurses, omits abortion training.

The document says some forms of emergency contraception — particularly Ella, a pill that can be taken within five days of unprotected sex to prevent pregnancy — should be excluded from no-cost coverage. The Affordable Care Act requires most private health insurers to cover recommended preventive services, which involves a range of birth control methods, including emergency contraception.

Trump has recently said states should decide abortion regulations and that he wouldn’t block access to contraceptives. Trump said during his June 27 debate with Biden that he wouldn’t ban mifepristone after the Supreme Court “approved” it. But the court rejected the lawsuit based on standing, not the case’s merits. He has not weighed in on the Comstock Act or said whether he supports it being used to block abortion medication, or other kinds of abortions.

Project 2025 doesn’t call for cutting Social Security, but proposes some changes to Medicare

“When you read (Project 2025),” Harris told a crowd July 23 in Wisconsin, “you will see, Donald Trump intends to cut Social Security and Medicare.”

The Project 2025 document does not call for Social Security cuts. None of its 10 references to Social Security addresses plans for cutting the program.

Harris also misleads about Trump’s Social Security views.

In his earlier campaigns and before he was a politician, Trump said about a half-dozen times that he’s open to major overhauls of Social Security, including cuts and privatization. More recently, in a March 2024 CNBC interview, Trump said of entitlement programs such as Social Security, “There’s a lot you can do in terms of entitlements, in terms of cutting.” However, he quickly walked that statement back, and his CNBC comment stands at odds with essentially everything else Trump has said during the 2024 presidential campaign.

Trump’s campaign website says that not “a single penny” should be cut from Social Security. We rated Harris’ claim that Trump intends to cut Social Security Mostly False.

Project 2025 does propose changes to Medicare, including making Medicare Advantage, the private insurance offering in Medicare, the “default” enrollment option. Unlike Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage plans have provider networks and can also require prior authorization, meaning that the plan can approve or deny certain services. Original Medicare plans don’t have prior authorization requirements.

The manual also calls for repealing health policies enacted under Biden, such as the Inflation Reduction Act. The law enabled Medicare to negotiate with drugmakers for the first time in history, and recently resulted in an agreement with drug companies to lower the prices of 10 expensive prescriptions for Medicare enrollees.

Trump, however, has said repeatedly during the 2024 presidential campaign that he will not cut Medicare.

Project 2025 would eliminate the Education Department, which Trump supports

The Harris campaign said Project 2025 would “eliminate the U.S. Department of Education” — and that’s accurate. Project 2025 says federal education policy “should be limited and, ultimately, the federal Department of Education should be eliminated.” The plan scales back the federal government’s role in education policy and devolves the functions that remain to other agencies.

Aside from eliminating the department, the project also proposes scrapping the Biden administration’s Title IX revision, which prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. It also would let states opt out of federal education programs and calls for passing a federal parents’ bill of rights similar to ones passed in some Republican-led state legislatures.

Republicans, including Trump, have pledged to close the department, which gained its status in 1979 within Democratic President Jimmy Carter’s presidential Cabinet.

In one of his Agenda 47 policy videos, Trump promised to close the department and “to send all education work and needs back to the states.” Eliminating the department would have to go through Congress.

What Project 2025, Trump would do on overtime pay

In the graphic, the Harris campaign says Project 2025 allows “employers to stop paying workers for overtime work.”

The plan doesn’t call for banning overtime wages. It recommends changes to some Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, regulations and to overtime rules. Some changes, if enacted, could result in some people losing overtime protections, experts told us.

The document proposes that the Labor Department maintain an overtime threshold “that does not punish businesses in lower-cost regions (e.g., the southeast United States).” This threshold is the amount of money executive, administrative or professional employees need to make for an employer to exempt them from overtime pay under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

In 2019, the Trump’s administration finalized a rule that expanded overtime pay eligibility to most salaried workers earning less than about $35,568, which it said made about 1.3 million more workers eligible for overtime pay. The Trump-era threshold is high enough to cover most line workers in lower-cost regions, Project 2025 said.

The Biden administration raised that threshold to $43,888 beginning July 1, and that will rise to $58,656 on Jan. 1, 2025. That would grant overtime eligibility to about 4 million workers, the Labor Department said.

It’s unclear how many workers Project 2025’s proposal to return to the Trump-era overtime threshold in some parts of the country would affect, but experts said some would presumably lose the right to overtime wages.

Other overtime proposals in Project 2025’s plan include allowing some workers to choose to accumulate paid time off instead of overtime pay, or to work more hours in one week and fewer in the next, rather than receive overtime.

Trump’s past with overtime pay is complicated. In 2016, the Obama administration said it would raise the overtime to salaried workers earning less than $47,476 a year, about double the exemption level set in 2004 of $23,660 a year.

But when a judge blocked the Obama rule, the Trump administration didn’t challenge the court ruling. Instead it set its own overtime threshold, which raised the amount, but by less than Obama.

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