If you’ve ever been given the assignment to write a personal narrative essay, you know that this can be a fun way to share important life experiences with your reader. This genre of essay gives you the chance to brag about something great that happened to you or a funny story that you want to share with your audience. When you first start writing, narrow down the events you want to write about and select those with a clear chronological pattern and vivid details.

Outlining

Outlining a personal narrative essay is a vital part of writing this type of essay. The story should have a beginning, middle, and end to direct the reader’s attention to the main event. The first section of the essay should introduce the writer and direct the action toward a climax. The final section should summarize the story and its lessons learned. It can also highlight how the author has grown as a person.

Planning

Personal narrative essays are fun to write, especially if you have a memorable event to tell. They allow you to brag about the experiences you’ve had and the lessons you’ve learned, and they’re an enjoyable type of writing assignment. When you’re planning a personal narrative essay, you should start by narrowing down your list of events. Choose events that follow a clear chronological order and provide vivid details.

Pantsing

When you’re preparing to write a narrative essay, you might be wondering how to write it with less preparation and more spontaneity. Pantsing is the process of following your impulses, rather than plotting every detail in advance. Pantsing is ideal for character-focused stories, since you’ll be letting your characters respond to the events that happen. Moreover, pantsing will allow you to immerse yourself into your work, rather than worrying about a rigid plot.

Conflict

There are several ways to introduce conflict to your personal narrative essay. One way is to define conflict in your story as a struggle between two opposing groups or individuals. Conflict can be internal or external. Internal conflict is about the decisions and consequences of an individual. External conflict is about a greater force that forces a character to take an action that isn’t in their best interest. For example, the conflict between two people in “The Necklace” highlights the difference between internal and external conflict.

Cliché

A cliche is a phrase, device, or archetype that is overused in writing. They once evoke interest, but now have a tired, worn-out quality that detracts from the overall quality of the piece. Readers want to experience a particular emotion through the eyes of the author, and cliches are often the result of using worn-out phrases or ideas.

Conclusion

Writing a conclusion for a personal narrative essay is not always an easy task. The problem is that many writers end up tying up their narratives too neatly. However, great writers leave their endings ambiguous. A conclusion in a personal narrative essay should leave the reader with a sense of closure. Here are some tips to help you write a compelling conclusion. You may want to consider submitting a draft of your work to a teacher or tutor for review.