good topics for personal narrative essays

Narrative Essay Topics: TOP 200 Choices for Students

Imagine yourself facing a blank page, ready to fill it with your memories and imagination. What story will you tell today?

As students, you often have to write narratives that capture people's attention. But with so many stories to choose from, where do you start? How do you find the perfect topic that will grab our readers' interest and make them think?

Join our essay service experts as we explore 200 topics for college where stories are waiting to be told, and experiences are ready to be shared. From everyday events to unforgettable moments, each topic is a chance to connect with your readers and make them feel something.

Best Narrative Essay Topics: How to Choose the One That Resonates

A narrative essay is a type of writing that tells a personal story, including characters, plot, setting, and the order of events. Its main goal is to connect with readers emotionally and share a specific message or insight through the retelling of a meaningful experience.

Students write narrative essays as part of their studies for several reasons. Firstly, it allows them to express themselves creatively by sharing their unique experiences, thoughts, and feelings. Secondly, it helps them develop important writing skills like organizing ideas and thoughts effectively.

Choosing good narrative essay ideas involves looking at personal experiences, interests, and the potential for engaging storytelling. Here's a simple guide to help you pick the right topic:

Think about significant moments in your life that had a lasting impact, such as personal growth or overcoming challenges.
Choose topics related to your hobbies, interests, or areas of expertise to make your story more engaging.
Consider what your audience would be interested in and choose topics that resonate with them.
Focus on a specific event or detail to make your narrative more focused and impactful.
Look for universal themes like love or personal transformation that connect with readers on a deeper level.
Brainstorm ideas and write freely to uncover compelling topics.
Decide on storytelling techniques like flashbacks or foreshadowing and choose a topic that fits.
Get feedback from friends, peers, or instructors to see if your topics are interesting and impactful.
Choose topics that evoke strong emotions for a more compelling narrative.
Select a topic that you personally connect with to make your story authentic.

Once you've chosen a topic, brainstorm ideas and create an outline for your essay. Follow your professor's instructions carefully and consider seeking help from our narrative essay writing service if needed.

Bring your stories to life with EssayPro. Select from a vast array of narrative essay topics and let our professionals help you weave your tales into captivating essays. Whether it's adventure, reflection, or imagination, we're here to assist.

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Ideas for Narrative Essay Topics

After exploring how students write narrative paragraphs, we've put together a list of narrative essay topics designed specifically for college and school students. This list covers a wide range of subjects, so pick one that speaks to you! If you want to see how to develop a topic into a written essay, check out our narrative essay example .

Literacy Narrative Essay Topics for College Students

How about delving into captivating literacy narrative essay topics designed specifically for college-level writing? Exciting, isn't it?

How did learning to read change my perspective on the world?
What was my favorite childhood book and why?
How did writing my first story impact my love for storytelling?
What challenges did I face when learning a new language?
How did keeping a journal help me improve my writing skills?
How did my family influence my attitude toward reading?
What role did literature play in shaping my identity?
How did participating in a book club enhance my reading experience?
How did technology affect my reading habits?
What was the most memorable book I read in school?
How did my favorite teacher inspire my passion for literature?
What impact did reading diverse perspectives have on my worldview?
How did overcoming a reading difficulty shape my relationship with books?
What lessons did I learn from writing my first poem?
How did storytelling traditions in my culture influence my literacy journey?

Personal Narrative Essay Topics on Relationships

Take a moment to reflect on your past experiences and craft compelling personal narratives with these essay ideas.

How did my relationship with my best friend change over time?
What lessons did I learn from my first romantic relationship?
How did my relationship with my sibling influence who I am today?
What challenges did I face in maintaining a long-distance friendship?
How did a conflict with a family member teach me about communication?
What role do my pets play in my life and relationships?
How did volunteering together strengthen my bond with a friend?
What impact did a mentor have on my personal growth?
How did a betrayal affect my trust in relationships?
What did I learn from a failed friendship?
How did traveling with a friend deepen our connection?
What role does forgiveness play in maintaining healthy relationships?
How did my relationship with my parents evolve as I grew older?
What lessons did I learn about teamwork from a group project?
How did a disagreement with a colleague teach me about compromise?

Best Narrative Essay Topics on Education and Learning

Consider the beauty of sharing your personal experiences and emotions in a captivating manner through these ideas for personal narrative essays.

How did a particular teacher inspire me to excel in school?
What challenges did I face while adapting to online learning?
How did participating in extracurricular activities shape my educational experience?
What lessons did I learn from a memorable field trip?
How did studying abroad broaden my perspective on education?
What role does technology play in modern education?
How did overcoming a learning obstacle impact my academic journey?
What did I gain from tutoring a classmate in a challenging subject?
How did a hands-on learning experience change my understanding of a topic?
What impact did a mentor have on my educational and career aspirations?
How did peer collaboration enhance my learning in a group project?
What lessons did I learn from a failure or setback in school?
How did my cultural background influence my approach to education?
What role does self-directed learning play in my academic success?
How did participating in a debate or public speaking event shape my communication skills?

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Personal Narrative Essay Ideas on Reflection on Life

Why not ignite your creativity with a range of narrative essay topics, from extraordinary moments to everyday experiences?

How did confronting a fear change my view on courage and growth?
How do family traditions shape my personal values and beliefs?
What does success mean to me, and how has it evolved?
Reflecting on friendships as a source of support in tough times.
How have travel experiences expanded my global perspective?
How do my hobbies and passions bring fulfillment to my life?
Exploring the link between self-love and mental well-being.
How can challenges lead to unexpected personal growth?
Reflecting on the importance of setting and reaching personal goals.
What pivotal moments mark my journey to self-acceptance?
Investigating how forgiveness resolves personal conflicts.
How do cultural expectations shape my idea of success?
Reflecting on the significance of self-care for overall well-being.
Exploring how technology influences my connections and worldview.
What did I learn from facing a life-changing decision?

Ideas for a Narrative Essay on Culture and Society

Engaging your readers with narrative essays on culture and society is a great way to spark interest, offering captivating ideas for exploration.

How has my cultural heritage shaped my identity?
Reflecting on a tradition or ceremony that holds significance in my culture.
Exploring the impact of globalization on local traditions and customs.
How does language influence the way I perceive the world around me?
Investigating the role of food in cultural identity and expression.
Reflecting on a cultural celebration or festival that left a lasting impression.
How does media portrayal affect societal perceptions of different cultures?
Exploring the intersection of culture and religion in shaping values and beliefs.
Reflecting on experiences of cultural assimilation or integration.
How do stereotypes impact individuals within a cultural group?
Investigating the role of art and literature in preserving cultural heritage.
Reflecting on the challenges and benefits of multiculturalism in society.
Exploring the significance of storytelling in passing down cultural traditions.
How do cultural norms influence gender roles and expectations?
Reflecting on the cultural exchange experiences that have broadened my perspective.

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Narrative Writing Topics on Hobbies and Interests

Wow your readers by turning your passions and hobbies into compelling narrative essay topics that will get them thinking.

Describe a memorable adventure or experience related to your favorite hobby.
Reflect on how your hobby has evolved over time and its significance in your life.
Write about a moment when your hobby provided a sense of escape or relaxation.
Explore the role of hobbies in promoting mental health and well-being.
Share a story of how you discovered your passion for a particular hobby.
Describe a challenge you faced while pursuing your hobby and how you overcame it.
Reflect on the impact of your hobby on your relationships with others.
Write about a hobby-related achievement or milestone that you are proud of.
Explore how your hobby connects you to a community or group of like-minded individuals.
Describe the process of learning a new hobby and the lessons you gained from it.
Reflect on the role of hobbies in balancing work, leisure, and personal growth.
Write about a hobby-related project or creation that you are passionate about.
Explore the connection between your hobbies and your broader interests and values.
Describe a favorite memory or experience involving your hobby.
Reflect on how your hobbies have influenced your perspective on life and the world around you.

Narrative Essay Titles on Life-Changing Moments

Life is full of unexpected twists that can lead to life-changing moments. Take a look at these narrative essay titles for stories that have had a lasting impact on your life.

How did meeting a lifelong friend change my life?
What lessons did I learn from overcoming a major obstacle?
How did traveling to a new country broaden my perspective?
Reflecting on the day I discovered my passion.
How did a health scare transform my lifestyle?
What impact did volunteering in my community have on me?
How did I find strength in a moment of loss?
Reflecting on the decision that altered my path.
How did a random act of kindness change my outlook?
What lessons did I learn from a failed endeavor?
How did confronting a fear empower me?
Reflecting on the day I realized my potential.
How did experiencing a natural disaster shape my priorities?
What insights did I gain from a cultural exchange?
How did a mentor's guidance impact my life trajectory?

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Good Narrative Topics on Travel and Adventure

Consider creating intriguing titles for your narrative essay ideas by exploring thrilling travel adventures.

What was my most unforgettable travel experience?
How did a solo journey change my perspective on life?
Reflecting on an unexpected adventure in a foreign land.
How did traveling on a budget lead to unexpected discoveries?
What lessons did I learn from getting lost in a new city?
How did a cultural immersion experience broaden my understanding of the world?
Reflecting on the friendships formed during a travel adventure.
What was the scariest moment I encountered while traveling?
How did volunteering abroad impact my outlook on life?
What cultural differences surprised me the most while traveling?
Reflecting on the beauty of nature experienced during a hiking trip.
How did traveling to a remote destination challenge my comfort zone?
What was the most delicious food I tried while traveling?
Reflecting on the kindness of strangers encountered during a journey.
How did a travel mishap turn into a memorable experience?

Narrative Essay Topic Ideas on Career and Work Experience

College students can uncover captivating narrative essay ideas by exploring potential career paths or reminiscing about past job experiences.

What was my first job, and what did I learn from it?
Reflecting on a challenging project that taught me resilience.
How did a career setback lead to unexpected opportunities?
What lessons did I learn from transitioning to a new career?
Reflecting on a mentor who influenced my career path.
How did a workplace conflict teach me about communication?
What was the most rewarding moment in my career so far?
Reflecting on the importance of work-life balance in my career journey.
How did networking help me advance in my career?
What challenges did I face as a new graduate entering the workforce?
Reflecting on the decision to pursue a passion versus stability in my career.
How did a career change impact my sense of fulfillment?
What skills did I develop through volunteer work that helped in my career?
Reflecting on the role of mentors in my professional growth.
How did a career milestone shape my future aspirations?

Interesting Narrative Essay Topics about Challenges and Obstacles

If you're not sure what to write about for your narrative essay, think back to the tough times you've had and how you managed to get through them.

How did I overcome my fear of failure?
Reflecting on a time when I felt like giving up but persevered.
How did a personal setback lead to unexpected growth?
What lessons did I learn from navigating a difficult relationship?
Reflecting on a time when I had to step out of my comfort zone.
How did I overcome a major health challenge?
What strategies did I use to overcome procrastination?
Reflecting on the resilience I developed after facing adversity.
How did I navigate financial challenges and come out stronger?
What did I learn from failing at something I was passionate about?
Reflecting on the obstacles I faced while pursuing my dreams.
How did I overcome imposter syndrome in my academic or professional life?
What role did self-care play in helping me overcome challenges?
Reflecting on a time when I had to stand up for myself in the face of adversity.
How did I find motivation and inspiration during tough times?

Final Remarks

As we wrap up, our list of 200 narrative essay topics is here to fuel your creativity for your next writing project! Whether you're sharing a memorable event, reliving a childhood memory, or expressing a profound insight, crafting a narrative essay can be an uplifting experience that resonates deeply with readers.

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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.

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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.

We are one of the best professional writing services with years of experience writing for college, high school, and university students. We have professors and teachers in our team who create essays to help students score high grades. If you’d like to make the best submission, you can hire these writers.

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Narrative Essay

Narrative Essay Topics

Best Narrative Essay Topics 2023 for Students

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 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 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

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

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? Our narrative essay writing service is here to help you out!

MyPerfectWords.com stands as a legitimate 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, so don't hesitate to reach out 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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150 Narrative Essay Topics

If you're looking for a more creative approach to writing essays, narrative essays might be a great option for you. With narrative essays, you have the freedom to tell a story and use your own personal experiences to make a point.

Whether you're writing a personal narrative or an experiential essay, you'll want to make sure that you're engaging your reader and conveying your message effectively. This is where custom essay writing services and coursework writing services can be incredibly helpful. With the assistance of professional writers, you can develop a compelling narrative essay that is both engaging and informative.

Overall, writing a narrative essay can be a fun and rewarding experience. Whether you're reflecting on a personal experience or sharing an anecdote, remember that the goal is to make a point and connect with your audience. So why not give it a try and see what stories you can tell? And if you need any assistance, don't hesitate to reach out to a " write my essay" or " write a paper for me" service for help.

What is a Narrative Essay?

A narrative essay is a less formal form of academic writing where the goal is to see whether you can tell a story clearly in an engaging manner. It follows the typical format of an essay with an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion but also incorporates classic story writing elements like plot, setting, character, climax, and ending.

This kind of essay is written from a defined point of view, usually yours, so writing in the first person is recommended unlike most other forms of academic writing. You still need to make a point though, so include a thesis statement in your first paragraph and refer to it again in the conclusion.

Many college application essay prompts are narrative writing, for example - describe the most significant achievement of your life. Learning how to write a good narrative paper has use beyond just college essays though, a majority of online content now is based on telling engaging stories. Read on to know more about narrative papers and find a list of 150 fascinating topics for narrative essays.

How to Choose a Topic for a Narrative Essay

Choosing good narrative essay topics are crucial for a few reasons. The story you tell will most often draw from your own experiences and thoughts, so choose a topic that you know well or are well-informed about. Additionally, since the story has to have a purpose, select a topic that has broad potential and narrow it down to tell your unique story. Remember the following things when choosing a topic for a narrative essay.

The key thing to remember is that you’re telling a story

Because a narrative essay is so unlike most academic writing assignments, a common mistake is writing sections like a dry academic assignment. It’s for school, but that doesn’t mean you can’t deliver an experience. It’s about crafting an engaging piece of storytelling while revealing something impactful through the story.

Choose an interesting or meaningful idea to explore

This is a great time to write about something that is particularly important in your life or something you are passionate about. Topics can range from your thoughts and ideas about a concept to an obscure activity that you enjoy.

The pre-writing stage is critically important

A good story flows well and includes details that draw the reader in, but it also has to deliver some idea or message. Collecting information and planning ahead to create an outline for your essay will smoothen your writing process.

Don’t forget to have fun with it!

The story you tell should be engaging, which means you have the freedom to experiment! Drawing from several different but interconnected life experiences, or telling the story from the perspective of an inanimate object are some interesting ways to make your essay stand out.

But remember that it’s still an essay

Even though it’s storytelling, you’re still writing an essay, which means it needs to follow the classic essay structure. Based on the word count, plan how many body paragraphs you need (minimum 3 ALWAYS). Your first sentence should still have a hook, and your first paragraph still needs to have a thesis statement. The story that unfolds in the body paragraphs shouldn’t drift from your thesis statement, and your conclusion needs to end the story as well as reiterate your thesis.

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150 Unique Topics for Narrative Essay

It can be quite tough to think of something meaningful to write your essay about, but almost any experience you have can be an interesting topic. For one person, the first time they played a sport could be a traumatic experience, for another it could be life-changing. Only you know your experiences and thoughts. Here’s a list of narrative essay topics that you can use to start the brainstorming process and spark your imagination.

College narrative essay topics

College is a time of new experiences. So much happens that it shouldn’t be difficult to choose something to write about. The essay you write can be more descriptive, focussing on your sensory observations of an experience, or more contemplative, focusing on new thoughts and feelings. Take a look at these narrative essay topics for college students.

What was it like getting your first acceptance letter?

How you chose which college to go to

Your first day leaving home and coming to campus

Meeting your roommate and whether it went well or not

Your first college party

Your favorite class

Losing touch or staying in touch with friends from high school

The best day in college so far

The difference between sports in high school and college

How you realized college was easier or tougher than you thought it would be

What it was like being in a class with 200 students

Your experience with an extracurricular you had never tried before

Going home for the first time after attending college

Finding a subject you never thought you would like

How did you start feeling truly comfortable in college?

Narrative essay topics for high school students

High school years are chaotic. The changes in students and their social expectations can be frustrating, challenging, and exhilarating. Essays about many important firsts can be drawn from high school. Here are a few examples of narrative essay topics related to high school.

The best day of freshman year

A time you were bullied and stood up for yourself

A time when you were bullied and felt helpless

Your most significant social accomplishment

What was a meaningful volunteering experience you had?

Your proudest moment in a sporting event

Losing a valued friend

Your first highschool dance

Why your favorite teacher became your favorite teacher

When you realized what you want to pursue as a career

The best video game moment you had

An embarrassing moment in school and how you overcame it

Your best social media moment

The buildup to graduation day

An experience helping another student

Personal narrative essay topics

Since narrative essays are often written in the first person and rely on the experiences and thoughts of the author, they can all be considered personal, but a personal essay asks you to specifically tell a story about a time that changed you in a meaningful way. Here are some topics for writing a narrative essay about personal moments and revelations.

A summer vacation adventure that involved heroics

Describe an experience you had in a foreign country that made you feel lucky to be from your country

Your first time following a YouTube tutorial

Your excitement at watching the newest star wars/lord of the rings/Marvel Cinematic Universe etc. movie

Bonding with a new pet

The moment you realized that you admire some traits in a person and want to be like them

A situation that changed your relationship with your parents

A situation when you had to deal with the police

Witnessing an event that needed you to call the police

Your best leadership moment

Your experience attending a large event (politics, religion, sports, etc)

The most meaningful time in church or any religious moment of significance

An experience that humbled you

A situation where you made a serious mistake

A time you had to learn from adversity

Narrative argument essay topics

Like any narrative essay - the goal is to tell a story, but like any argument essay - the goal is to convince or persuade the reader to agree with your viewpoint. Writing an effective narrative argument essay incorporates convincing arguments into the story itself. The trick is finding a balance between getting lost in telling the story and forgetting about storytelling and convincing the reader. Here are a few examples to help you find a topic for a narrative essay.

A time when you convinced somebody against a conspiracy theory

A moment that made you more religious or spiritual

A moment that made you less religious or spiritual

Your favorite trip and why the place you went to is fantastic

How you discovered your favorite art style

The first time you played a new genre of game and why it’s the best

Your experience attending a conference or event about climate change

Watching a movie, tv-show, youtube video, or any media that changed your mind

A situation where you had to verbally defend yourself or a friend

An observation about income disparity gained by working in a soup kitchen/homeless shelter etc.

An experience you’ve had talking to somebody with different political beliefs

A conversation about gender identity with an older person

Seeing the police behave appropriately or inappropriately

Your experience with love and how you developed your definition of it

A time you had to swallow your pride and hold your tongue

Easy narrative essay topics

Here’s a list of some good topics for a narrative essay that most people have experience with and can write about but are still interesting enough to create an engaging story for the reader. Below are some easy but interesting narrative essay topics.

A hike, picnic, or walk that made you appreciate nature

Visiting a particularly awesome amusement park

An especially romantic date

Your first trip to a big city

Your first trip to a foreign country

Discovering a new movie genre

The thrill of watching horror movies

A regular day in your life

A moment when you gained respect for your parents, teachers, or friends

The time you saved an animal

How you broke a bad habit

How you developed a new skill

Your experience at a zoo

The first time you went bowling (tried any new game)

Your happiest day

Did you like our inspiring Narrative Essay Guide?

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Cultural narrative essay topics

Some of the most mind-expanding experiences happen when looking at and understanding a different culture or by analyzing your own culture from an outsider’s perspective. Cultural narrative essay topics are particularly useful when applying to colleges or applying for grants or scholarships for exchange programs.

What you learned from a trip abroad

How the lives of people in various socio-economic brackets are different

Observations on which basic things are different in different countries

How your cultural identity has changed over time

Sleeping over at a friends house from a different cultural background

Describe some unique personal family traditions

An experience where your culture/race/religion affected the situation around you

How you learned to fit in with a different culture

You first experience living in a foreign country

Discovering new subcultures like anime, gaming, k-pop, etc

Your favorite traditions from foreign cultures

How you understood your cultural heritage better

A time when you realized the impact of media on the perspective of other cultures

Getting over stereotypes because someone behaved differently than what you expected

Celebrating a different festival for the first time

Autobiographical narrative essay topics

Autobiographical narrative essays as you to specifically describe and talk about things in your life that impacted you. Take a look at the narrative essay topics below for inspiration.

Your first memory

Your first meaningful memory

Your first day of school

Your relationship with your grandparents

Finding out a shocking family secret

Your proudest achievement as a child

Your favorite childhood hobby

The best day of middle school

A time when you lost something important

How you dealt with losing someone close to you

Discovering your favorite musician

Your first kiss, date, or relationship

The worst day of your life

Why certain things are so meaningful to you

Which people have influenced your life significantly?

Fictional narrative essay topics

Fictional narrative essay topics are an opportunity to flex your creativity. Put yourself in the shoes of someone else, or in a fantastic situation and write a story! These are some narrative essay topics to choose from down below.

What it would be like traveling to Mars

What you would do with a million dollars

Describe a particularly vivid dream

A day in your life if you woke up as the opposite sex

What it would be like to be a professional gamer

What it would be like to have 100,000 Instagram followers

A day at the zoo from the perspective of an animal

A day in the life of a child from a very wealthy family

A day in the life of a child from a war-torn country

What it would be like to have your own talk show

What would you do if you were president?

What would you do if you were a dictator?

What it would be like to be a superhero

Tell a story based on your favorite work of art

A hypothetical dinner with your favorite celebrity

Best narrative essay topics - our choice

The best narrative essay topic ideas are going to be different for every individual. This section is going to choose some topics that offer the most space for creativity, are interesting to write about, or offer a broad chance for self-reflection.

Your earliest sad memory

How you realized someone had become a role model

A day in the life of your favorite fictional character

The thrill of winning

The heartbreak of loss

Understanding gender identity

A clash of culture

A new discovery

Finding your favorite hobby

Performing beyond expectation

Overcoming personal trauma

Helping someone in need

A life-changing trip

Enjoying nature

Questioning the status quo

Final thoughts

A narrative writing is unlike most other forms of academic writing. This can make it challenging for students, but as long as you think about it as writing a story and choose the right topic for a narrative essay, they are actually a joy to write! Here are a few key things to remember as you write your essay.

A narrative essay uses the story structure - beginning, middle, and end, as well as plot, climax, setting, and characters

Spend time on the prewriting phase to gather your thoughts and plan an outline

Don’t lose track of the main purpose of the story

Generally, write in the first person, but the third person can be used as well

Use vivid words and explain sensory details

Above all, have fun and engage the reader as much as you can

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Narrative Essay Topics — Prompts & Ideas For All Grade Levels

N arrative essays can present a serious challenge for even the most seasoned of writers, but fear not, we’ve compiled some great narrative essay topics to inspire your next paper! Follow along as we explore prompts relating to life, school, and more. By the end, you’ll be prepared to tackle narrative essays from a variety of different angles.

Good Narrative Topics

What is a narrative essay.

Before we jump into our narrative essay topics, we have to first answer the question: what is a narrative essay ? A narrative essay is a prose-written story that’s focused on the commentary of a central theme.

Narrative essays are generally written in the first-person POV , and are usually about a topic that’s personal to the writer.

Everything in a narrative essay should take place in an established timeline, with a clear beginning, middle, and end.

For more on narrative essays, check out this video on literacy narrative topics and structure:

Narrative Essay Topic Ideas • Narrative Essay Titles

In the world of literature, narrative essays are held to a rigorous structure. We’re not going to enforce that rigor here! So, follow along as we (hopefully) inspire you with a variety of narrative essay topics and argument essay ideas.

Narrative Ideas

Narrative essay ideas for kids.

Narrative essay topics for kids usually focus on family, school, and friends.

Here are some easy narrative essay topics that work well for kids:

Describe your most recent birthday party.
Tell the story of your first day of school.
Who is your best friend?
Have you ever helped others?
Describe your favorite animal(s)
What is your dream for the future?

This next video from “Teaching Without Frills” explores narrative essay topics for kids in further detail.

Narrative Essay Ideas • Titles of narrative essays

Sometimes it can help to visualize narrative essay topics with pictures, especially for younger kids. If you’re a teacher, consider using pictures to inspire your students!

Narrative essay ideas for teens

Middle school and high school students are often asked to write narrative essays too. But whereas narrative essay topics for elementary school students are usually structured around simple, positive topics, narrative essay topics for teens are generally more contemplative.

Here are some personal narrative essay topics that work well for teens:

Describe a moment of loss.
Describe a moment of serenity.
Recount the story of a lost friend.
Detail your greatest creation.
Tell the story of your favorite teacher.
How would you change the world?

Remember: not every person has the same circumstances as others. That's why they're called personal narrative essay topics.

It’s important to frame narrative essay topics for kids in a way that every kid can relate. For example: the prompt “a lost friend” could mean a friend who moved away or a dead pet. Make sure to word your prompts in such a way that participants can glean their own interpretation.

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Narrative Essay Ideas

Narrative essay ideas for young adults.

Young adults are sometimes asked to write narrative essays for school and or job applications. Narrative essay reviewers typically want to see writers demonstrate maturity and growth in their work. As such, their questions are generally structured around challenges and problem management.

Here are some narrative argument essay topics for young adults:

Have you ever failed at your job?
If you could change one thing from your past, what would it be?
What is something you take pride in?
Describe your childhood.
How will you grow this year?
What is the most important element of success?

Of course, the topics above are mostly focused on success and failure. Young adults can certainly respond to the other prompts too!

Narrative essay ideas for adults

Adults aren’t generally tasked with writing narrative essays unless they’re writers. But that doesn’t have to be the case! There are a lot of positives to writing narrative essays, whether you’re a literary professor or a wrestler looking to articulate your thoughts.

So, here are some things to write a narrative essay about for adults:

What was your worst job?
What (or who) was your first love?
Who do you take care of?
What is your most prized possession?
If you could tell somebody who’s now gone from your life one thing, what would it be?
Paint a picture of where you find peace.

Narrative essay titles • Easy narrative essay topics

In recent years, companies have been selling books with narrative essay prompts for adults (particularly elderly adults) to reflect on their lives.

Creative Writing Prompts & Exercises

Now that you're brainstorming good titles for personal narrative, time to learn about other forms of creating writing. A narrative essay is just one type of essay – there are dozens more! In our next article, we break down more creative writing prompts and exercises, including those suited to fantasy, romance, horror, and more. By the end, you’ll know a ton of different ways to approach your next story.

Up Next: Creative Writing Exercises →

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Student Opinion

525 Prompts for Narrative and Personal Writing

Questions that invite students to write about themselves, their lives and their beliefs.

By The Learning Network

Updated with 80 new prompts from the 2022-23 school year!

We’ve been posting fresh writing prompts every school day for over a decade now, and every so often we create a themed collection like this one to help you find what you need all in one place.

Below, we’ve rounded up 525 evergreen questions to encourage you to write about your life. They cover everything from family, friendships and growing up to gender, spirituality, money, school and more. (They’re also all available here as a clickable PDF .)

We hope they’ll inspire you, whether you’re entering our related 100-Word Personal Narrative Contest this fall, or just want to improve your writing skills. Like all our Student Opinion questions , each links to a related Times article, which is free to read if you access it from our site.

So dive in and pick the questions that motivate you to tell an interesting story, describe a memorable event, observe the details in your world, imagine a possibility, or reflect on who you are and what you believe.

Overcoming Adversity

1. How Mentally Tough Are You? 2. What Is the Bravest Thing You’ve Ever Done? 3. When Have You Made the Best of a Difficult Situation? 4. How Have You Gotten Over Disappointment? 5. How Do You Get Over Rejection? 6. How Do You Deal With Self-Doubt? 7. How Resilient Are You? 8. What Do You Gain From Pursuing Something You Do Really, Really Badly? 9. How Do You Handle Fear? 10. Are You Too Hard on Yourself? 11. How Do You Silence Your Inner Critic? 12. Have You Ever Experienced ‘Impostor Syndrome’? 13. Have You Ever Benefited From Rejection? 14. Do You Give Yourself Enough Credit for Your Own Successes? 15. How Do You Overcome Your Fears? 16. Stress, Worry and Anxiety Are All Different. How Do You Cope With Each? 17. How Do You Cope With Grief? 18. How Do You Make Hard Decisions? 19. Have You Ever Quit Something? 20. Have You Ever Felt as if You Didn’t Belong? 21. When Has Starting Over Worked for You? 22. When Have You Reinvented Yourself? 23. Do You Find It Hard to Let Other People Help You? 24. Have You Ever Felt Like an Outsider? 25. Do You Appreciate When Celebrities Share Their Struggles? 26. Have You Ever Worried About Making a Good First Impression? 27. Have You Ever Felt Pressure to ‘Sell Your Pain’?

Your Personality

28. Are You an Optimist or a Pessimist? 29. How Competitive Are You? 30. Do You Like Spending Time Alone? 31. Are You a Good Person? 32. Are You a Perfectionist? 33. Do You Hold Grudges? 34. Do You Seek Out New Experiences? Or Stick With the Things You Know and Love? 35. How Do You Express Yourself Creatively? 36. What Animal Are You Most Like? 37. Are You a Patient Person? 38. Are You a Worrier? 39. Are You a Risk-Taker? 40. How Do You Handle Boredom? 41. How Well Do Rewards and Incentives Work to Motivate You? 42. How Good Are You at Judging Your Own Talents? 43. Are You a Procrastinator? 44. Do You Suffer From ‘Task Paralysis’? 45. Do You Feel Joy at Others’ Success? 46. What Role Does Envy Play in Your Life? 47. How Do You Like to Be Comforted When You Are Sad? 48. How Easy — or Hard — Is It for You to Say No When You Want To? 49. Are You More of a Leader or a Follower? 50. How Well Do You Read Other People? 51. Are You Good at Giving Gifts? 52. Do You Complain Too Much, Too Little or Just the Right Amount? 53. How Would You Rate Your Listening Skills and Those of the People Around You? 54. Do You Prefer to Dwell in the Past, Live in the Present or Dream of the Future? 55. What Makes You Cringe? 56. What Disgusts You? 57. Are You Easily Distracted? 58. How Punctual Are You? 59. Are You a Good Conversationalist? 60. How Emotionally Intelligent Are You? 61. Are You an Orchid, a Tulip or a Dandelion?

Hobbies & Interests

62. What Are Your Hobbies? 63. What Is Your Passion? 64. How Do You Spend Your Downtime? 65. How Do You Have Fun? 66. What Would You Choose to Do If You Had Unlimited Free Time and No Restrictions? 67. What Activities Make You Feel Most Alive? 68. What Big Project Do You Hope to Accomplish Someday? 69. What Work, Sport or Pastime Do You Like to Do at Night? 70. What Seemingly Mundane Feats Have You Accomplished? 71. What Have You Made This Year? 72. What Do You Collect? 73. Which Fandoms Are You In? 74. What Competition Do You Think You Could Win? 75. What Is Something You Want to Try, Even Though Others Might Think It’s Weird? 76. Are There Activities You Used to Love That Are Now So Competitive They’re Not Fun Anymore? 77. What Would You Recommend That Is ‘Overlooked and Underappreciated’? 78. What New Innovations and Discoveries in STEM Intrigue You?

79. What Are the Little Rituals That Keep You Going? 80. What Are Your Best Life Hacks? 81. What Ordinary Moments Would You Include in a Video About Your Life? 82. What Habits Do You Have, and Have You Ever Tried to Change Them? 83. Do You Wish You Had a Different Morning Routine? 84. Does Your Life Ever Feel Too Busy? 85. How Can You Tell a Story About Your Life Right Now Through a Few Simple Numbers? 86. What Is Your Secret to a Happy Life? 87. What’s Your Sunday Routine? 88. What Slang Words Do You Use? 89. How Often Do You Treat Yourself to Something Special? 90. How Often Do You Just ‘Hang Out’ With Others? 91. What Are You Grateful For? 92. Where Do You Find Peace and Quiet? 93. Do You Spend Enough Time With Other People? 94. Do You Talk to Yourself? 95. Is Clutter a Problem in Your Life? 96. How Do You Remember What You Need to Remember? 97. When and For What Reasons Do You Seek Silence? 98. How Do You Greet Your Friends and Family? 99. What Is the Most Wholesome Thing You’ve Seen Lately?

Home & Community

100. Who Are the ‘Characters’ That Make Your Town Interesting? 101. If You Made a Mixtape for Your Hometown, What Sounds and Songs Would You Include? 102. What Do the Types of Dogs in Your Neighborhood Say About Where You Live? 103. What Are Your Hometown’s Shortcomings? 104. Do You Have a Favorite Local Hangout? 105. After Home and School, Where Do You Find the Strongest Feeling of Community? 106. What Grievances Do You Have With Your Local Community? 107. Who in Your Community Might Be Interesting to Interview? 108. What Role Do Parks Play in Your Life? 109. What Role Do Trees Play in Your Neighborhood? 110. How Diverse Is Your Community? 111. How Do You Come Together With Your Community? 112. What Is Unique About Your Hometown? 113. What’s Your Favorite Local Business? 114. Do You Wish You Had the Go-to House? 115. Do You Think You Might Like Communal Living When You’re an Adult? 116. Do You Have Enough Access to Places Where You Can Play and Exercise? 117. What Do the Objects in Your Home Say About You?

118. How Do You Define ‘Family’? 119. Who Is in Your Chosen Family? 120. How Well Do You Get Along With Your Siblings? 121. How Well Do Your Parents Deal With Sibling Conflicts? 122. Do You Have a Family Motto or Creed? 123. How Much Do You Know About Your Family’s History? 124. Where Would You Visit To Find Out More About Your Family’s Past? 125. What Is a Meaningful Family Relationship That You Have? 126. What Is Your Relationship Like With Your Grandparents and Elders? 127. Do You Have Any Family Heirlooms?

Parents & Parenting

128. How Involved Are Your Parents in Your Life? 129. How Similar Are You to the Adults Who Raised You? 130. Do You Push Your Parents’ Buttons? 131. How Do You Get What You Want From Your Parents? 132. Do Your Parents Yell at You? 133. What Advice Do You Have for Teenagers and Their Parents? 134. Are You Conforming to or Rebelling Against Your Parents’ Wishes for You? 135. Do Your Parents Spy on You? 136. Do You Turn to Your Parents for Advice? 137. How Do You Connect With Your Parents? 138. Do Your Parents Overpraise You? 139. Have You Ever Felt Embarrassed by Your Parents? 140. Who Cooks, Cleans and Takes Care of the Kids in Your Family? 141. What Kind of Time Management Skills Are You Learning from the Adults in Your Life? 142. Are Your Parents Addicted to Their Phones?

Role Models

143. What Role Have Mentors Played in Your Life? 144. Whom Do You Turn to for Good Advice? 145. What Can We Learn From Older Adults? 146. What Does the World Need to Know About an Important Person in Your Life? 147. Who’s Your ‘Outsider Role Model’? 148. What Does Dr. King’s Legacy Mean to You? 149. Who Do You Turn To in a Crisis? 150. Who Is Someone You Would Like to Thank? 151. Have You Ever Written Fan Mail? If Not, Would You? 152. How Have You Coped With the Death of an Idol?

Childhood Memories

153. What Is Your Earliest Memory? 154. What Things Remind You of Your Childhood? 155. What Childhood Rules Did You Break? 156. What’s the Craziest Thing You Did as a Kid? 157. What Magic Did You Believe In as a Child? 158. What Is the Most Memorable Thing You Have Ever Lost or Found? 159. Have You Ever Given, or Received, a Perfect Gift? 160. What’s the Best Party You’ve Ever Been To? 161. What Smells Trigger Powerful Memories for You? 162. What Is Your ‘Good Luck Charm’? 163. What Objects Bring You Comfort?

164. What Is It Like to Be a Teenager Now? 165. What Is the Best Thing About Being Your Age? 166. What Do Older Generations Misunderstand About Teenagers Today? 167. What Rites of Passage Mark the Transition to Adulthood in Your Community? 168. How Important to You Is Being Able to Drive? 169. Do Other People Care Too Much About Your Post-High School Plans? 170. Do You Hate When Adults Ask You What You Want to Be When You Grow Up? 171. Have You Ever Felt Pressured by Family or Others in Making an Important Decision About Your Future? 172. Do You Have ‘Emerging Adult’ Skills? 173. How Long Do You Hope to Live at Home? 174. What Letter of Inspiration Would You Write to Your Younger Self? 175. What Have You Learned From a Younger Person — and What Have You Taught An Older Person? 176. Have You Ever Helped an Adult? 177. When — if Ever — Do You Call Adults by Their First Names? 178. What Advice Do You Have for Younger Students? 179. Are You Optimistic About the Future? 180. Do You Want to Have Children Someday? 181. Do You Look Forward to Old Age? 182. What Legacy Do You Want to Leave Behind? 183. What Do You Want to Be Known for After Your Death?

Morality & Ethics

184. Have You Ever Taken a Stand That Isolated You From Your Peers? 185. What Acts of Kindness Have You Witnessed or Participated In? 186. How Good Are You at Apologizing? 187. Do You Ever Laugh at the Misfortune of Others? 188. When Have You Either Forgiven Someone or Been Forgiven Yourself? 189. Has Forgiving Someone Ever Made You Feel Better? 190. What Is the Code You Live By? 191. Have You Ever Been Surprised by an Act of Generosity?

Race, Ethnicity, Gender & Sexuality

192. What Cultural Traditions Are Important to You? 193. How Do You Connect to Your Heritage? 194. What Role Does Your Family’s Native Tongue Play in Your Life? 195. How Does Your Identity Inform Your Political Beliefs and Values? 196. How Much Racism Do You Face in Your Daily Life? 197. What Is Your Gender Identity? 198. Do You Feel Constricted by Gender Norms? 199. Have You Ever Been Told You Couldn’t Do Something Because of Your Gender? 200. What Messages About Gender Have You Gotten From Music? 201. How Do You Feel About Being Told to Smile? 202. What Has Your Sex Education Been Like? 203. How Do You Respond When People Ask, ‘Where Are You From?’ 204. What Does Your Accent Say About Who You Are?

Money & Social Class

205. What Are Your Expectations About Earning, Saving and Spending Money? 206. What Choices Do You Make About Money Every Day? 207. How Do You Get and Spend Money? 208. Have You Ever Tried to Make Money Online? 209. How Much Financial Help Do You Expect From Your Parents in the Future? 210. Do You Get an Allowance? 211. How Much Has Your ZIP Code Determined Your Opportunities? 212. What Has Television Taught You About Social Class?

Religion, Spirituality & Beliefs

213. What Role Does Religion Play in Your Life? 214. How Often Do You Start Conversations about Faith or Spirituality? 215. What Do You Think Are the Secrets to Happiness? 216. What Legends and Myths Do You Believe In? 217. Do You Believe in Astrology? 218. Do You Believe in Manifesting? 219. What Are Your Experiences With Meditation? 220. How Important Is Mindfulness to Your Daily Life? 221. How Do You View Death? 222. We Document Life’s Milestones. How Should We Document Death? 223. Do You Believe in Ghosts?

Technology & the Internet

224. How Are You Using A.I.? 225. What Old Technology Do You Think Is Cool? 226. What Don’t Adults Understand About Teenage Life Online? 227. What Online Communities Do You Participate In? 228. Could You Go a Year Without a Smartphone? 229. Is Your Phone Love Hurting Your Relationships? 230. How Much of Your Day is Voluntarily Spent Screen-Free? 231. How Would Your Life Be Different if You Didn’t Have Wi-Fi and Cellular Service? 232. Where Do You Go to Find Cool, Strange or Fascinating Information on the Internet? 233. Does the Future of Robots Get You Excited, or Fill You With Dread? 234. Do You Worry About Your Digital Privacy? 235. Do You Feel Safer When You Know You’re Being Watched? 236. Do You Leave Funny Comments Online? 237. Have You Experienced Any Embarrassing Zoom Mishaps? 238. Have You Ever Encountered Racist or Extremist Content Online? 239. How Do You Know if What You Read Online Is True? 240. How Much Do You Trust Online Reviews?

Social Media

241. How Much of Your Life Do You Share Online? 242. Do Social Media and Smartphones Make Your Friendships Stronger? 243. Are You the Same Person on Social Media as You Are in Real Life? 244. What Does TikTok Mean to You? 245. Who Is Your Favorite Social Media Star? 246. Would You Want to Be a Social Media Star? 247. Do the Adults in Your Life Follow You on Social Media? 248. Have You Ever Gone to a Place for the Primary Purpose of Taking Selfies? 249. Would You Want to Live and Breathe Creating Content for Social Media? 250. Do You Feel You’re Friends With Celebrities or Influencers You Follow Online? 251. What Role Does Instagram Play in Your Life? 252. How Does Social Media Affect Your Mental Health? 253. Does Social Media Affect Your Body Image? 254. Which Emoji Do You Use the Most? 255. Do You Ever Ignore Text Messages?

Music & Podcasts

256. What Music Are You Listening to Right Now? 257. Who Was Your Favorite Musical Artist This Year? 258. What Songs Explain You? 259. What Is Your Favorite Musical Instrument? 260. What Songs Matter to You Now? 261. What Was Your First Concert? 262. Which Celebrity Performer Would You Like to Challenge to a Friendly Battle? 263. What Would You Name Your Band? 264. Do You Listen to Podcasts? 265. If You Could Make Your Own Podcast, What Would It Be About?

Movies, TV & Video Games

266. What Have You Learned About Life From Watching Movies? 267. What Is Your Favorite Sports Movie? 268. What Are Your Favorite TV Shows? 269. Who Is Your Favorite Actor? 270. What’s in Your Queue? 271. What Is Your Favorite Memory of PBS? 272. How Do You Feel About Spoilers? 273. What Stereotypical Characters Make You Cringe? 274. Are You a Fan of Rom-Coms? 275. Do You Like Horror? 276. What’s Your Favorite Video Game Ever? 277. What Classic Video Games Do You Still Enjoy Playing? 278. What Video Games Would You Like to See Adapted for Film or TV? 279. Are You a Fortnite Addict? 280. Do You Gamify Your Life?

Books & Reading

281. What Role Have Books Played in Your Life? 282. What Books Do You Think Every Teenager Should Read? 283. Do You See Yourself in the Books You Read? 284. Has a Novel Ever Helped You Understand Yourself or Your World Better? 285. What’s the Best Book You Ever Read for School? 286. What Book Would You Add to the High School Curriculum? 287. How Do You Find New Books, Music, Movies or Television Shows? 288. What Have You Learned from Comics? 289. What Role Does Poetry Play in Your Life? 290. Do You Like Romance Stories? 291. What Is the Scariest Story You Have Ever Heard? 292. Have You Ever Read a Book You Weren’t Supposed to Read? 293. What Children’s Books Have Had the Biggest Impact on You? 294. Where Is Your Favorite Place to Read? 295. What Role Do Libraries Play in Your Life?

296. What Purpose Does Writing Serve in Your Life? 297. Do You Keep a Journal? 298. What’s Your Favorite Word? 299. What’s Your Favorite Punctuation Mark? 300. Do You Read or Write Poetry? 301. Do You Love Writing or Receiving Letters? 302. What Do You Want to Investigate? 303. What Would You Write a Book About? 304. What Would You Write in a Letter to the Editor? 305. If You Had a Column in The New York Times, What Would You Write About?

306. What Movies, Shows, Books, Music, Games or Other Works Have Made a Strong Impression on You? 307. What Work of Art Has Changed Your Life? 308. Who Is Your Favorite Visual Artist? What Is Your Favorite Work of Art? 309. Which Photograph Stays In Your Memory? 310. What Would You Like to Learn to Make by Hand? 311. Are You Intimidated by Classical Music and Art? 312. Do You Love to Dance? 313. Have You Ever Performed for an Audience or Shared Creative Work With Others? 314. What Show Do You Wish Your School Would Stage? 315. How Would You Design Your Ideal Museum? 316. What Broadway Show Would You Most Like to See? 317. What Are the Most Memorable Works of Visual Art You’ve Ever Seen? 318. What Could You Read, Listen to or Watch to Stretch Your Cultural Imagination? 319. How Often Do You Read, Watch or Listen to Things Outside of Your Comfort Zone?

320. How Did You Grow and Change This School Year? 321. Do You Like School? 322. What Motivates You to Learn? 323. Would You Want to Go to a School Like This One? 324. What ‘Pop-Up’ Classes Do You Wish Your School Offered? 325. How Is What You Are Studying in School Relevant to Your Life and the Larger World? 326. Do You See the Point in Learning Math? 327. How Much Do You Speak Up in School? 328. How Diverse Is Your School? 329. Is Your School a Safe Learning Space? 330. How Comfortably Can You Speak Your Mind at School? 331. Are You Able to Be Your Whole Self at School? 332. Do You Feel Your School and Teachers Welcome Both Conservative and Liberal Points of View? 333. How Have You Learned About Slavery? 334. How Much Have You Learned About Black History? 335. Has a School Assignment or Activity Ever Made You Uncomfortable? 336. Are You Stressed About School? 337. How Good Are You at Handling Challenging School Work? 338. Do You Need a Homework Therapist? 339. What Are You Doing to Change Your School? 340. What Are Your Thoughts on Riding the School Bus? 341. Is the Diversity of Your School Accurately Reflected in Its Promotional Materials? 342. How Have Your Teachers Shaped Who You Are? 343. Does Your Teacher’s Identity Affect Your Learning? 344. Has a Teacher Ever Changed Your Mind-Set? 345. Would You Want to Be a Teacher Someday? 346. What Have Been Your Experiences With Substitute Teachers?

347. How Prepared Are You For College? How Well Do You Think You’ll Do? 348. What Worries You Most About the College Admissions Process? 349. How Much of Your Real Self Have You Revealed on Applications? 350. What Worries Do You Have About College? 351. Do You Intend to Study Abroad While You Are in College? 352. Are You Worried About the Rising Cost of Attending College? 353. Do You Talk to Your Family About the Cost of College? 354. Do You Want Your Parents to Live Nearby When You Go to College? 355. What Specialty College Would You Create?

Work & Careers

356. What Jobs Are You Most Curious About? 357. How Much Does Having a ‘Dream Job’ Matter to You? 358. Would You Pursue a Career If You Knew You Likely Would Not Make Much Money? 359. Will You Follow in Your Parents’ Footsteps? 360. Would You Consider Moving Overseas for a Job? 361. Do Your Summer Plans Include Employment? 362. Would You Consider Serving in the U.S. Armed Forces? 363. What Volunteer Work Would You Most Like to Do? 364. Have You Had a Job Recently? What Has the Experience Been Like?

365. Do You Have Satisfying Friendships? 366. How Alike Are You and Your Friends? 367. Do You Have Any Unlikely Friendships? 368. How Have Your Friends Helped You? 369. Do You Like Your Friends? 370. How Often Do You Text Your Friends Just to Say ‘Hi’? 371. Have You Ever Been Left Out? 372. Do You Ever Feel Lonely? 373. Have You Ever Had a Significant Friendship End? 374. Do You Have Any Close Friends? 375. How Many Close Friends Do You Need? 376. How Do You React When Your Friendships Change? 377. What Have Your Friends Taught You About Life? 378. What Have You Learned About Friendship This Year? 379. Do You Have Any Intergenerational Friendships? 380. What Makes a Great Conversation?

Dating, Love & Relationships

381. How Much of a Romantic Are You? 382. What Does Love Feel Like to You? 383. How Do You Think Technology Affects Dating? 384. Have You Ever Been Ghosted? 385. Do You Want to Get Married Someday? 386. Would You Want to Be Proposed to on a Jumbotron? 387. If You Got Married, Would You Want to Keep Your Last Name or Take Your Partner’s?

388. What Are You Doing to Take Care of Your Health? 389. What Rules Do You Have for Staying Healthy? 390. Do You Have Any Bad Health Habits? 391. Do You Have More Good Habits Than Bad? 392. What Do You Think Are the Secrets to a Long Life? 393. How Well Do You Sleep at Night? 394. Do You Enjoy Taking Long Walks? 395. Do You Learn Better After Moving Around? 396. Do You Have a Healthy Diet? 397. What Is Your Relationship With the Weight-Loss Industry? 398. How Strong Is Your Sense of Smell? 399. Have You Ever Jumped Into Ice-Cold Water? 400. How Is Your Mental Health These Days? 401. Do You Ever Get the ‘Bad News Blues’? 402. How Do You Hold It Together When You’re Feeling Stressed? 403. How Does Your Body React to Stress? 404. How Do You Practice Self-Care? 405. What’s Your Favorite Mood Booster?

Sports & Games

406. What Kinds of Games and Puzzles Do You Like? 407. What Are Your Favorite Games? 408. How Would You Change Your Favorite Sport? 409. Have You Ever Learned Something From a Professional Athlete? 410. Have You Ever Felt Too Much Pressure to Win? 411. What Is Your Favorite Rivalry? 412. What Role Have Coaches Played in Your Life? 413. Have You Witnessed Bad Behavior in Youth Sports? 414. Do You Like a Comeback Story? 415. Would You Ever Want to Run a Marathon? 416. Would You Make a Good Ump?

417. What Is Your Dream Travel Destination? 418. What Is Your Most Memorable Family Vacation? 419. How Would You Spend Your Ideal Family Vacation? 420. Would You Ever Go on a Solo Vacation? 421. What Do You Think You Would Learn From Traveling to All 50 States? 422. What Are the Places in the World That You Love Most? 423. What City or Town Most Captures Your Imagination? 424. How Good Is Your Sense of Direction? 425. How Much Do You Know About the Rest of the World?

Shopping, Looks & Fashion

426. What’s Your Favorite Item of Clothing? 427. What Does Your Unique Style Say About You? 428. What Does Your Hairstyle Say About You? 429. Are You a Sneakerhead? 430. Do You Like Getting Dressed Up? 431. Could You Stop Shopping for an Entire Year? 432. Are You an Ethical Consumer? 433. What Would You Wait All Night in the Rain to Buy? 434. Do Politics Ever Influence How or Where You Shop? 435. Do You Wear Clothes for the Logo? 436. Would You Like to Be a Fashion Model? 437. How Do You Feel About Your Body? 438. How Do You Feel About Your Height? 439. How Do You Feel About Tattoos?

Meals & Food

440. What Foods Bring Up Special Memories for You? 441. What Foods Are Closely Linked to Someone You Love? 442. Who Is the Best Cook You Know? 443. How Do You Celebrate Your Culture Through Food? 444. What Do You Eat for Dinner on a Typical Weeknight? 445. What Are the Most Popular Dishes in Your House? 446. Are You Now, or Have You Ever Been, a Picky Eater? 447. What Are the Best Places to Eat in Your Town? 448. What Foods Best Represent Your Hometown? 449. What Are the Essential Foods to Eat Where You Live? 450. What New Flavor Ideas Do You Have for Your Favorite Foods? 451. What Convenience Foods Make You Happy? 452. How Do You Like Your Pizza? 453. Would You Ever Consider Becoming Vegetarian? 454. Would You Eat Food Grown in a Lab? 455. Have You Ever Experienced Food Insecurity? 456. What Do You Think Your Favorite Book or Movie Character Eats For Dinner?

Holidays & Seasons

457. Do You Make New Year’s Resolutions? 458. What Healthy Habits Do You Hope to Build in the New Year? 459. How Do You Celebrate Spring? 460. What Are Your Favorite Memories of Spring? 461. What Are Your Plans This Summer? 462. What’s the Most Memorable Thing That Happened to You This Summer? 463. What Were Your ‘Mundane Joys’ of Summer? 464. What Are Your Memories of Halloween? 465. What’s Your Favorite Halloween Costume, Past or Present? 466. How Much Scare Can You Handle in Your Halloween Entertainment? 467. What Does Thanksgiving Mean to You? 468. What Has Been Your Most Memorable Thanksgiving? 469. What Will You Talk About on Thanksgiving? 470. Did You Take Part in Any Thanksgiving or Post-Holiday Traditions?

Animals & Nature

471. How Do Animals Provide Comfort in Your Life? 472. What Have You Learned From Animals? 473. What Are Your Experiences With Animal Adoption or Fostering? 474. How Do You Feel About the Spiders, Insects and Other Tiny Creatures in Your Home? 475. How Do You Get Your Nature Fix? 476. What Are the Most Memorable Things You’ve Seen or Experienced in Nature? 477. What Is the Coolest Thing You Have Seen in Nature? 478. Have You Ever Tried to Grow Something?

Environment

479. How Are You Doing Your Part for the Environment? 480. How Concerned Are You About Climate Change? 481. Do You Experience Climate Anxiety? 482. Do You Think You Make Good Climate Choices? 483. Would You Change Your Eating Habits to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint? 484. Could You Live an Entire Day Without Plastic? 485. How Good Are You at Recycling? 486. How Have You Experienced Extreme Weather?

487. How Similar Are Your Political Views to Those of Your Parents? 488. How Important Is It to You to Have Similar Political Beliefs to Your Family and Friends? 489. Is Your Online World Just a ‘Filter Bubble’ of People With the Same Opinions? 490. Do You Think You Live in a Political Bubble? 491. How Do You Talk With People Who Don’t Share Your Views? 492. What Do American Values Mean to You? 493. What Does Your Country’s National Anthem Mean to You? 494. Are You Optimistic About the State of the World? 495. Have You Ever Changed Your Mind About a Hot-Button Issue? 496. How Have School Shootings Shaped Your Experience as a Student? 497. How Has the Threat of Gun Violence Affected You? 498. How Do You Feel About Active-Shooter Drills in Schools?

The Pandemic

499. What Does the End of the Pandemic Emergency Mean to You? 500. How Have the Last Two and a Half Years Made You Who You Are Today? 501. How Would You Describe Your Pandemic Experience in Six Words? 502. How Have You Commemorated Milestones During the Pandemic? 503. Do You Think You Have Experienced ‘Learning Loss’ During the Pandemic? 504. How Has the Pandemic Changed Your Relationship to Your Body? 505. What Have You Learned About Yourself During This Lockdown? 506. How Will We Remember the Coronavirus Pandemic?

507. Would You Want to Live to 200? 508. Would You Want to Live Forever? 509. Would You Like to Be Cryogenically Preserved (Frozen!) Upon Your Death? 510. Would You Want to Live a Life Without Ever Feeling Pain? 511. Would You Like to Be Famous? 512. Would You Want to Be a Child Star? 513. Would You Like to Be a Farmer? 514. If You Had an Extra Billion Dollars, What Cause Would You Support With Your Philanthropy? 515. Do You Think You Will Ever Travel to Space? 516. What Fantasy Invention Would You Want to Exist in Reality? 517. If You Could Have Any Animal Feature, What Would It Be? 518. What Fictional House Would You Want to Stay In? 519. What Scientific Mysteries Do You Want Solved? 520. What Idea Do You Have That Is Ahead of Its Time? 521. What Era Do You Wish You Had Grown Up In? 522. Do You Like Your First Name? Would You Change It If You Could? 523. What Would You Like to Ask Your 40-Year-Old Self? 524. What Items Would You Place in a Time Capsule for Future Generations? 525. If the World Was Ending, What Would You Want to Say?

Students 13 and older in the United States and Britain, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public.

Find more Student Opinion questions here. Teachers, check out this guide to learn how you can incorporate them into your classroom.

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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.

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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.

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Narrative Essay Topics - Best Topic Ideas for Your Essay

By: Nathan D.

10 min read

Reviewed By: Rylee W.

Published on: May 19, 2020

A narrative essay is similar to storytelling. Writing a narrative essay means that the writer is narrating a story. It can be related to a person, place, personal experience, or event in your life.

Narrative essays tell the story of your life. When you write a narrative essay, you are telling someone about an important experience or event. A good narrative essay should have some kind of personal connection with the reader.

Also, the best narrative essay topics are ones that you can write about with passion. If you're not able to find the right topic for your narrative essay, try looking into some of the topics given in the blog.

Like any other essay, you need to choose an essay topic before starting with narrative essay writing. It may seem easy, but finding good narrative essay topics can be hard.

Therefore, you need to know how to find and choose a topic for your narrative essay.

On this Page

Narrative Essay Topics for Students

Now you know how to choose essay topics for a great narrative essay. The next step is to research and find a good topic idea on your own. However, if you are still struggling, we have given some great narrative essay ideas to choose from.

Personal Narrative Essay Topics for Middle School Students

3 Reasons Why disappointment is good
What love means to you
How to write a speech about a person you admire
An unpleasant childhood experience
Discuss loyal friends in your life
Imagine living on another planet. How would it be?
A memory from your vacations
Talk about your school and what makes you love it.
An experience that put you in danger
Share the experience of your first trip abroad.

Narrative Essay Topics for Grade 7

A day when you got lost
How did your father propose to your mom?
What do you want to be and why?
Describe your hero
Imagine you were invisible. Describe what you would do
Talk about the person you are most afraid to lose.
A misunderstanding with another person
An interesting episode from your school days
How you lost your best friend

Narrative Essay Topics for Grade 8

One of your most amazing childhood shows and characters
Describe the things in life that you are grateful for
As a child, what is your role in the family?
If you are a teacher, what would you do when your students feel bored?
What things make you feel angry and why?
What is your favorite commercial on TV?
What friendship means to you
An exciting experience that put you in danger
A funny story that made you feel embarrassed
A quick trip to your childhood
A sneak peeks into learning a new skill.

Narrative Essay Topics for High School Students

My favorite weather story.
If I were president.
If I had a million dollars.
This made me laugh.
The end of my first relationship
The day I lost a loved one.
When you experienced rejection.
My greatest accomplishment.
I would like to invent this.
A story of you playing in the rain.

Narrative Essay Topics for College Students

Interesting books for students to read this summer
First day at college
Poems you’ve read this year
Do you have a diary or journal?
Reasons you should start your own blog.
How often do you use Facebook?
Your favorite pop star
Favorite childhood games
Who is your role model?
A teacher you will never forget.

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Narrative Argument Essay Topics

Should nuclear weapons be outlawed?
Is animal testing necessary?
Pressure on teenagers to go to college
Does religion cause war?
Should abortion be illegal?
Is it okay for parents to monitor teens’ Internet use?
Humans are the main cause of natural disasters.
Social media is the reason behind conflicts between family members.
Share a memorable moment of your childhood in a scholarship essay.
When you fought with your brother while playing a video game

Morality Narrative Essay Topics

Does modern society lack the moral values of the past?
What is your opinion about racial discrimination?
What are the key moral values in your life?
What is your personal view regarding morality?
Have you inherited your moral values?
Do you think your ancestors had different moral values?
How do you understand other people's moral values? Is it difficult for you to accept them or not?
What was the best morality lesson for you?
Lack of morality is the root cause of social destruction. Discuss.
How can we promote moral lessons in schools?

Relationship Narrative Essay Topics

How do you know if there are no sparks in your relationship anymore?
Does arguing with your parents affect your social life?
When do you know you have met “the one”?
Does being a feminist influence your relationships?
Is marrying old-fashioned?
Does forgiveness matter in a relationship?
How do you eradicate misunderstandings and arguments from your relationships?
Reasons for the distance between parents and children.
Both partners need to work together to make a relationship successful. Discuss.
Traditional Vs. Modern Household System. Which is better and why?

Childhood Narrative Essay Topics

What was your first day of school like for you?
What was your favorite school activity as a child?
Who was your favorite teacher? And Why?
What was the most mischievous event of your childhood?
How did you manage the bullies of your school?
Who was your role model when you were a child?
Do you think teachers should be friendly? If yes, then why?
Have you ever pranked anyone? What was the result?
Did you like any particular subject when in school?
Do childhood friends influence us? How?

Work Narrative Essay Topics

How to engage employees in the work environment?
How to reduce stress at the workplace?
How do you manage strict deadlines?
What kind of experience do you have while hiring an online employee?
What to do when you think your work-life is falling apart?
How to avoid harassment in the workplace?
Promoting equality in the workplace.
Men and women employees should be treated equally; discuss.
Having a plant wall in the workplace is healthy.
Companies should give healthy lunch options at subsidized prices. Discuss.

Traveling Narrative Essay Topics

Do you need a large budget for traveling?
Is it safe to travel the world on your own?
Is travel photography a difficult art to master?
Should you quit your job if you want to travel?
Can too much traveling be boring?
What to do when you travel to the city of your dreams?
What can you learn from traveling to non-tourist areas?
Is it possible to explore a location without knowing that place's language?
How does traveling affect your worldview?
How can you travel on a low budget?

Cultural Narrative Essay Topics

What is called pop culture?
How does the media influence our beliefs?
What is a cultural norm?
What does it mean to be Native American in the twenty-first century?
What can a person learn from personal discovery?
Why are food traditions still important to some people?
Why do people take health for granted
Tell us about your unique family tradition.
A tradition that surprised you

Experience Narrative Essay Topics

Discuss the most embarrassing moment of your life.
Which is the scariest incidence of your life?
Real-life values that you learned from an experience.
The experience that taught you the value of family and friends.
How did you learn to control your fear?
The most helpful experience of your life.
How did you learn to appreciate the value of life?
When did you feel the happiest?
A memorable family picnic.
The experience of the first job.

Interesting Narrative Essay Topics

Describe the most amazing movie that you ever watched.
Describe the most touching song that you heard last time.
The superpower that you want to have and why?
Any book characters that you relate with?
The movie that you want to direct and why?
Do you have any hidden talent? When did you discover it?
Which is your favorite TV character?
Any TV stars who you would like to meet in real life?
Are you a sports fanatic? Describe your favorite sport.
Who is your favorite tennis player, and why?

General Narrative Essay Topics

Write about the scariest moment in your life. How did a scary moment teach you to be brave?
Challenges are important for improvement. Discuss.
Describe your visit to a flea market. Did you get anything valuable there?
Do you believe that you should treat others as you would like to be treated? Describe any relevant experience.
Siblings help develop our personalities. Describe how you contribute to your personal development.
Watching someone you love suffering is hard. Describe your experience when you felt this pain.
Kindness keeps this world warm. Discuss the statement with relevant examples and personal life experiences.
Imperfection is a blessing. Discuss a lesson learned through mistakes.
Self-criticism is hard but useful. Write about your experience when you rectified your flaw.
Being right does not mean being easy. Write about the event in your life when you had difficulty because you were right.

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How to Choose a Good Narrative Essay Topic?

Choosing a good topic for your high school or college narrative writing involves a set of steps. By following them, you will find relevant narrative topics that you could use in your essay.

The steps include:

1. Brainstorming

Brainstorming is important. Make a list of essay ideas and research them. See what information you can find about them and choose the essay topic that you are confident about.

2. Planning

Planning before writing is a rule of thumb. Research the stories, ideas and decide which ones you will add to your narrative essay. Decide the number of paragraphs and the ideas for them. Make points and refer to them when writing the essay.

3. Proving the Main Point

Every essay has the main point; what is yours? When you write a narrative essay, you share your experience and try to persuade the reader to share it. They may have a different viewpoint. But, through your essay, you tell an interesting story and convince them to agree with your point of view.

4. Storytelling

A good narrative essay is all about storytelling. This could be through the character’s voice or the writer’s voice. Feel free to choose any voice but be consistent. Do not shift from the first person to third-person narration and vice versa.

5. Essay Structure

No great narrative essay is without a proper structure. An essay structure includes an introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. The usual number of paragraphs in the main body is three, but you can increase it if needed.

Choose the best topic from the list given above and start writing your narrative essay. You can use these topics for narrative speech as well. These narrative essay writing topics will make a great essay for any academic level.

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College Admission Essay, Literature

Nathan completed his Ph.D. in journalism and has been writing articles for well-respected publications for many years now. His work is carefully researched and insightful, showing a true passion for the written word. Nathan's clients appreciate his expertise, deep understanding of the process, and ability to communicate difficult concepts clearly.

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Narrative Essay - An Ultimate Guide With Examples & Topics

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Sat / act prep online guides and tips, 3 great narrative essay examples + tips for writing.

General Education

A narrative essay is one of the most intimidating assignments you can be handed at any level of your education. Where you've previously written argumentative essays that make a point or analytic essays that dissect meaning, a narrative essay asks you to write what is effectively a story .

But unlike a simple work of creative fiction, your narrative essay must have a clear and concrete motif —a recurring theme or idea that you’ll explore throughout. Narrative essays are less rigid, more creative in expression, and therefore pretty different from most other essays you’ll be writing.

But not to fear—in this article, we’ll be covering what a narrative essay is, how to write a good one, and also analyzing some personal narrative essay examples to show you what a great one looks like.

What Is a Narrative Essay?

At first glance, a narrative essay might sound like you’re just writing a story. Like the stories you're used to reading, a narrative essay is generally (but not always) chronological, following a clear throughline from beginning to end. Even if the story jumps around in time, all the details will come back to one specific theme, demonstrated through your choice in motifs.

Unlike many creative stories, however, your narrative essay should be based in fact. That doesn’t mean that every detail needs to be pure and untainted by imagination, but rather that you shouldn’t wholly invent the events of your narrative essay. There’s nothing wrong with inventing a person’s words if you can’t remember them exactly, but you shouldn’t say they said something they weren’t even close to saying.

Another big difference between narrative essays and creative fiction—as well as other kinds of essays—is that narrative essays are based on motifs. A motif is a dominant idea or theme, one that you establish before writing the essay. As you’re crafting the narrative, it’ll feed back into your motif to create a comprehensive picture of whatever that motif is.

For example, say you want to write a narrative essay about how your first day in high school helped you establish your identity. You might discuss events like trying to figure out where to sit in the cafeteria, having to describe yourself in five words as an icebreaker in your math class, or being unsure what to do during your lunch break because it’s no longer acceptable to go outside and play during lunch. All of those ideas feed back into the central motif of establishing your identity.

The important thing to remember is that while a narrative essay is typically told chronologically and intended to read like a story, it is not purely for entertainment value. A narrative essay delivers its theme by deliberately weaving the motifs through the events, scenes, and details. While a narrative essay may be entertaining, its primary purpose is to tell a complete story based on a central meaning.

Unlike other essay forms, it is totally okay—even expected—to use first-person narration in narrative essays. If you’re writing a story about yourself, it’s natural to refer to yourself within the essay. It’s also okay to use other perspectives, such as third- or even second-person, but that should only be done if it better serves your motif. Generally speaking, your narrative essay should be in first-person perspective.

Though your motif choices may feel at times like you’re making a point the way you would in an argumentative essay, a narrative essay’s goal is to tell a story, not convince the reader of anything. Your reader should be able to tell what your motif is from reading, but you don’t have to change their mind about anything. If they don’t understand the point you are making, you should consider strengthening the delivery of the events and descriptions that support your motif.

Narrative essays also share some features with analytical essays, in which you derive meaning from a book, film, or other media. But narrative essays work differently—you’re not trying to draw meaning from an existing text, but rather using an event you’ve experienced to convey meaning. In an analytical essay, you examine narrative, whereas in a narrative essay you create narrative.

The structure of a narrative essay is also a bit different than other essays. You’ll generally be getting your point across chronologically as opposed to grouping together specific arguments in paragraphs or sections. To return to the example of an essay discussing your first day of high school and how it impacted the shaping of your identity, it would be weird to put the events out of order, even if not knowing what to do after lunch feels like a stronger idea than choosing where to sit. Instead of organizing to deliver your information based on maximum impact, you’ll be telling your story as it happened, using concrete details to reinforce your theme.

3 Great Narrative Essay Examples

One of the best ways to learn how to write a narrative essay is to look at a great narrative essay sample. Let’s take a look at some truly stellar narrative essay examples and dive into what exactly makes them work so well.

A Ticket to the Fair by David Foster Wallace

Today is Press Day at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield, and I’m supposed to be at the fairgrounds by 9:00 A.M. to get my credentials. I imagine credentials to be a small white card in the band of a fedora. I’ve never been considered press before. My real interest in credentials is getting into rides and shows for free. I’m fresh in from the East Coast, for an East Coast magazine. Why exactly they’re interested in the Illinois State Fair remains unclear to me. I suspect that every so often editors at East Coast magazines slap their foreheads and remember that about 90 percent of the United States lies between the coasts, and figure they’ll engage somebody to do pith-helmeted anthropological reporting on something rural and heartlandish. I think they asked me to do this because I grew up here, just a couple hours’ drive from downstate Springfield. I never did go to the state fair, though—I pretty much topped out at the county fair level. Actually, I haven’t been back to Illinois for a long time, and I can’t say I’ve missed it.

Throughout this essay, David Foster Wallace recounts his experience as press at the Illinois State Fair. But it’s clear from this opening that he’s not just reporting on the events exactly as they happened—though that’s also true— but rather making a point about how the East Coast, where he lives and works, thinks about the Midwest.

In his opening paragraph, Wallace states that outright: “Why exactly they’re interested in the Illinois State Fair remains unclear to me. I suspect that every so often editors at East Coast magazines slap their foreheads and remember that about 90 percent of the United States lies between the coasts, and figure they’ll engage somebody to do pith-helmeted anthropological reporting on something rural and heartlandish.”

Not every motif needs to be stated this clearly , but in an essay as long as Wallace’s, particularly since the audience for such a piece may feel similarly and forget that such a large portion of the country exists, it’s important to make that point clear.

But Wallace doesn’t just rest on introducing his motif and telling the events exactly as they occurred from there. It’s clear that he selects events that remind us of that idea of East Coast cynicism , such as when he realizes that the Help Me Grow tent is standing on top of fake grass that is killing the real grass beneath, when he realizes the hypocrisy of craving a corn dog when faced with a real, suffering pig, when he’s upset for his friend even though he’s not the one being sexually harassed, and when he witnesses another East Coast person doing something he wouldn’t dare to do.

Wallace is literally telling the audience exactly what happened, complete with dates and timestamps for when each event occurred. But he’s also choosing those events with a purpose—he doesn’t focus on details that don’t serve his motif. That’s why he discusses the experiences of people, how the smells are unappealing to him, and how all the people he meets, in cowboy hats, overalls, or “black spandex that looks like cheesecake leotards,” feel almost alien to him.

All of these details feed back into the throughline of East Coast thinking that Wallace introduces in the first paragraph. He also refers back to it in the essay’s final paragraph, stating:

At last, an overarching theory blooms inside my head: megalopolitan East Coasters’ summer treats and breaks and literally ‘getaways,’ flights-from—from crowds, noise, heat, dirt, the stress of too many sensory choices….The East Coast existential treat is escape from confines and stimuli—quiet, rustic vistas that hold still, turn inward, turn away. Not so in the rural Midwest. Here you’re pretty much away all the time….Something in a Midwesterner sort of actuates , deep down, at a public event….The real spectacle that draws us here is us.

Throughout this journey, Wallace has tried to demonstrate how the East Coast thinks about the Midwest, ultimately concluding that they are captivated by the Midwest’s less stimuli-filled life, but that the real reason they are interested in events like the Illinois State Fair is that they are, in some ways, a means of looking at the East Coast in a new, estranging way.

The reason this works so well is that Wallace has carefully chosen his examples, outlined his motif and themes in the first paragraph, and eventually circled back to the original motif with a clearer understanding of his original point.

When outlining your own narrative essay, try to do the same. Start with a theme, build upon it with examples, and return to it in the end with an even deeper understanding of the original issue. You don’t need this much space to explore a theme, either—as we’ll see in the next example, a strong narrative essay can also be very short.

Death of a Moth by Virginia Woolf

After a time, tired by his dancing apparently, he settled on the window ledge in the sun, and, the queer spectacle being at an end, I forgot about him. Then, looking up, my eye was caught by him. He was trying to resume his dancing, but seemed either so stiff or so awkward that he could only flutter to the bottom of the window-pane; and when he tried to fly across it he failed. Being intent on other matters I watched these futile attempts for a time without thinking, unconsciously waiting for him to resume his flight, as one waits for a machine, that has stopped momentarily, to start again without considering the reason of its failure. After perhaps a seventh attempt he slipped from the wooden ledge and fell, fluttering his wings, on to his back on the window sill. The helplessness of his attitude roused me. It flashed upon me that he was in difficulties; he could no longer raise himself; his legs struggled vainly. But, as I stretched out a pencil, meaning to help him to right himself, it came over me that the failure and awkwardness were the approach of death. I laid the pencil down again.

In this essay, Virginia Woolf explains her encounter with a dying moth. On surface level, this essay is just a recounting of an afternoon in which she watched a moth die—it’s even established in the title. But there’s more to it than that. Though Woolf does not begin her essay with as clear a motif as Wallace, it’s not hard to pick out the evidence she uses to support her point, which is that the experience of this moth is also the human experience.

In the title, Woolf tells us this essay is about death. But in the first paragraph, she seems to mostly be discussing life—the moth is “content with life,” people are working in the fields, and birds are flying. However, she mentions that it is mid-September and that the fields were being plowed. It’s autumn and it’s time for the harvest; the time of year in which many things die.

In this short essay, she chronicles the experience of watching a moth seemingly embody life, then die. Though this essay is literally about a moth, it’s also about a whole lot more than that. After all, moths aren’t the only things that die—Woolf is also reflecting on her own mortality, as well as the mortality of everything around her.

At its core, the essay discusses the push and pull of life and death, not in a way that’s necessarily sad, but in a way that is accepting of both. Woolf begins by setting up the transitional fall season, often associated with things coming to an end, and raises the ideas of pleasure, vitality, and pity.

At one point, Woolf tries to help the dying moth, but reconsiders, as it would interfere with the natural order of the world. The moth’s death is part of the natural order of the world, just like fall, just like her own eventual death.

All these themes are set up in the beginning and explored throughout the essay’s narrative. Though Woolf doesn’t directly state her theme, she reinforces it by choosing a small, isolated event—watching a moth die—and illustrating her point through details.

With this essay, we can see that you don’t need a big, weird, exciting event to discuss an important meaning. Woolf is able to explore complicated ideas in a short essay by being deliberate about what details she includes, just as you can be in your own essays.

Notes of a Native Son by James Baldwin

On the twenty-ninth of July, in 1943, my father died. On the same day, a few hours later, his last child was born. Over a month before this, while all our energies were concentrated in waiting for these events, there had been, in Detroit, one of the bloodiest race riots of the century. A few hours after my father’s funeral, while he lay in state in the undertaker’s chapel, a race riot broke out in Harlem. On the morning of the third of August, we drove my father to the graveyard through a wilderness of smashed plate glass.

Like Woolf, Baldwin does not lay out his themes in concrete terms—unlike Wallace, there’s no clear sentence that explains what he’ll be talking about. However, you can see the motifs quite clearly: death, fatherhood, struggle, and race.

Throughout the narrative essay, Baldwin discusses the circumstances of his father’s death, including his complicated relationship with his father. By introducing those motifs in the first paragraph, the reader understands that everything discussed in the essay will come back to those core ideas. When Baldwin talks about his experience with a white teacher taking an interest in him and his father’s resistance to that, he is also talking about race and his father’s death. When he talks about his father’s death, he is also talking about his views on race. When he talks about his encounters with segregation and racism, he is talking, in part, about his father.

Because his father was a hard, uncompromising man, Baldwin struggles to reconcile the knowledge that his father was right about many things with his desire to not let that hardness consume him, as well.

Baldwin doesn’t explicitly state any of this, but his writing so often touches on the same motifs that it becomes clear he wants us to think about all these ideas in conversation with one another.

At the end of the essay, Baldwin makes it more clear:

This fight begins, however, in the heart and it had now been laid to my charge to keep my own heart free of hatred and despair. This intimation made my heart heavy and, now that my father was irrecoverable, I wished that he had been beside me so that I could have searched his face for the answers which only the future would give me now.

Here, Baldwin ties together the themes and motifs into one clear statement: that he must continue to fight and recognize injustice, especially racial injustice, just as his father did. But unlike his father, he must do it beginning with himself—he must not let himself be closed off to the world as his father was. And yet, he still wishes he had his father for guidance, even as he establishes that he hopes to be a different man than his father.

In this essay, Baldwin loads the front of the essay with his motifs, and, through his narrative, weaves them together into a theme. In the end, he comes to a conclusion that connects all of those things together and leaves the reader with a lasting impression of completion—though the elements may have been initially disparate, in the end everything makes sense.

You can replicate this tactic of introducing seemingly unattached ideas and weaving them together in your own essays. By introducing those motifs, developing them throughout, and bringing them together in the end, you can demonstrate to your reader how all of them are related. However, it’s especially important to be sure that your motifs and clear and consistent throughout your essay so that the conclusion feels earned and consistent—if not, readers may feel mislead.

5 Key Tips for Writing Narrative Essays

Narrative essays can be a lot of fun to write since they’re so heavily based on creativity. But that can also feel intimidating—sometimes it’s easier to have strict guidelines than to have to make it all up yourself. Here are a few tips to keep your narrative essay feeling strong and fresh.

Develop Strong Motifs

Motifs are the foundation of a narrative essay . What are you trying to say? How can you say that using specific symbols or events? Those are your motifs.

In the same way that an argumentative essay’s body should support its thesis, the body of your narrative essay should include motifs that support your theme.

Try to avoid cliches, as these will feel tired to your readers. Instead of roses to symbolize love, try succulents. Instead of the ocean representing some vast, unknowable truth, try the depths of your brother’s bedroom. Keep your language and motifs fresh and your essay will be even stronger!

Use First-Person Perspective

In many essays, you’re expected to remove yourself so that your points stand on their own. Not so in a narrative essay—in this case, you want to make use of your own perspective.

Sometimes a different perspective can make your point even stronger. If you want someone to identify with your point of view, it may be tempting to choose a second-person perspective. However, be sure you really understand the function of second-person; it’s very easy to put a reader off if the narration isn’t expertly deployed.

If you want a little bit of distance, third-person perspective may be okay. But be careful—too much distance and your reader may feel like the narrative lacks truth.

That’s why first-person perspective is the standard. It keeps you, the writer, close to the narrative, reminding the reader that it really happened. And because you really know what happened and how, you’re free to inject your own opinion into the story without it detracting from your point, as it would in a different type of essay.

Stick to the Truth

Your essay should be true. However, this is a creative essay, and it’s okay to embellish a little. Rarely in life do we experience anything with a clear, concrete meaning the way somebody in a book might. If you flub the details a little, it’s okay—just don’t make them up entirely.

Also, nobody expects you to perfectly recall details that may have happened years ago. You may have to reconstruct dialog from your memory and your imagination. That’s okay, again, as long as you aren’t making it up entirely and assigning made-up statements to somebody.

Dialog is a powerful tool. A good conversation can add flavor and interest to a story, as we saw demonstrated in David Foster Wallace’s essay. As previously mentioned, it’s okay to flub it a little, especially because you’re likely writing about an experience you had without knowing that you’d be writing about it later.

However, don’t rely too much on it. Your narrative essay shouldn’t be told through people explaining things to one another; the motif comes through in the details. Dialog can be one of those details, but it shouldn’t be the only one.

Use Sensory Descriptions

Because a narrative essay is a story, you can use sensory details to make your writing more interesting. If you’re describing a particular experience, you can go into detail about things like taste, smell, and hearing in a way that you probably wouldn’t do in any other essay style.

These details can tie into your overall motifs and further your point. Woolf describes in great detail what she sees while watching the moth, giving us the sense that we, too, are watching the moth. In Wallace’s essay, he discusses the sights, sounds, and smells of the Illinois State Fair to help emphasize his point about its strangeness. And in Baldwin’s essay, he describes shattered glass as a “wilderness,” and uses the feelings of his body to describe his mental state.

All these descriptions anchor us not only in the story, but in the motifs and themes as well. One of the tools of a writer is making the reader feel as you felt, and sensory details help you achieve that.

What’s Next?

Looking to brush up on your essay-writing capabilities before the ACT? This guide to ACT English will walk you through some of the best strategies and practice questions to get you prepared!

Part of practicing for the ACT is ensuring your word choice and diction are on point. Check out this guide to some of the most common errors on the ACT English section to be sure that you're not making these common mistakes!

A solid understanding of English principles will help you make an effective point in a narrative essay, and you can get that understanding through taking a rigorous assortment of high school English classes !

Melissa Brinks graduated from the University of Washington in 2014 with a Bachelor's in English with a creative writing emphasis. She has spent several years tutoring K-12 students in many subjects, including in SAT prep, to help them prepare for their college education.

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50 Engaging Narrative Essay Topics for High Schoolers

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What’s Covered:

Narrative essays vs. analytical essays, how to pick the right narrative essay topic, elements of a strong narrative essay, engaging narrative essay topics for high schoolers, where to get your narrative essay edited for free.

Narrative essays are an extensive form of writing that gives readers the opportunity to follow along as a person goes through a journey or sets of experiences. Rather than providing analytic insight, narrative essays simply share a story and offer a first-person account. These essays may seem easy to write at first, but it takes a certain finesse to write a narrative essay that is interesting, cohesive, and well-researched. Whether you’re looking for a unique topic to write about, or just want some new inspiration, CollegeVine is here to help! These 50 narrative essay topics are engaging, unique and will have you writing in no time.

A narrative essay is a great way to express your personal experiences and opinions, but it is important to remember that this type of essay is different from an analytical paper. In a narrative essay, you do not need to provide background information or explain your thoughts and feelings; instead, you simply tell a story. It’s important to avoid too much telling in your writing; instead, use creative details and vivid imagery to make readers feel as if they are actually right there with you.

Where You Will Encounter Narrative Essays

This type of essay is typically encountered in high school, where students may be required to write personal statements to prepare for their Common App essay . Narrative essays are also commonly seen in AP Language and Composition. Therefore, it’s important you are aware of the style because you are bound to have a narrative essay assignment.

Of course, before you start writing, it is important to pick the right essay topic. There are many factors involved in the process of picking the perfect narrative essay topic for your story.

You should always choose a topic that you are passionate about, since writing on something you care about will make the process much easier. Not only will it be more interesting to create your paper around something that truly interests you, but it will also allow you to fully express yourself in your essay. You also want to be sure that the topic has enough material to work with. If your chosen topic is too short, you will not have enough content to write a complete paper. For example, if you are writing about your experience getting lost at the mall, make sure that you have enough information to work with to craft an engaging narrative.

The best topic for an engaging narrative essay is one that focuses on showing versus telling, has a clear structure, and provides a dialogue. These elements come together to form an engaging narrative essay. Regardless of what subject you pick, any topic may be turned into a fascinating, A+ worthy narrative using the tips below.

Show, Don’t Tell

To write a good narrative essay, it’s important to show, not tell. Instead of simply informing your audience, show them what you mean. For example, instead of saying “I was nervous,” you could say “My heart began to race and my stomach filled with butterflies.” Also make sure to use sensory details, such as sights, sounds and tastes, and include a personal reflection at the end of your narrative.

Begin with a Strong Opening Line

A good narrative essay will begin with an attention-grabbing opening line. But make sure to avoid common clichés, such as “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” Instead, come up with something original and specific to you and your situation. For example: “My pre-calc teacher was obsessed with circles. I mean, he even used circular note cards.” Or, “It all started the day my mom brought home a guinea pig.”

Follows a Three-Act Structure

A strong narrative essay follows the same three-act structure as other essays. But in order to make it interesting, you’ll need to come up with a creative way to break things down into sections. For example, using the guinea pig example from above, you could write the following:

Act 1 – Introduction: The day my mom brought home a guinea pig.
Act 2 – Conflict: The day I had to say goodbye to my beloved pet.
Act 3 – Conclusion: Looking back at how much I miss him now that he’s gone.

Conclude with Personal Reflection

To conclude your narrative essay, you’ll want to explain what this specific experience taught you or how you’ve changed. For example, upon realizing that her pre-calc teacher was obsessed with circles, the writer of the previous example begins to notice circular shapes everywhere. Another way to conclude your narrative essay is by touching on how this experience impacted you emotionally. For example, after losing his guinea pig, the writer explains how much he missed it.

Use Dialogue

Include a conversation in your essay to make it come alive. For example, instead of simply saying that you met a new friend, talk about how you introduced yourselves or what they were wearing when you met them.

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The following list of 50 narrative essay topics is divided into categories. This will make it easier to find a topic that fits your writing style.

1. What is a childhood song that still sticks with you today?

2. Your first day of Kindergarten

3. Talk about a time when you’re siblings looked up to you

4. Describe the best birthday party you’ve ever had

5. Talk about the best day you ever spent with a childhood friend

6. Explain your first childhood hobby

7. Describe your first halloween costume

8. A family vacation gone wrong

9. Your first family reunion

10. Describe a tradition that is unique to your family

11. Describe your family to a person who’s never met them before

12. What frustrates you most about your family

13. If you could only keep one memory of your family, what would it be and why?

14. Describe a time your family embarrassed you in public

15. The most beautiful place in the world

16. Your favorite season and why

17. If you were a part of nature, what element would you be? Why?

18. When you go outside, which of your senses are you most thankful to have?

19. Describe the first time you witnessed a tornado

20. Write a poem about your favorite season

21. Describe yourself as one of the four seasons

22. Describe a time in which you felt connected with nature

23. Describe the first time you played an instrument and how you felt

24. What major event would be much worse if music was removed, and why?

25. If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?

26. What would a life without music look like?

27. If you could master one instrument, what would it be and why?

Relationships

28. What if you had never met your best friend?

29. Describe a time when you fixed a broken relationship

30. Talk about a movie that defined a relationship for you

31. Describe your first date

32. Describe the first time you made a friend

33. Describe your relationship with your parents

Self Reflection

34. Have you ever fooled someone? If so, describe what happened and how you felt about it

35. What is the worst thing you’ve done to someone else?

36. Write about the difference between how things seem and how they really are.

37. Have you ever been embarrassed in some way? If so, describe the situation and how it affected you as well as those around you

38. Have you ever witnessed something really beautiful? Describe it

39. Is your glass half empty or half full?

Overcoming Adversity

40. Have you ever been very afraid of something but tried your hardest to appear fearless? If so, describe that experience

41. When have you ever succeeded when you thought you might fail

42. What are your secret survival strategies?

43. Describe the last time you were stressed and why?

44. Describe a time when you were discriminated against

45. The most memorable class you’ve had and why

46. Your favorite study abroad memory

47. Describe your kindergarten classroom

48. Describe your first teacher

49. The first time you experienced detention

50. Your first field trip

Hopefully these topics will get you thinking about a personal experience that could make for a thoughtful and engaging narrative essay. Remember, a strong narrative essay must contain relatable details and a clear flow that keeps the reader entertained and engaged to read all the way to the end.

If you need some additional guidance on your narrative essay, use CollegeVine’s free peer review essay tool to get feedback for free!

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How to write a narrative essay | Example & tips

How to Write a Narrative Essay | Example & Tips

Published on July 24, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on July 23, 2023.

A narrative essay tells a story. In most cases, this is a story about a personal experience you had. This type of essay , along with the descriptive essay , allows you to get personal and creative, unlike most academic writing .

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What is a narrative essay for, choosing a topic, interactive example of a narrative essay, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about narrative essays.

When assigned a narrative essay, you might find yourself wondering: Why does my teacher want to hear this story? Topics for narrative essays can range from the important to the trivial. Usually the point is not so much the story itself, but the way you tell it.

A narrative essay is a way of testing your ability to tell a story in a clear and interesting way. You’re expected to think about where your story begins and ends, and how to convey it with eye-catching language and a satisfying pace.

These skills are quite different from those needed for formal academic writing. For instance, in a narrative essay the use of the first person (“I”) is encouraged, as is the use of figurative language, dialogue, and suspense.

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Narrative essay assignments vary widely in the amount of direction you’re given about your topic. You may be assigned quite a specific topic or choice of topics to work with.

Write a story about your first day of school.
Write a story about your favorite holiday destination.

You may also be given prompts that leave you a much wider choice of topic.

Write about an experience where you learned something about yourself.
Write about an achievement you are proud of. What did you accomplish, and how?

In these cases, you might have to think harder to decide what story you want to tell. The best kind of story for a narrative essay is one you can use to talk about a particular theme or lesson, or that takes a surprising turn somewhere along the way.

For example, a trip where everything went according to plan makes for a less interesting story than one where something unexpected happened that you then had to respond to. Choose an experience that might surprise the reader or teach them something.

Narrative essays in college applications

When applying for college , you might be asked to write a narrative essay that expresses something about your personal qualities.

For example, this application prompt from Common App requires you to respond with a narrative essay.

In this context, choose a story that is not only interesting but also expresses the qualities the prompt is looking for—here, resilience and the ability to learn from failure—and frame the story in a way that emphasizes these qualities.

An example of a short narrative essay, responding to the prompt “Write about an experience where you learned something about yourself,” is shown below.

Hover over different parts of the text to see how the structure works.

Since elementary school, I have always favored subjects like science and math over the humanities. My instinct was always to think of these subjects as more solid and serious than classes like English. If there was no right answer, I thought, why bother? But recently I had an experience that taught me my academic interests are more flexible than I had thought: I took my first philosophy class.

Before I entered the classroom, I was skeptical. I waited outside with the other students and wondered what exactly philosophy would involve—I really had no idea. I imagined something pretty abstract: long, stilted conversations pondering the meaning of life. But what I got was something quite different.

A young man in jeans, Mr. Jones—“but you can call me Rob”—was far from the white-haired, buttoned-up old man I had half-expected. And rather than pulling us into pedantic arguments about obscure philosophical points, Rob engaged us on our level. To talk free will, we looked at our own choices. To talk ethics, we looked at dilemmas we had faced ourselves. By the end of class, I’d discovered that questions with no right answer can turn out to be the most interesting ones.

The experience has taught me to look at things a little more “philosophically”—and not just because it was a philosophy class! I learned that if I let go of my preconceptions, I can actually get a lot out of subjects I was previously dismissive of. The class taught me—in more ways than one—to look at things with an open mind.

If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

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If you’re not given much guidance on what your narrative essay should be about, consider the context and scope of the assignment. What kind of story is relevant, interesting, and possible to tell within the word count?

The best kind of story for a narrative essay is one you can use to reflect on a particular theme or lesson, or that takes a surprising turn somewhere along the way.

Don’t worry too much if your topic seems unoriginal. The point of a narrative essay is how you tell the story and the point you make with it, not the subject of the story itself.

Narrative essays are usually assigned as writing exercises at high school or in university composition classes. They may also form part of a university application.

When you are prompted to tell a story about your own life or experiences, a narrative essay is usually the right response.

The key difference is that a narrative essay is designed to tell a complete story, while a descriptive essay is meant to convey an intense description of a particular place, object, or concept.

Narrative and descriptive essays both allow you to write more personally and creatively than other kinds of essays , and similar writing skills can apply to both.

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10 Personal Narrative Examples to Inspire Your Writing

Personal narratives are short pieces of creative nonfiction that recount a story from someone’s own experiences. They can be a memoir, a thinkpiece, or even a polemic — so long as the piece is grounded in the writer's beliefs and experiences, it can be considered a personal narrative.

Despite the nonfiction element, there’s no single way to approach this topic, and you can be as creative as you would be writing fiction. To inspire your writing and reveal the sheer diversity of this type of essay, here are ten great examples personal narratives from recent years:

1. “Only Disconnect” by Gary Shteyngart

Personal narratives don’t have to be long to be effective, as this thousand-word gem from the NYT book review proves. Published in 2010, just as smartphones were becoming a ubiquitous part of modern life, this piece echoes many of our fears surrounding technology and how it often distances us from reality.

In this narrative, Shteyngart navigates Manhattan using his new iPhone—or more accurately, is led by his iPhone, completely oblivious to the world around him. He’s completely lost to the magical happenstance of the city as he “follow[s] the arrow taco-ward”. But once he leaves for the country, and abandons the convenience of a cell phone connection, the real world comes rushing back in and he remembers what he’s been missing out on.

The downfalls of technology is hardly a new topic, but Shteyngart’s story remains evergreen because of how our culture has only spiraled further down the rabbit hole of technology addiction in the intervening years.

What can you learn from this piece?

Just because a piece of writing is technically nonfiction, that doesn’t mean that the narrative needs to be literal. Shteyngart imagines a Manhattan that physically changes around him when he’s using his iPhone, becoming an almost unrecognizable world. From this, we can see how a certain amount of dramatization can increase the impact of your message—even if that wasn’t exactly the way something happened.

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2. “Why I Hate Mother's Day” by Anne Lamott

The author of the classic writing text Bird by Bird digs into her views on motherhood in this piece from Salon. At once a personal narrative and a cultural commentary, Lamott explores the harmful effects that Mother’s Day may have on society —how its blind reverence to the concept of motherhood erases women’s agency and freedom to be flawed human beings.

Lamott points out that not all mothers are good, not everyone has a living mother to celebrate, and some mothers have lost their children, so have no one to celebrate with them. More importantly, she notes how this Hallmark holiday erases all the people who helped raise a woman, a long chain of mothers and fathers, friends and found family, who enable her to become a mother. While it isn’t anchored to a single story or event (like many classic personal narratives), Lamott’s exploration of her opinions creates a story about a culture that puts mothers on an impossible pedestal.

In a personal narrative essay, lived experience can be almost as valid as peer-reviewed research—so long as you avoid making unfounded assumptions. While some might point out that this is merely an opinion piece, Lamott cannily starts the essay by grounding it in the personal, revealing how she did not raise her son to celebrate Mother’s Day. This detail, however small, invites the reader into her private life and frames this essay as a story about her —and not just an exercise in being contrary.

3. “The Crane Wife” by CJ Hauser

Days after breaking off her engagement with her fiance, CJ Hauser joins a scientific expedition on the Texas coast r esearching whooping cranes . In this new environment, she reflects on the toxic relationship she left and how she found herself in this situation. She pulls together many seemingly disparate threads, using the expedition and the Japanese myth of the crane wife as a metaphor for her struggles.

Hauser’s interactions with the other volunteer researchers expand the scope of the narrative from her own mind, reminding her of the compassion she lacked in her relationship. In her attempts to make herself smaller, less needy, to please her fiance, she lost sight of herself and almost signed up to live someone else’s life, but among the whooping cranes of Texas, she takes the first step in reconnecting with herself.

With short personal narratives, there isn’t as much room to develop characters as you might have in a memoir so the details you do provide need to be clear and specific. Each of the volunteer researchers on Hauser’s expedition are distinct and recognizable though Hauser is economical in her descriptions.

For example, Hauser describes one researcher as “an eighty-four-year-old bachelor from Minnesota. He could not do most of the physical activities required by the trip, but had been on ninety-five Earthwatch expeditions, including this one once before. Warren liked birds okay. What Warren really loved was cocktail hour.”

In a few sentences, we get a clear picture of Warren's fun-loving, gregarious personality and how he fits in with the rest of the group.

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4. “The Trash Heap Has Spoken” by Carmen Maria Machado

The films and TV shows of the 80s and 90s—cultural touchstones that practically raised a generation—hardly ever featured larger women on screen. And if they did, it was either as a villain or a literal trash heap. Carmen Maria Machado grew up watching these cartoons, and the absence of fat women didn’t faze her. Not until puberty hit and she went from a skinny kid to a fuller-figured teen. Suddenly uncomfortable in her skin, she struggled to find any positive representation in her favorite media.

As she gets older and more comfortable in her own body, Machado finds inspiration in Marjory the Trash Heap from Fraggle Rock and Ursula, everyone’s favorite sea witch from The Little Mermaid —characters with endless power in the unapologetic ways they inhabit their bodies. As Machado considers her own body through the years, it’s these characters she returns to as she faces society’s unkind, dismissive attitudes towards fat women.

Stories shape the world, even if they’re fictional. Some writers strive for realism, reflecting the world back on itself in all its ugliness, but Carmen Maria Machado makes a different point. There is power in being imaginative and writing the world as it could be, imagining something bigger, better, and more beautiful. So, write the story you want to see, change the narrative, look at it sideways, and show your readers how the world could look.

5. “Am I Disabled?” by Joanne Limburg

The titular question frames the narrative of Joanne Limburg’s essay as she considers the implications of disclosing her autism. What to some might seem a mundane occurrence—ticking ‘yes’, ‘no’, or ‘prefer not to say’ on a bureaucratic form—elicits both philosophical and practical questions for Limburg about what it means to be disabled and how disability is viewed by the majority of society.

Is the labor of disclosing her autism worth the insensitive questions she has to answer? What definition are people seeking, exactly? Will anyone believe her if she says yes? As she dissects the question of what disability is, she explores the very real personal effects this has on her life and those of other disabled people.

Limburg’s essay is written in a style known as the hermit crab essay , when an author uses an existing document form to contain their story. You can format your writing as a recipe, a job application, a resume, an email, or a to-do list – the possibilities are as endless as your creativity. The format you choose is important, though. It should connect in some way to the story you’re telling and add something to the reader’s experience as well as your overall theme.

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6. “Living Like Weasels” by Annie Dillard

While out on a walk in the woods behind her house, Annie Dillard encounters a wild weasel. In the short moment when they make eye contact, Dillard takes an imaginary journey through the weasel’s mind and wonders if the weasel’s approach to life is better than her own.

The weasel, as Dillard sees it, is a wild creature with jaws so powerful that when it clamps on to something, it won’t let go, even into death. Necessity drives it to be like this, and humanity, obsessed with choice, might think this kind of life is limiting, but the writer believes otherwise. The weasel’s necessity is the ultimate freedom, as long as you can find the right sort, the kind that will have you holding on for dear life and refusing to let go.

Make yourself the National Geographic explorer of your backyard or neighborhood and see what you can learn about yourself from what you discover. Annie Dillard, queen of the natural personal essay, discovers a lot about herself and her beliefs when meeting a weasel.

What insight can you glean from a blade of grass, for example? Does it remind you that despite how similar people might be, we are all unique? Do the flights of migrating birds give you perspective on the changes in your own life? Nature is a potent and never-ending spring of inspiration if you only think to look.

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7. “Love In Our Seventies” by Ellery Akers

“ And sometimes, when I lift the gray hair at the back of your neck and kiss your shoulder, I think, This is it.”

In under 400 words, poet Ellery Akers captures the joy she has found in discovering romance as a 75-year-old . The language is romantic, but her imagery is far from saccharine as she describes their daily life and the various states in which they’ve seen each other: in their pajamas, after cataract surgeries, while meditating. In each singular moment, Akers sees something she loves, underscoring an oft-forgotten truth. Love is most potent in its smallest gestures.

Personal narrative isn’t a defined genre with rigid rules, so your essay doesn’t have to be an essay. It can be a poem, as Akers’ is. The limitations of this form can lead to greater creativity as you’re trying to find a short yet evocative way to tell a story. It allows you to focus deeply on the emotions behind an idea and create an intimate connection with your reader.

8. “What a Black Woman Wishes Her Adoptive White Parents Knew” by Mariama Lockington

Mariama Lockington was adopted by her white parents in the early 80s, long before it was “trendy” for white people to adopt black children. Starting with a family photograph, the writer explores her complex feelings about her upbringing , the many ways her parents ignored her race for their own comfort, and how she came to feel like an outsider in her own home. In describing her childhood snapshots, she takes the reader from infancy to adulthood as she navigates trying to live as a black woman in a white family.

Lockington takes us on a journey through her life through a series of vignettes. These small, important moments serve as a framing device, intertwining to create a larger narrative about race, family, and belonging.

With this framing device, it’s easy to imagine Lockington poring over a photo album, each picture conjuring a different memory and infusing her story with equal parts sadness, regret, and nostalgia. You can create a similar effect by separating your narrative into different songs to create an album or episodes in a TV show. A unique structure can add an extra layer to your narrative and enhance the overall story.

9. “Drinking Chai to Savannah” by Anjali Enjeti

On a trip to Savannah with her friends, Anjali Enjeti is reminded of a racist incident she experienced as a teenager . The memory is prompted by her discomfort of traveling in Georgia as a South Asian woman and her friends’ seeming obliviousness to how others view them. As she recalls the tense and traumatic encounter she had in line at a Wendy’s and the worry she experiences in Savannah, Enjeti reflects on her understanding of otherness and race in America.

Enjeti paints the scene in Wendy’s with a deft hand. Using descriptive language, she invokes the five senses to capture the stress and fear she felt when the men in line behind her were hurling racist sentiments.

She writes, “He moves closer. His shadow eclipses mine. His hot, tobacco-tinged breath seeps over the collar of my dress.” The strong, evocative language she uses brings the reader into the scene and has them experience the same anxiety she does, understanding why this incident deeply impacted her.

10. “Siri Tells A Joke” by Debra Gwartney

One day, Debra Gwartney asks Siri—her iPhone’s digital assistant—to tell her a joke. In reply, Siri recites a joke with a familiar setup about three men stuck on a desert island. When the punchline comes, Gwartney reacts not with laughter, but with a memory of her husband , who had died less than six months prior.

In a short period, Gwartney goes through a series of losses—first, her house and her husband’s writing archives to a wildfire, and only a month after, her husband. As she reflects on death and the grief of those left behind in the wake of it, she recounts the months leading up to her husband’s passing and the interminable stretch after as she tries to find a way to live without him even as she longs for him.

A joke about three men on a deserted island seems like an odd setup for an essay about grief. However, Gwartney uses it to great effect, coming back to it later in the story and giving it greater meaning. By the end of her piece, she recontextualizes the joke, the original punchline suddenly becoming deeply sad. In taking something seemingly unrelated and calling back to it later, the essay’s message about grief and love becomes even more powerful.

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65 Engaging Personal Narrative Ideas for Kids and Teens

Tell a story to engage the reader.

Personal narrative essays are all about telling stories. Engage your reader with lots of descriptive language, and ensure you have a beginning, middle, and end. ( Get more tips about teaching narrative writing here. ) Try these personal narrative ideas to inspire kids and teens to tell meaningful stories from their own lives, no matter what they’ve experienced.

“Describe a Time When You …” Personal Narrative Ideas

Firsts and bests personal narrative ideas, general personal narrative essay ideas, college essay personal narrative ideas.

These personal narrative ideas urge students to dig into their past experiences and share them with their audience. Be sure to share the details, including what took place and how it made you feel, and anything you learned from the experience.

Describe a time when you:

Were scared
Overcame a big challenge
Learned an important life lesson
Had to make a difficult decision

Were proud of a friend or family member
Did something you didn’t want to and ended up liking it
Met a celebrity or someone you really admire
Tried something new
Made a mistake and had to apologize and/or fix the mistake
Were in danger
Helped someone in need
Had a dream come true
Felt inspired
Had a really terrible day

Were a leader
Made someone else laugh
Did something you later regretted
Set a goal and achieved it

These essay topics explore the times you did something for the first time ever, or when you were the best version of yourself.

Write about meeting your best friend for the first time and how your relationship developed.

Tell about learning to ride a bike or drive a car.
Tell about your proudest moment.
What is your happiest memory?
What is your earliest memory?
Explain what it’s like to move to a new town or start a new school.
What’s the best (or worst!) vacation you’ve ever taken?
Tell the story of the time you got your first pet.
Describe your favorite field trip of all time.
Tell the story of your first day of kindergarten.
What’s the best meal you’ve ever eaten?
Describe the best party or celebration you’ve ever attended.
Tell about the first time someone ever paid you for work (first job, chores for a neighbor, babysitting, etc.) and how it made you feel.

Describe the first time you spent a night away from home without your family.
What’s the best gift you’ve ever been given?

Here are more personal narrative topics to inspire young writers.

Describe a performance or sporting event you took part in.
Explain the process of cooking and eating your favorite meal.
Write about a time when you or someone you know displayed courage.
Share the most embarrassing thing that ever happened to you.
Describe a time when you or someone you know experienced prejudice or oppression.

Explain a family tradition, how it developed, and its importance today.
What is your favorite holiday? How does your family celebrate it?
Describe your morning routine from the time you wake up until the moment the school bell rings to start the day.
Share what you do on a typical non-school day.
Tell about a time when you were injured. How did it happen?
Describe an argument you and a friend had and how you resolved it.
Tell about what you think your life will be like when you’re 25 years old.
Explore a time when you felt you were treated unfairly.
What makes your family different from everyone else’s family?
If you could relive any day in your life, what would it be? Would you want it to be the same or different?

These personal narrative essay topics all come from real 2022–2023 college applications. ( See more college essay prompts here. )

Discuss a time when reflection or introspection led to clarity or understanding of an issue that is important to you.
Share an example of how you have used your own critical-thinking skills on a specific subject, project, idea, or interest.

Using your personal, academic, or volunteer/work experiences, describe the topics or issues that you care about and why they are important to you.
Reflect on a personal experience where you intentionally expanded your cultural awareness.
When was the last time you questioned something you had thought to be true?
Reflect on a time when you or someone you observed had to make a choice about whether to act with integrity and honesty.
Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes, or contributed to group efforts over time.
Describe a time when you were challenged by a perspective that differed from your own. How did you respond?
Elaborate on an activity or experience you have had that made an impact on a community that is important to you.

Describe any meaningful travel experiences you’ve had.
Choose one of the communities to which you belong, and describe that community and your place within it.
What is the greatest compliment you have ever been given? Why was it meaningful to you?
What has been your best academic experience in the last two years, and what made it so good?
Describe a time when you’ve felt empowered or represented by an educator.
Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.

What are your favorite personal narrative ideas? Come share on the WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook.

Plus, check out the big list of essay topics for high school (100+ ideas) ., you might also like.

15 Inspiring Personal Narrative Examples for Writers

Reveal a part of yourself in your essay. Continue Reading

218 Narrative Essay Topics

When some high school students get a narrative essay for their homework, they believe they must air out their laundry, but that's rarely the case. Anyone can create a beautiful and captivating story that describes memorable events in fine detail.

Your narrative essay could also be about your role model. The first thing you must do to come up with a masterpiece is to take your time coming up with great narrative essay topics. You can find numerous ideas online but scroll on to find the best selection prepared by experts.

Before you rummage around old assignments for a topic idea, look at this list of interesting narrative essay topics. They will inspire you in unimaginable ways and get you on your way to writing that masterpiece. Without further ado, let's get to the best narrative essay topics for your assignment!

Woman holding up a light bulb drawing sign written narrative topics

Narrative Essay Topic Ideas • Narrative Essay Titles

The greatest responsibility you have when writing narrative essays is to make sure you are impressionable. This means writing great narrative essay topics. Let's get those juices flowing with some ideas for the essay.

The most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to you
The most embarrassing experience in the Iraq war
An experience that gave you business acumen
Your most frightening experience as a child
An experience that showed you the value of trust
How you learnt to overcome fear
An unpleasant experience that showed you an important life lesson
A harrowing experience that taught you to appreciate life
One memorable day with a family member
A personal narrative concerning a success story

While some are pretty straightforward, others are a bit of a thinker. You have the liberty to experiment with these topics by conducting a bit of research. For example, you could come up with life lessons from a memorable trip with family members. Go try it out. We'll explore some more personalized essay topics in the next section.

Light bulb placed on blackboard written narrative essay topics

Best Narrative Essay Topics: Funny, Personal, Literacy, and Fictional Ideas

Are you looking for material for your research paper? Researching an engaging story is crucial to engaging high school students and faculty with your writing. Read this part for timely answers to questions on the best topic ideas for funny, literacy, personal, and fictional ideas.

My virgin flight to Asia
Best memories of my high school
My hopes upon completing college
A memorable trip to Mexico
A friend in disguise: sheep-in-wolf clothing
An accident I was involved in
The journey ahead: Living through end-stage capitalism
A life-changing event that happened in high school
An experience with cybercrime and its personal effects
Experiencing unequal employment opportunities as a teenager
My favorite meal: Barbequed meat with anything on top
Experiencing psychological torture as a teenage American
How I maintain an effective work-life balance
The most important life lesson I got from school
My realization of the existence of double-faced people
The most memorable people in my life
How I survived a shark attack
How do I keep my personal and professional lives separate?
My favorite teacher in grade school
My experience with Covid-19: physical, social, and economic issues
My most memorable punishment at home
My proudest moment in life

Personal Narrative Essay Topics

Look at some of these personal narrative essay ideas that will hit home and spur up an idea or two about an experience you think would capture your audience.

The reason why I love my family
The toughest decision I ever made
My favorite meditation spot: outdoors
A complete day in the life of John Smith
The best moment of my entire life
The moment I will treasure in my life forever
The best decision I have ever made
How do I overcome my fears and turn them into strengths
Why I don't particularly appreciate going to college
My experience with racism as an international student
My neighborhood's experience with the 2009 market crash

That last one was a bit of a stretch. But you get the idea. The possibilities are endless; all you have to think about is an experience in your life, and personal narrative essay topics are all around us. You just need a hot cup of coffee, a notebook, and a pen. Brainstorm ideas from different experiences in your life, and you'll find tons of them if you dig a bit deeper.

Well, it's not an exact science, but it is a pretty good way to open your mind to ideas and develop different topics for your essay. If you're stuck, some help might, well, help. You can buy narrative essays online . You'll get a well written research paper on time. Now, let's see some fictional narrative essay topics and ideas to see further how you can create your unique one.

Woman holding Harry Potter book and text written, “writing a fictional narrative essay’ beside her

Fictional Narrative Essay Ideas

Now this is where things start to get interesting. You can come up with any number of these. A story you heard from your best friend? Or a narrative essay topic on the most embarrassing moment you can place a human being. Go nuts with this one. Let's give you some insights into what you can consider writing on.

Our worst "boys' trip" ever
Stuck in the middle of nowhere without gas
A terrible dream that morphed into reality
How your best friend turned into your enemy
How your friend was stuck in a foreign country
An exciting story about your day at the horse tracks
Personal stories from your grandpa
How your favorite teacher helped with your first job interview
A major turning point in your life
A significant challenge facing your community
Favorite childhood games that instilled adult character
A weird encounter with a stranger on a train
Dealing with a daunting task during the summer
A Christmas present you'll never forget
The first pet you owned
A random act that changed your perspective on life
The first person to start a community health center in your neighborhood

You could get a few tips from this list for your next fictional essay topics.

Good Narrative Essay Topics for College Students

Take a look at some narrative essay topic ideas that benefit university students.

My best memory when in college
My favorite unit in college
The most memorable incident in my life
My favorite professor in college
A reminder to my older self
My favorite author in business
A letter to future me
The best roommate I had in college
My best research project to date
The best team member I had for a research project
The best party I attended in college
A life-threatening escape during a summer trip
The best food I had in college
The best trip I had in college
How one event changed everything in my school
My final day in college

These are but a few of the many topics about college you could write a narrative essay on. Personal experiences are the best because you only have to rely on memory, but looking at it from an outsider's viewpoint helps relate to the reader. Now let's check out some narrative essay topics you can enjoy writing on as a high school student.

Narrative Essay Topics for High School Students

Use this guide as you come up with a narrative paper to generate essay ideas for your personal narrative topic. You are bound to come up with an interesting story if you immerse yourself in the experience. Here are some personal experiences to help you start writing narrative essay topics that'll guide you through high school.

My first day in junior high
A terrible experience with a movie character at my high school
How modern school environments almost gave me mental health issues
My favorite subject in high school
Interesting topics we learnt about in my literature unit
The most amazing farewell party
The best welcome party in high school
The best teacher in my high school
The two buddies in my high school
The best decision I made for college life in high school
The worst mistake I made in middle school
The best streets we visited in my high school days
The best teammate I met in high school
The most amazing thing I learnt in high school
The final exam in my high school
How my last day went at my high school

You can write tons of other topics on ideas, such as your best friend, or come up with narrative essay topics involving less personal narrative ideas that border more on fiction than reality. Let's now dive into some topics you could write about as a K-level student.

Narrative Essay Ideas for Kids

As is the case with university students, writing narrative essays takes practice and depends on the level a student is on. Here's how we'll cover each of the narrative essay topics for each grade level.

Level: Grade 1

Level: grade 2, level: grade 3, level: grade 4, level: grade 5, level: grade 6, level: grade 7, level: grade 8, level: grade 9, level: grade 10, level: grade 11, level: grade 12.

Take a look at some essay writing topics for grade 1 kids.

A day at the beach
After-school games
An important person at school
A day in the library
Food I do not like at school
A day at the park with my family
Games we play at recess
My neighbor's dog, Butch
What makes plants grow
How to make my favorite snack
How to talk to new people
The reason I like summer
My favorite hobby for Saturdays
How I spend my weekend
How to ride a bike
My favorite toy in the world
A day in the summer heat
The best vacation last summer
A wonderful place to go
The best treehouse in our yard
A sport I'd like to continue playing
A trip on the train
Amazing facts about birds
The most amazing pony at the fair
A trip to the supermarket

Two children holding books on their heads

Activities resulting from outdoor fun
What you can do when you're indoors
Amazing facts about airplanes
An important person in the government
The tiger: an amazing animal
The best after-school games
A day at the public library
Dancing to music at home
Food I find odd and disgusting
How to make my favorite dinner
The best toy to own right now
A cartoon character that I like
A day in the Moroccan desert
A great place to visit in the summer
The best friend I never saw
The wooden treehouse in my backyard
The best place to visit in spring
A song that I like
A trip on an airship
An important time in history
A secret place I visit
A trip on a monorail
Why do I find spiders creepy?
Creatures that live in the desert
Why dumping plastic is bad for the environment
Going fishing with my father
Going to the dentist
Why I want to be famous
How to cure hiccups
I don't understand why we pollute the environment
What I use a computer to do
My best childhood games
A school trip to the zoo
A toy I have kept for many years
Is pollution reversible if we continue using coal?
What a new student to my school needs to know
The best dream I have ever had
The best trip I have ever taken
How I see myself five years from now
The impact of sharing with friends
What I would do if I were the principal for a day?
A big accident on the road
Can American farmers feed everyone?
How would I define the word honesty?
I am the president for the day. Here is what I would do
How can I change bad behaviors?
My favorite chores
My participation in tree planting outside the school
My bedroom, from the door to all four walls
The craziest hairstyle I have ever had
One thing I want to do after finishing the 8th grade
A big problem in the energy sector is...
A cool new store in our neighborhood
Dear governor
Discover nature in Singapore
My favorite teacher in gym class
My favorite band as a small child
Pet peeves that my best friend has
The worst meal I ever ate
The worst shave I ever had
The best picture day in my school
A day I will never forget
A friend I will always cherish
A project I am working on
A typical evening at my house
How Abraham Lincoln changed history
A great scientific breakthrough
An invention that transformed how we communicate
Causes of global warming in the world
Coping with many brothers and sisters
My Website on good etiquette
How a motorbike works
How a crankshaft works in an engine
A trip to the NASA space station
If I had superpowers, I would...
Is pollution a necessary evil?
My first encounter with a cyberbully
My dream car since I was a child
My dream house will have...
I admit it: I enjoy professional basketball
Overcoming health problems related to gymnastics
What did Americans make in Detroit?
What makes pollution a danger in Australia?
Environmentally-friendly ways to mine for petroleum
Is fracking bad for the environment?
What animals can teach people
Tools I will need for my future dream job
What if there were no school sports?
The best summer job in my existence
We all make mistakes
The hardest thing I have ever done
A funny thing that happened in 7th grade
Do not let obstacles keep you from your goal
The influence of greed in corporate America
Foods I love during a hot day
A change that would help you get better grades
The summer job that I regret most
Putting my foot in my mouth at the fair
The argument for alternative sources of energy
Something our community really needs is...
If it's a rule, it's right...right?

Coming Up With Good Topic Ideas

The thought of writing sends a chill down many students' spines. Academic papers can be intimidating, but you only need to eliminate writer's block and unleash your writing potential. To this end, you may not have a clue about what you are writing about. You will likely have no problems flowing with a topic with which you have information ready. Use different strategies to come up with narrative essay topics that address your issues. Find what works best for you and which learning style suits you best.

Here are some steps you can follow to develop your narrative essay topics.

Understand your assignment
Determine the assignment's purpose
Use a provided list

1. Understand Your Assignment

You must understand the length of your narrative essay and what type is required for your assignment to score highly. You must also discern the research level needed to determine your research scope.

2. Determine the Assignment’s Purpose

Your assignment's purpose will help you determine the type of paper you are writing. For instance, writing an argumentative essay topic will differ from developing personal narrative essay topics. Learn to recognize terms like describe, contrast, analyze, compare, and synthesize to determine what your teacher wants.

3. Use a Provided List

Your instructor may provide you with a list. Occasionally, choose a topic from the given list that interests you. Your instructor will have checked the scope and breadth of the research and seen that such papers elicited great narrative essay topics in the past. When given a list, one good habit of writing narrative essay topics that appeal to your audience is to write the main argument and a thesis for the topics and compare them for scope and breadth.

Select a topic that comes naturally and where you have greater insight to develop a good narrative essay.

Best Narrative Essay Topics: Funny, Personal, Literacy and Fictional Ideas

Researching on best narrative essay topics? Deadline approaching, but you haven’t started yet? Worried because of such a mess? Want a better and more timely solution to your problems? Well! Continue reading this if you want to seek an answer to these questions.

Selecting a suitable narrative essay topic can present a daunting challenge during one’s academic journey, as these topics are often elusive. The process hinges on an individual’s life experiences, with impactful encounters naturally suggesting engaging themes. Nonetheless, certain experiences may defy translation into compelling written pieces. This is precisely where our essay writing service comes into play, offering assistance in overcoming such hurdles. Now, let’s delve into the specifics of your quest:

Table of Contents

What Is a Narrative Essay?

A narrative essay is a form of essay in which the writer tells a story or narrates it in a way that appeals to the audience. This can involve an adventure, an incident, a life story, etc. Not always, but a narrative essay is usually about personal stories and life experiences.

But do you think anyone can write in this style? Of course, sometimes writer faces a block in the middle, start or even before start of narrative essays. In that particular time, they can take a help from an AI essay writer , which gives a freedom to choose any good topic that suits the writer. Now let’s come back to key points of narration-based essays; if assigned by the teacher, he/she might set strict criteria or boundaries to make the roadway a bit difficult. Similarly, choosing a topic involving personal experiences might be difficult because some experiences cannot be narrated in a presentable manner. Personal topics can be used when writing a personal essay. That is why we are here to help you out choosing such topics.

Choosing a Topic for a Narrative Essay

Choosing a topic for such an essay requires some good steps. These steps are as follows:

Remember to tell a story

Choose an idea worthy of discussion.

Planning and brainstorming ideas

Structuring for the essay

Let’s discuss these in detail:

Make sure that the topic chosen for the essay must connect with the audience. The story the writer is telling should be such that the experiences, life lessons, skills etc., connect with the audience. Otherwise, it will spoil the whole writing and result in boredom.

One might have read the story of some famous writer. How do you feel when you read it? Of course, we develop a connection with that story; even some people cry reading it because they feel it’s their own. This is the art of narration. And you know what’s the main thing that hits the writer and develop the connection? It is those short chunks, main lines of 2-3 sentences. Remember when you last time highlighted something while reading? Yes those lines are topic or thesis sentences, don’t worry you can also use thesis statement generator to add main points within essays or stories.

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Choose an idea worthy of discussion

Do not randomly choose an idea for the essay; rather, choose the best one on which a good discussion would be made. Boring ideas not involving the writer’s interest make it an ambiguous essay and, in turn, make it a bad piece of writing. To make sure the idea is useful, ask yourself:

What are my associations with the chosen idea?

Would I be able to convey it to the readers the way I have an association with it?

If yes, how am I going to convey it?

Do I have enough information or memories related to the idea?

Questions like these will make the essay rigorous. However, one can always change the topic or idea of an essay if he feels at any point that the above questions are not answered.

Plan the structure of the essay. Brainstorming is a good session to start with. Do brainstorming and write good ideas and information regarding the chosen topic to give a fine structure to the essay from this stage. Make sure to plan how one will structure the essay properly at this stage. This step can also help you to make your essay longer.

Throughout, the writer needs to mix different life memories to check whether it is a good idea to mess up. The subject should be such that it hits the audience’s emotions and guarantees that the story is narrated so that it develops the same association with the audience as with the writer.

Structuring For the Essay

The structure of the essay is always standard and is followed in every essay writing. Whatever idea or topic the writer chooses from his experiences, it should be such that it develops a logical order starting from a good introduction, passing through the body and ending with the conclusion. The standard for body paragraphs is three. So whenever choosing the topic or opting for an experience, memory or lesson, ensure enough information is available to make three paragraphs out of it. The paragraphs for the body should also have enough information to support the thesis, as will be stated in the introduction part.

40 Best Narrative Essay Topics

A narrative essay should be such that it presents a picture of the writer’s life experiences. Since the reader cannot see the picture, the writer can show him through the power of words.

Some 40 best narrative essay topics for college are as follows:

The first flight I made

My memories of the school time

My first day of school

My memorable trip

A friend in disguise

The accident I have gone through

An eye-opening event of my life

Experiencing a crash

A realization to the new world

My favorite movie

A row with my peers

The first time I drive

A time when I faced unequal employment opportunity

My memorable vacation

My favorite dish

Realization of the double-faced people

betrayer friends

Going through psychological trauma in my life

My mental health

The diet I follow

How do I maintain a work-life balance?

The people I love the most

How do I survive shark attack?

The help that I will never forget

My favorite place in my house

How have I learned decoration?

The first time I danced

How do I manage a high workload?

If I were an HR officer

My achievements

A proud moment in my life

Changes in my body after vaccination

How do I enter into good bonding?

Why do I sometimes judge?

The biggest punishment I ever had

My shortcomings that kills me

The first time I appeared in a show

Personal Narrative Essay Ideas

The best moment of my entire life

The toughest decision I ever made

My favorite place to visit

Reason why I love my best friend

What I do in my entire day: a complete schedule of my full day routine

The most perfect decision I have ever made in my life

The story of racism I faced in a foreign country as a Muslim

The reason why I hate going to the college

How do I overcome fears and turn them into my strength?

Most embarrassing moment of my life

The moment I had to lose my best friend

The disease I have fought and defeated in my life

The memorable debate competition in the school

My first ever pet

The perfect sunset I’ve ever seen

The day I had to say good bye to my best friend

My experience with receiving my first ever degree

The most horrible food I have ever tried

My favorite fruit juice

My most liked music playlist

How do I connect with the people?

Why do I always take the blame and become bad in the picture?

The unforgettable fight with the bully in college

The most horrible and annoying teacher at school

The race I have been trying to complete since many years

My experience of university life

The perfect wedding I ever attended

The most valuable life experience I ever had

Exploring a new city in my Summer vacations

The moment I met a car accident

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Fictional Narrative Essay Ideas

The incident of our friend’s day out going wrong

A dark night, and my car ran out of Petrol

The worst scenario ever happened during exams

A horrible dream that turned into reality

The story of vampires and their exact origin, a place no lesser than hell

How I felt like Cinderella once but it ended up like a nightmare

The dream I saw about myself rotting in hell

The most fierce monster I saw in a famous park in the dark

The story of my town about to suffer a hurricane

I met a person who lost his memory and I had no way to remind him anything

The story of a teen who creates a viral video and becomes famous

The story of a click that ticks 13 too

A tale of a 10 year old kid who became the President of the country

The most horrible thing happened on the island where no human existed

An art character that comes to life

A strange creature coming to life straight out of a story book

A pink hill that looks like an ice cream

A parallel world where all parents support their kid’s decisions

A world free of racism and discrimination

A tale of zero hatred in the world

The haunted place and my visit to it

A bully victim who turned into a bully himself

A wild gorilla broke into the house

A giant tree came to life

A giant candy house with chocolate doors

A normal girl got superhero powers

The paper money got replaced with digital currency

The world turned into metaverse

Time started passing backwards

A town where can read minds

Narrative Essay Topics for College Students

Most memorable incident in my life

The best college memory

The most important day of my life

My favorite course in college

My favorite book

My favorite professor

A note to my old self

A note to my future self

A research project I can never forget

The best classmate I had in college

The best teammate I had in college project

Most interesting party I attended in college

The dangerous trip we all friends had in college life

The best adventurous trip I had in college life

My most favorite dish I loved eating in college days

My hostel room in college

The tale of meeting my life mate in college

The most epic drama rehearsal in my college

How one mass bunk changed everything in my college

How hard the life of college students is

My last day at college

Narrative Essay Topics for High School Students

We agree that coming up with narrative writing topics is not easy as it sounds. But it gets convenient when you have lists of such amazing topics. Here’s another one!

The story of my first day at high school

A bad experience with the rude teacher

My favorite subject

The most special lunch I had in school

Most memorable farewell party

The most amazing welcome party in high school

My favorite teacher at high school

My best friend at high school

The perfect friendship I saw at high school

The worst mistake I made

The best decision I took being a high school student

The best street food I tried in high schooling days

The best thing I learned in high school

The best classmate I got in high school

The worst team mate I had in high school

The most boring subjects and it’s lectures

A high school teacher that changed the way of teaching

An extremely boring day in high school

A perfect friend I made in high school

The last exam in high school

The story of my last day at high school

Literacy Narrative Essay Topics

Here’s another list of 30 unique literacy narrative topics. We have tried our best to give you some of the best literacy narrative ideas you can consider.

The most useless book I have ever read

My most favorite subject at school

The first short story I ever wrote

My favorite novel based on real life incident

The best poem I have ever read

The worst piece of literature I have ever read and felt disappointed

The worst book I studied in my college

A large collection of books my favorite teacher recommended to me

A letter to myself that I should keep secret

The last letter I wrote to my best friend

Why did I start writing?

How writing makes me feel like?

Why I always wanted to be a writer?

Is becoming a freelance writer good career choice?

The worst writing mistakes that you should avoid

Best marketing email I have ever read

Best essay writing guide I always recommend to everyone

The most satisfying writing piece I have ever read

The poorly written writing guide I still laugh at

Best novel I read about realism

The only book that made sense to me

The best author I have ever read

Can I become an author myself?

The best writing guide my friend gave me

A collection of beautiful poems I can never forget

A list of my favorite poets and what I like about them

A list of my favorite writers and what I like about them

The best book collection my friend owns

10 ideal methods I use to write a good essay

The favorite short story of mine

Note: These are just a few literacy narrative topic ideas to get you started with this essay picked from going through hundreds of literacy narrative examples. Plus you can blend two or more subjects for a unique topic.

First Person Narrative Essay Ideas

If you are searching for the best narrative paragraph topics, you are in luck! As this list has 30 personal narrative topics for you to consider.

A day in my everyday life

The best thing I have done in my life

A note to myself

The scariest thing I have ever done

The first and best short story I wrote

How do I overcoming my fears and keep going in life

The right things I have ever done that turned my life upside down

My favorite ice cream parlor in the city

My go-to place for lunch and dinner

My personal tips on how to look good casually

How I turned my own life upside down

The most horrible moment of my life

Why did I decide to leave my house at 18?

The best career choice I have ever come across

Why do I hate my parents

Why don’t I have any friends

How was my experience with flipping burgers at McDonald’s?

My first adventure ever

The first mistake of my life

Why did I drop out of college?

The best decision of my life

My first best friend

My most favorite dish

The right thing I did that saved someone’s life

The day I was about to get into jail

Most embarrassing question I ever got asked

My life in my village

The best book I have ever read

The best city I have even been to

Most expensive thing I bought with my own salary

As you have finished going through the list, you must have learned that personal narrative ideas are a lot more easier to write on as compared to the others.

Funny narrative essay topics

Writing a funny narrative essay is a great way to engage your audience and make them laugh. If you’re looking for some inspiration, check out our blogs . There, you’ll find a variety of funny narrative essays on topics such as:

Choosing to sleep over workout

A girl or boy? Who is more intelligent?

Traditional photos Vs selfie clicks

How to relate lion with a cat

If I were a grapefruit

Farming or billionaire; the choice is yours

How to enjoy during exams

Food or workout? Which to prefer?

What to choose: internet or study?

How to survive scolding by parents.

Best narrative stories

Examples of some all-time famous and best narrative stories are:

The tell-tale heart

The lottery

The metamorphosis

The lady with the dog

The gift of the Magi

Story of your life

The yellow wallpaper

The monkey’s paw

To build a fire

Perfect essay writers hope that they clarify your queries when you land on our page. We also hope that a decent explanation and good essay topics are provided to make your writing journey much more enjoyable and easier.

Are you still asking yourself “do I still need help?” Well, don’t bother yourself and let our expert essay writers help you out.

A good topic for a story is the one involving personal as well as the connection of the audience with it. Such topics can be:

How do people change?

Losing friends

The double-faced world

A friend in need is a friend indeed

A narrative essay is a form of essay in which the writer tells a story or narrates it in a way that is appealing to the audience. This can involve an adventure, an incident, a life story, etc. Not always, but a narrative essay is usually about personal stories and life experiences.

A personal narrative topic is the one that involves narration of personal experiences, life lessons, skills etc. It is the major form of narrative essay and most of them are written on such topics. These can be as follows:

Some of the examples of narrative writing are:

Narrative essay

Personal essays

Biographies

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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

15 Awesome Recount & Personal Narrative Topics

Recounts and Personal Narratives can often be a dry and dreaded writing task for teachers and students as far too frequently we recount menial and boring events such as what happened over the weekend.

These fifteen personal narrative topics / or recount prompts will encourage your students to think deeply and allow them to learn more about themselves and each other.

Here are 15 excellent recount and personal narrative topics that will engage your students and foster self-reflection and connection within the classroom. These prompts aim to alleviate the common perception of recounts and personal narratives as monotonous by encouraging students to explore meaningful and captivating experiences.

These topics allow students to delve into their own lives and share significant stories with their peers.

PERSONAL NARRATIVE TOPICS FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

Looking back on our childhood, we often refer to key events that significantly impacted us. Tell about one of those deﬁning events from your childhood.
It has been said that parents are our ﬁrst and most important teachers. Describe a time when you learned a valuable lesson from one of your parents.
Recount a time when you found yourself in a perilous situation. Tell the story of how you got into that situation and survived it.
Far too often, we take nature for granted. Describe an experience that made you appreciate our natural world.
We have all heard the saying, “You should never judge another person until you walk in his or her shoes.” Tell about an experience that enabled you to understand another person better.
We all possess phobias and things we are afraid of, and sometimes we find ourselves in situations that force us to face our deepest fears. Tell about a time when you had to face one of your greatest fears.
Sometimes, something negative turns out to be positive—a “blessing in disguise.” Describe a time in your life when something bad was good.
We often put people we admire so highly on a pedestal that we forget they’re human. Describe a time when you realized that someone you admired was imperfect.
Have you ever forgotten something of extreme importance? Tell about your experience.
Sports are a big part of some people’s lives, either as spectators or participants. Describe a memorable sporting event.
Describe a time when you performed or witnessed a random act of kindness.
Describe a time when you witnessed something unbelievable.
Some unexpected experiences can help us mature from children into young adults. Describe one of those key experiences in your life.
It is an amazing experience when we create something beautiful. Tell about a time when you created something.
Rich experiences can take place when we travel. Tell about a memorable experience you had when you were traveling.

THE STORY TELLERS BUNDLE OF TEACHING RESOURCES

personal narrative topics | story tellers bundle 1 | 15 Awesome Recount & Personal Narrative Topics | literacyideas.com

A MASSIVE COLLECTION of resources for narratives and story writing in the classroom covering all elements of crafting amazing stories. MONTHS WORTH OF WRITING LESSONS AND RESOURCES, including:

7 Types of Poetry for Kids (With Examples & Tasks)

Top Research strategies for Students

Perfect Paragraph Writing: The Ultimate Guide

IIf you are looking for an incredible free resource for teaching how to write recounts, be sure to check out innovativeteachingideas.com It has complete guides to teaching all major styles of writing.

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COMMENTS

200 Best Topic Ideas for Narrative Essay
Focus on a specific event or detail to make your narrative more focused and impactful. Look for universal themes like love or personal transformation that connect with readers on a deeper level. Brainstorm ideas and write freely to uncover compelling topics. Decide on storytelling techniques like flashbacks or foreshadowing and choose a topic ...
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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.
89+ Personal Narrative Ideas To Spark Your Creativity
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.
100+ Interesting Narrative Essay Topics For Your Next Paper
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.
100+ Inspiring Narrative Essay Topics
A great narrative essay topic is both personal and widely relatable. Check out these narrative essay topics to see which resonates with your story. ... Writing a personal narrative starts with a good personal narrative topic. Remember, this type of essay should be about a personal experience that inspired you or might inspire others. Overcoming ...
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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 ...
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How to Choose a Topic for a Narrative Essay. Choosing good narrative essay topics are crucial for a few reasons. The story you tell will most often draw from your own experiences and thoughts, so choose a topic that you know well or are well-informed about. ... Personal narrative essay topics. Since narrative essays are often written in the ...
550 Prompts for Narrative and Personal Writing
Update, Sept. 9, 2022: We published a new collection of 445 narrative and personal writing prompts. We've been posting fresh writing prompts every school day for over a decade now, and every so ...
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A narrative essay is a prose-written story that's focused on the commentary of a central theme. Narrative essays are generally written in the first-person POV, and are usually about a topic that's personal to the writer. Everything in a narrative essay should take place in an established timeline, with a clear beginning, middle, and end.
525 Prompts for Narrative and Personal Writing
Updated with 80 new prompts from the 2022-23 school year! We've been posting fresh writing prompts every school day for over a decade now, and every so often we create a themed collection like ...
100 Narrative Essay Topics
The first time you cooked a meal. A trip that didn't go as planned. An unexpected guest at a family gathering. The most memorable dream you've ever had. A time when you felt out of place. Your first experience with love. A time when you faced a moral dilemma. An experience that made you question your beliefs.
249 Personal Narrative Ideas
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.
100+ Best Narrative Essay Topics for 2024 and Onwards
Choosing a good topic for your high school or college narrative writing involves a set of steps. By following them, you will find relevant narrative topics that you could use in your essay. The steps include: 1. Brainstorming. Brainstorming is important. Make a list of essay ideas and research them.
3 Great Narrative Essay Examples + Tips for Writing
A narrative essay is one of the most intimidating assignments you can be handed at any level of your education. Where you've previously written argumentative essays that make a point or analytic essays that dissect meaning, a narrative essay asks you to write what is effectively a story.. But unlike a simple work of creative fiction, your narrative essay must have a clear and concrete motif ...
50 Engaging Narrative Essay Topics for High Schoolers
A good narrative essay will begin with an attention-grabbing opening line. But make sure to avoid common clichés, such as "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.". Instead, come up with something original and specific to you and your situation. For example: "My pre-calc teacher was obsessed with circles.
How to Write a Narrative Essay
Interactive example of a narrative essay. An example of a short narrative essay, responding to the prompt "Write about an experience where you learned something about yourself," is shown below. Hover over different parts of the text to see how the structure works. Narrative essay example.
10 Personal Narrative Examples to Inspire Your Writing
To inspire your writing and reveal the sheer diversity of this type of essay, here are ten great examples personal narratives from recent years: Click to tweet! 1. "Only Disconnect" by Gary Shteyngart. Personal narratives don't have to be long to be effective, as this thousand-word gem from the NYT book review proves.
65 Engaging Personal Narrative Ideas for Kids and Teens
65 Engaging Personal Narrative Ideas for Kids and Teens. Tell a story to engage the reader. By Jill Staake, B.S., Secondary ELA Education. Sep 13, 2022. Personal narrative essays are all about telling stories. Engage your reader with lots of descriptive language, and ensure you have a beginning, middle, and end.
218 Narrative Essay Topics
Read this part for timely answers to questions on the best topic ideas for funny, literacy, personal, and fictional ideas. My virgin flight to Asia. Best memories of my high school. My hopes upon completing college. A memorable trip to Mexico. A friend in disguise: sheep-in-wolf clothing.
222 Best Narrative Essay Topics And Ideas For 2024
Some 40 best narrative essay topics for college are as follows: The first flight I made. My memories of the school time. My first day of school. My fears. My memorable trip. A friend in disguise. The accident I have gone through. An eye-opening event of my life.
150 Personal Narrative Essay Topics + Bonus Tips
An example of a personal narrative essay is sharing memory of a person the author saw in the childhood and who left a stark impression (e. g. due to exceptional qualities). Here is a little of 65, narrative essay topics for high school students and college/university attendants. You can use these personal narrative ideas to help you to choose ...
50 Narrative Essay Topics
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).
15 Engaging Personal Narrative Topics for Students
Describe a memorable sporting event. Describe a time when you performed or witnessed a random act of kindness. Describe a time when you witnessed something unbelievable. Some unexpected experiences can help us mature from children into young adults. Describe one of those key experiences in your life.

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150 Narrative Essay Topics

What is a Narrative Essay?

How to Choose a Topic for a Narrative Essay

The key thing to remember is that you’re telling a story

Choose an interesting or meaningful idea to explore

The pre-writing stage is critically important

Don’t forget to have fun with it!

But remember that it’s still an essay

Struggling with the Topic for Your Narrative Essay Homework?

150 Unique Topics for Narrative Essay

College narrative essay topics

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Easy narrative essay topics

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