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Student Opinion

650 Prompts for Narrative and Personal Writing

By Michael Gonchar

• Oct. 20, 2016

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Memorable Narrative Essay Writing Practice Exercises

Narrative essay writing is best taught with a combination of brainstorming, outlining and practice writing exercises that encourage students to write in the past tense and use appropriate transitions. Teaching narrative essay writing is quite enjoyable as it allows students to write about personal experiences.

1. A narrative typically tells a story from a particular point of view, and this point of view is usually that of the narrator.

2. A narrative often has a plot, which is a sequence of events that the story follows.

3. A narrative may have characters, who may be either fictional or based on real people.

4. A narrative typically takes place in a specific time and place.

1 “First Day at University” (narrative essay transitions exercise with answers)

This is an exercise to help students understand transitions in narrative essays.

Related Resources:

Story Telling Exercises for  ESL Students

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2 narrative paragraph practice (favorite memories), 3 brainstorming an important event (narrative essay).

This is a brainstorm worksheet for a narrative essay about an important event.

4 Narrative transitions sentence writing worksheet

Narrative essay transitions sentence writing worksheet (PDF)

5 Narrative sentences practice (or past tense writing exercise)

This is an exercise for students to practice writing narrative or past tense sentences. Students look at the pictures and try to tell a story in 2-5 sentences.

7 Brainstorming influential life experiences (with answers)

This is an exercise for students to brainstorm ideas and write sentences in preparation for a personal profile essay using narrative techniques. On page 1 they use the vocabulary to write short sentences for suitable for each picture. On page 2 they write the sub-topics they might use in an essay and explain their experience in a few sentences.

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8 replies to “narrative essay practice exercises”.

The answers for First Day at University are on the second page of the PDF. Just open the PDF. I double checked it.

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Reading and Writing Personal Narratives

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How to Write a Personal Narrative like a Pro (With Examples)

Last Updated: December 12, 2023 Fact Checked

Template and Sample Narrative

• Brainstorming

This article was co-authored by Grant Faulkner, MA . Grant Faulkner is the Executive Director of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) and the co-founder of 100 Word Story, a literary magazine. Grant has published two books on writing and has been published in The New York Times and Writer’s Digest. He co-hosts Write-minded, a weekly podcast on writing and publishing, and has a M.A. in Creative Writing from San Francisco State University.  There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 866,320 times.

Personal narratives focus on a particular real life event that was pivotal or important for the writer. You may have to write a personal narrative as part of a college application or as an assignment for a class. To write a strong personal narrative, start by coming up with an engaging idea. Then, write the narrative with an opening hook and a detailed, organized structure. Always review and revise the personal narrative before handing it in so it is at its best.

Things You Should Know

• Center your narrative around an important moment in your life. For example, you might write about a time you had to make a hard decision or deal with a conflict.
• Move chronologically through the events you’re discussing. This will make your narrative easy to follow and draw your reader in.
• Finish with a moral takeaway or a life lesson. What did you learn from these events, and why is it important? How did they shape you as a person?

Brainstorming Ideas for the Narrative

• For example, you may write about your struggles with body image in high school and how you overcame them in adulthood. Or you may write about your disastrous 15th birthday party and how it affected your relationship with your mother.

• For example, you write a personal narrative about your complicated relationship with your birth mother. Or you may write about a conflict you have with a sport you play or a club you are a part of.

• For example, you may explore a theme like poverty by writing about your family’s struggle with money and finances. You may write about having to defer college applications to work at your parent’s business to make ends meet for your family.

• The Boys of My Youth by Jo Ann Beard
• Slouching Towards Bethlehem by Joan Didion
• Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris
• The Lives section of The New York Times

Writing the Personal Narrative

• For example, the first line in the personal narrative by Tony Gervino is attention grabbing: “I was 6 when my brother John leaned across the kitchen table and casually whispered that he had killed Santa Claus.” [5] X Research source

• For example, in Tony Gervino’s essay, he sets the scene by providing setting, character, and narrative voice: “It was July 1973, we were living in Scarsdale, N.Y., and he was four years older than I was, although that seemed like decades.”

• For example, you may start with an event in childhood with your older sister and then move forward in time to the present day, focusing on you and your older sister as adults.

• For example, you may describe the feeling of your mother’s famous lemon cake as “rich and zesty, with a special ingredient that to this day, I cannot identify.”

• For example, you may end a personal narrative about your complicated relationship with your troubled sister by ending on a recent memory where you both enjoyed each other’s company. You may leave the reader with a lesson you have learned about loving someone, even with all their messiness and baggage.

Polishing the Personal Narrative

• You can also try reading the narrative out loud to someone else so they can hear how it sounds. This can then make it easier for them to give you feedback.

• Be willing to accept feedback from others. Be open to constructive criticism as it will likely strengthen the narrative.

Community Q&A

You Might Also Like

• How to Write a Narrative Essay
• How to Write a Journal Entry
• How to Write an Epistolary Narrative
• How to Write an Autobiography
• ↑ https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/personal-narrative-examples
• ↑ https://www.byrdseed.com/writing-better-personal-narratives/
• ↑ https://grammar.yourdictionary.com/grammar-rules-and-tips/tips-for-writing-a-personal-narrative-essay.html
• ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/17/magazine/lives-a-rats-tale.html
• ↑ https://open.lib.umn.edu/writingforsuccess/chapter/10-1-narration/
• ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/reading-aloud/
• ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/revising-drafts/

About This Article

To write a personal narrative, start by choosing a memorable moment, event, or conflict in your life that you want to write about. Then, use your personal narrative to describe your story, going chronologically through the events. Try to use a lot of sensory detail, like how things smelled, sounded, felt, and looked, so your readers can picture everything you're describing. At the end of your narrative, include a lesson you learned or something you took away from the experience. To learn how to brainstorm ideas for your personal narrative, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Picking a Topic: Personal Narrative Activity

Choosing a personal narrative topic can be a daunting task, especially for young writers in elementary and middle school. The prospect of selecting a single experience and turning it into a captivating essay can leave students feeling overwhelmed and intimidated. Make the process easier with the engaging and effective introductory activity explained below. It’s perfect for launching your personal narrative unit! 

This activity provides a structured approach to brainstorming, moving students towards meaningful and relatable topics for their personal narrative essays. By incorporating guided prompts and interactive elements, this activity helps students overcome the challenge of topic selection and encourages them to delve deeper into their own experiences, emotions, and perspectives.

Step 1: Define

Before diving into the brainstorming activity, make sure students have a solid understanding of the definition and purpose of a personal narrative.

Characteristics of a Personal Narrative 

A personal narrative is a true story about the writer’s life written in first person point of view. 

• engaging introduction
• chronological order (beginning, middle, and end)
• small moment in time
• signal words  
• sensory details
• figurative language
• meaningful conclusion

Click here to download the Personal Narrative Writing Unit!

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Everything you need to teach students how to write a personal narrative!

Step Two: Brainstorm

Students will spend approximately 30 minutes generating a wide-range of ideas and possibilities for their personal narratives. Completing this process will help students evaluate their memories and establish a clear direction for writing. 

Here’s how it works:

• Give students two minutes to answer each prompt listed below. Using a timer will add urgency, keeping students on task and focused. 
• For each prompt, students should record the first thing that comes to their mind. The goal is to identify the memory, not dig into the details. 
• When students have finished responding to all the prompts, have them circle one meaningful memory to use for their personal narrative. Remind students that a personal narrative is a true story about the writer’s life, so they should pick a memory that readers will find interesting and inspiring. 

Click Here for the FREE Personal Narrative Anchor Chart

Step 3: explore.

After the brainstorming activity, have students choose one meaningful memory to explore. 

• Ask students to summarize their meaningful moment using a “who, what, where, when, why” graphic organizer.
• Encourage students to dig deeper into their memory by recording details that appeal to the five senses.  When they think about their meaningful moment, what do they see, hear, smell, taste, and/or touch?  
• Finally, have students identify why the moment they chose is important or meaningful.

Mining for Memories Prompts

Write about a time when…

• you traveled somewhere new
• you performed on a stage 
• you rode a rollercoaster
• you were scared/you cried
• you were surprised
• you learned/tried something new
• you failed or made a mistake
• you were injured or sick
• a teacher or coach helped you
• you made a new friend
• you moved to a new place or school 
• you took a big risk
• you helped someone else
• you felt proud

Ideally, introducing your personal narrative unit with an engaging and student-centered activity will create an environment where students feel inspired to write meaningful narratives that captivate readers. 

Get this activity and everything else you need to teach students how to write a personal narrative! Download the step-by-step unit today!!

Narrative Writing

These lesson plans, teaching ideas, prompts, worksheets, and practice pages will help learners of all levels hone their narrative writing skills—from engaging openers and story endings to varied sentences, sequencing and paragraph planning, essays and complete stories.

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lear how to write a narrative essay here!

Narrative Essay Outline: Format, Worksheet and Example

Before you start writing any essay, it is wise to outline what you intend to include in your essay regardless of the type. This guides you in writing the information that needs to be given. It also helps you organize your thoughts and avoid any distractions by nonessentials.

Writing a Narrative Essay Outline

Usually, most narrative essays are written in three paragraphs. This is, however, not a rule that is etched in stone – the number of paragraphs you decide to use will depend on how much you need to write. The important thing to bear in mind is to ensure that you do not include unnecessary details that can make your essay too long. Your aim should be to write something that retains the interest of whoever is reading your essay without boring or confusing them. The outline of your essay should generally include an introduction, the body of the essay, and a conclusion.

For a three-paragraph essay, the narrative essay structure could look like this:

• Introduction: This is where you introduce your topic and the theme you intend to address. Your introduction should start with a catchy phrase, quote, or saying. You could also use a rhetorical question that gets the reader thinking and wanting to read your story. Since you are giving a narration, the “hook” within the introduction should be very intriguing. A story is useless if it can’t capture and maintain interest.
• Body paragraph one: this paragraph caters to the beginning of your story. It would be best if you started introducing the characters of your story here. This paragraph also gives a background to your story. In this paragraph, you should use descriptive and clear vocabulary to introduce your story. This would be a good place to give information such as your story’s place, time, and period.
• Body paragraph two: The second paragraph begins to share details on actions, consequences, and other important details required by the essay. Build your story in this paragraph to the point of climax.
• Body paragraph three: This paragraph should tell how your story ends. You could use anecdotes or quotes as a wrap-up for your story. Concluding details such as results and consequences can be added to this paragraph.
• Conclusion: The resolution of your story in this paragraph should highlight important details you want your readers to pick from your story. Decisions made, lessons learned, changes made, etc., can be written out in this paragraph. This is also where you restate the reason or theme of your essay.

Narrative Essay Format

Writing a narrative essay is like writing a story, so you can import the style of writing a narrative story format into writing your essay. To form the outline of a story, some approaches have been itemized. These include:

1. The plot-based approach

The plot of a story is the series of acts and actions that make up the story. A plot-based format should itemize the different important actions you intend to include in the storyline. Example

• I graduated from school.
• Search for a job before college.
• Volunteer at a soup kitchen while waiting for college
• Take refresher courses etc.

2. The scene-based approach

Every story, including a personal narrative essay, must have a scene(s). You could build the outline of your story based on the places of importance to your story.

Writing down the important places could help jolt your memory in the course of writing so that you don’t leave out any important detail. For example:

• Grandpa’s house – I met the person who introduced me to photography.
• Best friend’s party – I did my first photoshoot
• My aunt’s office – I got introduced to magazine photoshoots etc

3. The theme-based approach

A theme-based outline maps out the central themes you intend to explore in your writing. This approach is suitable when you intend to address more than one theme. This approach does not work for all types of stories, so it may not work for your personal narrative essay. For example:

• Willingness to learn – working with my uncle at his auto shop
• Loyalty – staying with my uncle’s practice regardless of pay
• Dedication – getting to work early to get in some work hours before the full day.

4. Freytag’s Pyramid Approach

Freytag’s approach is based on a pyramid that uses the five basic elements of a story to create an outline. The basic elements considered are exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.

There is no perfect format for writing a story outline, and it is up to you to choose the best format you can work with. The most important point to note as you write out the outline of your essay is to ensure that you capture all the details you need to cover. Remember to write keywords or phrases that can trigger remembrance of the events you desire to include in the essay.

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Personal Narrative Worksheet Templates

Customize personal narrative templates.

If you're assigning this to your students, copy the worksheet to your account and save. When creating an assignment, just select it as a template!

What is a Personal Narrative?

A personal narrative is a true story that tells the reader about something that happened to the author. It writing focuses on small moments, and dazzles readers by painting a picture with details, as if they were in the moment with the author.

This type of writing typically includes first-person point of view and reflects the author’s thoughts, feelings, and emotions. Its purpose is to share an experience with others and to offer insights, perspectives, and reflections that might be helpful or relatable to readers. They can take many forms, such as a memoir, a personal essay, a diary entry, or a blog post.

Why are They Important and How are They Best Used?

Personal narrative writing can be a powerful tool for teaching and learning. By sharing experiences, students and teachers can create a sense of connection and empathy, which can help build a positive classroom structure. They can also help learners develop their writing and storytelling skills, as they learn to craft compelling accounts that convey their thoughts and emotions.

One effective way to use personal narratives in an educational context is to have kids write and share their own narrative writing with their peers. This can be done in a variety of ways, such as through journaling, small group discussions, Google slides, or class presentations. Teachers can provide prompts or topics for learners to write about, or they can allow the class to choose their own topics based on their interests and experiences.

Personal narratives can also be used to teach important concepts and skills. Teachers can use them to teach literary elements such as plot, character development, and point of view. Students can analyze personal narratives to identify these elements and understand how they contribute to the overall plot. They can also be used to teach critical thinking skills, as students learn to evaluate the author’s perspective and reflect on their own beliefs and experiences.

These pieces of writing teach children how to write about a real memory in their lives. Writing a personal narrative story will allow self expression and the ability to write about something that has a great deal of meaning and importance to them. They also teach writing organization, rough draft writing, planning, the use of dialogue, and vivid imagery.

Personal Narrative Examples

Here are some sample ideas

• ‘’The Day I Learned to Ride a Bike’’: This describes a memorable experience of the author learning to ride a bike, including the excitement and fear she felt.
• ‘’My First Day of High School’’: This story shares the author’s thoughts and emotions as she begins a new phase of her education, including the challenges and opportunities she faces.
• ‘’A Summer in Europe’’: This recounts the author’s experiences traveling throughout Europe, including the people she met, the places she visited, and the lessons she learned.
• ‘’My Grandmother’s House’’: This personal story describes the author’s memories of visiting her grandmother’s house as a child, including the sights, sounds, and smells that evoke a sense of nostalgia.
• ‘’Overcoming My Fear of Public Speaking’’: This shares the author’s journey to overcome the fear of public speaking, including the strategies she used and the lessons she learned.

Personal narratives can take many forms and cover a wide range of topics, but they all share a common thread of conveying a personal experience or perspective.

Personal Narrative Template

A narrative planning template is a structured framework used to outline and organize the key components of a narrative or story. Here is an example of a template:

• Introduction: Begin by introducing the experience or event that you will be writing about. Provide some context in the beginning lines for the reader and set the stage for the story you will be telling.
• Setting the Scene: Describe the settings and atmosphere of the experience. Include details that will help the reader visualize the scene and understand the context.
• Challenge or Conflict: Describe the challenge or conflict that you faced during the experience. What was the obstacle that you needed to overcome or the problem that you needed to solve?
• Rising Action: Describe the events or actions that led up to the climax of the story. How did you navigate the challenge or conflict?
• Climax: Describe the moment of highest tension or intensity. This is the turning point that changes the course of the narrative.
• Falling Action: Describe the events or actions that occurred after the climax. How did the situation change as a result of the climax?
• Conclusion: End the story by reflecting on what you learned or how you grew from the experience. Share any insights or perspectives that you gained, and provide closure to the narrative.

Personal Narrative Maker

A personal narrative maker is a tool or software that helps individuals create personal accounts, often in the form of written stories or essays. These tools can assist with generating ideas, organizing thoughts, and even provide prompts to help the writer get started.

Some personal narrative makers may have templates or pre-designed structures that individuals can follow. Others may provide suggestions or tips on how to improve the story’s flow and impact.

Some personal narrative makers may also offer features like grammar and spell-check, which can help writers polish their work before sharing it with others. It can also be helpful resources for individuals who are looking to share personal experiences in a creative and engaging way.

How to Make a Personal Narrative

Choose one of the premade templates.

We have lots of templates to choose from. Take a look at our example for inspiration!

Click on "Copy Template"

Once you do this, you will be directed to the storyboard creator.

Give Your Worksheet a Name!

Be sure to call it something related to the topic so that you can easily find it in the future.

Edit Your Worksheet

This is where you will include directions, specific questions and images, and make any aesthetic changes that you would like. The options are endless!

Click "Save and Exit"

When you are finished with your worksheet, click this button in the lower right hand corner to exit your storyboard.

From here you can print, download as a PDF, attach it to an assignment and use it digitally, and more!

Other Templates to Use with Your Class

• Creative Writing Worksheets : Creative writing worksheets can be valuable resources to help students improve their writing skills and develop their creativity. These worksheets can provide a structured approach to brainstorming and organizing ideas, which can help students become more confident and proficient writers. Creative writing worksheets can also be used to teach various literary techniques, such as character development, plot, settings, and dialogue.
• Point of View in Literature : Point of view in literature is important for developing critical reading and analytical skills. Analyzing the point of view can provide insight into the author’s intentions, the character’s motivations and perspectives, and the overall themes and messages. By examining the point of view in a piece of literature, students can better understand the relationships between the characters and how their perceptions and experiences affect the event of the story.
• First Day of School Templates : First day of school templates are graphic organizers or visual aids that are designed to help teachers and students prepare for the first day of school. These templates can also take various forms, but typically include spaces or sections for the following elements: Welcome message, Introduction, Schedule, Rules and Expectations, Icebreakers and team-building activities; Classroom procedures and routines.
• Storytelling Templates : They are visual aids that help writers plan and structure their stories. They can help students to better understand and analyze the key elements of a story, as well as plan and organize their own writing.
• Sequencing Worksheets : Sequencing worksheets are educational tools used to help students understand and practice sequencing, which is the process of putting events or items in a logical order. These worksheets can take various forms, but typically include a series of events or steps that need to be put in the correct order. It can also be used in language arts, math and science.

Happy Creating!

Frequently Asked Questions About Personal Narrative Worksheets

What is a personal narrative online.

A personal narrative online is a plan or guide that organizes the events and details of a personal experience into a coherent and engaging story.

What is a narrative outline example?

It typically includes an introduction with a hook, background information, and a thesis statement, followed by the body that details the events or experiences of the story, and a conclusion that reflects on the significance of the experience and leaves a lasting impression on the reader. The outline can be briefed or detailed, and there are templates available to guide the writing process.

What is a narrative outline template?

A narrative outline template is a pre-designed document that provides a structure and format for organizing a personal narrative. The outline for personal narrative typically includes headings or sections for the introduction, body, and conclusion, as well as prompts or questions to guide the writer in detailing their personal experience.

What are some personal narrative ideas?

Ideas can come from a variety of experiences, such as a meaningful trip, a life-changing event, a challenge or accomplishment, or a significant relationship. Other ideas could include overcoming a fear or obstacle, learning a valuable lesson, or experiencing a cultural tradition or celebration.

How to write a personal narrative?

To write a personal narrative, start by choosing a meaningful experience or event to focus on. Then, create an outline or template to organize the details of the story, including the introduction, body, and conclusion. Use sensory details, dialogue and personal reflection to bring the story to life, and consider the significance of the experience or lesson learned. Finally, revise and edit the narrative for clarity, coherence and impact.

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Basic Ingredients

Attention catching techniques for narrative essays.

Onomatopoeia

Description of a character and / or setting, character’s action, thoughtful or thematic statement, flashback / flash-forward, a final word on attention catchers, vertical time.

“Showing” and Not “Telling”

Proofreading, peer sharing, overhauling, 16 comments.

The worksheets are so helpful. thank you very much.

Thanks so much! I totally love it!

Diana Pwaka

Thanks so much. It’s helpful for my students. Makes it simpler to teach if you’re a multi grade teacher

BALJINDER SINGH PUNNI

i would wish it would help me a lot in the narrative writing that is coming soon THANK YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!

Jocelyn hernandez

Can i use this for a autobiographical narrative essay? Or is it different from a regular

I think that you could apply many of the lesson here to that purpose. Best wishes!

Mohamed Ali

This piece of text was very Informative and was very helpful in my exams to cope with,

Thank you for publishing some of your Knowledge with the whole world.

you are so informative, thank you so very much

Janelle Slavick

I am loving your materials on this site. Thank you very much! Does this narrative writing page have a Power Point to go with it? Many of your others do, and this would be great to have in that format. Thank you!

I haven’t made one yet, but that’s something to keep in mind for the future.

wow its nice it helped this grade 8 student thanks alot any way u forgot about rissing action and falling action

I didn’t forget about them. I just think that having a climax is the most important thing. If your story has one, the other pieces will fall into place. Thank you for your comments.

That was really great info

manisha shelke

The detailed information is really helpful not only in writing but also for making stories interesting in narration or story tellying. Worth reading. Thank you

Thank you for saying so.

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Write a Personal Narrative Story

Personal narratives are an engaging way for young authors to connect to the writing process, to events in their lives, and to their readers. This worksheet template guides children through the pre-writing and writing process, helping them to organize their thoughts and shape their essay. The second page includes lines for writing. Designed for second through fifth graders, this versatile worksheet template is a valuable way to guide children through the personal narrative writing processs.

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Letter Writing 1

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