Purdue Online Writing Lab College of Liberal Arts
Narrative Essays
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What is a narrative essay?
When writing a narrative essay, one might think of it as telling a story. These essays are often anecdotal, experiential, and personal—allowing students to express themselves in a creative and, quite often, moving ways.
Here are some guidelines for writing a narrative essay.
- If written as a story, the essay should include all the parts of a story.
This means that you must include an introduction, plot, characters, setting, climax, and conclusion.
- When would a narrative essay not be written as a story?
A good example of this is when an instructor asks a student to write a book report. Obviously, this would not necessarily follow the pattern of a story and would focus on providing an informative narrative for the reader.
- The essay should have a purpose.
Make a point! Think of this as the thesis of your story. If there is no point to what you are narrating, why narrate it at all?
- The essay should be written from a clear point of view.
It is quite common for narrative essays to be written from the standpoint of the author; however, this is not the sole perspective to be considered. Creativity in narrative essays oftentimes manifests itself in the form of authorial perspective.
- Use clear and concise language throughout the essay.
Much like the descriptive essay, narrative essays are effective when the language is carefully, particularly, and artfully chosen. Use specific language to evoke specific emotions and senses in the reader.
- The use of the first person pronoun ‘I’ is welcomed.
Do not abuse this guideline! Though it is welcomed it is not necessary—nor should it be overused for lack of clearer diction.
- As always, be organized!
Have a clear introduction that sets the tone for the remainder of the essay. Do not leave the reader guessing about the purpose of your narrative. Remember, you are in control of the essay, so guide it where you desire (just make sure your audience can follow your lead).
What is a Narrative Essay? How to Write It (with Examples)
Narrative essays are a type of storytelling in which writers weave a personal experience into words to create a fascinating and engaging narrative for readers. A narrative essay explains a story from the author’s point of view to share a lesson or memory with the reader. Narrative essays, like descriptive essays , employ figurative language to depict the subject in a vivid and creative manner to leave a lasting impact on the readers’ minds. In this article, we explore the definition of narrative essays, list the key elements to be included, and provide tips on how to craft a narrative that captivates your audience.
Table of Contents
What is a narrative essay, choosing narrative essay topics, key elements in a narrative essay, creating a narrative essay outline, types of narrative essays, the pre-writing stage, the writing stage, the editing stage, narrative essay example, frequently asked questions.
Narrative essays are often based on one’s personal experience which allows the author to express himself/herself in compelling ways for the reader. They employ storytelling elements to convey the plot and captivate the reader while disclosing the story’s theme or purpose. The author must always have a purpose or theme in mind when writing a narrative essay. These essays may be assigned to high school students to assess their ability to create captivating stories based on personal experiences, or they may be required as part of a college application to assess the applicant’s personal traits. Narrative essays might be based on true events with minor tweaks for dramatic purposes, or they can be adapted from a fictional scenario. Whatever the case maybe, the goal is to tell a story, a good story!
In narrative essays, the emphasis is not so much on the narrative itself as it is on how you explain it. Narrative essay topics cover a range of experiences, from noteworthy to mundane, but when storytelling elements are used well, even a simple account can have weight. Notably, the skills required for narrative writing differ significantly from those needed for formal academic essays, and we will delve deeper into this in the next section.
You can talk about any narrative, but consider whether it is fascinating enough, has enough twists and turns, or teaches a lesson (It’s a plus if the story contains an unexpected twist at the end). The potential topics for a narrative essay are limitless—a triumphant story, a brief moment of introspection, or a voyage of self-discovery. These essays provide writers with the opportunity to share a fragment of their lives with the audience, enriching both the writer’s and the reader’s experiences. Narrative essay examples could be a write-up on “What has been your biggest achievement in life so far and what did it teach you?” or “Describe your toughest experience and how you dealt with it?”.
While narrative essays allow you to be creative with your ideas, language, and format, they must include some key components to convey the story clearly, create engaging content and build reader interest. Follow these guidelines when drafting your essay:
- Tell your story using the first person to engage users.
- Use sufficient sensory information and figurative language.
- Follow an organized framework so the story flows chronologically.
- Include interesting plot components that add to the narrative.
- Ensure clear language without grammar, spelling, or word choice errors.
Narrative essay outlines serve as the foundational structure for essay composition, acting as a framework to organize thoughts and ideas prior to the writing process. These outlines provide writers with a means to summarize the story, and help in formulating the introduction and conclusion sections and defining the narrative’s trajectory.
Unlike conventional essays that strictly adhere to the five-paragraph structure, narrative essays allow for more flexibility as the organization is dictated by the flow of the story. The outline typically encompasses general details about the events, granting writers the option to prioritize writing the body sections first while deferring the introduction until later stages of the writing process. This approach allows for a more organic and fluid writing process. If you’re wondering how to start writing a narrative essay outline, here is a sample designed to ensure a compelling and coherent narrative:
Introduction
- Hook/Opening line: The introduction should have an opening/hook sentence that is a captivating quote, question, or anecdote that grabs the reader’s attention.
- Background: Briefly introduce the setting, time, tone, and main characters.
- Thesis statement: State clearly the main theme or lesson acquired from the experience.
- Event 1 (according to occurrence): Describe the first major event in detail. Introduce the primary characters and set the story context; include sensory elements to enrich the narrative and give the characters depth and enthusiasm.
- Event 2: Ensure a smooth transition from one event to the next. Continue with the second event in the narrative. For more oomph, use suspense or excitement, or leave the plot with cliffhanger endings. Concentrate on developing your characters and their relationships, using dialog to bring the story to life.
- Event 3: If there was a twist and suspense, this episode should introduce the climax or resolve the story. Keep the narrative flowing by connecting events logically and conveying the feelings and reactions of the characters.
- Summarize the plot: Provide a concise recap of the main events within the narrative essay. Highlight the key moments that contribute to the development of the storyline. Offer personal reflections on the significance of the experiences shared, emphasizing the lasting impact they had on the narrator. End the story with a clincher; a powerful and thought-provoking sentence that encapsulates the essence of the narrative. As a bonus, aim to leave the reader with a memorable statement or quote that enhances the overall impact of the narrative. This should linger in the reader’s mind, providing a satisfying and resonant conclusion to the essay.
There are several types of narrative essays, each with their own unique traits. Some narrative essay examples are presented in the table below.
How to write a narrative essay: Step-by-step guide
A narrative essay might be inspired by personal experiences, stories, or even imaginary scenarios that resonate with readers, immersing them in the imaginative world you have created with your words. Here’s an easy step-by-step guide on how to write a narrative essay.
- Select the topic of your narrative
If no prompt is provided, the first step is to choose a topic to write about. Think about personal experiences that could be given an interesting twist. Readers are more likely to like a tale if it contains aspects of humor, surprising twists, and an out-of-the-box climax. Try to plan out such subjects and consider whether you have enough information on the topic and whether it meets the criteria of being funny/inspiring, with nice characters/plot lines, and an exciting climax. Also consider the tone as well as any stylistic features (such as metaphors or foreshadowing) to be used. While these stylistic choices can be changed later, sketching these ideas early on helps you give your essay a direction to start.
- Create a framework for your essay
Once you have decided on your topic, create an outline for your narrative essay. An outline is a framework that guides your ideas while you write your narrative essay to keep you on track. It can help with smooth transitions between sections when you are stuck and don’t know how to continue the story. It provides you with an anchor to attach and return to, reminding you of why you started in the first place and why the story matters.
- Compile your first draft
A perfect story and outline do not work until you start writing the draft and breathe life into it with your words. Use your newly constructed outline to sketch out distinct sections of your narrative essay while applying numerous linguistic methods at your disposal. Unlike academic essays, narrative essays allow artistic freedom and leeway for originality so don’t stop yourself from expressing your thoughts. However, take care not to overuse linguistic devices, it’s best to maintain a healthy balance to ensure readability and flow.
- Use a first-person point of view
One of the most appealing aspects of narrative essays is that traditional academic writing rules do not apply, and the narration is usually done in the first person. You can use first person pronouns such as I and me while narrating different scenarios. Be wary of overly using these as they can suggest lack of proper diction.
- Use storytelling or creative language
You can employ storytelling tactics and linguistic tools used in fiction or creative writing, such as metaphors, similes, and foreshadowing, to communicate various themes. The use of figurative language, dialogue, and suspense is encouraged in narrative essays.
- Follow a format to stay organized
There’s no fixed format for narrative essays, but following a loose format when writing helps in organizing one’s thoughts. For example, in the introduction part, underline the importance of creating a narrative essay, and then reaffirm it in the concluding paragraph. Organize your story chronologically so that the reader can follow along and make sense of the story.
- Reread, revise, and edit
Proofreading and editing are critical components of creating a narrative essay, but it can be easy to become weighed down by the details at this stage. Taking a break from your manuscript before diving into the editing process is a wise practice. Stepping away for a day or two, or even just a few hours, provides valuable time to enhance the plot and address any grammatical issues that may need correction. This period of distance allows for a fresh perspective, enabling you to approach the editing phase with renewed clarity and a more discerning eye.
One suggestion is to reconsider the goals you set out to cover when you started the topic. Ask yourself these questions:
- Is there a distinct beginning and end to your story?
- Does your essay have a topic, a memory, or a lesson to teach?
- Does the tone of the essay match the intended mood?
Now, while keeping these things in mind, modify and proofread your essay. You can use online grammar checkers and paraphrase tools such as Paperpal to smooth out any rough spots before submitting it for publication or submission.
It is recommended to edit your essay in the order it was written; here are some useful tips:
- Revise the introduction
After crafting your narrative essay, review the introduction to ensure it harmonizes with the developed narrative. Confirm that it adeptly introduces the story and aligns seamlessly with the conclusion.
- Revise the conclusion and polish the essay
The conclusion should be the final element edited to ensure coherence and harmony in the entire narrative. It must reinforce the central theme or lesson outlined initially.
- Revise and refine the entire article
The last step involves refining the article for consistent tone, style, and tense as well as correct language, grammar, punctuation, and clarity. Seeking feedback from a mentor or colleague can offer an invaluable external perspective at this stage.
Narrative essays are true accounts of the writer’s personal experiences, conveyed in figurative language for sensory appeal. Some narrative essay topic examples include writing about an unforgettable experience, reflecting on mistakes, or achieving a goal. An example of a personal narrative essay is as follows:
Title: A Feline Odyssey: An Experience of Fostering Stray Kittens
Introduction:
It was a fine summer evening in the year 2022 when a soft meowing disrupted the tranquility of my terrace. Little did I know that this innocent symphony would lead to a heartwarming journey of compassion and companionship. Soon, there was a mama cat at my doorstep with four little kittens tucked behind her. They were the most unexpected visitors I had ever had.
The kittens, just fluffs of fur with barely open eyes, were a monument to life’s fragility. Their mother, a street-smart feline, had entrusted me with the care of her precious offspring. The responsibility was sudden and unexpected, yet there was an undeniable sense of purpose in the air , filling me with delight and enthusiasm.
As the days unfolded, my terrace transformed into a haven for the feline family. Cardboard boxes became makeshift cat shelters and my once solitary retreat was filled with purrs and soothing meows. The mother cat, Lily, who initially observ ed me from a safe distance, gradually began to trust my presence as I offered food and gentle strokes.
Fostering the kittens was a life-changing , enriching experience that taught me the true joy of giving as I cared for the felines. My problems slowly faded into the background as evenings were spent playing with the kittens. Sleepless nights turned into a symphony of contented purring, a lullaby filled with the warmth of trust and security . Although the kittens were identical, they grew up to have very distinct personalities, with Kuttu being the most curious and Bobo being the most coy . Every dawn ushered in a soothing ritual of nourishing these feline companions, while nights welcomed their playful antics — a daily nocturnal delight.
Conclusion:
As the kittens grew, so did the realization that our paths were destined to part. Finally, the day arrived when the feline family, now confident and self-reliant, bid farewell to my terrace. It was a bittersweet moment, filled with a sense of love and accomplishment and a tinge of sadness.
Fostering Kuttu, Coco, Lulu, and Bobo became one of the most transformative experiences of my life. Their arrival had brought unexpected joy, teaching me about compassion and our species’ ability to make a difference in the world through love and understanding. The terrace, once a quiet retreat, now bore the echoes of a feline symphony that had touched my heart in ways I could have never imagined.
The length of a narrative essay may vary, but it is typically a brief to moderate length piece. Generally, the essay contains an introductory paragraph, two to three body paragraphs (this number can vary), and a conclusion. The entire narrative essay could be as short as five paragraphs or much longer, depending on the assignment’s requirements or the writer’s preference.
You can write a narrative essay when you have a personal experience to share, or a story, or a series of events that you can tell in a creative and engaging way. Narrative essays are often assigned in academic settings as a form of writing that allows students to express themselves and showcase their storytelling skills. However, you can also write a narrative essay for personal reflection, entertainment, or to communicate a message.
A narrative essay usually follows a three-part structure: – Introduction (To set the stage for the story) – Body paragraphs (To describe sequence of events with details, descriptions, and dialogue) – Conclusion (To summarize the story and reflect on the significance)
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Creative Truth Telling 101: How to Write a Narrative Essay
Most people get their first introduction to the art of narrative essays through cookie-cutter school assignments or high-pressure college applications. But here’s a fun fact a lot of folks don’t know:
Writing a narrative essay can be fun .
When you’re not under pressure to impress someone who holds your academic fate in their hands, an essay can be a thrilling tool for self-expression and even self-discovery.
But first, you gotta understand the art form. You and I are going to make that happen right now. We’re about to cover all your most pressing narrative essay questions, from what it is to how to write one. You’ll also get some suggestions for narrative essay examples worth checking out.
Let’s start with a definition:
What is a Narrative Essay?
A narrative essay tells a true story from a first-person point of view .
It’s often a personal story drawn from the author’s own life, but it doesn’t have to be. You could write a narrative essay about an event you observed or learned about through research and interviews.
What matters is that you’re telling a story rather than reporting on facts. There’s a narrative arc incorporating character development , conflict , themes , and a vivid, relevant setting . You’re basically involving all the elements of fiction, except for the part where everything is made up.
Narrative essays fall under the heading of creative nonfiction . That means the stories are true, but instead of merely conveying information, the goal is to engage readers emotionally, express a personal perspective, or explore a topic in greater depth.
A narrative essay is usually somewhere between 1,000 and 5,000 words long, but it could be as much as 15,000-20,000 words.
Narrative Essay Examples
You’ve likely written a narrative essay before. If you ever had to write about a time when you overcame hardship for a college application or a teacher asked you to write about your summer vacation, you’ve already dipped your toe into this particular art form.
But you can easily find narrative essays beyond the walls of academia, too.
The New York Times’ famous “Modern Love” column consists of real-life stories about human relationships.
Authors like Samantha Irby , Jenny Lawson , and David Sedaris write essay collections filled with hilarious narratives from their own lives, some of which touch on profound themes.
Roxane Gay uses the art of the narrative essay to explore social issues in the more intimate context of her personal experience. And Joan Didion was famous for making every essay feel personal, even when she was telling someone else’s story.
As you study these and other experienced writers in the genre, you’ll find that there are endless ways to tackle a true story.
The Role of Storytelling in a Narrative Essay
Okay, so obviously, storytelling is the defining feature of a narrative essay. But why? Why not just present the facts?
It all comes down to giving readers the feels . Most narrative essays aim to communicate not just factual truth but emotional truth.
An author might write a narrative essay about antiquing with their mother. Their goal isn’t to inform people about what their mom bought and why. It’s to express something more abstract about parent/child relationships or the passage of time or whatever.
They’re using concrete events to illustrate a much deeper theme. And storytelling is a more effective tool than fact-spewing because it engages the reader emotionally, helping them connect with that profound emotional truth.
Pre-Writing Phase: Planning Your Narrative
In a moment, we’re going to talk about how to write a narrative essay.
But first, you’re going to want to do a little prep work. How much you do is entirely up to you. Some writers are plotters who like to have everything figured out before they write their essay. Some are pantsers who find their story as they go.
While I land closer to the plotter end of the spectrum as a fiction writer, I veer more towards pantsing when it comes to narrative essays. Probably because I don’t have to dream up all the raw material. It’s already there, rolling around in my memory, and I won’t know what I want to say about it until I start writing.
You do you. But I recommend giving your narrative essay at least a little thought before you dive in.
Choosing a Topic
First, figure out what you want to write about. You can start with a specific personal experience, like that time you picked up a hitchhiker.
If no interesting life events spring to mind, you can start with a theme instead.
Maybe you want to write about your personal definition of love. Or the homelessness crisis in your city. Start there and brainstorm real-life stories that connect to your main idea.
If you have no idea what you want to write about, here are some open-ended prompts to get the wheels turning:
Narrative Essay Writing Prompts
- What’s your earliest childhood memory?
- What’s your core belief regarding love, forgiveness, family, or justice? How did you come to hold that belief?
- What seemingly insignificant moment had a massive impact on your life?
- What needs to change in society? If you could tell the world one story to help them understand why that change is necessary, what would it be?
- How do you define joy? What moment in your life illustrates that best?
- How do you define loss? What moment in your life illustrates that best?
- Is there a painful moment in your life that you’ll be eternally grateful for?
- What about a joyful moment you’ve come to regret?
Brainstorming Your Content
Once you’ve chosen a topic, you’re ready to start thinking about your story in more detail.
Jot down the basic arc of your story. What happened? Who was involved? What did you learn?
Pinpoint the most relevant details. The challenge of writing about our own lives is that we know everything—what we ate for breakfast, how much the bus ticket cost, the elderly neighbor’s maiden name.
Review your notes, looking for details that have the potential to clarify your theme and those that are more likely to drag down your story with unnecessary information.
It might also be a good idea to zoom out and see if there are any other personal experiences worth tying into your essay. Maybe the narrative essay about antiquing with your mother would benefit from a one-paragraph flashback to the time when you went with her to visit her own mother in assisted living.
Mindmaps and freewriting are both great tools for this type of brainstorming. You can learn more about how to do them here .
Creating an Outline
If you’re a planner, you’ll probably want to outline your narrative essay before you start writing. So let’s talk structure real quick.
In school, you probably learned that a good essay starts with an introduction containing a thesis statement followed by multiple supporting paragraphs. But now you’re writing a narrative essay, which means your readers are expecting a story.
Skip the thesis statement. You still have a main point to make, but that point is called a theme and you’re making it by weaving it into a traditional story structure .
In fact, think of this more like a short story that’s true. A protagonist (probably you) has a goal but faces obstacles in pursuit of that goal. This conflict forces them to either make a bold decision or undergo some internal transformation, possibly both.
Lay out your narrative so it’s not just a series of events, it’s an actual story arc. Sprinkle in flashbacks and alternating timelines as needed, and make sure to track the way your themes and emotional truth unfold over the course of the story.
Pro tip: The Dabble Plot Grid is a huge help for stuff like this.
Drafting Your Essay
Time for the fun stuff. Let’s dig in and actually write a narrative essay.
We’ll go over the key elements of a good narrative essay, but first I want to talk prose .
As I mentioned earlier, this is narrative writing, which means you’re going to treat it as if you were writing fiction.
This means you’re going to use the same language tricks you’d use when writing a novel. Figurative language, vivid sensory details, literary devices like foreshadowing and irony … all that fun stuff.
I also recommend checking out these submission tips straight from the editors of “Modern Love.” It’s created for writers who plan to submit their work to “Modern Love” (and much of the advice is several years old), but it also offers outstanding tips for creating a compelling narrative essay in any context.
Okay, let’s get to writing.
Crafting the Hook
Kick off your narrative essay with an interesting hook —something that immediately draws the reader in and makes them want to stick around to see where this is going.
Great hooks come in many forms, including:
- An interesting setting
- A shocking opening line
- A controversial claim
- A compelling question
- An impossible dilemma
- A fascinating character
Pinpoint the thing that’s most likely to snag your reader’s attention and get to it right away. Like, in the first sentence. Check out this article for tips on writing a stellar opening line.
Setting the Stage
The setting of a narrative essay is as essential as the setting of a novel. Use vivid details to draw readers into your world.
Stick with concrete descriptive language instead of speaking in the abstract. Don’t say it was a beautiful day; show the reader dappled sunlight shivering through the gaps in the leaves. This makes it easier for your audience to disappear inside your story and connect with it emotionally.
You can use these worksheets to practice the “show, don’t tell” approach to descriptive writing.
Also remember that a setting is more than physical space. Is there anything your readers should understand about the culture or political climate your story takes place in?
Developing Characters
You may not think of character development as an essential skill for writing a narrative essay. After all, you’re dealing with the truth. The people in your story are who they are.
Nevertheless, you’ve got to think like a storyteller. That means considering how each person contributes to the narrative. How do these individuals move the story forward? How are they changed because of the experience?
Because most narrative essays are personal stories, the author is typically the main character. That means you’ve got to give yourself the protagonist treatment , going deep on your own goals, motivations , fears , strengths, and weaknesses within the story.
Who are you at the beginning of the story? Who have you become by the end? A great narrative essay reveals a journey of growth—a character arc —no matter how big or small.
Introducing the Conflict
Speaking of personal growth, you need a clear conflict to set your journey in motion.
Now, as an essayist, you don’t face the same pressures a novelist faces—at least not when it comes to crafting nail-biter conflicts. While some narrative essays explore shocking, life-altering conflicts, others reflect on the deeper symbolism of small moments like burning a cake or enduring a humiliating job interview.
So don’t worry about going big if you’re not writing about a major life event. Just focus on creating tension, helping the reader empathize with the protagonist’s (your) emotions, and revealing the theme that explains why this seemingly minor conflict is worth writing about.
Advancing the Plot
In all good stories, things get worse before they get better.
But what if, in the true story you’re telling, they didn’t? What if there was just one conflict and then it ended?
Not a problem. The external conflict—the tough diagnosis or the fight you had with your cousin—is only half of the central conflict, anyway. The other half is the internal conflict —whatever battle you were fighting with yourself in that moment.
And when it comes to narrative essays, internal conflict is huge .
This includes stuff like:
- Moral dilemmas
- Identity crises
- Spiritual crises
- Conflicting feelings about other people
- Plummeting self-confidence
The beauty of writing a narrative essay is that you get to zoom into small moments. You can tell a 100-year story in an essay if you want to. But you can also write about the 30 minutes you spent trying to get an oil stain off your driveway if each failed attempt triggers the perfectionist tendencies you’re trying to overcome.
You can also heighten the conflict of your narrative essay by demonstrating that the issue is bigger than this one moment in your life. Maybe it reflects a larger societal problem, in which case, reflect on that! Let it add dimension to your personal journey. You might even incorporate statistics or a news story if it fits your writing style .
Resolving the Narrative
A satisfying ending is no less important in a narrative essay than it is in a work of fiction. The challenge, of course, is that we can only work with what actually happened.
This is why it’s so important to build the internal conflict. Your satisfying conclusion is going to come from your personal growth. How did the experience change you? What did you discover about yourself?
Who have you become by the time you’re sitting alone in the middle of your driveway with your steel wool and bucket, willing yourself to make peace with the stain?
Read a ton of narrative essays and pay attention to the endings that shake your soul. Great authors know how to spin a powerful conclusion out of a moment that looks mundane on the outside.
Polishing Your Narrative Essay
So you’ve written the first draft of your essay. Now what?
It’s time to make this baby shine. That means several rounds of self-editing, sharing your work for feedback, more editing, and finally a little proofreading.
If that sounds like a lot of work, it is. But these steps are key if you hope to publish your masterpiece in a magazine or essay collection.
So let’s get to it.
Self-Editing
In this phase, you are your only editor. For the most part, anyway. You might have an alpha reader or a critique partner to help you workshop problem areas in your first draft.
But generally speaking, it’s best to do as much revising as you can before you start seeking feedback from others. That way, your readers don’t waste any time (and you don’t waste any favors) pointing out issues you could’ve found and fixed on your own.
I recommend doing a few rounds of self-edits, focusing first on big-picture things like structure and flow, gradually moving your focus down to smaller details like syntax, word choice, and grammar.
You can find more self-editing tips here .
Seeking Feedback
Once you’ve made all the improvements you can make on your own, you’re ready for outside input.
Reach out to fellow essayists and essay readers. Ask if they’d be willing to read your manuscript and provide honest feedback, and give them a clear (and generous) time frame for when you hope to receive their notes.
It’s always a little uncomfortable to invite critiques of your work, but this process is key for making your narrative essay the best it can be. You don’t have to incorporate all the feedback you get, but make sure you express gratitude whether you agree with their notes or not.
You can learn more about the feedback process here .
Final Polish
After you’ve completed several revisions and taken advantage of all that insightful feedback, you’ll hopefully have a compelling narrative essay you feel great about.
The only thing left to do is scour it for remaining typos, grammatical errors, punctuation problems, formatting issues, or any other tedious issue that could potentially distract from its brilliance.
Once you’ve polished your narrative essay, you’re ready for the next step, whether that means submitting your masterpiece to literary magazines, pitching it to glossies , publishing it in an essay collection…
…or even just sitting yourself back down at the keyboard to get started on the next one.
Master the Art of Narrative
Now that you’ve nailed the basics of how to write a narrative essay, you’re ready for a deeper dive into the art of narrative writing. And you can learn how to tell a compelling story right here in DabbleU .
Browse DabbleU for hundreds of free articles and resources on character development, conflict, setting, prose, and more. Find inspiration and learn what it takes to build a writing routine and become a published author .
You can also have great tips delivered right to your inbox every week when you sign up for our free newsletter. There’s no spam—just loads of guidance to help you tell a good story. Click here to subscribe.
Abi Wurdeman is the author of Cross-Section of a Human Heart: A Memoir of Early Adulthood, as well as the novella, Holiday Gifts for Insufferable People. She also writes for film and television with her brother and writing partner, Phil Wurdeman. On occasion, Abi pretends to be a poet. One of her poems is (legally) stamped into a sidewalk in Santa Clarita, California. When she’s not writing, Abi is most likely hiking, reading, or texting her mother pictures of her houseplants to ask why they look like that.
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