In contrast to fictional narratives, personal narratives are non-fiction writings that focus on important events in the author's life. Generally, personal narrative is one of the prerequisites for entering the lecture gate or is often given as an academic assignment in class. To create an interesting and quality personal narrative, try to find the idea first. After that, compose a personal narrative with an interesting opening sentence and a neat and detailed structure. Before submitting it as an assignment or prerequisite for pursuing higher education at a university, don't forget to re-read your personal narrative to make sure there are no mistakes in it.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Gathering Ideas
Step 1. Focus on an important event or moment in your life
Remember, a personal narrative should focus on a specific event that sticks out in your mind. The event does not have to be major, as long as your mind always remembers it and sees it as an important moment. For example, focus on a minor event that turned out to be successful in changing your life in the future.
For example, talk about a body shape problem that happened to you in high school, and explain how you reacted to it when you were older. Or, tell a story about an upsetting event that happened at your fifteenth birthday party and the impact it had on your kinship with your birth mother
Step 2. Try to explore the conflicts in your life
In fact, personal conflict is a very interesting theme to be raised in the narrative. Therefore, try to remember various forms of personal relationships that are not good with those closest to you, or major conflicts that you have experienced with anyone. After that, try to explore the conflict in more detail in your personal narrative.
For example, write a personal narrative about a complicated relationship with your birth mother. Or, write down a conflict you've had with a sports club or other community you're in
Step 3. Think of a unique and specific narrative theme
Use the theme to start the narrative with events explored from your personal perspective. Also think about the relevance of the theme to your life so far. Generally, themes like poverty, exile, sacrifice, and talent are perfect options to fill a personal narrative.
For example, raise the theme of poverty by telling about the financial difficulties faced by your family. For example, tell us about your experience when you had to turn down the opportunity to go to college because you had to work in a shop owned by your parents to meet the daily needs of the family
Step 4. Read popular personal narratives
Learn the concept of quality narratives from various print and online media. Also look for popular and quality-assured personal narratives on the internet to find out the concept of a successful narrative. Some examples of personal narratives that you can read and study:
- 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 rubric in The New York Times
Part 2 of 3: Writing a Personal Narrative
Step 1. Begin the narrative with a statement that captures the reader's attention
Start your personal narrative with an opening sentence that appeals to the reader. For example, use rich, detailed descriptions at the beginning of the narrative. In particular, start the narrative with an action that can trap the reader to read it to the end.
For example, Tony Gervino managed to grab the reader's attention with the first line of his essay which reads, "I was 6 years old when my brother John leaned over to me with his elbows on the kitchen table, then casually whispered that he killed Santa Claus."
Step 2. Begin the narrative with action
Try to capture the reader's attention by providing information about the main character of the narrative and the main conflict or theme that accompanies it. Also state the time and location of the event, and explain whether the event focused solely on you, or on your relationship with the other person.
For example, Tony Gervino begins his essay by explaining the setting, characters, and depiction from a first-person perspective: “It was July 1973. We were living in Scarsdale, New York, and he was only four years older than me, though the distance that stretched back then felt like ten years.”
Step 3. Move chronologically from one event to another
In other words, don't skip time suddenly or move back and forth in the same paragraph. Instead, describe the moment in chronological order to make your narrative easier for readers to follow and understand.
For example, start the narrative with an event that colored you and your older sister's childhood. Then, move into the present to focus on your life and that of your older sister as a more mature person
Step 4. Use sensory descriptions
Focus on what you saw, smelled, heard, and felt in the event. After that, try to describe the findings clearly to the reader so they can dive deeper into your life story. Also, try to describe the various moments listed in the narrative from the reader's perspective.
For example, describe your mother's special lemon cake as, "It's very rich in taste and seems to contain one special ingredient that, until now, I couldn't identify."
Step 5. End the narrative with a valuable moral message for the reader
Most personal narratives end with reflection or analysis of events. Therefore, try to end your personal narrative with a moral message or important lesson related to your personal experience that readers can "take home" and benefit their lives with.
For example, end a personal narrative of an internal conflict with your sister with a fun story about a time when you both enjoyed each other's company. In this way, you have taught the reader a very valuable lesson, namely that the meaning of loving someone is having the courage to accept all their flaws and weaknesses
Part 3 of 3: Perfecting Personal Narrative
Step 1. Read the narration aloud
Once you've finished drafting your personal narrative, try reading it aloud so your ears can hear the sound. While you're at it, don't forget to identify any unclear sentences or awkward-sounding pauses. If you find one or both of them, try to circle or underline them so you can fix them later.
If you want, read the narration aloud in front of others. After hearing the "sound" of the narrative, they should be helped to provide criticism and suggestions more easily
Step 2. Show your narrative to others
Enlist the help of a close friend, peer, classmate, or relative to read your personal narrative. After that, ask questions about the style of the narrative, the tone of the sentences, and the clarity of the plot. Also ask if the narrative is detailed enough, feels personal, and succeeded in attracting their interest to read it further.
Be willing to accept criticism and suggestions from others. Open yourself up to constructive criticism, especially since a positive opinion is always effective in reinforcing the narrative being constructed
Step 3. Improve sentence clarity and narrative length
Reread your personal narrative to make sure there are no spelling, grammatical, and punctuation errors. Also, make sure your narration is not too long, especially since personal narratives are generally only one to five pages long. If the narration is written to meet the value of an assignment in class, also make sure that all of the content, including the length, meets the rules given by the teacher.
