Personal Narrative
Tips and Techniques
FOCUS
 Narrative
effect is the main story,
moral, or message offered.
 Ask, “Why am I telling this story?” or
“Why should someone be interested
in my experience?”
 Will the point be EXPLICIT or
IMPLICIT?
DEVELOPMENT
Details add depth and color to the story.
 Scene method – very detailed, evocative
description to immerse the reader in the
situation.
 Use SCENE method for one or two key
areas of the story.
 Summary method used to fill in the rest of
the story with a brief synopsis.

ORGANIZATION AND
COHERENCE
Three basic parts – orientation,
complication, and time structure.
 Orientation establishes setting, characters,
& other essential elements.
 Complication involves rising conflict that
leads to the climax – point of highest
action.
 Resolution conflict resolved and narrative
effect is revealed or suggested.

O & C cont’d
 Time
Structure – chronological or
psychological.
 Chronological – events described in
order.
 Psychological – events described
according to connections between
them…for example a memory.
 Flashback and flash forward (show
possible outcomes)
STYLE
 Style
engages the reader.
 Details should give a dominant
impression of event – fear, anxiety,
confidence, guilt, surprise, etc.
 Language – use CONCRETE NOUNS
and ACTIVE VERBS – unload forms of
BE and passive voice.
 Sensory language – taste, smell,
sight, touch, hear the scene.
STYLE cont’d
 Metaphors
and similes help reveal
the narrative effect
 He was tall versus He was as tall as a
mountain.
 She was beautiful versus She was a
fresh flower among the dried up
weeds.
Point of View
 Generally
use first person (I, me,
my, we, us, our), but third person
can work.
 Objective view leaves out the
author’s feelings.
 Subjective view emphasizes the
author’s feelings toward a subject.
 Use both!
ARTISTIC LICENSE
 Beware
the exaggeration for effect!
Gone awry, exaggeration will damage
credibility.
 Personal narrative is an academic
essay, not fiction!
 Adapted
from Tacoma Community
College Writing Center.
What’s My Job?
 Bring
in a COMPLETE personal
narrative draft on Thursday,
September 5.
 No more than 500 words.
 Double spaced, typed.
 Be prepared to share your draft in
class.