The\u00a0title\u00a0sets the tone. It’s crucial to your essay. Just as Jeannette Walls’ title, “The Glass Castle,” encompasses her memoir in three quick words, let your title do the same. I recommend coming up with a title when you’ve finished writing the story. You don’t know where it’s going to go until you go there. Then you’ll know what to title it.
The\u00a0beginning\u00a0paragraph needs to pull the reader in, peak their interest, and give them some indication of where the story is going to go. It serves as an enticing introduction.
Use your\u00a0voice\u00a0so that the reader can sense you in the words. It is always clear in\u00a0The Glass Castle\u00a0that Jeannette is the one telling her story, and she develops the trust of her reader because her voice is so authentic. Follow her lead.
Between the beginning and the ending, tell your story\u00a0clearly and effectively. After you’ve written it, go away from it a while. When you come back, read it out loud to yourself (or to someone else, which is even more helpful), and make sure the reader will follow your narrative and not be confused at any point.
Be consistent with\u00a0verb tense.\u00a0Use present tense or past tense. If you want to write your story as if you are \u201cin the moment\u201d when the story takes place, use present tense. Be forewarned that this is very hard to do, and\u00a0I recommend writing the story as if you are looking back at the incident or event from where you are now, or in the past tense. But it is ultimately your choice. Whichever tense you use, remain consistent.
Make sure your story is\u00a0organized\u00a0so that it flows from one sentence to the next, one paragraph to the next, and that your story is purposefully chronological.
Use as much\u00a0description\u00a0as you can so that your reader can envision, hear, touch, even taste, the details of your story. Remember to draw from all the senses \u2013 sight, smell, hearing, taste and touch – like you did in the exercises.\u00a0Description, description, description!
Bring the story to a close so that it is clear you’re\u00a0ending\u00a0the story \u2013 don\u2019t leave the reader wondering if the story has ended. Make sure they know it\u2019s the end \u2013 it can be subtle but it also must be clear.
Make sure you have as little grammatical errors as possible. These errors disrupt the flow of your story. Give it your best!
READY?!
Below is a list of possible topics for a narrative essay. HOWEVER, let me emphasize that if in doing the writing exercises, you come upon a memory that you feel like you really want to write about, or develop further, PLEASE choose that one. I encourage you to choose a memory or scene from your past that resonates with you. The thing is if it resonates with you, it’s probably going to resonate with others. Your audience is once again the class, and me, but also someone, or anyone, you would really want to share this story with besides us.
This list may actually help jar your mind so you can think of more memories, and if one stands out to you as something you want to write about, go for it. Just be sure it’s something you can write a good story about, using description, important details that frame the story and make it engaging, and a strong writer’s presence (you!).
Your bravest moment
How you met your best friend
When a friend let you down
An event that changed your life
A special encounter with an animal
A time when you felt out of place
An odd experience that didn’t make sense at the time
A time when you disappointed someone
Your fondest memory
A time when you saw your parent cry
The moment when you knew you were grown up
Your earliest memory of holiday celebrations in your home
A time when you dodged a dangerous situation
A failure you’ve experienced
A disappointment you’ve experienced
A surprising turn of events
A time when you felt you did the wrong thing
A proud moment when you did the right thing
When a child taught you a lesson
Your favorite time with family
Your most unfortunate day
Something you’ve witnessed
An accident that changed everything
A wrong choice
A right choice
A close call
A hard lesson
An unexplained event
Your longest minute
An awkward social moment
A special morning
\u00a0
WORD COUNT 1000
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