PersonalNarrative

What is a personal narrative?

Webster’s dictionary defines a memoir as:

• a narrative composed from personal experience

AND

• an account of something noteworthy

So ultimately, a personal narrative is just someone’s personal writing in which they’re reflected upon and described one of their own experiences.

Each time you recount your thoughts, feelings, and experiences, you are on a journey to self-discovery. Your own life is full of events that you have told as stories to friends and family.

The discipline of writing, however, requires you to give a more focused thought to the things that have happened to you.

We’re on our way…

• We’ve done several brainstorming activities recently that should have helped you identify some key moments in your own life.

• You’ll take one of those memories, and actually turn it into a personal narrative.

There are many questions you should answer for your reader throughout your memoir writing:

- What happened to me?- How do I feel about it?- What was I thinking while it

happened?- What have I learned from it?

• I’ve said it over and over, but you want to help your reader picture what actually happened during the experience you’re describing. It’s like you’re creating a memory movie in your reader’s mind.

• You want to include EVERY detail that will help them relive the moment with you.

• Sensory details are very important in memoir writing. Try to include what you smelled, tasted, felt, saw, and heard in the memory. (Assuming all these sensory details apply.)