narrative essays topic ideas

Narrative Essay Topics: TOP 200 Choices for Students

narrative essays topic ideas

Imagine yourself facing a blank page, ready to fill it with your memories and imagination. What story will you tell today?

As students, you often have to write narratives that capture people's attention. But with so many stories to choose from, where do you start? How do you find the perfect topic that will grab our readers' interest and make them think?

Join our essay service experts as we explore 200 topics for college where stories are waiting to be told, and experiences are ready to be shared. From everyday events to unforgettable moments, each topic is a chance to connect with your readers and make them feel something.

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Ideas for Narrative Essay Topics

After exploring how students write narrative paragraphs, we've put together a list of narrative essay topics designed specifically for college and school students. This list covers a wide range of subjects, so pick one that speaks to you! If you want to see how to develop a topic into a written essay, check out our narrative essay example . 

Literacy Narrative Essay Topics for College Students

How about delving into captivating literacy narrative essay topics designed specifically for college-level writing? Exciting, isn't it?

  • How did a childhood book shape your view of the world?
  • What challenges did you face when learning to read in a second language?
  • How has storytelling within your family influenced your literacy journey?
  • Can you recall a pivotal moment that ignited your love for reading?
  • How did a specific teacher inspire your passion for literature?
  • Have you ever encountered a character in a book who profoundly impacted your perspective on life?
  • What role did writing play in helping you navigate a difficult period in your life?
  • How has your relationship with technology affected your reading habits?
  • What cultural or historical event sparked your interest in a particular genre of literature?
  • How has poetry shaped your understanding of language and emotion?
  • Have you ever experienced a breakthrough moment in your writing process?
  • How has reading aloud impacted your comprehension and enjoyment of literature?
  • Can you recall a time when a book challenged your beliefs or worldview?
  • How has participating in a book club enriched your reading experience?
  • What strategies have you developed to overcome reading difficulties or distractions?

Personal Narrative Essay Topics on Relationships

Take a moment to reflect on your past experiences and craft compelling personal narratives with these essay ideas.

  • How did a specific friendship shape who you are today?
  • Can you recount a moment that strengthened your bond with a family member?
  • What challenges have you faced in maintaining a long-distance relationship?
  • How has a mentor influenced your personal and professional development?
  • Have you experienced a betrayal in a relationship? How did it impact you?
  • Can you describe a memorable conflict resolution process within a relationship?
  • How has your relationship with a pet affected your emotional well-being?
  • What lessons have you learned from navigating a romantic relationship?
  • How has your relationship with a sibling evolved over time?
  • Can you recall a time when you had to set boundaries in a friendship?
  • How has volunteering or community involvement enriched your relationships?
  • What cultural differences have influenced your relationships with others?
  • Can you share a moment when you felt truly understood by someone?
  • How has technology affected the dynamics of your relationships?
  • Have you ever experienced a reconciliation that transformed a strained relationship?

Best Narrative Essay Topics on Education and Learning

Consider the beauty of sharing your personal experiences and emotions in a captivating manner through these ideas for personal narrative essays.

  • What was the most valuable lesson you learned outside of the classroom?
  • Can you recount a moment when a teacher's unconventional method transformed your understanding of a subject?
  • How has a field trip or experiential learning opportunity impacted your education?
  • What challenges have you faced in balancing extracurricular activities with academics?
  • Have you ever had a "Eureka!" moment while studying? Describe it.
  • How has learning a new skill outside of school influenced your academic performance?
  • Can you recall a time when a peer's perspective challenged your own understanding of a topic?
  • How has technology enhanced or hindered your learning experience?
  • What role does creativity play in your approach to learning?
  • Have you ever experienced a setback that ultimately propelled you forward academically?
  • How has your cultural background influenced your learning style?
  • Can you describe a time when you had to advocate for yourself within an educational setting?
  • How has mentorship shaped your educational journey?
  • What strategies have you employed to overcome academic challenges or obstacles?
  • Can you reflect on a time when failure taught you a valuable lesson about learning?

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Personal Narrative Essay Ideas on Reflection on Life

Why not ignite your creativity with a range of narrative essay topics, from extraordinary moments to everyday experiences?

  • How has a moment of failure ultimately led to personal growth and resilience?
  • Can you recount a pivotal decision that significantly altered the course of your life?
  • What lessons have you learned from navigating a crossroads or major life transition?
  • How has your perspective on success evolved over time?
  • Can you reflect on a time when you had to confront and overcome a deeply held fear?
  • What role has gratitude played in shaping your outlook on life?
  • How have your values and beliefs been influenced by significant life experiences?
  • Can you describe a moment when you found clarity and purpose amidst chaos or uncertainty?
  • What impact has traveling to a new place had on your understanding of the world and yourself?
  • How has adversity strengthened your character and determination?
  • Can you recall a time when a random act of kindness profoundly impacted your life?
  • What lessons have you learned from embracing vulnerability and authenticity in relationships?
  • How has practicing mindfulness or self-reflection enhanced your well-being and happiness?
  • Can you reflect on a period of personal transformation or self-discovery?
  • How have you found meaning and fulfillment in pursuing your passions and interests?

Ideas for a Narrative Essay on Culture and Society

Engaging your readers with narrative essays on culture and society is a great way to spark interest, offering captivating ideas for exploration.

  • How has your family's unique culinary heritage influenced your cultural identity?
  • Can you reflect on a specific cultural artifact or heirloom that holds deep significance for your family?
  • What challenges have you faced in preserving traditional customs while adapting to modern societal expectations?
  • How has a local festival or celebration revealed the intricacies of your community's cultural tapestry?
  • Can you recount a moment when you navigated a cultural clash between your upbringing and the dominant culture?
  • How has your experience as a first-generation immigrant shaped your understanding of cultural assimilation?
  • What lessons have you learned from participating in intercultural exchange programs or initiatives?
  • Can you describe a unique cultural practice or tradition within your community that outsiders might find intriguing or misunderstood?
  • How has the revitalization of indigenous languages contributed to the preservation of cultural heritage in your region?
  • Can you reflect on a personal journey of reconnecting with your cultural roots after a period of assimilation or disconnection?
  • What role does storytelling play in passing down cultural wisdom and values within your family or community?
  • How has the portrayal of your culture in mainstream media affected your sense of belonging and self-perception?
  • Can you recount a moment when you challenged cultural stereotypes through creative expression or advocacy?
  • How has the migration of a specific cultural group enriched the social fabric and economic landscape of your community?
  • What initiatives or grassroots movements are currently underway to promote cross-cultural understanding and cooperation in your society?

Since you're working on essays, we think it's suitable to suggest you learn more about the case study format , which is another common college assignment.

Narrative Writing Topics on Hobbies and Interests

Wow your readers by turning your passions and hobbies into compelling narrative essay topics that will get them thinking.

  • How has your passion for urban gardening transformed neglected spaces in your community?
  • Can you recount a thrilling adventure from your hobby of urban exploration?
  • What lessons have you learned from restoring vintage motorcycles in your spare time?
  • How has your fascination with birdwatching deepened your connection to nature and conservation efforts?
  • Can you describe a memorable moment from your hobby of foraging wild edibles in the wilderness?
  • What unique skills have you developed through your hobby of beekeeping, and how have they impacted your daily life?
  • How has your interest in historical reenactment brought the past to life in unexpected ways?
  • Can you reflect on a transformative experience from your hobby of landscape photography?
  • What insights have you gained from practicing the art of bonsai cultivation and nurturing miniature ecosystems?
  • How has your passion for stargazing inspired awe and wonder in the vastness of the universe?
  • Can you recount a challenging project from your hobby of woodworking and the satisfaction it brought upon completion?
  • What cultural connections have you discovered through your hobby of traditional folk dancing?
  • How has your interest in sustainable fashion influenced your consumer habits and environmental awareness?
  • Can you describe a moment of serenity and mindfulness experienced while practicing the art of tea ceremony?
  • How has your hobby of letterpress printing preserved the tactile beauty of handmade craftsmanship in a digital age?

Narrative Essay Titles on Life-Changing Moments

Life is full of unexpected twists that can lead to life-changing moments. Take a look at these narrative essay titles for stories that have had a lasting impact on your life.

  • How did surviving a natural disaster reshape your perspective on life?
  • Can you recall a single conversation that drastically altered the course of your life?
  • What was the pivotal moment that inspired you to pursue your dreams against all odds?
  • How did a chance encounter lead to a life-changing friendship or partnership?
  • Can you reflect on the decision that transformed your career trajectory?
  • What profound lesson did you learn from facing a life-threatening illness or injury?
  • How did traveling to a new country open your eyes to new possibilities and opportunities?
  • Can you recount the moment when you discovered your true passion or calling in life?
  • What was the turning point that allowed you to break free from a toxic relationship or environment?
  • How did experiencing failure or rejection ultimately lead to personal growth and resilience?
  • Can you describe the moment when you found the strength to overcome a deep-seated fear or insecurity?
  • What life-changing realization did you have while experiencing a period of solitude or introspection?
  • How did a profound act of kindness from a stranger restore your faith in humanity?
  • Can you reflect on the moment when you forgave someone who had deeply hurt you, and how it changed your perspective on forgiveness?
  • What pivotal decision did you make that allowed you to reclaim control over your own happiness and destiny?

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Good Narrative Topics on Travel and Adventure

Consider creating intriguing titles for your narrative essay ideas by exploring thrilling travel adventures.

  • Can you recount a memorable encounter with wildlife during your solo hiking adventure?
  • How did a spontaneous decision to explore an unfamiliar city lead to unexpected discoveries?
  • What lessons did you learn from navigating a foreign country with only a map and your instincts?
  • Can you describe the exhilaration of conquering a challenging mountain peak for the first time?
  • How did immersing yourself in a local culture during your travels broaden your perspective on the world?
  • What unexpected obstacles did you encounter while embarking on a backpacking journey through rugged terrain?
  • Can you reflect on the transformative experience of volunteering abroad in a community-driven project?
  • How did getting lost in a labyrinthine city alleyway lead to serendipitous encounters and newfound friendships?
  • What was the most memorable meal you had while sampling street food in a bustling market abroad?
  • Can you recount the adrenaline rush of participating in an extreme sports activity in a foreign land?
  • How did witnessing a breathtaking natural phenomenon during your travels leave a lasting impression on you?
  • What cultural traditions or rituals did you participate in during a homestay experience with a local family?
  • Can you describe the sense of wonder and awe you felt while exploring ancient ruins or historical sites?
  • How did navigating a language barrier challenge and ultimately enrich your travel experience?
  • What valuable life lessons did you learn from the mishaps and misadventures encountered during your journey off the beaten path?

Narrative Essay Topic Ideas on Career and Work Experience

College students can uncover captivating narrative essay ideas by exploring potential career paths or reminiscing about past job experiences.

  • How did a challenging project at work showcase your problem-solving skills and resilience?
  • Can you reflect on a pivotal mentorship experience that guided your career trajectory?
  • What valuable lessons did you learn from a career setback or failure, and how did it shape your future success?
  • How did a workplace conflict lead to personal growth and improved communication skills?
  • Can you recount a moment when taking a professional risk paid off in unexpected ways?
  • What insights did you gain from transitioning to a new industry or career path?
  • How did participating in a cross-functional team project enhance your collaboration and leadership abilities?
  • Can you describe the satisfaction of achieving a long-term career goal after years of hard work and perseverance?
  • What impact did a meaningful recognition or award have on your motivation and sense of accomplishment?
  • How did volunteering or pro bono work contribute to your professional development and sense of purpose?
  • Can you reflect on the decision to leave a stable job in pursuit of passion or fulfillment?
  • What strategies did you employ to navigate a toxic work environment and maintain your well-being?
  • How did a career setback lead to unexpected opportunities for personal and professional growth?
  • Can you describe a moment when mentorship or sponsorship played a crucial role in advancing your career?
  • What lessons did you learn from a challenging client or customer interaction, and how did it shape your approach to customer service and relationship-building?

Interesting Narrative Essay Topics about Challenges and Obstacles

If you're not sure what to write about for your narrative essay, think back to the tough times you've had and how you managed to get through them.

  • How did you conquer a once-paralyzing fear to chase your dreams?
  • What new strengths did you discover while adapting to a physical challenge?
  • Can you recall a creative solution you used during a tough financial period?
  • When did you bravely stand against injustice, despite opposition?
  • How did overcoming a language barrier broaden your horizons?
  • What key lessons did you learn from a major setback in your life?
  • How did you manage overwhelming stress and responsibilities?
  • What inner reserves of resilience did you draw upon after personal loss?
  • Describe a time when you defied societal norms to pursue your goals.
  • Reflect on a moment when failure fueled your determination for success.
  • When did you find the courage to leave your comfort zone behind?
  • How did community support bolster you through a challenging time?
  • Share a time when self-doubt led to newfound confidence.
  • Can you recount a tragedy that spurred your personal growth?
  • What insights did overcoming a monumental obstacle reveal about life?

Best Narrative Essay Topics: How to Choose the One That Resonates 

A narrative essay is a type of writing that tells a personal story, including characters, plot, setting, and the order of events. Its main goal is to connect with readers emotionally and share a specific message or insight through the retelling of a meaningful experience.

Students write narrative essays as part of their studies for several reasons. Firstly, it allows them to express themselves creatively by sharing their unique experiences, thoughts, and feelings. Secondly, it helps them develop important writing skills like organizing ideas and thoughts effectively.

Narrative Essay topics

Choosing good narrative essay ideas involves looking at personal experiences, interests, and the potential for engaging storytelling. Here's a simple guide to help you pick the right topic:

  • Think about significant moments in your life that had a lasting impact, such as personal growth or overcoming challenges.
  • Choose topics related to your hobbies, interests, or areas of expertise to make your story more engaging.
  • Consider what your audience would be interested in and choose topics that resonate with them.
  • Focus on a specific event or detail to make your narrative more focused and impactful.
  • Look for universal themes like love or personal transformation that connect with readers on a deeper level.
  • Brainstorm ideas and write freely to uncover compelling topics.
  • Decide on storytelling techniques like flashbacks or foreshadowing and choose a topic that fits.
  • Get feedback from friends, peers, or instructors to see if your topics are interesting and impactful.
  • Choose topics that evoke strong emotions for a more compelling narrative.
  • Select a topic that you personally connect with to make your story authentic.

Once you've chosen a topic, brainstorm ideas and create an outline for your essay. Follow your professor's instructions carefully and consider seeking help from our narrative essay writing service if needed.

Bring your stories to life with EssayPro. Select from a vast array of narrative essay topics and let our professionals help you weave your tales into captivating essays. Whether it's adventure, reflection, or imagination, we're here to assist.

Final Remarks

As we wrap up, our list of 200 narrative essay topics is here to fuel your creativity for your next writing project! Whether you're sharing a memorable event, reliving a childhood memory, or expressing a profound insight, crafting a narrative essay can be an uplifting experience that resonates deeply with readers.

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Are you a student in 2023, looking for some awesome narrative essay topics that are easy to grasp and fun to write about? 

You're in luck! Narrative essays let you share your stories, making them a perfect choice for students. 

In this guide, we've put together a list of the best narrative essay topics for 2023. 

Whether you're an experienced writer searching for fresh ideas or a student hunting for an exciting topic for your next assignment, we've got your back. These topics will ignite your imagination and captivate your readers. 

So, let's dive in!

Arrow Down

  • 1. Narrative Essay Topics for Students
  • 2. Unique Narrative Essay Topics for Students
  • 3. How to Choose a Topic for a Narrative Essay?
  • 4. Tips for Writing Narrative Essays

Narrative Essay Topics for Students

If you're a student looking for a diverse range of topics, we've got you covered with a diverse selection of narrative essay topics. 

Narrative Essay Topics for Grade 5

  • My First Day at a New School
  • The Time I Learned to Ride a Bike
  • A Visit to a Haunted House
  • The Day I Met a Real-Life Superhero
  • My Most Memorable Family Vacation
  • A Surprising Encounter with an Animal
  • The Mystery of the Missing Homework
  • The Best Birthday Party I Ever Had
  • When I Lost a Tooth
  • My Adventure in a Fantasy World

Narrative Essay Topics for Grade 6

  • An Unforgettable Camping Trip
  • The Day I Discovered a Hidden Talent
  • A Mysterious Letter and Its Consequences
  • A Time I Had to Stand Up for What's Right
  • The Thrilling Mystery of a Forgotten Diary
  • A Memorable Encounter with a Famous Person
  • My Journey Through a Fantasy Land
  • The Day I Learned a Valuable Life Lesson
  • An Unexpected Act of Kindness
  • A Secret Adventure in an Abandoned Place

Narrative Essay Topics for Grade 7

  • The Most Exciting Adventure of My Life
  • The Day I Overcame a Fear
  • A Memorable School Field Trip
  • The Strangest Mystery I Ever Encountered
  • An Unforgettable Encounter with Wildlife
  • A Life-Changing Decision I Had to Make
  • The Best Book I Ever Read and Why
  • A Day in the Life of a Time Traveler
  • The Importance of Friendship in My Life
  • A Valuable Lesson Learned from a Mistake

Narrative Essay Topics for Grade 8 

  • A Time I Faced a Difficult Moral Dilemma
  • The Most Memorable Summer Vacation
  • The Impact of a Life-Altering Decision
  • An Unexpected Act of Kindness I Received
  • The Day I Stepped Out of My Comfort Zone
  • A Historical Event I Would Like to Witness
  • A Special Family Tradition and Its Significance
  • A Personal Achievement I'm Proud Of
  • A Challenging Obstacle I Overcame
  • A Journey Through My Creative Imagination

Narrative Essay Topics for Grade 9

  • The Transition to High School: Challenges and Triumphs
  • A Life-Changing Encounter with an Inspiring Mentor
  • My First Part-Time Job and What I Learned
  • The Day I Realized the Power of Empathy
  • The Impact of a Personal Passion or Hobby
  • An Unforgettable Travel Experience Abroad
  • A Meaningful Community Service Project I Participated In
  • The Role of Technology in My Life
  • A Defining Moment in My Cultural Identity
  • My Vision for the Future: Dreams and Aspirations

Narrative Essay Topics for O-Levels 

  • The Day I Took a Leap of Faith
  • An Unforgettable Journey into the Unknown
  • A Life-Altering Decision I Made in High School
  • An Encounter with a Stranger That Changed My Perspective
  • The Role of Resilience in Overcoming a Personal Challenge
  • The Impact of a Cultural Exchange Experience
  • A Lesson Learned from a Unique Life Experience
  • The Importance of Perseverance in Achieving a Goal
  • My Most Memorable Academic Achievement
  • A Glimpse into My Future: Aspirations and Ambitions

Narrative Essay Topics for Highschool

  • The Moment I Discovered My Passion
  • A Life-Changing Journey Abroad
  • A Challenging Decision That Shaped My Future
  • An Unexpected Act of Kindness That Touched My Heart
  • The Role of Resilience in Overcoming Adversity
  • A Personal Experience That Shaped My Values
  • The Impact of Technology on My Generation
  • A Time I Took a Stand for a Cause I Believe In
  • A Memorable Leadership Role I Assumed
  • A Glimpse into My Ideal Future: Aspirations and Goals

Narrative Essay Topics for College

  • The Journey to Finding My Academic Passion
  • A Life-Altering Study Abroad Experience
  • The Transformational Impact of a Challenging Decision
  • Navigating the Transition from College to the Professional World
  • An Unforgettable Encounter with a Mentor or Role Model
  • The Role of Adversity in Shaping My Personal Growth
  • A Significant Ethical Dilemma I Faced in College
  • How My College Experiences Have Shaped My Worldview
  • The Impact of Technology on My College Education
  • A Personal Reflection on My Career Aspirations and Goals

Narrative Essay Topics for University

  • The Evolution of My Academic and Career Goals at University
  • An Eye-Opening Internship Experience That Impacted My Future
  • A Transformative Study Abroad Journey
  • Navigating the Complexities of Balancing Work, Academics, and Social Life at University
  • The Role of a Unique Research Project in My Academic Growth
  • A Personal Account of Overcoming a Significant Academic Challenge
  • A Meaningful Leadership Role in a University Organization
  • The Journey of Self-Discovery Through Elective Courses at University
  • The Impact of Peer Relationships and Networking at University
  • How My University Education Has Shaped My Perspective on Global Issues

Unique Narrative Essay Topics for Students

We've gathered distinct narrative topic ideas to fuel your creativity. Let’s look at some personal narrative ideas to inspire your narrative writing.

Descriptive Narrative Essay Topics

  • A Peaceful Day by the Riverside
  • Exploring a Haunted House
  • My Favorite Childhood Memory
  • A Walk Through an Ancient Forest
  • The Perfect Winter Wonderland
  • An Evening at a Carnival
  • A Visit to a Vibrant Art Gallery
  • The Spectacular Colors of Autumn
  • A Day in the Life of a Beach
  • An Exciting Night in the City

Personal Narrative Essay Topics

  • A Life-Changing Decision I Made
  • A Moment of Personal Triumph
  • Overcoming My Greatest Fear
  • A Meaningful Lesson from a Personal Challenge
  • The Role of a Special Friend in My Life
  • A Time When I Broke a Personal Record
  • The Impact of a Mentor on My Life
  • My Journey to Self-Discovery

Literacy Narrative Essay Topics

  • My Earliest Memory of Learning to Read
  • The Book That Sparked My Love for Reading
  • A Life-Changing Experience in a Library
  • The Impact of a Special Teacher on My Writing Skills
  • How Technology Has Shaped My Writing Habits
  • A Personal Reflection on My Writing Journey
  • The Role of Literature in Shaping My Perspective
  • Writing as a Tool for Self-Expression and Healing
  • How I Overcame Writer's Block
  • The Significance of Storytelling in My Life

Engaging Narrative Essay Topics

  • The Mystery of a Lost Treasure Map
  • An Unlikely Friendship That Changed My Life
  • A Day in the Life of a Professional Athlete
  • The Journey of Starting My Own Business
  • A Haunting Experience in a Historic Place
  • A Memorable Road Trip with Friends
  • My Encounter with a Famous Celebrity
  • The Day I Conquered My Greatest Fear
  • An Adventure in a Foreign Land
  • A Life-Altering Decision at a Crossroads

How to Choose a Topic for a Narrative Essay?

Choosing the right topic for your narrative essay can be a daunting task. Before you start writing, it is important to invest some time in researching and brainstorming. 

Here are a few tips to help guide you in selecting an interesting and engaging narrative essay topic: 

  • Reflect on Your Personal Experiences: If you are writing about a personal narrative topic, consider the impactful moments in your life and think about experiences that have left a strong impression on you.
  • Identify a Clear Message or Theme: Determine the central idea or theme of your narrative. Decide what lesson, insight, or emotion you want to convey.
  • Engage Your Audience: Consider your target audience and what will resonate with them. Choose a topic that captures their interest and keeps them engaged.
  • Play with Different Perspectives: Explore the option of incorporating different viewpoints. Combining personal and external perspectives can add depth to your narrative.
  • Test Your Idea: Get feedback from a friend or classmate. Assess if your chosen topic is likely to resonate with your audience.
  • Stay True to Your Voice: Balance considering your audience with being authentic. Let your unique voice and storytelling style shine through in your writing

Tips for Writing Narrative Essays

Once you have selected a topic for your narrative essay, it is time to start writing. 

Here are a few tips to keep in mind as you write your story: 

  • Start with a Strong Hook: Begin your narrative essay with a captivating hook, such as an engaging anecdote, a thought-provoking question, or a vivid description. 
  • Follow a Clear Structure: Organize your narrative essay outline with a clear structure. Most narratives follow a chronological order, but you can also use flashbacks or nonlinear storytelling when it serves your narrative. 
  • Build Tension and Conflict:  Create tension and conflict in your narrative to add depth and maintain reader engagement. Whether it's a personal struggle, a moral dilemma, or an external challenge, these obstacles will keep readers eagerly anticipating what comes next.
  • Revise and Edit:  After completing your first draft, take the time to revise and edit your work. Review it for grammar and spelling errors, but also examine the overall structure and flow of your narrative.
  • Practice, Practice, Practice:  Like any form of writing, improving your narrative essay skills takes practice. Keep writing and experimenting with different topics, styles, and approaches to develop your storytelling abilities.

Before you start writing, make sure you read some narrative essay examples to learn how to organize your thoughts and structure your story.

In summary, no matter the type of essay you are writing about, you need a topic to start with. Our collection of narrative essay topics offers fresh, distinct ideas. 

These topics are crafted to ignite your creativity and captivate your audience. They cover a diverse range of experiences, making it easier for you to connect with your readers on a personal level.

Still, struggling to write a compelling narrative essay? MyPerfectWords.com  is here to help you out!

We stand as the most reliable narrative essay writing service with a specialized focus on crafting exceptional essays designed for high school and college students. Our customer support team is also available 24/7, request write my essays online whenever you need assistance.

Frequently Asked Questions

How are narrative essay topics different from other essay types.

FAQ Icon

Narrative essay topics are usually based on personal experiences, so they are more emotional and creative than other types of essays. Also, they are often more open-ended, so you have more freedom to choose what to write about. 

Where can I find good narrative essay topics?

There are a few ways to find good topics for your narrative essay. You can look through books or magazines for ideas, or search online for inspiration. You can also brainstorm with friends or family members to come up with ideas. 

What do I write a narrative essay about?

You can write a narrative essay about anything, but it is usually based on personal experience. Try to recall interesting incidents from your life to develop a narrative about. 

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150 Best Topic Ideas For Narrative Essay

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Table of contents

  • 1 How to Choose a Topic for a Narrative Essay?
  • 2 Some Tips for Writing Narrative Essays
  • 3.1 Narrative Essay Topics for High School Students
  • 3.2 Good Narrative Essay Topics for College Students
  • 4.1 Personal Narrative Essay Topics
  • 4.2 Personal Experience Narrative Essay Topics
  • 4.3 Narrative Essay Topics About Childhood
  • 4.4 Relationship Narrative Essay Topics
  • 4.5 Personal Narrative Essay About Friendship
  • 4.6 Cultural Narrative Essay Topics
  • 4.7 Personal Narrative Stories Ideas on Traveling and Holidays
  • 4.8 Narrative Argument Essay Topics

In academic practice, the narrative essay is probably one of the key elements to train students in expressing their opinions. It teaches well how to tell a story in a clear, concise manner, that’s why it is so welcome in the language and composition classes.

Narrative essays are not only valuable as such: their contribution lies in the ability to elaborate students’ storytelling and narration skills. To touch the reader’s nerves, you should opt for exciting narrative essay ideas. There are plenty of them – but don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! Below you’ll find a comprehensive list of essay ideas.

How to Choose a Topic for a Narrative Essay?

When you are selecting a topic for your essay , you should consider some aspects. As a teacher, you should opt for the best narrative essay topics that would be interesting and familiar to your mentees. If you are a mentee yourself, you can be assigned a specific task to write on the topic provided by your teacher or professor. In the opposite case, you have the freedom to choose a topic on your own.

We’ve collected some useful tips on how to efficiently select a narrative speech topic for your paper. They apply to the general principles of narrative essay topic choice. You can write about something special and personal for you, or describe events and subjects that are well-known to everyone. The following rules will be a perfect support for you in the creation of a powerful narrative essay.

  • Opt for relevant topics Always consider your audience when picking a topic if you are a teacher. The topic shall be cognizable and meaningful for your audience, be it higher school students or schoolchildren. They must be able to express their thoughts on the subject and relate their personal experiences to it.Obviously, the requirements for younger students are lower, and narrative writing topics shall deal mostly with descriptions or reporting. On the other hand, senior schoolers and students shall be able to write an essay that is also persuasive and reflective.
  • Choose your comfortable writing style Experience in studying affairs clearly demonstrates that successful subjects for a narration essay are those you feel comfortable with. Picking up the right idea is the key to a powerful paper as it determines the style of your writing.Think about what you love to tell about. Do you like to describe events in a detailed and vivid manner? Or maybe you are factual and concise? Are you a fan of reflections and self-analysis? Recollecting or imagining, projecting or analyzing, reporting or insightful – if you identify your features, they will be helpful narrative essay prompts.
  • Show your mastery Topics are essential, but that’s not the hard and fast rule: always factor into personal proficiency. This is what turns even a dull and merely informative topic into an engaging story. A narration essay is your chance to create a description that would allow your readers to pop into your experiences and share your fun or drama with you.Whether your narration concerns a film, a book, a relationship, a person, or a situation, try to complement it with a touch of personal attitude. Discourse upon the lessons you’ve learned, describe a turning point of your life or reflect on why an event from your past is so memorable. Try to convey this in the essay outline , and you’ll see how fascinating it might be. The more so as there are plenty of brilliant topics for narrative writing.

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Some Tips for Writing Narrative Essays

Narration may be both rewarding and challenging. To maximize your rewarding experience and minimize the tough aspects of essay writing, follow our tips recovered from the students’ practice.

1. Aim at telling a story

A narration essay stands foremost for a narration. Whether you are describing events, discussing situations, or recollecting the past, your story should be engaging and have a plot. You may introduce the elements that make your story individual. These include arguments, reflections, and opinions, but the focus of this type of essay is narrative.

3. Keep to an outline

The conventional structure is not required, however, it assists in organizing your thoughts properly and preserving accuracy and distinctiveness. The introduction and conclusion parts do not differ much from those in other academic papers. The body part, in turn, presents a story that may tackle moral, practical, psychological, or other problems. This clearly distinguishes your narration from all the others. This is why personal narrative topics shall be thoroughly picked.

3. Make a plan

Draft the events and characters to be introduced in your story. Don’t feel like you are limited by the structure you create. A plan is a guide rather than a mold for your text, so try making it comfortable for you. Drafting your essay before you start writing may also be helpful. This way you can break down the nuances and see what’s lacking for an immersive story.

4. Remain individual

While good narrative topics circulate in the school and college assignments, you are still able to make your essay personalized. To start with, you have your own stories to be told. Then, you might express your own opinions that are unconventional. Also, you can present the lessons you’ve learned from the story. In the end, your author’s style will surely add points to your paper.

5. Choose a writing narrative thoroughly

Stories may be told third-person or first-person. Weigh the pros and cons of each type of narration and opt for the one reflecting your objective. Personal experiences are usually written in first-person, and epic narratives may be third-person. Though, unconventional approaches may be an interesting artistic device making your essay even more intriguing.

Need help with narrative essay writing? Get your paper written by a professional writer Get Help Reviews.io 4.9/5

Narrative Essay Topics for Students

We’ve analyzed trainees’ experience in writing narrative paragraphs and selected narrative essay topics for college and school students. This profound list covers a wide range of subjects, so pick one!

Narrative Essay Topics for High School Students

High school students normally feel comfortable about describing their study routine. Below you’ll find interesting topics to convey some of the things at school familiar to every pupil.

  • My favorite class
  • An unexpected day-off
  • My favorite teacher
  • My most memorable participation in a sports event
  • My harshest debate competition
  • My best role in a school theatre
  • My after-school activities
  • My routine travel to school
  • My funny prom night adventure
  • My worst lost match
  • The craziest incident on my campus
  • The subject I don’t like
  • How I failed an exam
  • How I got through an exam
  • How I got caught cheating

Good Narrative Essay Topics for College Students

Just like high schoolers, students at colleges and universities are fond of talking about their everyday matters. Whether a topic about students’ affairs or reflection on new relationships, the most popular narrative topics for college students are collected here.

  • My first day at the higher school
  • My last day with my schoolmates
  • My favorite course
  • Meeting my better half
  • The story of my split-up
  • My brightest high school moment
  • How I met my old friend
  • My favourite professor
  • A funny adventure on my campus
  • The most symbolic episode from my college life
  • The day I moved
  • How I traveled to my college
  • My first impressions of the college campus
  • How I met my roommate
  • My first friends at college

Topics for essays on themes:

Personal narrative essay topics.

Each of us had moments in life the story of which would be interesting to others. Develop your narration mastery and tell the world a story about the very best, most memorable, extremely scary, or awkward situations. Our list is here to assist you.

  • The happiest event ever
  • The saddest moment in my life
  • The worst moment of my life
  • The best moment of my life
  • If I start my life all over again, I’d…
  • The most frightening episode of my life
  • The most dramatic decision I had to make
  • The life-changing event in my life
  • The greatest risk I took
  • The day I decided to move
  • The worst decision of my life
  • Getting lost abroad
  • The most disastrous trip
  • How I grew up in a city
  • How I grew up in a village

Personal Experience Narrative Essay Topics

Personal experiences are way more exciting for writers. Unfortunately, personal narrative essays are not always just as fascinating for listeners unless they are presented in an entertaining manner. We’re sure that the ideas for personal narratives below will help you pick your topic to maximize readers’ engagement.

  • The moment of my life I’m proud of
  • My first visiting an opera house
  • The weirdest accident I witnessed
  • How I first tried Asian cuisine
  • My most memorable birthday present
  • If I was a character in a book
  • The memory I wish I lived through again
  • If I was my favourite movie superhero
  • How I lost a thing that wasn’t mine
  • My first travel to the sea
  • What makes me unique
  • My first trip into the wild
  • My first job interview
  • My most significant loss
  • My most memorable Christmas

Narrative Essay Topics About Childhood

Childhood is probably the sweetest period of our lives and the one with the most number of insights. The most powerful experiences come from it, and most of our reflections are related to a child’s perception in this or that way. Check out our list of captivating topics about childhood and pick one.

  • My first memories ever
  • My first pet
  • The role model of my childhood
  • The first time I met my uncle/aunt
  • The first time I got to a hospital
  • My first big sports competition
  • My first day at school
  • The first time at a stadium
  • My best visit to a children’s entertainment park
  • My favourite preschool teacher
  • My first time on the airplane
  • My most memorable picnic
  • The scariest incident of my childhood
  • My childhood phobias
  • The funniest incident of my childhood
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Relationship Narrative Essay Topics

Writing about this huge layer of experience – relationships – is surely thrilling. We’ve picked just some of the great variety of narrative topics about relationships for you. Even if you don’t find here exactly what you want to talk about, you’ll definitely hit upon an appropriate idea.

  • My first romantic date
  • How my best friend changed my life
  • How I first met my best friend
  • The saddest moment in a relationship I experienced
  • A turning point in my important relationship
  • My role model relationship from a book/movie
  • My first romantic relationship
  • What my parents mean to me
  • The best advice about relationships I got
  • Why is my significant other so important to me
  • The situation that helped me fix my ruined relationship
  • The best memories I share with my friends
  • My first confession
  • How I helped someone with depression
  • A film/book about relationships that stroke me

Personal Narrative Essay About Friendship

Friendships often determine our paths in life, and most people love telling stories. These are about their adventures with friends or reflections on the effects of getting cozy with other people. From the list below, you may pick one of the best friendship topics for narrative essay papers.

  • My best friend from a summer camp
  • How I reconnected with my friend after a quarrel
  • How I covered my friend
  • How I first met my online friend live
  • How I helped my friend reconnect with his/her loved one
  • The coolest adventure with my best friend
  • The first time at my friend’s place
  • My worst quarrel with my friend
  • My best older friend
  • How my foe turned into my friend
  • The toughest situation I and my friend went through
  • My friend’s sister/brother
  • The situation where I had to choose between two friends
  • How I met a friend on the Internet

Cultural Narrative Essay Topics

How about writing on culture? The variety of topics is enormous, and you can write here in different styles and tonalities. Find out effective narrative paragraph topics dedicated to traditions, holidays, or cultural events below.

  • My favourite holiday
  • How we celebrate Christmas
  • The best Christmas present I got
  • My best Christmas
  • My saddest Christmas
  • The holiday which is most significant for me
  • Our family traditions for Easter
  • How I took part in holidays abroad
  • The scariest Halloween I ever had
  • Home alone on a holiday night
  • The most memorable cultural event I visited
  • The festival I love most
  • What I was thankful for this Thanksgiving Day
  • My family traditions
  • A foreign holiday tradition that I love most

Personal Narrative Stories Ideas on Traveling and Holidays

This segment of subjects covers individual experiences. Respectively, it has to do with reflections, opinions, and feelings. Our list of personal narrative ideas related to trips and celebrations is here for your convenience.

  • My best entertainment on winter holidays
  • My first traveling abroad
  • How I first visited a warm country in winter
  • How I missed my flight/train/bus
  • The happiest moment during the holidays
  • Making a new friend during the holidays
  • My first time traveling alone
  • My most memorable holiday ever
  • The saddest incident on a holiday
  • My best visit to a foreign city on holiday
  • My best travel to a big city
  • The worst quarrel while on holiday
  • The best encounters during the holiday
  • My best trip to a countryside
  • How I returned home after a long vacation

Narrative Argument Essay Topics

Strong argumentation is one of the indications of a successful academic paper and a prerequisite for a higher grade. You should pick a topic you are confident in to provide your effective arguments as your objective is to persuade your readers. Opt for a narrative essay topic that speaks to you.

  • The toughest decision between right and wrong
  • The choice I regret
  • How I helped a friend against the rules
  • Involvement in a conflict between other people
  • Getting caught lying
  • How I let down a friend following the rules
  • How I shifted the blame to someone else
  • The toughest yet most important experience
  • Helping someone for personal benefit
  • The prank I played on my friend
  • Ignoring bullying
  • How my friend took the blame for me
  • Does justice actually exist?
  • Ignoring the wrong behavior of others
  • Eavesdropping

When writing a narrative essay, it is important to choose an interesting topic that can engage your readers. Finding the right topic can be a challenge, but there is no need to worry as there are many resources available, such as online essay writers , that can help you choose the best topic for your narrative essay.

Whether a personal experience essay, a story about your best childhood birthday, a narration about your most meaningful travel, or the way you reacted to essential world events, are all worth writing. Bear in mind that each of them requires research, adhering to a structure, and planning. Focus on what’s inspiring for you and may be of interest to your readers, and you’ll get a list of the narrative ideas working best for you.

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How to Write a Narrative Essay: Essential Guide for Storytelling

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narrative essays topic ideas

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50 Narrative Essay Topics

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but a narrative essay can also tell an exciting story and create vivid pictures in the reader’s mind! We’ve got 50 narrative essay topics designed to prompt students to craft memorable written narratives. These can be modified for students in elementary, middle and high school. Feel free to print the entire narrative essay topics list for plenty of inspiration for your next narrative essay assignment!

Narrative Essay Topics

  • Your first day of school.
  • Your most exciting day of school
  • A field trip that your class took.
  • Your favorite summer vacation.
  • A trip that included something unexpected or surprising.
  • A time that you experienced something spooky.
  • A time that you experienced something truly frightening.
  • A time that you learned something new that changed you in some way.
  • The moment when you met someone who changed your life.
  • The day that you got your first pet.
  • A move from one place to another.
  • Something funny that happened to you.
  • Something funny that happened to one of your family members or friends.
  • Something embarrassing that happened to you.
  • Your favorite birthday party.
  • A birthday that was disappointing.
  • A big storm (rain, snow or even a tornado!).
  • A time that the power went out.
  • A summer day when the temperature got much higher than expected.
  • A time when you went to an amusement park.
  • A time when you got lost somewhere.
  • A memorable experience with a favorite family member.
  • A sad experience with someone about whom you care.
  • Your most exciting moment playing sports.
  • Your most exciting moment performing in a play, singing, playing music or dancing.
  • An experience that left you feeling frustrated.
  • An experience that was hard but ended up being worth it.
  • A time that you experienced rejection.
  • A weird encounter with a stranger.
  • A random act of kindness.
  • A time that you took a stand for someone or for an issue that you care about.
  • A moment when you thought you might get hurt but didn’t.
  • Breaking a bone (or otherwise suffering an injury).
  • Your first time away from home for the night (or longer).
  • A time when you experienced a historic event.
  • Where you were when a major event happened. (Note: You don’t need to have been at the site of the event; this prompt is about where you were when you found out about the event and how you reacted.)
  • A time when you rebelled against your parents or teacher.
  • A dangerous experience.
  • A misunderstanding between yourself and someone else.
  • A difficult decision that you had to make.
  • The end of a friendship or relationship.
  • The beginning of a friendship or relationship.
  • A time when you judged someone first and then realized that you were wrong about the person.
  • A time when someone judged you first and then realized that he or she was wrong about you.
  • A moment when you felt that you were starting to grow up.
  • A time when you saw one or both of your parents in a different light.
  • A time when you looked up to your older sibling.
  • A time when your younger sibling looked up to you.
  • A time when you were grateful to be an only child.
  • An experience that you think has only ever happened to you!

Looking for more essay topics? Compare and Contrast Essay Topics Descriptive Essay Topics Cause and Effect Essay Topics Persuasive Essay and Speech Topics

Narrative Essay Topics Featured

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Narrative Essay Topics — Prompts & Ideas For All Grade Levels

N arrative essays can present a serious challenge for even the most seasoned of writers, but fear not, we’ve compiled some great narrative essay topics to inspire your next paper! Follow along as we explore prompts relating to life, school, and more. By the end, you’ll be prepared to tackle narrative essays from a variety of different angles.

Good Narrative Topics

What is a narrative essay.

Before we jump into our narrative essay topics, we have to first answer the question: what is a narrative essay ? A narrative essay is a prose-written story that’s focused on the commentary of a central theme.

Narrative essays are generally written in the first-person POV , and are usually about a topic that’s personal to the writer.

Everything in a narrative essay should take place in an established timeline, with a clear beginning, middle, and end. 

For more on narrative essays, check out this video on literacy narrative topics and structure:

Narrative Essay Topic Ideas  •  Narrative Essay Titles

In the world of literature, narrative essays are held to a rigorous structure. We’re not going to enforce that rigor here! So, follow along as we (hopefully) inspire you with a variety of narrative essay topics and argument essay ideas. 

Narrative Ideas

Narrative essay ideas for kids.

Narrative essay topics for kids usually focus on family, school, and friends.

Here are some easy narrative essay topics that work well for kids:

  • Describe your most recent birthday party.
  • Tell the story of your first day of school.
  • Who is your best friend?
  • Have you ever helped others?
  • Describe your favorite animal(s)
  • What is your dream for the future?

This next video from “Teaching Without Frills” explores narrative essay topics for kids in further detail. 

Narrative Essay Ideas  •  Titles of narrative essays

Sometimes it can help to visualize narrative essay topics with pictures, especially for younger kids. If you’re a teacher, consider using pictures to inspire your students!

Narrative essay ideas for teens

Middle school and high school students are often asked to write narrative essays too. But whereas narrative essay topics for elementary school students are usually structured around simple, positive topics, narrative essay topics for teens are generally more contemplative.

Here are some personal narrative essay topics that work well for teens:

  • Describe a moment of loss.
  • Describe a moment of serenity.
  • Recount the story of a lost friend.
  • Detail your greatest creation.
  • Tell the story of your favorite teacher.
  • How would you change the world?

Remember: not every person has the same circumstances as others. That's why they're called personal narrative essay topics.

It’s important to frame narrative essay topics for kids in a way that every kid can relate. For example: the prompt “a lost friend” could mean a friend who moved away or a dead pet. Make sure to word your prompts in such a way that participants can glean their own interpretation.

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Narrative Essay Ideas

Narrative essay ideas for young adults.

Young adults are sometimes asked to write narrative essays for school and or job applications. Narrative essay reviewers typically want to see writers demonstrate maturity and growth in their work. As such, their questions are generally structured around challenges and problem management.

Here are some narrative argument essay topics for young adults:

  • Have you ever failed at your job?
  • If you could change one thing from your past, what would it be?
  • What is something you take pride in?
  • Describe your childhood.
  • How will you grow this year?
  • What is the most important element of success?

Of course, the topics above are mostly focused on success and failure. Young adults can certainly respond to the other prompts too!

Narrative essay ideas for adults

Adults aren’t generally tasked with writing narrative essays unless they’re writers. But that doesn’t have to be the case! There are a lot of positives to writing narrative essays, whether you’re a literary professor or a wrestler looking to articulate your thoughts.

So, here are some things to write a narrative essay about for adults:

  • What was your worst job?
  • What (or who) was your first love?
  • Who do you take care of?
  • What is your most prized possession?
  • If you could tell somebody who’s now gone from your life one thing, what would it be?
  • Paint a picture of where you find peace.

Narrative essay titles Easy narrative essay topics

Narrative essay titles  •  Easy narrative essay topics

In recent years, companies have been selling books with narrative essay prompts for adults (particularly elderly adults) to reflect on their lives.

Creative Writing Prompts & Exercises

Now that you're brainstorming good titles for personal narrative, time to learn about other forms of creating writing. A narrative essay is just one type of essay – there are dozens more! In our next article, we break down more creative writing prompts and exercises, including those suited to fantasy, romance, horror, and more. By the end, you’ll know a ton of different ways to approach your next story.

Up Next: Creative Writing Exercises →

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narrative essays topic ideas

150 Narrative Essay Topics

narrative essays topic ideas

If you're looking for a more creative approach to writing essays, narrative essays might be a great option for you. With narrative essays, you have the freedom to tell a story and use your own personal experiences to make a point.

Whether you're writing a personal narrative or an experiential essay, you'll want to make sure that you're engaging your reader and conveying your message effectively. This is where custom essay writing services and coursework writing services can be incredibly helpful. With the assistance of professional writers, you can develop a compelling narrative essay that is both engaging and informative.

Overall, writing a narrative essay can be a fun and rewarding experience. Whether you're reflecting on a personal experience or sharing an anecdote, remember that the goal is to make a point and connect with your audience. So why not give it a try and see what stories you can tell? And if you need any assistance, don't hesitate to reach out to a " write my essay" or " write a paper for me" service for help.

What is a Narrative Essay?

A narrative essay is a less formal form of academic writing where the goal is to see whether you can tell a story clearly in an engaging manner. It follows the typical format of an essay with an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion but also incorporates classic story writing elements like plot, setting, character, climax, and ending. 

This kind of essay is written from a defined point of view, usually yours, so writing in the first person is recommended unlike most other forms of academic writing. You still need to make a point though, so include a thesis statement in your first paragraph and refer to it again in the conclusion. 

Many college application essay prompts are narrative writing, for example - describe the most significant achievement of your life. Learning how to write a good narrative paper has use beyond just college essays though, a majority of online content now is based on telling engaging stories. Read on to know more about narrative papers and find a list of 150 fascinating topics for narrative essays.

How to Choose a Topic for a Narrative Essay

Choosing good narrative essay topics are crucial for a few reasons. The story you tell will most often draw from your own experiences and thoughts, so choose a topic that you know well or are well-informed about. Additionally, since the story has to have a purpose, select a topic that has broad potential and narrow it down to tell your unique story. Remember the following things when choosing a topic for a narrative essay.

The key thing to remember is that you’re telling a story

Because a narrative essay is so unlike most academic writing assignments, a common mistake is writing sections like a dry academic assignment. It’s for school, but that doesn’t mean you can’t deliver an experience. It’s about crafting an engaging piece of storytelling while revealing something impactful through the story.

Choose an interesting or meaningful idea to explore

This is a great time to write about something that is particularly important in your life or something you are passionate about. Topics can range from your thoughts and ideas about a concept to an obscure activity that you enjoy.

The pre-writing stage is critically important

A good story flows well and includes details that draw the reader in, but it also has to deliver some idea or message. Collecting information and planning ahead to create an outline for your essay will smoothen your writing process.

Don’t forget to have fun with it!

The story you tell should be engaging, which means you have the freedom to experiment! Drawing from several different but interconnected life experiences, or telling the story from the perspective of an inanimate object are some interesting ways to make your essay stand out. 

But remember that it’s still an essay

Even though it’s storytelling, you’re still writing an essay, which means it needs to follow the classic essay structure. Based on the word count, plan how many body paragraphs you need (minimum 3 ALWAYS). Your first sentence should still have a hook, and your first paragraph still needs to have a thesis statement. The story that unfolds in the body paragraphs shouldn’t drift from your thesis statement, and your conclusion needs to end the story as well as reiterate your thesis. 

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150 Unique Topics for Narrative Essay 

It can be quite tough to think of something meaningful to write your essay about, but almost any experience you have can be an interesting topic. For one person, the first time they played a sport could be a traumatic experience, for another it could be life-changing. Only you know your experiences and thoughts. Here’s a list of narrative essay topics that you can use to start the brainstorming process and spark your imagination.

College narrative essay topics 

College is a time of new experiences. So much happens that it shouldn’t be difficult to choose something to write about. The essay you write can be more descriptive, focussing on your sensory observations of an experience, or more contemplative, focusing on new thoughts and feelings. Take a look at these narrative essay topics for college students. 

What was it like getting your first acceptance letter?
How you chose which college to go to
Your first day leaving home and coming to campus
Meeting your roommate and whether it went well or not
Your first college party 
Your favorite class 
Losing touch or staying in touch with friends from high school
The best day in college so far
The difference between sports in high school and college
How you realized college was easier or tougher than you thought it would be
What it was like being in a class with 200 students
Your experience with an extracurricular you had never tried before
Going home for the first time after attending college
Finding a subject you never thought you would like 
How did you start feeling truly comfortable in college?

Narrative essay topics for high school students

High school years are chaotic. The changes in students and their social expectations can be frustrating, challenging, and exhilarating. Essays about many important firsts can be drawn from high school. Here are a few examples of narrative essay topics related to high school.

The best day of freshman year
A time you were bullied and stood up for yourself
A time when you were bullied and felt helpless
Your most significant social accomplishment
What was a meaningful volunteering experience you had?
Your proudest moment in a sporting event
Losing a valued friend
Your first highschool dance
Why your favorite teacher became your favorite teacher
When you realized what you want to pursue as a career
The best video game moment you had 
An embarrassing moment in school and how you overcame it
Your best social media moment
The buildup to graduation day
An experience helping another student

Personal narrative essay topics

Since narrative essays are often written in the first person and rely on the experiences and thoughts of the author, they can all be considered personal, but a personal essay asks you to specifically tell a story about a time that changed you in a meaningful way. Here are some topics for writing a narrative essay about personal moments and revelations. 

A summer vacation adventure that involved heroics
Describe an experience you had in a foreign country that made you feel lucky to be from your country
Your first time following a YouTube tutorial 
Your excitement at watching the newest star wars/lord of the rings/Marvel Cinematic Universe etc. movie
Bonding with a new pet 
The moment you realized that you admire some traits in a person and want to be like them 
A situation that changed your relationship with your parents 
A situation when you had to deal with the police
Witnessing an event that needed you to call the police 
Your best leadership moment
Your experience attending a large event (politics, religion, sports, etc)
The most meaningful time in church or any religious moment of significance
An experience that humbled you 
A situation where you made a serious mistake 
A time you had to learn from adversity 

Narrative argument essay topics

Like any narrative essay - the goal is to tell a story, but like any argument essay - the goal is to convince or persuade the reader to agree with your viewpoint. Writing an effective narrative argument essay incorporates convincing arguments into the story itself. The trick is finding a balance between getting lost in telling the story and forgetting about storytelling and convincing the reader. Here are a few examples to help you find a topic for a narrative essay. 

A time when you convinced somebody against a conspiracy theory
A moment that made you more religious or spiritual
A moment that made you less religious or spiritual
Your favorite trip and why the place you went to is fantastic
How you discovered your favorite art style
The first time you played a new genre of game and why it’s the best 
Your experience attending a conference or event about climate change
Watching a movie, tv-show, youtube video, or any media that changed your mind
A situation where you had to verbally defend yourself or a friend
An observation about income disparity gained by working in a soup kitchen/homeless shelter etc.
An experience you’ve had talking to somebody with different political beliefs
A conversation about gender identity with an older person
Seeing the police behave appropriately or inappropriately
Your experience with love and how you developed your definition of it
A time you had to swallow your pride and hold your tongue

Easy narrative essay topics

Here’s a list of some good topics for a narrative essay that most people have experience with and can write about but are still interesting enough to create an engaging story for the reader. Below are some easy but interesting narrative essay topics.

A hike, picnic, or walk that made you appreciate nature
Visiting a particularly awesome amusement park
An especially romantic date
Your first trip to a big city 
Your first trip to a foreign country 
Discovering a new movie genre
The thrill of watching horror movies
A regular day in your life
A moment when you gained respect for your parents, teachers, or friends
The time you saved an animal
How you broke a bad habit 
How you developed a new skill
Your experience at a zoo
The first time you went bowling (tried any new game)
Your happiest day

Did you like our inspiring Narrative Essay Guide?

For more help, tap into our pool of professional writers and get expert essay editing services!

Cultural narrative essay topics

Some of the most mind-expanding experiences happen when looking at and understanding a different culture or by analyzing your own culture from an outsider’s perspective. Cultural narrative essay topics are particularly useful when applying to colleges or applying for grants or scholarships for exchange programs. 

What you learned from a trip abroad
How the lives of people in various socio-economic brackets are different
Observations on which basic things are different in different countries
How your cultural identity has changed over time
Sleeping over at a friends house from a different cultural background
Describe some unique personal family traditions
An experience where your culture/race/religion affected the situation around you
How you learned to fit in with a different culture
You first experience living in a foreign country
Discovering new subcultures like anime, gaming, k-pop, etc
Your favorite traditions from foreign cultures
How you understood your cultural heritage better
A time when you realized the impact of media on the perspective of other cultures
Getting over stereotypes because someone behaved differently than what you expected 
Celebrating a different festival for the first time

Autobiographical narrative essay topics

Autobiographical narrative essays as you to specifically describe and talk about things in your life that impacted you. Take a look at the narrative essay topics below for inspiration.  

Your first memory
Your first meaningful memory
Your first day of school
Your relationship with your grandparents
Finding out a shocking family secret
Your proudest achievement as a child
Your favorite childhood hobby
The best day of middle school
A time when you lost something important
How you dealt with losing someone close to you
Discovering your favorite musician
Your first kiss, date, or relationship
The worst day of your life 
Why certain things are so meaningful to you
Which people have influenced your life significantly?

Fictional narrative essay topics

Fictional narrative essay topics are an opportunity to flex your creativity. Put yourself in the shoes of someone else, or in a fantastic situation and write a story! These are some narrative essay topics to choose from down below.

What it would be like traveling to Mars
What you would do with a million dollars
Describe a particularly vivid dream 
A day in your life if you woke up as the opposite sex
What it would be like to be a professional gamer
What it would be like to have 100,000 Instagram followers
A day at the zoo from the perspective of an animal
A day in the life of a child from a very wealthy family
A day in the life of a child from a war-torn country
What it would be like to have your own talk show
What would you do if you were president?
What would you do if you were a dictator?
What it would be like to be a superhero
Tell a story based on your favorite work of art
A hypothetical dinner with your favorite celebrity

Best narrative essay topics - our choice

The best narrative essay topic ideas are going to be different for every individual. This section is going to choose some topics that offer the most space for creativity, are interesting to write about, or offer a broad chance for self-reflection. 

Your earliest sad memory
How you realized someone had become a role model
A day in the life of your favorite fictional character
The thrill of winning
The heartbreak of loss
Understanding gender identity
A clash of culture
A new discovery
Finding your favorite hobby 
Performing beyond expectation
Overcoming personal trauma
Helping someone in need
A life-changing trip 
Enjoying nature
Questioning the status quo

More interesting narrative essay topics

Think about these situations and ask yourself if any of these or something similar happened to you and makes for a good story. Enjoy these interesting narrative essay topics!

The best way to win at a particular video game
The process of creating a good TikTok 
Why binging a show is the best way to consume media
What it’s like being lost in a virtual world
A time you were convinced to try something new
Discovering a new favorite food 
What dancing means to you 
The saddest scene in media
The funniest babysitting moment
Your first day at a job
A time you asked for help
What it feels like to end a good book
A time where you panicked 
A time you were kind to someone 

Final thoughts

A narrative writing is unlike most other forms of academic writing. This can make it challenging for students, but as long as you think about it as writing a story and choose the right topic for a narrative essay, they are actually a joy to write! Here are a few key things to remember as you write your essay. 

A narrative essay uses the story structure - beginning, middle, and end, as well as plot, climax, setting, and characters

Spend time on the prewriting phase to gather your thoughts and plan an outline

Don’t lose track of the main purpose of the story

Generally, write in the first person, but the third person can be used as well

Use vivid words and explain sensory details

Above all, have fun and engage the reader as much as you can

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100 Greatest Narrative Essay Topics

January 5, 2024 by Richard Leave a Comment

100 Greatest Narrative Essay Topics

Welcome to our 100 Greatest Narrative Essay topics of all time list. These topics are written about over and over again by students and writers all over the world, and they are made new every time someone tells their story. Sharing personal stories can be a powerful way to connect with others. Whether it’s a humorous anecdote or an impactful life event, narrative essays give readers a glimpse into someone else’s world while reminding them of our shared humanity.

So, if you are having a hard time coming up with a topic to write about, try these 100. We seek to provide inspiration for your personal narrative essay. It compiles a list of 100 narrative essay topics ranging from lighthearted tales about childhood memories to profound life-changing events. With so many options, readers are sure to find an experience in their own lives that they can transform into an engaging first-person story.

Some of these narrative essay ideas evoke positive emotions – like achieving a major accomplishment, traveling somewhere new, or meeting someone influential. Other prompts allow reflection on challenging experiences – like encountering failure, coping with loss or illness, or facing down fears. The list also includes topics perfect for humor pieces – because the best personal narratives often share smiles and laughter too.

Readers can take a look at the list and see which topic speaks to them. Then they can start drafting their own unique story. Because each person’s tale offers its own dose of wisdom, inspiration, and connection. The stories readers craft based on these ideas will surely impact others.

Here are 100 potential narrative essay topics:

  • A time I overcame a fear
  • The day I met my best friend
  • A family vacation that went wrong
  • The experience of learning to ride a bike
  • Attending my first concert
  • My most difficult class in school so far
  • My proudest accomplishment
  • A time I failed at something
  • My experience learning a new language
  • Meeting someone famous
  • My experience as a camp counselor
  • My favorite family holiday tradition
  • The first time I traveled alone
  • A challenging hike I went on
  • Moving to a new place
  • Getting my first pet
  • Being bullied as a child
  • My first day of high school
  • My experience playing on a sports team
  • The day I got my driver’s license
  • Something funny my parent or sibling did
  • Working an unpleasant job as a teenager
  • Volunteering in my community
  • The day I became an older sibling
  • A parenting lesson my parents taught me
  • Attending my first homecoming dance
  • My favorite birthday celebration
  • A cooking disaster story
  • My experience getting stitches or breaking a bone
  • A mentor who impacted my life
  • My most memorable act of kindness from a stranger
  • The adoption of my pet
  • My experience being homeschooled
  • Starting a new hobby as an adult
  • My fondest childhood memory
  • My first heartbreak
  • My experience with online school
  • My journey recovering from an injury
  • Being a working student
  • Writing my first poem or short story
  • My scariest nightmare
  • Making a move to live on my own
  • Coping with my parents’ divorce
  • My adventure backpacking overseas
  • My most memorable day playing childhood games
  • The time I performed on stage
  • A cherished family tradition
  • My proudest moment as a parent
  • Meeting my grandparents for the first time
  • My experience being an older sibling
  • My fondest memory of a family pet
  • My most memorable birthday
  • My most humbling moment
  • My first experience with snow
  • A difficult goodbye
  • My favorite place to spend time as a child
  • Winning an award
  • My favorite holiday gathering
  • Studying abroad in college
  • Moving to a new city after graduation
  • My experience voting for the first time
  • A favorite item from my childhood
  • My experience overcoming sickness or surgery
  • My favorite family vacation
  • A memorable weekend road trip
  • My first paying job
  • My experience on the first day of a new school
  • Celebrating a cultural holiday
  • How I learned to overcome a bad habit
  • Staying up all night with friends
  • Attending prom
  • My experience being home alone
  • Getting elected as a group leader
  • Preparing for a major storm
  • Learning a lesson about honesty
  • The day I rescued an animal
  • My first impression of a famous landmark
  • My most memorable celebrity encounter
  • My experience with online dating
  • My first car buying experience
  • Deciding my college major
  • Changing career paths
  • My experience with unrequited love
  • Meeting an idol or someone I admire
  • My experience dealing with loss
  • My biggest regret
  • My proudest problem solving moment
  • My favorite concert experience
  • My experience with an act of heroism
  • My first time trying an extreme sport
  • How I overcame my biggest fear
  • My experience with an ethical dilemma
  • My most spiritual experience
  • My most terrifying moment
  • A major turning point in my life
  • My best day ever
  • My worst day ever
  • My experience immigrating to a new country
  • My experience parenting multiples (twins, triplets etc)
  • My funniest travel mishap

As evident, there is no shortage of engaging topics for personal narrative essays. The experiences humans accumulate throughout their lives – whether they make one laugh, cry, or change who one is – are what connects people at one’s core. Hopefully this list has provided some inspiration. Now one can take a chosen story and make it shine by adding rich details, thoughtful reflection, a meaningful central message, and a unique voice. After all, the magic manifests through the telling, and every individual has a one-of-a-kind tale only they can share. So embrace the memories and truths to craft an essay that resonates. Who knows which lives one’s words might touch or perspectives they may broaden? When more narratives are exchanged, perhaps we will begin to see that while specific adventures may differ, at heart most seek similar things – joy, purpose, wisdom, catharsis. And by reading others’ stories, people expand their wells of compassion. So take up the pen and start composing the next great personal narrative. Those words cannot wait to be read!

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  • Daily writing prompts for high school 
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About Richard

Richard Everywriter (pen name) has worked for literary magazines and literary websites for the last 25 years. He holds degrees in Writing, Journalism, Technology and Education. Richard has headed many writing workshops and courses, and he has taught writing and literature for the last 20 years.  

In writing and publishing he has worked with independent, small, medium and large publishers for years connecting publishers to authors. He has also worked as a journalist and editor in both magazine, newspaper and trade publications as well as in the medical publishing industry.   Follow him on Twitter, and check out our Submissions page .

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100+ Narrative Essay Topics for your Next Assignment

Writing a narrative essay should be fun and easy in theory. Just tell your readers a story, often about yourself. Who knows you better than you? You should ace this!

Unfortunately, narrative writing can be very difficult for some. When a teacher leaves the topic choice wide open, it’s tough to even know what to write about. What anecdote from your life is worth sharing? What story is compelling enough to fill an entire essay?

The first step in writing a narrative essay is coming up with a list of potential topics to write about. From there, you should focus on the ideas you believe you can spend an entire essay and tell a compelling story on.

Narrative writing will show up for the rest of your life. You’ll need to tell life stories in college essays, in grad school applications, in wedding speeches, and more. So learning how to write a narrative essay is a skill that will stick with you forever.

But where do you begin?

You can always check out essay examples to get you started, but this will only get you so far.

At the end of the day, you still need to come up with a story of your own. This is often the toughest part.

To help you get things kicked off, we’ve put together this list of more than a hundred topic ideas that could easily be turned into narrative essays. Take a look and see what stands out to you!

Choosing a Topic

Narrative essays fall into several categories. Your first task is to narrow down your choices by choosing which category you want to explore.

Each of these categories offers a stepping off point from which you can share a personal experience. If you have no idea where to begin, reflecting on these main categories is a great place to start. You can pick and choose what you feel comfortable sharing with your readers. This list is not exclusive—there are other areas of your life you can explore. These are just some of the biggies.

As you explore categories, think about which one would be the best fit for your assignment. Which category do you have the strongest ideas for? Which types of stories do you tell the best?

These categories include:

Childhood Tales

Educational background, travel and adventure, friends and relationships, experiences and defining moments, my favorite things, ethics and values.

Once you’ve selected a category, it’s time to see which topic piques your interest and might intrigue your audience as well. These topics are all a natural fit for a story arc , which is a central part of a narrative essay.

Writing about your childhood can be a great choice for a narrative essay. We are growing and learning during this delicate and often awkward time. Sharing these moments can be funny, endearing, and emotional. Most people can relate to childhood events because we have all survived it somehow!

  • A childhood experience that defined who I am today
  • A childhood experience that made me grow up quickly
  • My best/worst childhood memory
  • My favorite childhood things (games, activities, stories, fairy tales, TV shows, etc.)
  • What I remember most about my childhood
  • How I used to celebrate holidays/birthdays
  • My best/worst holiday/birthday memory
  • What I used to believe was true
  • The oldest memory I have
  • The most valuable possession from my childhood
  • What I would tell my younger self
  • What my friends were like when I was younger

Your educational experience offers a wealth of ideas for an essay . How you’ve learned and have been inspired can help others be inspired too. Although we were all educated in one way or another, your educational experience is uniquely your own to share.

  • First day of school/junior high/high school/college
  • First/most memorable school event
  • My favorite/worst school years
  • My favorite/worst teachers
  • My favorite/worst school subjects
  • What recess was like for me
  • My experiences in the school cafeteria
  • How I succeeded/failed in certain classes
  • Life as a student (elementary, junior high, high school, college)
  • The best/worst assignment I ever completed for a class
  • Why I chose my college
  • First novel I read for school
  • First speech I had to give

People love to read about adventures. Sharing your travel stories transports your reader to a different place. And we get to see it through your eyes and unique perspective. Writing about travel experiences can allow your passion for diving into the world shine through.

  • My first time traveling alone
  • My first time traveling out of the country
  • The place I travel where I feel most at home
  • My favorite/worst travel experience
  • The time I spent living in a hostel/RV
  • The time I spent backpacking around a country
  • Traveling with friends/family/significant other
  • Best/worst family vacation
  • Most memorable travel experience ever
  • Places I want to visit
  • Why I travel
  • Why I cruise/climb mountains/camp/fly/drive
  • Trying to speak another language
  • How I prefer to travel
  • How I pack to travel

The good, the bad, and the ugly. We all have family stories that range from jubilantly happy and hilarious to sad and more serious. Writing about family can show your reader about who you are and where you come from.

  • Family traditions that you enjoy/dislike
  • What your parents/siblings are like
  • What your family members (mom, dad, grandparents, siblings, etc.) have taught you
  • What being the oldest/youngest/middle/only child was like
  • Family members who made the most impact on your life
  • Most memorable day with a family member
  • How a pet changed my family’s life/my life

Friends, enemies, and loved ones come in and out of our lives for a reason. And they provide great material for writing. If relationships exist to teach you something, what have you learned? Writing about those you’ve connected with demonstrates how others have influenced your life.

  • My most important relationship
  • How I work on my relationships
  • What I value in my relationships
  • My first love/relationship/breakup
  • Losing/Gaining a close friend
  • How my friendships have changed/evolved
  • The person I’m afraid of losing the most
  • How technology has affected my relationships
  • The worst argument I’ve had with someone
  • What happened when I was rejected

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times... sharing your best times and sharing your worst times can make great stories. These highs and lows can be emotional, funny, and thought-provoking.

  • The event that most defines who I am today
  • The best/worst day of my life
  • The most embarrassing/frightening moment of my life
  • A moment that taught me something
  • A moment where I succeeded/failed
  • A time when I was hurt (physically or emotionally)
  • A time when I gave up hope
  • An experience when I had to overcome challenges (fear, intimidation, rejection, etc.)
  • My greatest accomplishment
  • The time I learned to accept/love/be okay with myself
  • The most difficult time in my life
  • The toughest thing I’ve ever done
  • My first time surviving something alone

Explaining to others what you love and why can really paint a picture of who you are and what you value. It’s important to note that simply sharing a favorite isn’t a very deep topic. However, you can take this topic deeper by expressing how this favorite has impressed you, inspired you, and affected your life.

  • My favorite author/poet/playwright
  • My favorite movie/book/song/play/character
  • My favorite actor/actress/director
  • My favorite singer/musician
  • My role model
  • What I like to do to relax
  • My favorite activities/games/sports
  • How I handle stress and tough times
  • Why I dance/sing/write/journal/play sports/bake

Where you stand on deep issues tells a lot about you. Taking a stance and explaining your opinion on tough topics reveals some insight into your ethical reasoning.

  • The most difficult decision I have made
  • How I treat people/strangers
  • A time I faced a moral/ethical dilemma
  • A decision I regret
  • A lie I have told
  • When I rebelled against someone in authority
  • My most important life rule
  • The principle I always live by

Situational prompts allow you to step out of your past and picture a different future. If digging into your past experiences seems scary and intimidating, then look to your future. What you imagine can be insightful about your life and where you see yourself heading.

  • If I had a million dollars...
  • If I were famous...
  • If I could change history...
  • If I had no fear...
  • If I could change one thing about myself...
  • If I had one extra hour a day...
  • If I could see the future...
  • If I could change the world...
  • If I could have one do-over in life...

Writing a narrative essay can seem daunting at first. Sharing a bit of yourself with the world is a scary thing sometimes. Choosing the right topic, however, can make the process much smoother and easier.

Writing a narrative essay can be intimidating, but choosing the right topic can make the process much easier for you.

Browsing through topic ideas can inspire you to pick a topic you feel you can tell a story about and that can take up a full essay. Once you have a quality story to tell, the rest of the pieces will fall into place.

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Narrative Essay Writing

Narrative Essay Topics

Cathy A.

Interesting Narrative Essay Topics and Ideas

16 min read

Published on: Mar 22, 2023

Last updated on: Mar 25, 2024

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Unlike other forms of academic writing, narrative essays focus on personal experiences, anecdotes, and reflections. They aim to engage readers through vivid storytelling, allowing them to connect emotionally with the narrative. 

However, finding the right topic can sometimes be challenging. 

In this guide, we'll look into the narrative essay topic examples, explore various themes, and provide valuable tips to help you choose the perfect topic for your narrative essay.

Let’s jump in!

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Narrative Essay Topics for Students

If you're a student, you probably have to write an essay at some point. Getting an interesting topic idea is not easy. We have gathered some essay topics for different academic levels to help you with the task.

Let's dive right into the narrative essay topics list without any delay.

Narrative Essay Topics For University Students

  • The worst interview of your life 
  • A time when you discovered something precious 
  • A time when you were insulted or disrespected
  • A time you discovered one of your skills
  • The moment when your loved one was hurt 
  • The moment when your best friend had an accident 
  • The day your father caught you smoking 
  • A mistake that taught you something significant 
  • An action you thought would help the person but got you in trouble.
  • The moment when someone else's experience saved your life 
  • The time when you underestimated a junior
  • How has practicing helped you become a professional?
  • The time when your beliefs were shaken
  • An event that made you feel sorry about a person
  • The time when you had to let go of one of your most important things

Narrative Essay Topics For College Students

  • First experience of living in a hostel
  • The worst roommate ever
  • Frightening memory of your childhood
  • Why you chose a specific major
  • What studying in a dream college feels like?
  • The most healthy part of your routine
  • The time you inspired someone
  • What should you tell your younger self?
  • Your favorite author and his work that you most relate to
  • A moment when your joke offended your friend

Narrative Essay Topics For Grade 12

  • Your favorite activities in your leisure time
  • How you overcome your fears
  • The hardest thing you did in life
  • What regrets do you have in life?
  • Your biggest motivation to score well in academics
  • Share a cherished family tradition and its impact on you.
  • Recall a moment where you stood up for your beliefs.
  • Discuss a tough decision and its impact on your character.
  • Explore a memory that highlights the value of friendship.
  • Reflect on a book, movie, or art that shaped your perspective.
  • Overcome a setback or failure and what you learned.

Narrative Essay Topics High School

  • The most interesting summer school memory 
  • The moment when you saw your favorite actor in real life 
  • The first time you helped a needy person
  • How you became friends with your best friend 
  • A person who left a deep influence on you 
  • The day when you became a class representative 
  • Your first speech on the stage
  • Your first term paper
  • Your favorite high school student’s profession 
  • The first time you stood up for something you believed in

Narrative Essay Topics For Grade 10

  • A time when you had to stand up for something you believed in
  • The most significant challenge you have faced in your life so far
  • A moment that changed your life forever
  • A decision that you regret making and what you learned from it
  • A person who has had a significant impact on your life
  • A time when you learned an important life lesson through a mistake you made
  • A trip that you will never forget
  • A time when you felt like you had to prove yourself to someone
  • A moment when you felt like giving up, but you pushed through anyway
  • An experience that helped you discover something new about yourself.

Narrative Essay Topics For Grade 9

  • A time when you overcame a fear
  • The most memorable day of your life
  • A difficult decision you had to make
  • The first time you tried something new
  • A moment when you learned an important life lesson
  • An experience that changed your perspective on something
  • A time when you made a mistake and what you learned from it
  • A memorable trip you went on
  • The first time you fell in love with a hobby or activity
  • A moment when you felt proud of yourself for overcoming a challenge.

Narrative Essay Topics For Class 7

  • My favorite sibling
  • Betrayal in friendship
  • Why is television so important in your life?
  • A hobby of yours that you recently adopted
  • The most memorable farewell
  • A memorable encounter with a new friend
  • The day when you became a class representative
  • Your dream college
  • Your favorite profession

Narrative Essay Topics For Class 6

  • The time when you underestimated a junior 
  • The time when your beliefs were shaken 
  • An event that made you feel sorry about a person 
  • The time when you had to let go of one of your most important things 
  • Your favorite activities in your leisure time 
  • The most adventurous thing you've ever done
  • Your biggest motivation to score well in academics 

Narrative Essay Topics For Grade 5

  • Your first day at school
  • Your favorite teacher 
  • Your best winter vacations
  • The happiest day of your life
  • Your best birthday ever
  • The moment when you got lost in a mall 
  • The most painful injury 
  • Your first pet
  • The feeling of losing loved ones
  • The hardest goodbye 

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Short Narrative Essay Topics

  • Exploring family traditions
  • Narrating standing up for beliefs
  • Recounting a tough decision
  • Reflecting on the value of friendship
  • Sharing shaping perspectives
  • Reflecting on overcoming failure
  • Revisiting meaningful places
  • Delving into a social passion
  • Narrating stepping out of comfort zones
  • Reflecting on influential role models

Best Narrative Essay Topics

  • An unexpected act of kindness
  • A transformative travel experience
  • The day everything changed
  • Lessons learned from failure
  • A secret that changed everything
  • Discovering my passion
  • The power of forgiveness
  • A moment of serendipity
  • Conquering my greatest fear
  • Lessons from a cultural exchange

Topics For Narrative Essays on Themes

Narrative essay themes contain a range of subjects and ideas that serve as the central focus or underlying message of the narrative. These themes often reflect aspects of human experience, emotions, relationships, and societal issues. 

Here are some common narrative essay themes and their topic ideas:

Childhood Memories Narrative Essay Topics

  • My favorite toy from childhood
  • Exploring my grandparents' house
  • Building forts and imaginary worlds
  • The day I lost my first tooth
  • Baking cookies with my mom
  • Playing hide and seek in the neighborhood
  • My first pet and our adventures together
  • Celebrating holidays with family traditions
  • Exploring nature in my backyard
  • The joy of making new friends in kindergarten

Life Lessons Narrative Essay Topics 

  • Overcoming stage fright during a school performance
  • Finding strength through a sports injury
  • Learning patience through gardening
  • Embracing change after moving to a new city
  • The value of empathy in understanding others
  • Discovering inner courage during a difficult decision
  • The power of forgiveness in healing relationships
  • Finding beauty in imperfection and embracing flaws
  • The rewards of volunteer work and helping others
  • Overcoming self-doubt through creative expression

Personal Growth Narrative Essay Topics 

  • Exploring my cultural heritage through food and traditions
  • Overcoming language barriers in a foreign country
  • Finding confidence through public speaking
  • Rediscovering creativity through art and music
  • Exploring new career paths and passions
  • Finding balance between work, family, and self-care
  • Embracing vulnerability and authenticity in relationships
  • The journey of self-discovery through traveling alone
  • Overcoming limiting beliefs and embracing personal power
  • Learning to set boundaries and prioritize self-respect

Relationships Narrative Essay Topics 

  • The bond between siblings: shared adventures and conflicts
  • Lessons learned from a long-distance friendship
  • Reconnecting with an estranged family member
  • The influence of a childhood teacher on personal development
  • Building trust and communication in romantic relationships
  • Exploring the dynamics of multigenerational relationships
  • Navigating friendships through life transitions
  • Overcoming misunderstandings and repairing relationships
  • The role of pets in family dynamics and emotional support
  • Exploring the meaning of unconditional love through relationships

Social Issues Narrative Essay Topics

  • Empowering youth through education and mentorship
  • Exploring access to healthcare in underserved communities
  • Addressing mental health stigma and promoting awareness
  • Bridging the digital divide: access to technology and information
  • The impact of climate change on local communities
  • Exploring racial justice and equity in society
  • Overcoming barriers to LGBTQ+ equality and acceptance
  • Supporting refugees and building inclusive communities
  • The importance of intersectional feminism in social justice movements
  • Promoting diversity and inclusion in educational settings

Personal Narrative Topics 

A personal narrative essay is a type of essay in which the writer shares a personal story, experience, or event from their own life. In this section, we will look into some different personal narrative ideas: 

Personal Experience Narrative Essay Topics

  • Overcoming a fear of public speaking
  • The day I conquered my greatest phobia
  • Learning to embrace vulnerability and authenticity
  • A life-changing encounter with a stranger
  • Navigating a crossroads: choosing between passion and stability
  • Finding resilience through adversity
  • The transformative power of self-reflection
  • Lessons learned from a failed business venture
  • Exploring the joys and challenges of parenthood
  • Overcoming cultural barriers in pursuit of personal growth

Personal Narrative Essay About Friendship

  • The unlikely friendship that changed my life
  • Weathering storms together: the strength of true friendship
  • Navigating the ups and downs of high school friendships
  • From strangers to soulmates: a journey of friendship
  • The power of empathy in strengthening friendships
  • Exploring cultural differences through friendship
  • The art of forgiveness: repairing broken friendships
  • Lessons learned from a childhood best friend
  • Finding support and laughter in friendships across generations
  • Celebrating diversity: embracing friendship beyond borders

Personal Narrative Stories Ideas on Traveling and Holidays

  • A solo journey to self-discovery
  • Living with locals in a foreign land
  • Traveling alone to remote destinations
  • Exploring culinary delights around the world
  • The joy of spontaneity
  • A holiday to remember
  • Traveling through time
  • From backpacker to business class
  • Discovering hidden gems off the beaten path
  • Family road trips

Fictional Narrative Essay Ideas

  • Lost in a parallel universe: A journey through time
  • The last survivors of a post-apocalyptic world
  • A magical creature's quest for home
  • The secret society of time travelers
  • Escaping from a dystopian society
  • Adventures in a virtual reality game
  • Discovering a hidden portal to another dimension
  • The mystery of the abandoned spaceship
  • Guardians of the enchanted forest
  • A quest for the legendary artifact of power

Literacy Narrative Essay Topics

  • How a childhood book shaped my imagination
  • Learning to read and write in a second language
  • Discovering the power of poetry through personal experience
  • The influence of storytelling in family traditions
  • Overcoming dyslexia: My journey to literacy
  • Exploring literary classics through different cultural lenses
  • The impact of technology on reading habits
  • The role of libraries in nurturing a love for reading
  • Finding my voice through creative writing workshops
  • Using literature to navigate life's challenges

First-Person Narrative Essay Ideas

  • My journey through a haunted house on Halloween night
  • A day in the life of a street performer in New York City
  • Surviving a wilderness adventure in the Rocky Mountains
  • Exploring the abandoned mansion at the edge of town
  • My experience as a volunteer in a refugee camp
  • Racing against time: My first marathon experience
  • Finding love in unexpected places: A summer romance
  • The night I spent stranded on a deserted island
  • Becoming a detective for a day: Solving a mystery in my neighborhood
  • My encounter with a UFO: An unforgettable extraterrestrial experience

Funny Narrative Essay Topics

  • The misadventures of my clumsy pet cat
  • Embarrassing moments during family gatherings
  • My hilarious attempt at learning a new dance
  • Surviving a disastrous cooking experiment in the kitchen
  • The comedy of errors: my unforgettable road trip
  • Accidentally sending a funny text to the wrong person
  • The day I accidentally wore mismatched shoes to school
  • My awkward encounter with a celebrity lookalike
  • The unintentional pranks I played on April Fools' Day
  • When auto-correct turns texting into a comedy show

Tips to Choose the Right Narrative Essay Topic

When selecting a narrative essay topic, consider the following tips:

  • Authenticity: Choose topics that align with your personal experiences and values.
  • Relevance: Select topics that are relevant and meaningful to your intended audience.
  • Engagement: Opt for topics that are engaging and thought-provoking, sparking curiosity and empathy in readers.
  • Scope: Ensure that the topic allows for sufficient depth and exploration within the confines of a narrative essay.

If you want to get an idea of writing a narrative essay, visit our narrative essay examples blog and get access to free PDF examples.

Summing it up!

Essays provide a unique opportunity to share personal experiences, insights, and reflections with readers. By choosing the right topic and crafting a compelling narrative, you can engage and inspire your audience. 

Remember to infuse your writing with authenticity, emotion, and vivid detail to create narratives that resonate long after they're read. 

If you find yourself short on time or unsure where to begin, seeking professional assistance is always an option. The custom essay writing service at CollegeEssay.org is here to help you with your writing needs. 

Additionally, don't forget to try our essay writer AI tool for further assistance!

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Students in college often want to create a masterpiece when assigned a creative paper. Choosing the right topic for narrative writing is crucial for captivating your audience and leaving a lasting impression. Good narrative ideas inspiration can come from many sources, including documentaries, historical texts, self-help books, poems, and podcasts.  This article will define and explain the characteristics of good narrative essay topics as well as offer examples for students. Students who want to share their experiences through stories will find this guide helpful and full of inspirational ideas. In case you seek professional advice or want to entrust a writing task to an expert, buy narrative essays online from our platform. Our academic writers have extensive experience in preparing different types of essays and will be glad to help you.

What Are Narrative Essay Topics?

Narrative essay topics can be anything as long as they allow the writer to create a compelling story and convey a message. What is a good topic for a narrative essay? Unlike academic writing, narrative essays allow learners to get creative and personal and enable them to share personal experiences in an engaging and meaningful way. The creative process becomes easy with experience as students gain knowledge of filtering relevant topics in their brainstorming sessions. To come up with such narrative essay ideas , below you will find a criterion to focus on when choosing themes.

Characteristics of Good Narrative Essay Topics

What are good topics for a narrative essay ? Good narrative topics incorporate emotional appeal to connect the audience to your story. For a start, memorable events are recommended in creative writing as the story’s details can easily be remembered and developed coherently. Below are the characteristics of a good narrative essay topic:

  • Unique and not easily predictable.
  • Evokes strong emotions in the audience, whether it's laughter, sadness, or excitement.
  • Has a clear conflict that drives the plot forward.
  • Addresses current issues or touches upon universal themes that resonate with the audience.
  • Creates anticipation and uncertainty, keeping the audience engaged and invested.
  • Explores meaningful themes like identity, justice, love, or loss.

How to Choose a Narrative Essay Topic?

Choosing a narrative essay topic can be challenging, but following the right approach makes the process easier. The prewriting stage is essential to experiment and come up with the right subject and structure for the essay. By selecting a good narrative essay topic, you will be able to immediately capture your reader's attention and increase your chances of sharing work with a large audience. You can achieve this goal by following the criteria below:

  • Reflect on your experiences of significant life events, like occasions, people, and places.
  • Brainstorm ideas. Write down a list of potential topics that come to mind based on your reflections.
  • Consider the audience. Think about who will be reading your essay and what the reader's interest might be.
  • Evaluate the potential topics by reviewing the issues you brainstormed.
  • You can use narrative essay prompts to help you brainstorm.
  • Experiment with different topics, structures, and techniques to find what works best for you and your audience.

List of Narrative Essay Topics

This section gathers a list of narrative writing topics to choose from to help you create a high-quality paper. The reader’s attention is initially hooked on the title, which sets the tone of the manuscript and the words that come after it. Examples of catchy narrative essay titles are mentioned below.

  • An adventure you went on and lessons learned.
  • Moment of epiphany in my life.
  • A bad cultural practice that affected me.
  • A day that started normal but ended up being remarkable.
  • Why did my mother stop sampling her favorite cuisine?
  • Fishing trip with my classmates I will never forget.
  • First time I attended auditions.
  • A proud moment in my life.
  • My life in the village.
  • Weekend in my favorite camp.

Below you will find more ideas. But if you don't spot the right one feel free to use our Narrative Essay Title Generator .

Good Topics for a Narrative Essay

Good ideas for a narrative essay often include a plot, characters, setting, and themes written to engage and entertain a reader. The piece usually contains reflections on the event's meaning, significance, and how it has impacted the writer's life. Here is a list of good topics for narrative essays.

  • Climbing mount Longonot.
  • My first day of high school.
  • Overcoming fear of public speaking.
  • First concert I attended.
  • Life-changing trip.
  • My first job.
  • Best moment of my life.
  • Last trip to Vegas with my brother.
  • My first trip to Mexico .
  • How I met my role model.
  • Life of moving from one place to another as a child.
  • Struggles of balancing personal and educational life
  • Most shocking accident that I witnessed.
  • How I lost my dream vacation to bad weather.
  • My experience with bullying.

Best Narrative Essay Topics

The best topics for narrative essays usually reflect the writer's insights and experiences and are infused with their unique voice and perspective. This should be followed with a clear and engaging introduction, which sets the stage for the narrative and hooks the reader’s attention. Here are examples of the best topics for narrative writing you can pick from!

  • A life-changing decision you live to remember.
  • A vacation that transformed your perspective on traveling.
  • The most remarkable year that changed your life.
  • Meeting the Queen of England.
  • My first visit to a coffee milling company.
  • Confession of a bank robber.
  • My first job interview.
  • How I lost my first mobile phone.
  • My most significant grief.
  • Childhood memory I will never forget.
  • My best moments in life.
  • Worst punishment I received.
  • Scariest Halloween in my life.
  • My experience with Asian cuisine .
  • My first prank at the cafeteria.

Interesting Narrative Essay Topics

Interesting ideas for narrative writing should tell a story in a way that is not only entertaining but also thought-provoking and memorable. Additionally, the essay must have a clear and engaging writing style, combining humor, emotion, and vivid imagery to keep the reader captivated from start to finish! This includes memorable characters, imaginative settings, and descriptions that bring the story to life. Examples of interesting narrative topics for essays are:

  • Near-death experience and its aftermath.
  • Childhood memory that still makes you smile.
  • Overcoming a phobia .
  • A trip that changed your perspective on life.
  • Meeting a celebrity.
  • Life-changing decision that needed to be made.
  • Time when you had to stand up for others.
  • Cultural celebration that affected you.
  • Returning home after living in Europe for years.
  • Cooking a meal for the whole family for the first time.
  • Struggle of the first day in a different country.
  • Worst decision I ever made.
  • My first experience in the theatre.
  • Living alone for the first time.
  • An individual that had a significant impact on your life.

Funny Narrative Essay Topics

A funny narrative writing topic allows you to share a lighthearted or humorous story with your readers. They often involve sarcasm or irony, poking fun at a certain aspect of life or describing a comical situation or event. The titles for narrative essays should encapsulate the primary theme of the essay. Here are some potential titles for narrative essay topics:

  • When you got lost in a strange city.
  • The most ridiculous law you’ve ever heard of.
  • The most unusual dream you’ve ever had.
  • Mistaking my father for a boyfriend through a text message.
  • The day I wore mismatched shoes to school.
  • Getting stuck in an elevator.
  • Accidentally dying my hair pink.
  • The day you were asked to get out of class for farting.
  • Falling asleep in class.
  • The day your father forgot to pick you up from school.
  • Jammed in a public toilet.
  • Getting lost in a shopping mall.
  • Being locked in a restaurant store overnight.
  • Marriage counselor that remarried four times.
  • Time you pulled a prank on someone.

Easy Narrative Essay Topics

Easy topics for narrative essays allow the writer to express their story and ideas in a simple and straightforward manner. These titles are often familiar, personal, and relatable to the author and reader. They are easy to research or recall, reducing the time and effort required to collect information and write. Here are some ideas for a narrative essay:

  • The best vacation you took.
  • Special place you have visited.
  • Your favorite childhood memories.
  • Journey to self-discovery.
  • Overcoming chicken phobia.
  • Moment of kindness you received or gave.
  • An event that shaped your identity.
  • A memorable event with family or friends.
  • Personal accomplishment that you are proud of.
  • A day in the forest.
  • Playground memory.
  • Unusual winter holiday.
  • Experience of being an introvert .
  • A difficult decision you had to make.
  • Growing up as a village kid.

Narrative Essay Ideas for Students

Narrative essay ideas help students reflect on or explore memorable moments in their school years and the lessons learned from these events. This includes telling about challenges you overcame, highlighting your resilience, or describing a student-teacher relationship and how it shaped your identity. Additionally, topics can comprise memories of stepping out of your comfort zone, sharing your lessons, and highlighting your bravery. The subsequent section covers some narrative essay topic ideas for students at different levels of education.

Narrative Essay Topics for Middle School

Personal narrative essay topics for middle school allow students to explore their imaginations by sharing personal life experiences, developing a narrative, and communicating the intended message to the reader. Here are examples of narrative essay ideas for middle school to inspire you to select a topic that will maximize the reader’s engagement.

  • A lesson you learned from a failure.
  • Great fictional character that I identify with.
  • Dealing with anxiety in grade 8.
  • Memorable event from middle school.
  • Experience that changed your view on environmental protection.
  • A place that holds a special meaning to me.
  • Encounter with the school principal and its consequences.
  • Special moments with my classmates.
  • The best thing I learned in middle school.
  • An extremely boring day in middle school.
  • Best teacher I ever had.
  • Most memorable farewell party.
  • The most dramatic decision I made in middle school.
  • Friends who made a difference in my life.
  • The day I was expelled for eavesdropping on teachers’ conversations.

Narrative Essay Topics for High School

High school aims to provide students with a well-rounded education and the skills they need to succeed in their future endeavors. Narrative essay topics for high school students include developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills with titles written in personal story format. Students use high school narrative essay topics to share their thoughts, personal growth experiences, overcoming challenges, significant events in their lives, relationships, and reflections from their past experiences. Some common examples to know include:

  • High school experience that taught you a valuable lesson.
  • Sports accident that had a lasting impact on you.
  • Best day spent with a childhood friend.
  • My first day at high school.
  • High school relationship that had a significant impact on you.
  • The version of a perfect day in school.
  • Learning fitness from my parents.
  • My harshest debate competition.
  • My worst lost match.
  • My routine travel to and from school.
  • A serious conversation I had about my grades.
  • The day I decided on my future profession.
  • How the teacher of English inspired my career in education.
  • My after-school activities.
  • How I won the school talent competition.

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Narrative Essay Topics for College Students

Narrative essay topics for college students often have a reflective tone since it helps learners remember past experiences and learn from them. These titles can range from cultural experiences and significant events to personal experiences. Here are some examples of college narrative essay topics.

  • My first day in the school of higher education.
  • My best learning courses.
  • Meeting my boyfriend at college.
  • A turning point in my career path.
  • How I traveled to enter college.
  • A cultural experience that expanded my horizons.
  • A defining moment in my college experience.
  • How we shared duties with my roommate.
  • Story of my break up in college.
  • How community work made my college life interesting.
  • A funny adventure in college.
  • How I showcased my culture during cultural day events.
  • My last day in college.
  • My growth and personal development over the years in college.
  • My experience with a statistics course.

Narrative Essay Topics for University Students

Topics for a narrative essay for university students often focus on describing a personal experience or events in the life of a student. Here are narrative topic ideas examples to help you in choosing an interesting topic.

  • Stranger became my best friend in my third year of university.
  • Favorite celebration with university classmates.
  • Time when you were insulted by the professor.
  • Time when a psychology class shook my beliefs.
  • Worst interview of your life.
  • Discovering that I am good at sociology.
  • How associate professor's advice helped me navigate university life.
  • The day my father learned I had a smoking habit.
  • How I navigated through the hard university life.
  • Reasons that prompted changing my course.
  • The moment I realized university life subjects you to be independent.
  • First time I participated in a big school event.
  • The teacher I wanted to be friends with.
  • An embarrassing conversation with the professor.
  • My culture shock experience at campus.

Narrative Essay Topic Ideas

A narrative essay offers an invaluable contribution to enable students to express their opinions through creative writing clearly and concisely. Choosing interesting topics for a narrative essay is important to get the reader’s attention and make them connect and relate to your story. In choosing narrative topics to write about, you should find relevant titles, have a comfortable writing style, and show mastery. Different types of narrative ideas are explored in this part.

Narrative Story Ideas

Narrative story topics can be fiction or non-fiction, from personal experience or even a historical event. Ideas for a narrative story essay should align with narrative writing guidelines to create a good one. Some possible themes include:

  • Meeting an unlikely friend.
  • How you opened your online business.
  • Social media story that inspired your career.
  • Finding true love.
  • Cultural tradition that is important to you.
  • An individual who finds a lost treasure and must decide what to do with it.
  • A family that moves to a new town and must adapt to the new surroundings.
  • Group of friends who go on a wild adventure.
  • The worst nightmare.
  • The memories of the place where I consumed the biggest burger.
  • A family member who must come to terms with a loss.
  • My first experience riding a bicycle.
  • A friend who discovers a hidden talent and must decide whether to pursue it.
  • A college student, a bogeyman, and a magician walk into a bar.
  • Winning the lottery.

Narrative Argument Essay Topics

Argument narrative essay topics present a claim or thesis that should be controversial or debatable to allow the writer to present arguments and counterarguments clearly and concisely. Narrative essay topics that teach a lesson allow authors to use examples to support their viewpoints. Possible argument titles are:

  • Effects of climate change on local communities.
  • Impact of technology on our daily lives.
  • The role of community service in personal growth.
  • Benefits of a diverse workplace.
  • Impact of technology on our ability to focus and retain information.
  • Effects of parental involvement on student academic success.
  • Role of financial literacy in personal and professional life.
  • Consequences of discrimination and prejudice on mental health.
  • Need for gun control in preventing mass shootings.
  • Negative effects of media on body image and self-esteem.
  • Contribution of healthcare in promoting personal and community wellness.
  • Benefits of social media on political discourse.
  • Preventing teenage substance abuse through parental involvement.
  • Importance of physical education in schools.
  • Debate surrounding the death penalty.
View more: Good Argumentative Essay Topics

Narrative Descriptive Essay Topics

Descriptive narrative essay topics captivate readers’ senses and create a vivid and detailed picture in their minds. Narrative essays topics are often used to describe a person, place, or experience with detailed language and imagery. Examples of such titles include:

  • World famous landmark that you visited.
  • Visit to Kenya.
  • A natural disaster you experienced.
  • Unforgettable Christmas holiday.
  • A place that brings you peace.
  • A day in the life of a famous person.
  • The best hotel in Europe.
  • The book I love the most.
  • The birthday party I regret the most.
  • My first encounter with an elephant.
  • The concert that I live to remember.
  • A memorable childhood experience.
  • Favorite family tradition.
  • Greatest American in history.
Read more: Best Descriptive Essay Ideas  

Narrative Essay Topics by Themes

The theme of a narrative essay portrays the main message or idea the writer wants to convey through their story. It is often revealed through the author’s reflections, observations, and experiences rather than explicitly stated. A narrative essay title is the first thing a reader sees, and it should reflect the theme or central idea of the essay. Narrative paper topics can have many formats, including quotes, questions, statements, or a combination. Here are some narrative essay topics organized by themes.

Personal Narrative Essay Topics

Personal narrative ideas can range from simple anecdotes to longer, more complex stories, from everyday experiences to significant events. Personal narrative topics are themes a writer chooses to focus on, ranging from everyday experiences, and personal events to abstract ideas like personal growth, self-discovery, to relationships. The subject matter should be something the author feels a personal connection to or is passionate about to entertain, inspire, inform, or reflect. Here are examples of personal narrative essay ideas.

  • A speech during Independence celebrations day that changed your life.
  • Making new friends during camping.
  • Traumatic life episodes.
  • The best movie I watched during the holiday.
  • Teenage friendship that had a significant impact on you.
  • Making new friends in France.
  • Saddest incident of my life.
  • Loss and grief that defined your strength.
  • How performing community work changed my perception of humanity.
  • Cultural and societal issues you faced.
  • A time when you took a risk.
  • The beauty of nature and why I love camping.
  • The ups and downs of my first long-distance relationship.
  • My first skydiving experience and how it changed me.
  • Thrill of competing in a high-stakes sport.

Narrative Essay Topics About Family

Topic for a narrative essay about family explores personal experiences and reflection on family dynamics and relationships. Good narrative ideas on these topics are characterized by local traditions and their impacts on your life. The writer can also take account of information on how the family has shaped their values and beliefs. Such topics include:

  • Importance of family in shaping your moral values.
  • Special family customs that bring family together.
  • Most hilarious moments with my siblings.
  • An experience that brought our family close together.
  • Fun of creating and maintaining the family garden.
  • How a dysfunctional family subjected you to depression.
  • Challenges I faced while growing up.
  • How my grandfather solved most of the family crisis.
  • A time when you learned something important about your family.
  • Thrill of family game night.

Narrative Essay Topics About Childhood

Childhood is a period characterized by first experiences and bright memories. When selecting topics to write about for a narrative essay, writers reflect on their past and share personal experiences from their younger years. While this stage of life allows you to plunge into numerous memories, it is good to give examples of those happy days rather than sad ones and create a brilliant essay! Examples of narrative essay ideas for childhood memories include:

  • Your brightest memories of summer.
  • Your first visit to the farm.
  • Best memories with your parents in childhood.
  • Your childhood best friend.
  • My first day in kindergarten.
  • Meeting Santa at a mall.
  • My biggest childhood dreams.
  • Childhood memories that still make you laugh or smile.
  • Most difficult lesson in elementary school.
  • First trip to the museum.

Friendship Narrative Essay Topics

Topics for writing a narrative essay on friendship focus on a particular friend or a special bond that had an impact on your life. The best ideas for narrative essays should be based on your personal growth, expectations, milestones, and development through friendship. Check this list out:

  • Surprise adventure with friends.
  • The excitement of surprising a friend with a long-awaited reunion.
  • Unexpected kindness a friend showed me during a difficult time.
  • An experience with narcissistic friendship.
  • Role of mindset in creating lasting friendships.
  • When friendship was tested because of social media.
  • Impact of a supportive teacher on my friendship with classmates.
  • Friendship that has brought you joy and laughter.
  • How keeping secrets ruined my friendship.
  • Role of social media in forming and maintaining new relationships.

Narrative Essay Topics on Relationship

Topics of narrative essays cover information on various aspects of your relationships.  When selecting a narrative writing topic, you should echo the lessons learned from your past relations and how they shaped your insight into love, trust, and relations. You can write about various forms of relations, examples to follow, and advice learned from books and life coaches on how to nurture them. Relationship essays topics are: 

  • How coaching helped me improve my relationship with others.
  • Failures and lessons that shaped romantic relationships.
  • My first romantic relationship.
  • Why my boyfriend is very important to me.
  • How my significant other and I address relationship challenges.
  • The book about relationships that guides me.
  • Best relationship advice from my parents.
  • A relationship that was tested and how it was resolved.
  • A relationship that taught you forgiveness and acceptance.
  • Importance of self-care and maintaining relationships in a demanding college environment.

Narrative Essay Topics About Personality

Good personal narrative topics explore different aspects of individuals: who they are and how they have grown over time. This allows writers to reflect on the impact of their personality on relationships and interactions with others. Here are some examples of personal narrative topic ideas about personality.

  • Parental involvement in your personality development.
  • An experience that helped shape your personality.
  • Personality trait that makes you proud.
  • Life events that improved your personality.
  • How your personality has affected your relationships.
  • Personality traits that have held you back.
  • How my personal development plan failed.
  • My personal growth story.
  • How our community’s traditions influenced my personality.
  • Impact of a celebrity on my self-esteem and confidence.

Moral Narrative Essay Topics

While selecting topic ideas for a narrative essay about morals, you should consider various events that inspired your beliefs and values about life. The narrative paragraph topics focus on telling a story through experiences and give insight regarding what you believe to be right or wrong and how you have been affected by ethical dilemmas. Moral narrative essay topics are:

  • Decision that you were sure was the right one.
  • Challenge of balancing my moral values with other people's expectations.
  • Moral lesson you have learned from laziness.
  • Role of peer pressure in cheating behaviors.
  • How cheating in exams led to school expulsion.
  • How respect helped me navigate into a leadership position.
  • An experience that challenged your beliefs about fairness or justice.
  • Personal achievement that you are proud of and that aligns with your values.
  • Role of empathy and compassion in survival situations.
  • How the story about Hare and Tortoise changes my perception of people.

Cultural Narrative Essay Topics

In choosing topics to write a narrative essay about culture, focus on experiences and perspectives on traditions, customs, and issues. The narratives to write about should be based on the understanding that culture is essential in fostering intercultural communication and promoting respect for cultural diversity. Here are some examples of essay topics on cultural narratives.

  • Cultural challenges you faced in the workplace.
  • An experience that encouraged you to embrace your cultural heritage.
  • When you had to navigate cultural differences in a new environment.
  • When I learned the power of cultural collaboration.
  • Important cultural practices that you adopted.
  • Attending foreign cultural celebrations.
  • Traditions and practices that surprise me.
  • Unique traditions in my community.
  • Impact of social media on society's cultural narratives.
  • Evolution of marriage and family cultural values.

You may also need rhetorical analysis essay topics or definition essay topics for your next work. So, browse our blogs, you will find everything there.

Bottom Line on Narrative Essay Topics

In conclusion, it is important to pick a subject that has significance and meaning to you in learning how to choose a topic for a narrative essay. The bottom line is that in selecting narrative writing essay topics, writers should consider what they want to convey, what story they want to tell, and what message they want to impart to the reader. A good narrative essay should be engaging and meaningful and allow the writer to explore their ideas and emotions.

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100 Narrative Essay Topics

Every month, students start looking for good narrative essay topics, hoping to fulfill their professors’ requirements. Writing assignments is a common academic task all over the world, in every school, college, and university. To get a great grade, in most cases, you have to demonstrate how thorough your research is and how well you understand a complex topic. But narrative papers stand out because of creativity heavily involved in them. There is no need to investigate something — all you have to do is tell a personal story in a compelling way.

Narrative essay prompts are usually autobiographical, so you have to describe your own life. At times, papers could focus on fictional events, but in any case, the most important thing is to disclose the personality of the main character, whether it’s you or some made-up person. Students should describe something that has affected them on a deep level, slowly revealing the lesson they’ve learned. This is the essence of such paper. By analyzing an important situation, writers get a chance to understand how it affected them and what they can do in the future. So, there must be an emphasis on personal growth and an event that caused it. Topics differ — they could include anything from personal life to education, but there are still tips you should follow.

How to Find Personal Narrative Ideas for Best Essay

The first tip lies in understanding the nature of your assignment. Lots of students confuse  narrative essays writing  with short stories writing. Both types are descriptive in nature — they should have vivid details and an alluring style, but the difference is, narration focuses on one specific motif. The point here is to describe what happened and how as well as why it affected you. For choosing an interesting topic, you should think about your past. What made you stronger? What challenge forced you to rethink your life? Perhaps a teacher inspired you to choose a certain profession or a friend’s betrayal made you wary and mistrustful toward other people. Search your mind, consider all relevant happenings, select the most specific and important one, and build solid link between it and its result.

Stimulating your memory is another thing you should keep in mind. Just saying that something happened isn’t enough, you have to describe it as vividly and richly as possible. For that, you should re-create the situation perfectly. Why don’t you discuss it with other involved parties? For example, ask your best friend if they remember how you behaved or what you said during an event. Collect information and add these details to your work, making readers feel as if they were present there with you. Be heartfelt, truthful, follow the standard essay structure, and you won’t face any problems!

100 Narrative Essays Topics for College Students

After hours of creative brainstorming, we created a list with top topic samples for narrative papers. There will be 10 categories with ten themes in each. All of them are interesting and refreshing, and they could serve as an inspiration source for your essay.

Personal Topics

This is the most common category for tasks of this nature. Exploring your inner world and showing what made you the person you are today is extremely interesting, so take a look at these personal narrative topics.

  • Being a Betrayer: Reasons, Pain, Consequences, and Remorse
  • Fighting for a Personal Opinion Even If People Hate It
  • Living in a House Full of Violence
  • Learning to Put Others Above Yourself: Long and Troubling Journey
  • Hobby That Grew to Be a Profession
  • An Unlikely Role Model That Shaped Your Behavior
  • The Most Inspiring Moment From Your Life
  • The World of Books & Their Influence
  • What Is a Soul and How It Affects One’s Personality
  • Panic Attacks, Everlasting Fear, & Ways of Fighting It

Technology and Social Media Narrative Topics

These days, finding a person who wouldn’t be interested in technology is a tough task. Check out top topics for narrative essay about this subject below.

  • My Favorite Social Media Platform and Problems It Brought
  • Being a Young Scientist Among Skeptical Family Members
  • Being Popular Blogger: Dream or Nightmare?
  • The Moment I Knew My Future Will Be Related to Technology
  • Having a Robot for a Pet
  • My Amazing/Terrible Experience with Online Dating
  • Cyberstalking and Doxxing: Small Mistake with Dangerous Consequences
  • Why Sharing Your Password Is a Bad Idea
  • The Worst/Best Email in My Life
  • The Day I Was Caught Using My Phone During a Lesson

Narrative Essays Ideas For College Students

Some narrative essays topics are suitable for college in particular. If this is what you’re searching for, the ideas are below.

  • Public Humiliation and What It Taught Me
  • How Undone Homework Ruined My Entire Day
  • Looking for Work & Not Hearing Back from Employers
  • How I Lost an Important Bet and Had to Face Repercussions
  • Staying Friends with People Who Entered Different Colleges
  • Chance Meeting and How It Changed Everything
  • The Dangers of Plagiarism for College Students
  • Doing Something Illegal & Regretting It
  • The Most Scandalous Party I Have Ever Visited
  • Correcting All Wrongs: Arguing with Professors When It Is Deserved

Narrative Culture Prompts

This is a powerful category with numerous great narrative writing topics ideas. Sample at least some of them.

  • Travelling to the Poorest Regions & Impact It Left on Me
  • Misunderstanding That Happened Due to Cultural Differences
  • Strange Family Traditions We Keep Following
  • How Culture Surrounding Me Affected My Personality
  • Culture of Music and Its Impacts
  • Why I Celebrate Some Holidays Differently From the Rest of the World
  • Foreign Culture I Unexpectedly Found Close To My Heart
  • Culture and Society: How They Are Related
  • Strange Cultural Norms That Shocked Me
  • Why Learning Foreign Languages Helped Me Understand Another Culture

Narrative Topics About Love and Friendship

Everyone wants to love or be loved. These personal narrative essay ideas could help you explore some of such wishes.

  • How It Felt to Be in Love For the First Time
  • Treachery and Betrayals: The Closest People Have Most Power to Hurt You
  • Choosing between a Partner and a Friend: Story of Heartbreak and Recovery
  • Surviving a Break-Up & Becoming Stronger
  • Closest Friends Make the Best Romantic Partners
  • Love as It Is Depicted in Movies vs. Reality and Impact This Difference Had
  • Experience with Being Unloved
  • Having Two Best Friends At Once & Balancing These Relationships
  • Age Difference Between Friends & Stereotypes Surrounding It
  • Maintaining Long-Distance Relationships After Being Separated

Ideas About Life

Sure, this category is very broad, but that means it has plenty of amazing narrative topics.

  • Losing a Loved One and Finding a Way to Move On
  • Understanding Death & Planning Life on the Basis of This Notion
  • Learning How to Be Happy No Matter What
  • My Visit to a Place Devoured by Natural Disaster
  • Near-Death Experience and Its Impact on My Further Life
  • Dreams and Their Value: Night Is My Favorite Time of the Day
  • Surviving Disappointment and Rejection
  • Life with Depression
  • The Time When You Were Sick and Worried You Might Not Recover
  • Role of Fiction in Your Life

Narrative Topics on Education

Getting an education is a difficult stage for some people. Sure, it could be fun, but it could also be brutal, so finding a topic for a narrative essay in this sphere is very easy.

  • Teacher Who Hated Me at First Sight
  • The Worst Paragraph In Your Life: Redoing It Over and Over Again
  • Experience with Writing the Most Complex Essay & What It Taught Me
  • Failing At School and Fearing Punishment At Home
  • Why Teachers’ Indifference Hurts
  • Staying Motivated to Study Despite Personal Problems
  • Fears of High Tuition and Inability to Afford It
  • Does Not Getting Higher Education Mean You Would Be Unemployable?
  • Combining Parties with Studying: Why It Does Not Work
  • How Researching a Topic for Academic Project Can Transform One’s Life

Prompts For High School

Some levels of topics are easier than others. Take some of these narrative essay ideas if you’d like to be done with your essay sooner rather than later.

  • The Thing I Spent All My Birthday Money On
  • Cheating During Exams: What It Could Result In
  • The Happiest Holiday In Your Life
  • How Having a Pet Has Changed the Course of My Life
  • Developing Empathy and Lessons Acquired After This Process
  • Why Age-Related Stereotypes Hurt
  • Having a Hobby Many People Deem Shameful
  • My First Visit to Church & Why It Had a Profound Impact On Me
  • Why Childish Dreams Often Lead Nowhere
  • How Doing Homework With My Parents Made Me Feel

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Social Issues Topics for Narrative Essay

Our world is full of problems. If this bothers you, too, check the following ideas for narrative essay.

  • The Day I Witnessed A Person Being Bullied
  • Being Raised in a Homophobic Family & The Wounds It Inflicted On Me
  • When the World Is Bitterly Unfair and There Is Nothing You Could Do
  • People Eating Meat & Ignoring the Slaughter of Billions of Animals Hurts
  • Cruelty Among Teenagers Is Often Worse Than What Adults Do
  • Weight Shaming: Why I Used to Be Embarrassed about Being Myself
  • How I Learned About Feminism and What It Meant For Me
  • Ways in Which Gender Bias Affects Everything I Do
  • Story of How I Was Catcalled When Walking Down the Street & Why It Terrified Me
  • My Parents Always Violate My Privacy by Looking Through My Things and Online Posts

Funny and Interesting Narrative Prompts

Sometimes nothing is inspiring enough. If this is a problem you’ve faced, look at these interesting narrative ideas!

  • Reasons Why All My Closest Neighbors Hate Me
  • My Ghost Story: How I Stumbled Upon Something I Cannot Understand
  • Winning a Lottery: Delight & Sadness That Came With It
  • Being Stranded in the Middle of Nowhere
  • The Time I Got Lost in the Woods & How I Escaped
  • First Time Being Hospitalized and Why I Never Want to Repeat That Experience
  • An Amazing Day That I Would Love to Live Through Again
  • Why Few People Know What I Do In My Free Time
  • The Most Difficult Decision I Ever Had to Make
  • The Time I Cried and Could Not Make Myself Stop

Share a Personal Story and Get Great Results

Narrative papers are something students should enjoy writing. It’s a chance to tell their professors more about themselves and test their creativity. Look for those topics for a narrative essay that make your heart beat faster. Add personal details, describe them, and you’re almost guaranteed to get a positive reaction. But if for any reason you don’t think this is an assignment you could do, it’s not a problem either! We offer professional help with papers of all kinds, and we have experts who could produce a perfect creative narration you and your professor would love. Drop us a word, explain the topic you need (or tell us if we should find it ourselves), and receive an essay that’s ready to be submitted!

Can’t come up with a topic for you paper? We’ve prepared a collection of essay topics for you

Want to write a winning essay but lack experience? Browse our free essay samples

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Home — Blog — Topic Ideas — 150+ Great Narrative Essay Topics and Ideas

150+ Great Narrative Essay Topics and Ideas

narrative essay topics

Often during the education process in school or university , we are asked to write an essay. Let’s talk about essays, in particular narrative ones. In a narrative essay, the author tells a story from real life. In this form of essay, the presentation of events in chronological order will not be enough. The authors’ thesis should interest the reader and make the story as vivid as possible so that the reader wants to become a part of the events described and can easily "transfer" to the story . More often such an essay is written in the 1st person in the present or past tense.

There are also other types of essays, such as:

  • Description essays. In such an essay, we describe an object.
  • Definition essays. Here we have one goal - to reveal this or that concept.
  • Illustration essays. Your goal is to prove a statement.
  • Argument essays. Here we give examples of persuasive facts that support your assertion.

Now let's look at the most popular narrative essay topics that we can board you with.

How to Know What Topic You Need?

If you were given a list of essay topics at schools or colleges , it would be logical if you choose a topic that is closer to you, on which you are not averse to reflecting.

If there is no list of topics, and you have only indicated the direction in which you should choose a problem for the essay, you will have to formulate the topic for narrative writing yourself.

Here are some tips on how to choose a topic for your essay:

  • Before defining a narrative essay topic, it is worth finding the author's position. This is the moral instruction of the author, which can be written directly or encrypted in the words or thoughts of the hero-narrator. To find it, one should single out the topic and all the micro-themes in the text, and then formulate moralizing within their framework, that is, the author's position.
  • From the author's position, it is worth asking a special question, that is, a question that requires a general answer, and not a short "yes" or "no". This question will be a problem.
  • It is necessary to find two examples in the text that illustrate the transition from the question to the author's position, that is, to help answer the question posed. This will prove that such a problem is indeed raised by the author.

Narrative Essay Topic Ideas

Now, let’s take a closer look at topics for narrative essay examples you can choose. 

Personal Narrative Essay Topics 

Personal narrative essay examples and ideas are needed when you describe something that you experienced in your life.

  • How To Be a Defensive Driver.
  • A Personal Narrative about Fear Of Heights.
  • My Fear of Failure.
  • The Narrative about Losing My Dad.
  • A Day I Lost My Best Friend.
  • Narrative on Precious Time.
  • What I Did This Summer.
  • Personal Narrative: I Am a Perfectionist.
  • Why Softball Is Important in My Life.
  • Narrative on Vocation.
  • My First Rock Concert.
  • How I Learned to Accept Myself the Way I am.
  • I Helped a Person in Need.
  • My Last Day at School.
  • The Character I Associate Myself with.

Cultural Narrative Essay Topics

Cultural topics for narratives allow you to highlight the topic of culture and at the same time present the story in an interesting way for the reader.

  • Narrative about Mexican Culture.
  • What traditions are unique in your family?
  • Which tradition surprised you the most?
  • How does the media influence our perception of culture?
  • How does culture define a person's personality?
  • What culture do you identify with?
  • What is your favorite holiday?
  • How does your family celebrate Christmas?
  • The Impact of Narrative in English Language and Culture.
  • What holiday has the most sacred meaning for you?
  • What traditions does your family observe on the Easter holidays?
  • Which of the cultural events you attended did you remember the most?
  • What foreign tradition do you like the most?
  • Holiday traditions in your family.
  • Which festival do you like the most?

Narrative Argument Essay Topics 

This type of narrative topics for an essay implies that you need to write about something that has had a big impact on you.

  • Conflict case from your life.
  • What disagreements did you have together with your friend?
  • The case when someone deceived you.
  • Has there been a choice in your life that you regret?
  • Have you been in conflict with other people?
  • A situation where you have to make a difficult decision between right and wrong.
  • Have you been caught doing something bad?
  • Have you ever had to win friends following the rules?
  • Have you ever blamed another person for what you did?
  • Have you helped someone for personal gain?
  • Have you ever played pranks on your friends?
  • What experience can you call the most difficult but important in life?
  • Have you ever been in a car accident?
  • Have you ever been humiliated?
  • Have you ever helped a friend solve his problem?

Interesting Narrative Essay Topics 

  • Have you had to make a difficult decision in life?
  • Have you ever flooded a neighbor's house?
  • Has there ever been a person in your life who has changed it drastically?
  • Would you like to relive any of those days again?
  • Have you ever failed an exam?
  • What was the scariest moment in your life?
  • Have you ever been really sick?
  • Have you ever saved another person's life?
  • Have you ever worked up the courage to visit a haunted house?
  • Have you ever won a prize?
  • What was your first job in life?
  • Have you ever participated in educational student exchange programs ?
  • What do you do when you are all alone?
  • What was your first meeting with the police?
  • Have you ever been to the emergency room?

Personal Experience Narrative Essay Topics 

Here you can describe people or events that influenced you in one way or another.

  • How have you met a special person in your life?
  • The person you enjoy the most.
  • The best place in the neighborhood.
  • The place you'd like to live your whole life.
  • A productive art, you enjoy.
  • What is your first job search ?
  • Your biggest disappointment.
  • Do you remember your first birthday?
  • Narrative on Earthquake: An Earth-Shattering Experience.
  • Have you ever encountered a wild animal?
  • Tell about the first time you got home alone.
  • How did you cook food for the first time?
  • Tell how you helped someone.
  • How did you overcome your fear?
  • Narrative about Video Games.

Relationship Narrative Essay Topics

Relationship narrative stories ideas help to describe our relationship and how our experience has influenced certain events in life.

  • Have you ever fallen in love?
  • What advice would you give to a couple who are just starting their relationship?
  • How would you define family?
  • If you have a best friend, how did you meet?
  • Do you think that your parents are more sensitive than others?
  • What is your attitude towards marriage?
  • Have you ever experienced gender bias?
  • How do you remember deceased family members?
  • What do you know about the origins of your family?
  • Narrative about Friendship.
  • How did you meet your best friend?
  • What can make you end a romantic relationship?
  • Is the community in your area important?
  • Do you think hatred can destroy a relationship?
  • Have you ever experienced intergenerational conflict?
  • What does honesty mean in a relationship?

Childhood Memories

In this type of essay, you need to describe the events and memories of childhood.

  • What was my first pet?
  • What are my first memories?
  • Whom did I look up to as a child?
  • How did I first go to the hospital?
  • My first meeting with my uncle/aunt.
  • The Impact of a Funeral.
  • My first terrible incident.
  • What are my childhood fears?
  • What was the happiest day of my childhood?
  • My first time at the stadium.

Growing Up in High School 

Here you need to recall the most vivid impressions from high school.

  • What lessons were my favorites?
  • Who was my favorite teacher?
  • What role in the school theater did I remember the most?
  • How I lost a sports match.
  • Topics forbidden to me.
  • How did I feel when I failed the exam?
  • How did I feel when I passed the exam with excellent marks?
  • Is commuting to school a routine for me?
  • My best adventure in school.
  • What kind of extracurricular activities do I enjoy the most?

Moral & Ethical Dilemmas

In this type of essay, you have to describe the ideas of the complexity of moral choice.

  • What is your attitude towards pro-life movement: argumentative essay on abortion ?
  • How can we influence the fight against racism?
  • How should a work ethic deal with sexism?
  • Do you think euthanasia should be legal?
  • Why can't war be ethical?
  • What moral issues does workplace automation cause?
  • The Missing Climate Change Narrative Analysis.
  • Is it ethical to have a lot of money?
  • If drugs were legal, would their use be ethical?
  • Is it possible to justify eating meat in the modern world?

College Student Life

Try to describe events and memories from your student's life.

  • Narrative about Reading.
  • My last day with my schoolmates.
  • My favorite course.
  • Meeting my better half.
  • The story of my split-up.
  • My brightest high school moment.
  • How I met my old friend.
  • My favorite professor.
  • Narrative on a Trip: The Wonders of Rome.
  • The most symbolic episode from my college life.
  • The day I moved.
  • Narrative on a Road Trip to Remember.
  • My first impressions of the college campus.
  • How I met my roommate.
  • My first friends at college.

Narrative Essay Topics for Different Grades 

Let’s look at the narrative speech topics for different grades.

Narrative Essay Topics for Grade 5

  • My first bicycle ride.
  • My dad is my hero.
  • A day with my grandmother.
  • My first day at school.
  • My best friend.
  • My favorite teacher.
  • A school trip to the zoo.
  • My grandpa’s hands.
  • The most exciting day of school.
  • The best summer vacation.

Narrative Essay Topics for Grade 6

  • A memorable teacher.
  • My first trip abroad.
  • A sad story from my childhood.
  • My favorite vacation with my family.
  • A fight with my best friend.
  • My best birthday party.
  • How we celebrate our parents’ wedding anniversary.
  • My first day at a new school.
  • Last Christmas was an interesting story.
  • How I lost my sister.

Narrative Essay Topics for Grade 7

  • Something that scared me the most.
  • The best day of my life.
  • Helping a stranger.
  • How I met my best friend.
  • My brother’s wedding.
  • How I got my first pet.
  • Once I called the dean's office.
  • Conflict with my father.
  • Unique family tradition.

Narrative Essay Topics for Grade 8

  • School trip to the museum.
  • My best day at school.
  • The most exciting day of summer vacation.
  • Worst day at school.
  • The day I got my first pet.
  • The hour we spent looking at our baby's album.
  • My first attempt at cooking.
  • My first Japanese pastry.
  • My first foreign friend.

Narrative Essay Topics for Grade 9

  • A visit to the countryside.
  • How I lost my faith in humanity.
  • A car accident.
  • My friend had an accident.
  • A trip I will never forget.
  • The most enjoyable Christmas.
  • A bad experience that completely changed my behavior.
  • How I used to spend my summer vacations.
  • My experience with a tornado.
  • I got lost in the streets of venus.

Narrative Essay Topics for O Levels

  • A special moment when I got my first bike.
  • A disappointing birthday party.
  • The most embarrassing thing that happened to me.
  • A disastrous date.
  • The moment of success.
  • Growing up in New York.
  • A sporting experience.
  • A random act of kindness.
  • The first six months of COVID-19.
  • The end of my relationship.

Narrative Essay Topics for High School Students

Personal narrative ideas in high school include the classic moments that are stereotypical of the secondary school experience.

  • Special homecoming court moment.
  • A friendship that started long before high school.
  • Prom dress shopping and your self-esteem.
  • Anticipation for graduation.
  • An award or scholarship you received.
  • Participating in a school musical.
  • Coming to America: A Narrative of a Journey of Hope.
  • Your first love.
  • A moment you stood up for what you believed in.
  • How your relationship with your parents changed for the better.

Narrative Essay Topics for Middle School

Middle school is a great time of self-discovery that’s filled with firsts and memorable moments. Use these milestones as the topic for your narrative essay.

  • Making an unlikely friend.
  • How bad relationships help you become a better person.
  • The first time you opened your locker.
  • The teacher that makes you feel smart.
  • Moving from elementary school to middle school.
  • A social media post that inspired you.
  • A news story about a kid/teen that was uplifting.
  • A comment from a teacher that made you feel good.
  • A comment from someone you’re not friends with that made you feel good.
  • Being yourself.

Narrative Essay Topics for College Students

College is another time in your life that’s wrought with self-discovery and seeing the world as it truly is.

  • Frederick Douglass Narrative.
  • Frame Narrative in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.
  • Narrative on The Definition of Bravery in Beowulf.
  • A Critical Examination of Social Commentary and Narrative Execution.
  • Examples of community on campus.
  • A test experience that boosts your self-esteem.
  • The moment you realized you were going into the right field.
  • What does a college degree mean to you?
  • College is a microcosm of the world.
  • The feeling of independence.

Conclusion 

Teachers and students are very fond of narrative essay topics, as they are flexible enough that everyone can find a topic that is close to them. If you can’t decide on a topic yourself, then the list that we presented in our material will help you. We sincerely wish you good luck and inspiration for writing the best essay. And the topics we have suggested will help you with this!

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50 Engaging Narrative Essay Topics for High Schoolers

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What’s Covered:

Narrative essays vs. analytical essays, how to pick the right narrative essay topic, elements of a strong narrative essay, engaging narrative essay topics for high schoolers, where to get your narrative essay edited for free.

Narrative essays are an extensive form of writing that gives readers the opportunity to follow along as a person goes through a journey or sets of experiences. Rather than providing analytic insight, narrative essays simply share a story and offer a first-person account. These essays may seem easy to write at first, but it takes a certain finesse to write a narrative essay that is interesting, cohesive, and well-researched. Whether you’re looking for a unique topic to write about, or just want some new inspiration, CollegeVine is here to help! These 50 narrative essay topics are engaging, unique and will have you writing in no time.

A narrative essay is a great way to express your personal experiences and opinions, but it is important to remember that this type of essay is different from an analytical paper. In a narrative essay, you do not need to provide background information or explain your thoughts and feelings; instead, you simply tell a story. It’s important to avoid too much telling in your writing; instead, use creative details and vivid imagery to make readers feel as if they are actually right there with you.

Where You Will Encounter Narrative Essays

This type of essay is typically encountered in high school, where students may be required to write personal statements to prepare for their Common App essay . Narrative essays are also commonly seen in AP Language and Composition. Therefore, it’s important you are aware of the style because you are bound to have a narrative essay assignment.  

Of course, before you start writing, it is important to pick the right essay topic. There are many factors involved in the process of picking the perfect narrative essay topic for your story.

You should always choose a topic that you are passionate about, since writing on something you care about will make the process much easier. Not only will it be more interesting to create your paper around something that truly interests you, but it will also allow you to fully express yourself in your essay. You also want to be sure that the topic has enough material to work with. If your chosen topic is too short, you will not have enough content to write a complete paper. For example, if you are writing about your experience getting lost at the mall, make sure that you have enough information to work with to craft an engaging narrative. 

The best topic for an engaging narrative essay is one that focuses on showing versus telling, has a clear structure, and provides a dialogue. These elements come together to form an engaging narrative essay. Regardless of what subject you pick, any topic may be turned into a fascinating, A+ worthy narrative using the tips below.

Show, Don’t Tell

To write a good narrative essay, it’s important to show, not tell. Instead of simply informing your audience, show them what you mean. For example, instead of saying “I was nervous,” you could say “My heart began to race and my stomach filled with butterflies.” Also make sure to use sensory details, such as sights, sounds and tastes, and include a personal reflection at the end of your narrative. 

Begin with a Strong Opening Line

A good narrative essay will begin with an attention-grabbing opening line. But make sure to avoid common clichés, such as “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” Instead, come up with something original and specific to you and your situation. For example: “My pre-calc teacher was obsessed with circles. I mean, he even used circular note cards.” Or, “It all started the day my mom brought home a guinea pig.”

Follows a Three-Act Structure

A strong narrative essay follows the same three-act structure as other essays. But in order to make it interesting, you’ll need to come up with a creative way to break things down into sections. For example, using the guinea pig example from above, you could write the following:

  • Act 1 – Introduction: The day my mom brought home a guinea pig.
  • Act 2 – Conflict: The day I had to say goodbye to my beloved pet.
  • Act 3 – Conclusion: Looking back at how much I miss him now that he’s gone.

Conclude with Personal Reflection

To conclude your narrative essay, you’ll want to explain what this specific experience taught you or how you’ve changed. For example, upon realizing that her pre-calc teacher was obsessed with circles, the writer of the previous example begins to notice circular shapes everywhere. Another way to conclude your narrative essay is by touching on how this experience impacted you emotionally. For example, after losing his guinea pig, the writer explains how much he missed it.

Use Dialogue

Include a conversation in your essay to make it come alive. For example, instead of simply saying that you met a new friend, talk about how you introduced yourselves or what they were wearing when you met them.

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The following list of 50 narrative essay topics is divided into categories. This will make it easier to find a topic that fits your writing style.

1. What is a childhood song that still sticks with you today?

2. Your first day of Kindergarten

3. Talk about a time when you’re siblings looked up to you

4. Describe the best birthday party you’ve ever had

5. Talk about the best day you ever spent with a childhood friend

6. Explain your first childhood hobby

7. Describe your first halloween costume

8. A family vacation gone wrong

9. Your first family reunion

10. Describe a tradition that is unique to your family

11. Describe your family to a person who’s never met them before

12. What frustrates you most about your family

13. If you could only keep one memory of your family, what would it be and why?

14. Describe a time your family embarrassed you in public

15. The most beautiful place in the world

16. Your favorite season and why

17. If you were a part of nature, what element would you be? Why?

18. When you go outside, which of your senses are you most thankful to have?

19. Describe the first time you witnessed a tornado 

20. Write a poem about your favorite season

21. Describe yourself as one of the four seasons

22. Describe a time in which you felt connected with nature

23. Describe the first time you played an instrument and how you felt

24. What major event would be much worse if music was removed, and why?

25. If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?

26. What would a life without music look like?

27. If you could master one instrument, what would it be and why?

Relationships

28. What if you had never met your best friend?

29. Describe a time when you fixed a broken relationship

30. Talk about a movie that defined a relationship for you

31. Describe your first date

32. Describe the first time you made a friend

33. Describe your relationship with your parents

Self Reflection

34. Have you ever fooled someone? If so, describe what happened and how you felt about it

35. What is the worst thing you’ve done to someone else?

36. Write about the difference between how things seem and how they really are. 

37. Have you ever been embarrassed in some way? If so, describe the situation and how it affected you as well as those around you

38. Have you ever witnessed something really beautiful? Describe it

39. Is your glass half empty or half full?

Overcoming Adversity 

40. Have you ever been very afraid of something but tried your hardest to appear fearless? If so, describe that experience

41. When have you ever succeeded when you thought you might fail

42. What are your secret survival strategies?

43. Describe the last time you were stressed and why?

44. Describe a time when you were discriminated against

45. The most memorable class you’ve had and why

46. Your favorite study abroad memory

47. Describe your kindergarten classroom

48. Describe your first teacher

49. The first time you experienced detention

50. Your first field trip

Hopefully these topics will get you thinking about a personal experience that could make for a thoughtful and engaging narrative essay. Remember, a strong narrative essay must contain relatable details and a clear flow that keeps the reader entertained and engaged to read all the way to the end.

If you need some additional guidance on your narrative essay, use CollegeVine’s free peer review essay tool to get feedback for free!

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151 Interesting Narrative Essay Topics and Examples

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Don’t dread writing a narrative essay topic! Narrative essays can be great and fun to write. It can also be an excellent learning experience. This type of essay can be imaginative, but it is also often hugely introspective. 

In fact, learning to write a good narrative essay is almost like making an investment in your future. After all, at some point or another, you will need to tell a good story. Be it to keep a crowd entertained or to make a wedding speech memorable, or even an enticing pitch, a story with a strong narrative will keep the attention on you.

Of course, coming up with a good narrative essay topic is the most important moment in your journey as an author. If you don’t already have a good story in mind, we believe we can help you find the best prompt for your essay with our list of 151 best narrative essay topic ideas .

In this article:

What Is a Narrative Essay?

Take a trip down memory lane for inspiration, think about defining moments in your life, try memory mixology (mix and match events from your life), come up with a memorable title, 40 best personal narrative essay topics, narrative essay topics about friends and relationships, narrative essay topics about childhood, narrative essay topics for middle school, narrative essay topics about family, imaginative narrative essay topics (imagine that…), values and morality narrative essay topics, narrative essay topics about defining moments, narrative essay topics about your favorite things, interesting narrative essay topics, do you need more help.

If you’ve never written a narrative essay before, think about it as an opportunity to tell a personal story about yourself. The narrative essay topic is the perfect vessel for communicating your unique perspective and interpretation of events that happened in your lifetime, especially if there was a lesson that was learned (and there always is).

A narrative essay is specifically ideal for developing the writer’s writing and storytelling skills. That’s why your subject doesn’t really need to be grand or memorable. What matters more than the essay topic itself is whether or not the author can create an attention-grabbing narrative.

Finally, a really good narrative essay relies on a masterful introduction of the setting, a realistic character growth, and an interesting conflict and its resolution. Contrast this with the more formal and rigid structure of the informative essay , where fact reporting and clear logical structure are key.

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How Can You Choose a Narrative Essay Topic?

If you don’t have an evocative story in mind yet, how should you choose your narrative essay topic? Although by definition, the narrative essay is a rather personal piece, there are several universal guidelines you can follow when you’re looking for the best topic for your essay.

As we already mentioned, the topic for a narrative essay will ask you to strongly draw from your personal history. Therefore, the logical first step in your search for the perfect topic is to search your memory for a vivid episode that made a strong impression on you. 

This can be anything from a childhood memory to a national disaster, a quiet conversation on a stormy afternoon, or an introspective moment when you felt true clarity. The important thing is to be able to build a good story around it. So, try to find a relevant, engaging, fun, surprising, or unusual moment in your life to discuss, and roll the dice!

Turning points in a life make for a great story and are just as good for a narrative essay topic as they are for an Academy Award-winning movie. Think about situations in which you had an intense emotional response. A great essay topic could ask you to talk about loss, celebration, your successes or failures, lessons you’ve learned, your hobbies, or any big decisions you’ve made.

Most of your writing should be honest and personal. It’s okay if you use your creativity to fill in some gaps or make the story more compelling, but avoid writing about completely imaginary situations. Not only will you be running away from the narrative essay and into creative writing, but it’s also often more challenging to create a fictional world and a narrative entirely from imagination. The narrative essay topic should be you-centric, and the reader will expect a candid glimpse into your inner world.

If stringing together different moments of your personal history will make your narrative essay stand out, then that’s the way to go! Pick your narrative essay topic in such a way that talking about events that didn’t take place in succession will make the story even stronger.  

For example, if your essay topic asked you to talk about Christmas at home, weave together anecdotes from several Christmas holidays, and make a bizarre tale. Take risks and be creative, and the result will be a compelling story that will evoke an intense emotional reaction.

It’s easier to write your narrative essay topic if you have a snappy title in mind. These usually come in the shape of a statement or a resolution. For example, instead of writing about “What Is Your Experience of Discussing Racial Issues with People of a Different Race?” consider how the tone and depth of your essay will change if you write on a topic phrased like this: “Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race”*. It’s a lot more pointed and emotionally charged already, isn’t it? 

A superb way to get inspiration for an interesting narrative essay topic is to look at articles, books, podcasts, or blog posts. In general, anything that makes you want to learn more about it is a sign of an excellent title and, hence, a good essay topic for your narrative essay. 

* Author’s note : The example essay title we’ve used is referring to an already- existing essay and book of the same title by author and journalist, Reni Eddo-Lodge. 

Of course, sometimes, things are easier said than done, and people struggle to find the best narrative essay topic for themselves. This is why we’ve come up with 151 of the best narrative essay topics and ideas for you.

40 Best Personal Narrative Essay Topics

Personal stories make for the best narratives. This is why choosing a personal subject as your narrative essay topic might be the best idea. Although sharing an intimate story might seem daunting at first, remember that you have full control over what ends up in the final draft. 

Of course, if you’d like to broaden your idea pool, you could search for inspiration among our list of persuasive essay topics or even argumentative essay topics . Sometimes, ideas come from the most unlikely places. 

1.    Talk about a time you were punished for bad behavior. Why do you remember that?

2.    When did you know what you wanted to do as you grew up/what you wanted to study in college?

3.    Discuss a time you experienced a rush of adrenaline. Why was it interesting? Did the experience teach you something?

4.    Have you watched live events on TV (e.g., Superbowl, NBA, concerts, plays)? Was there something memorable about this?

5.    What is the movie you’ve seen so many times? Why?

6.    Talk about something you are really good at.

7.    There are some things we need to be alone to do well. Talk about something you like to do best when you are by yourself.

8.    Talk about a time you challenged yourself to do something seemingly unimportant or just for fun (e.g., learning how to solve a Rubik’s Cube). Why did you do that?

9.    Olfaction (sense of smell) is strongly related to memories and is a powerful memory evoker. What does happiness smell like to you?

10.  What are you deeply upset about?

11.  What is something you are deeply grateful for? 

12.  What is the most important memory you have with your mother?

13.  Do you have a sibling? How would you wish your relationship with them was?

14.  Talk about a situation in which you should have asked for help but didn’t.

15.  How does your sense of style relate to your identity? 

16.  Are you sometimes surprised by who you see in the mirror? Why do you think this happens, and what do you see? 

17.  Talk about the first time you danced (and had fun) in public.

18.  What does your library say about you? Have you read all the books in it? How do you curate it?

19.  How does social media affect your close personal relationships?

20.  What was the last thing you learned (or taught yourself) how to do?

21.  What are you deeply upset about?

22.  Talk about a moment in which you experienced true clarity.

23.  How does your social media persona compare to you in real life?

24.  What soothes you when you are anxious?

25.  Would you befriend yourself?

26.  Who is someone you would never want to be?

27.  What are three things you think about often and are truly important to you (e.g., making your own food, finding a romantic partner, the impression you leave others with)?

28.  Talk about when you truly forgave someone.

29.  Talk about a quality you’ve worked hard for and are proud of.

30.  Talk about a moment you felt extremely humbled.

31.  What inspires you (to be funny, to create, to improve)?

32.  Talk about a positive change you’ve made in your life.

33.  What is the most challenging thing you’ve achieved?

34.  Discuss a bad decision you made. How did you justify it at that time? When did you know it was a bad decision?

35.  When was the moment when you stopped taking yourself too seriously?

36.  What is the story of one of your tattoos?

37.  What is the reason you keep a diary?

38.  What is something you do as escapism? 

39.  What is your coming-out story?

40.  Talk about a time when you should have ended something but didn’t. Why?

Narrative Essay Topics About Friends and Relationships

1.    Think about an event where you showed cynicism instead of compassion. What do you think would have been the outcome and consequences if you’d shown compassion?

2.    Have you ever lost a person who was important to you? Talk about what you celebrate about them.

3.    Talk about the friends that have drifted away.

4.    What qualities do you look for in a new friend? 

5.    How is an easy or spontaneous friendship different from the ones you need to put effort to? How are they similar?

6.    What would you talk about with a stranger?

7.    Where do you fit in your social circle(s)?

8.    Have you ever greatly misjudged a person? Did you take anything away from the experience?

9.    Talk about a situation in which you showed courage. Was it easy?

10.  Have you given up something that was important to you to make somebody else happy? How do you feel about that choice?

Narrative Essay Topics About Childhood

1.    Remember a game you enjoyed playing as a child. Why do you think it’s important?

2.    What is the best gift you’ve ever received?

3.    Tell a bizarre story. Who did it happen to, and what made it strange?

4.    What are “the good old times” for you?

5.    What is the nightmare you remember most vividly? What do you think it means?

Narrative Essay Topics for Middle school

If you’re in middle school and looking for a narrative essay topic, you’re probably not too excited about it… but you’d be wrong. Writing a narrative essay can be good, fun, and very engaging if you choose the right topic and let your silly or creative side loose. So, we’ve tried to compile a list of topics on which teens could write a marvelous and entertaining story.

If you’re looking for more serious essay topic ideas, you’d find some in our list of 172 controversial debate topics (for teens) .

1.    What is your favorite cultural holiday and why?

2.    What was the last act of kindness that you saw?

3.    Discuss a stressful situation in which you needed to solve a problem under pressure. What did you do?

4.    Studying an experience when being organized was (not) extremely helpful.

5.    How did you learn that “experience is the best teacher”?

6.    Would you work on something that requires you to frequently travel?

7.    Talk about the role sports plays in your life.

8.    Remember a time when you decided you would never procrastinate again (even if you did after that).

9.    How do you feel about getting lost? Why?

10.  Write about a time you quit something (gave up). Was that the right choice?

Narrative Essay Topics About Family

1.    Write a letter to your 4-year-old self.

2.    Write a letter to your father.

3.    What do you hope your relationship with your child would be?

4.    Talk about an event when you and your family shared an especially memorable moment together and all of you felt very connected as a family.

5.    Talk about something your parents did (for you) which you are grateful for or that made you proud.

Imaginative Narrative Essay Topics

1.    If you could go back in time and change something about your life, what would it be?

2.    Often, we have admiration for a public figure, and then, either through action or inaction, they lose our admiration. Imagine you could become that person for a day. What would you do?

3.    If you could learn any language instantly, which one would you choose?

4.    What is the most frightening noise you can imagine? 

5.    If you had three wishes, what would you wish for (standard genie rules apply)?

6.    If you were slowly losing your memories, which memories would you want to lose last?

7.    If you had to lose one of your senses, which would it be?

8.    If you could easily turn into an animal and have a second life as one, what animal would you like to be?

9.    If you would enter a long-term committed relationship with another person, what are the lessons from your parent’s marriage you would take with you? 

10.  If you were the supreme leader of the town/city/country you live in, what would be the most important action you’ll take?

11.  If you would look in a magical mirror that showed your deepest desires, what would you see?

12.  If you could meet your idols, who would you want to meet and why?

13.  If you had an extra 8 hours in your day (and nobody else did), what would you do with that time?

14.  Some people imagine their memory and thoughts as organized in file cabinets, while others have mind castles. How do you imagine the inside of your mind is organized?

15.  Imagine you had a different skin color. How would your life be different?

16.  Imagine you woke up and you had switched sexes with someone of the opposite sex.

17.  If you were living in a war zone, what would you be doing with your “free” time?

18.  If you were to choose who to be the first people to inhabit a terraformed planet, who would you choose and why?

19.  If you could be a historical figure, who would you like to be? Why would you have done something different?

20.  If you could program a realistic AI, what qualities would you give it?

21.  If you believe(d) in the afterlife, how do you imagine your personal heaven?

22.  If you could invent anything (technological), what would it be?

23.  If you could shoot an ad that would make people care about an issue you find important, what would the script for it look like?

24.  If you could talk to all forms of life on Earth, what would you talk to, and what would you talk about?

25.  If you could have a conversation with your favorite philosopher, what would it be about?

Values and Morality Narrative Essay Topics

What else makes us more uniquely ourselves than our moral compass? Our values are continuously tuned by new experiences, and sharing a story about the journey to your morals can make for a deeply personal narrative.

Argumentative essays and research paper topics are another good source of topic ideas about fundamental values and beliefs. 

1.    What would you hope to be remembered for?

2.    Simple conversations can sometimes form core values and stay with us for a long time. Talk about an important conversation you’ve had.

3.    What is something you would like to be good at? Why do you want this, and what would it take?

4.    Talk about a charity that is important to you.

5.    Is lying ever necessary?

6.    What do you think is an underappreciated profession, and would you work that?

7.    How is your heritage important to you? How do you embody it?

8.    Talk about a situation which made you distrust authority.

9.    Talk about a moment which made you respect authority.

10.  Talk about an experience where you had to make up a story (tell a lie) to prove a point. Would you do that again?

11.  Some people have a box in their homes labeled “In case of fire, take me.” What would your box contain if you had one?

12.  Recall a situation in which you showed commendable patience and it was rewarded.

13.  What do you feel entitled to?

14.  What is the importance of being selfish?

15.  How would you adjust your behavior if you knew you were being constantly under surveillance?

16.  Talk about an event from your life (or one that you witnessed) where justice prevailed.

17.  Tell a story that demonstrates one of your core values (e.g., a strong moral compass, entrepreneurial spirit, etc.)

18.  When did you decide you wouldn’t eat meat anymore?

19.  Do you have a motto you live by? Tell a story that illustrates how your motto has been relevant to you.

20.  Is there anything you’re absolutely certain about?

Narrative Essay Topics About Defining Moments

1.    Talk about a time when you felt like a fundamental human right was denied to you.

2.    Talk about a difficult choice you’ve had to make.

3.    When was the first time you realized you were mortal? What does mortality mean to you? 

4.    What lessons did you learn at your first job?

5.    Making a connection.

6.    Understanding a person with a disability.

7.    Truth is often found in an argument. Talk about a debate in which you changed somebody’s opinion or they changed yours.

8.    Although violence is rarely “the answer,” talk about a time when you resorted to aggression. Why was that the right/wrong thing to do in that situation?

9.    What was the first social or political issue for which you developed a position and argued over? Has your position changed? Why?

10.  Have you ever lost your sense of agency/felt trapped?

11.  When was the first time you felt represented in the media? 

12.  Talk about a situation in which you completely lost control (over your body and movements, your emotion, or your actions).

13.  Talk about a moment in your life which has been completely misrepresented by popular culture and movies.

14.  What is the most memorable experience you’ve had in nature?

15.  Talk about a moment in which you showed vulnerability.

Narrative Essay Topics About Your Favorite Things

1.    Talk about your favorite director.

2.    Talk about your favorite artist or band.

3.    Who is your favorite artist, and why does their work move you?

4.    Can you remember a piece of art that moved you? Why did it happen?

5.    Do you have a favorite food? What feelings does it evoke in you?

6.    Talk about a book or a movie you connected to in different ways during different periods of your life.

7.    What collectible would you like to own and why?

8.    Talk about a person you admire.

9.    Who is your favorite storyteller?

10.  Talk about your favorite villain.

Interesting Narrative Essay Topics

1.    What did you first use the Internet for?

2.    Failure in itself is not meaningful. What holds meaning is what we do with it. Discuss a time when you felt like you failed at something. Why was it important to you?

3.    Talk about how moments change when you’re viewing them through a lens (e.g., a camera or binoculars)

4.    What would your role be if humanity moved to a terraformed planet?

5.    When in time would you like to live and where?

6.    How does showing kindness to yourself compare to being kind to others?

7.    Can you see yourself through somebody else’s eyes (e.g., your younger sibling)?

8.    Recall a moment when you were in a really big crowd. How would you explain it to someone who’s never been in a crowd before (e.g., children born during a global pandemic that lasted 10 years)?

9.    Talk about a moment when your life had a movie-like quality.

10.  Have you had anything Kafkaesque happen to you?

11.  Are results important?

If you need further guidance about your essay, try to look at what other students have written about and how they approach their topics. There are plenty of forums and sources out there.

Alternatively, you can explore different catalogs of popular essay topic ideas for college or cumulative essay topics lists . If you’re looking for age-specific prompts, try going through our catalogue of essay topic ideas for teens .

Wherever you draw your inspiration from, remember, the narrative essay topic you choose should be fun or interesting for you to explore. That’s why it’s helpful to draw from your personal experiences and introspect. After all, your experiences are relevant to you, and you’re the person who’s best qualified to write about them. That is a great start to finding the perfect narrative essay topic for you! 

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  • Everybody gets afraid sometimes. If there were no fear, there would be no opportunity for bravery. Write about the scariest moment in your life.
  • Some people avoid challenges. Others see them as opportunities to grow. Write about a time when you overcame a great challenge.
  • One person’s trash is another person’s treasure. Write about a time when you discovered something valuable that others had discarded or ignored.
  • The golden rule states that you should treat others as you’d like to be treated. It’d be nice if everyone followed this rule, but its been broken more than once. Write about a time when you felt disrespected. How did you handle it and what did you learn?
  • Everybody has a special talent. Write about the time when you discovered one of your talents.
  • It’s no fun to be in pain, but it can be worse to watch someone you love suffer. Write about a time when one of your loved ones was hurt.
  • The world can be a cold place, but a little bit of kindness can make it a lot warmer. Write about a time when you made the world a better place for someone by being kind.
  • It’s a good thing that nobody’s perfect. Some of life’s greatest lessons are learned on accident. Write about a time when you learned an important lesson by making a mistake.
  • It can be hard to see ourselves for who we really are at times. Write about a time when someone else taught you something about yourself.
  • Doing the right thing isn’t always easy. Write about a time when you got in trouble or made someone angry by doing what you thought was right.
  • You don’t have to learn everything the hard way. Write about a time when you avoided trouble by taking someone’s advice.
  • You shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. Write about a time when you were underestimated or when you underestimated someone else.
  • Practice makes perfect. Write about a time when you got better at doing something by practicing.
  • Can’t we all just get along? Write about a time when you got into a disagreement with someone. How did you resolve it?
  • There’s a time for work and a time for play, but it’s a lot more fun to play. Write about a time when you put off doing something important to have fun. How did it work out for you in the end and what did you learn?
  • You never know until you try. Write about a time when you learned something about yourself by trying something new.
  • Hard work doesn’t always payoff. Write about a time when you worked hard on something but felt like your efforts weren’t appreciated.
  • You can’t trust everyone. Write about a time when someone betrayed your trust. How did you react? Did you ever forgive them?
  • You can’t make everybody happy. Write about a time when you made a decision that disappointed or hurt someone.
  • Nobody said that life would be fair. Write about a time when you witnessed someone taking advantage of a weaker person. How did it make you feel?
  • Sometimes two people just click. Write about a time when you formed a genuine connection with someone.
  • So much in life is about the choices that you make. Write about a time when you had to choose between two things that were important to you.
  • It’s the people we love that can hurt us the most. Write about a time when you had to confront a loved one over their decisions.
  • Accomplishments mean so much more when work for them. Write about a time when you worked hard to earn something. How did it make you feel to meet your goal?
  • Even the best of friends have the occasional argument. Write about a time when you got into a dispute with a friend. How did the situation get resolved?
  • Appearances are important. Sometimes your appearance can work for you. Other times it can work against. Write about a time when someone treated you differently because of your appearance. You can share a negative or positive experience.
  • You can’t always get what you want and sometimes that’s for the best. Write about a time when you were denied something that you wanted and it worked out alright in the end.
  • Once in a while everything just goes your way. Write about a time when you felt on top of the world.
  • Sometimes people drift apart. Other times they are torn apart. Write about a time when you were separated from someone with whom you were close.
  • It’s been said that every gray cloud has a silver lining. The hard part is looking for it. Write about a time when you made the best of a bad situation.
  • Faith is believing in something that you cannot prove. Write about a time when you had faith in someone or something that others doubted.
  • There’s a time to be creative and there’s a time to follow directions. Write about a time when you benefitted from following directions.
  • Some people are just looking for a reason to not like you. Write about a time when you got on someone’s bad side just by being yourself.
  • No matter how badly someone messes up, they always have the potential to redeem themselves. Write about a time when you or someone you know made a mistake and found redemption.
  • It’s good to play it safe, but sometimes you have to take chances. Write about a time when you took a risk. Did it work out for you?
  • Most people agree that honesty is a virtue, but sometimes being too honest can get you into hot water. Write about a time when you got in trouble or on someone’s bad side just by telling the truth.
  • Nothing sours an accomplishment like jealousy. Write about a time when you or someone you know was affected by the jealousy of another.
  • The older that you get, the more responsponsibilities you gain. It can be too much at times. Write about a time when you felt overwhelmed by your responsibilities. How did you handle it?
  • Part of growing up is facing your fears. Write about a time when you did something that you were afraid to do.
  • It’s hard to think about anything else when danger is approaching. Write about a time when you felt unsafe.
  • You wouldn’t be where you are today without the countless sacrifices of others. Once in a while you have to give back too. Write about a time when you gave up something that was important to you to help somebody else.
  • It’s been said that forgiveness is divine. Write about a time when you forgave someone for hurting or disappointing you.
  • Our first impressions aren’t always accurate. Write about a time when your first impression of someone or something proved to be wrong.
  • Everybody makes mistakes, even teachers. Write about a time when you were affected by one of your teachers’ mistakes.
  • With so many awesome things to learn and do in the world, nobody should ever be bored. Write about a time when you turned a boring day into an exciting one.
  • People change. That’s a part of life. Write about a time when you or someone you know changed in an important way.
  • When opportunity knocks, it’s up to you to answer the door. Write about a time when you took advantage of an interesting or exciting opportunity.
  • A kind word can go a long way. Write about a time when someone affected you by saying something nice or encouraging.
  • The world needs heroes and anyone can be one. Write about a time when you did something heroic. It doesn’t have to be as dramatic as saving someone’s life. It can be as simple as helping someone out when they needed it.
  • Your reputation is important. People will treat you differently based on how you are reputed to be. Write about a time when you did something that affected your reputation for better or worse.
  • Anger can blind. Write about a time when anger caused you to behave in a way that you later regretted.
  • Authority is when someone has the power to make decisions for you. Write about a time when you wanted to challenge someone’s authority. What were they doing to cause you to feel this way? How did you handle the situation?
  • Everybody has had someone awkward moments in life. Write about a time when you felt embarrassed. How did you deal with your embarrassment?
  • The process of growing up is a slow one. It takes your whole childhood. But some events cause us to grow quicker than others. Write about an experience that caused you to grow up quickly.
  • You can’t give everyone everything that they want. That would leave nothing for you. You have to set limits. Write about a time when someone wanted more from you than you had to give.
  • Your conscience is that little voice in your head that tells you when you are doing something wrong. Write about a time when your conscience stopped you from doing something.
  • Friendship can be found in unexpected places. Write about a time when you became friends or partners with an unlikely person.
  • It’s important to be persistent, but you have to know when to let go too. Write about a time when you quit pursuing something or let go of a dream.
  • Anyone can talk. Followsing through is the hard part. Write about a time when you proved yourself with your actions.
  • We are all tempted to do things that we shouldn’t at times. It takes integrity to do the right thing against your baser desires. Write about a time when you resisted the temptation to do something wrong.
  • Tact is the ability to phrase criticism in a sensitive way. It’s hard to be tactful all of the time. Write about a time when you blurted out something that you immediately regretted saying.
  • It’d be nice if there were a sure fire way to tell if someone were lying, but there isn’t. Write about a time when someone deceived you. How did you find out that they were lying to you? What did you do?
  • You can’t win all of the time. Some of life’s greatest lessons are learned in defeat. Write about a time when you lost or failed at something and learned a lesson.
  • You can predict the future, but you’re not alway going to get it right. Write about a time when you were surprised by the outcome of an event.
  • William Shakespeare said that “Parting is such sweet sorrow.” Write about a time when you had to say goodbye to someone or something that was important to you. How did you get over the loss?
  • Money can’t buy everything. Write about a time when you gained something valuable that can’t be bought or sold. Some examples might include a special skill, an important understanding, or a good relationship with someone.
  • Presentation is everything. Write about a time when you or someone else made a strong impression based on manners. It can be a good impression or a bad one.
  • A little bit of gratitude goes a long way. Write about a time when you felt unappreciated.
  • Bad habits are hard to kick. Write about a time when you gave up something that was bad for you.
  • A hypocrite is a person who tells you not to do something that he or she does. Write about a time when a person acted hypocritically toward you. You may want to write about a teacher, parent, or friend.
  • Not knowing your limits can be dangerous. Write about a time when you or someone you know took things too far.
  • Laws were put in place for a reason. Still, not everyone follows them. Write about an experience that you shared with someone who broke a law.
  • Sometimes we make decisions without fully considering the consequences. Write about a decision that you made which you later regretted.
  • The only constant is change. People can change in ways that we find disappointing. Write about a time when someone you know turned out to be different than you thought they were.
  • You never know what you’re capable of until you try. Write about a time when you succeed at something despite your doubts.
  • Technology is supposed to solve our problems, but sometimes it just complicates them. Write about a time when technology made your life more difficult.
  • The person you are today might not be the one you are tomorrow. People always have the potential to change, to improve. Write about an experience that changed you for the better.
  • Our actions can have far reaching consequences that can be difficult to predict. Write about a time when you unintentionally hurt someone as a result of your actions. Did you make it up to them?
  • Misunderstandings are the source of many conflicts. Write about a time when you solved a problem by talking about it.
  • It can be hard to fit in when you feel awkward. Write about a time when you felt out of place. How did you adapt to the situation?
  • Staying cool and calm helps you perform better, but this isn’t always easy. Some situations push you to the edge. Write about at time when you lost your patience.
  • Sometimes the greatest conflicts come from within. Write about a time when you were challenged by an inner conflict. How did you resolve the problem?
  • The world can be an overwhelming place. Write about a time when you just wanted to get away from everything.
  • The best laid schemes of mice and men often go awry. Write about a time when things did not work out the way that you planned.
  • Not everyone is a good leader, and even good leaders can make bad decisions. Write about a time when you disagreed with someone who was in charge of you.
  • Sometimes we think that we need help when all we really need to do is to put forth a decent effort. Write about a time when you learned to rely on yourself.
  • Your national identity is complicated. Sometimes we are proud to be citizens of our country. Other times things are done in our country’s name that we dislike. Write about a time when you were either proud or ashamed of your nationality.
  • You can’t always get what you want, but that doesn’t mean that you should stop trying. Write about a time when you fought for what you wanted and got your way.
  • The world would be a better place if everyone treated each other with love and respect, but people don’t always act like that. The world can be unfair. Write about a time when you witnessed or were the victim of an injustice.
  • Opinions can make or break you. Write about a time when someone misjudged you.
  • Boys and girls are treated differently at times. It’s not fair, but it happens. Write about a time when you were treated differently because of your gender. It can be in a way that benefited you or worked against you.
  • It’s been said that no good deed goes unpunished. Write about a time when you were trying to help someone and it backfired.
  • Sometimes its best to keep your mouth shut. Write about a time when you got in trouble for sharing your opinion.
  • The sense of smell is closely tied to memory. Think about scents that you have linked to experiences in your mind. Write about a time when an aroma became part of your memory.
  • People are social by nature. Being alone can be torturesome. Write about a time when you felt lonely or abandoned.
  • You can’t run from your past. It will always find a way to catch up with you. Write about a time when something from your past came back to haunt you.
  • Many people are resistant to change, even when it is good for them. Write about a time when you grew to appreciate something that you once resisted.
  • Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than talented. Write about a time when you benefitted just by being in the right place at the right time.
  • Everybody has perfect vision when they look into the past. Write about a time when you learned something a bit too late to help.
  • It’s been said that the thrill is in the chase. Write about a time when you worked hard to get something, only to find out that you didn’t really want it after all.
  • It’s a lot easier to go with the flow, but sometimes our hearts won’t let us. Write about a time when you supported an unpopular position because of your feelings or ideals.

28 Comments

Mishal raeel.

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!-Fire-Titian-!

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Ugwu Raphael

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There is a typo on #59

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Samantha Nicole Stewart

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unicorntears33

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-!-Mosquito-!

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Nazir Ahmad

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sireen nasser

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I love how this is a website to help people write and #8 says, “on accident.” I kind of want to cry right now. BY accident.

This web is effectively support my English skills therefore, I really like it very much. Thank you all for your distribution.

lotfy shady

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Narrative Essays: Examples And Topic Ideas For Students

Writing a narrative essay is a great way to share your life with others. Here, we’ll explore topics that will set you up to write a great narrative essay.

If you’re searching for a list of personal narrative essay topics, you’re likely writing a middle school, high school, or college essay. A personal narrative describes your life experience, usually from the first-person point of view.

There are many different approaches to take to writing a narrative essay. Good narrative essay topics are engaging and can be either serious or silly. A personal narrative is not an argument essay or a persuasive essay; rather, it tells a story from your point of view.

Narrative essay writers are constantly on the lookout for things that happen in their lives that teach a lesson, make a point, or tell a funny story. When brainstorming for the best topic for your narrative essay, think about something that happened in your life that you love sharing with others, and work to translate your story into written prose that will hook your readers.

Here, we’ll explore some of the best narrative essay topic examples and ideas, helping you get your writing started right.

For help with your essays, check out our round-up of the best essay checkers

Narrative Essay Examples

1. the power of potstickers by lauren brown, 2. everyone should have a best friend 30 years older than them by lucy holden, 3. all it takes is a small act of kindness by maddie huiras, 4. a reflection on working in labor & delivery by dr. amos grunebaum, md, 5. pressures of being a first generation american-born citizen by helen bezikyan, narrative essay topic ideas, 1. your first day of high school, 2. how you met your best friend, 3. your best birthday party, 4. your favorite (or most difficult) childhood memory, 5. your most embarrassing moment, 6. how you made a difficult decision, 7. an act of kindness, 8. a tribute to your first pet.

Although I find the exact measurements of recipes comforting, I do my best to add a pinch of this and a dash of that in my meals every so often. It’s how I get to go outside my comfort zone every day. And I see in myself a newfound wisdom: it’s ok to go off the beaten path, you can experiment, compromise can lead to something new and beautiful. My mother’s cooking taught me that and I expect to bring that with me wherever I may go.

In this food-based tribute to her mother’s ingenuity, Brown discusses important family memories while sharing lessons from her mother that she now carries through everyday life. The combination of rich descriptive language with an explanation of how the experience of cooking with her mother shaped her life draws the reader in, helping them to feel like they’re in the kitchen with Brown and her mother.

In short, we adopted each other as confidants and met regularly to discuss life in general. He was more supportive than anyone else I met during the whole three years and stepped out of his remit to give me tailored advice that definitely helped me to get a job in journalism. It was clear from the start that he cared more about what was right for me than what was right for the university league tables, perhaps because he actually knew me. When I told him I was worried that the long days I was doing in the student newspaper office would take a toll on my degree, he told me I could get a first if I wanted one, but thought the student paper stuff would help my career much more. 

It can be hard to find a friend who knows you better than yourself, and Holden discusses that phenomenon in their essay on friendship. She discusses how her friend affected her life during their time together and how he affected her after being separated by distance. In this narrative essay, the author works to describe the feelings she experienced through the ups and downs of their friendship, writing about universal truths that all humans experience in relationships. 

Throughout his life, he had gotten used to dealing with Dyskeratosis congenita, and as life went on, he eventually developed cancer; but even while battling cancer, my dad showed kindness. In fact, on the night before he passed away, even though he knew he wouldn’t be with us for much longer, he tried his best to focus on the positive stuff. 

In this essay, Huiras reflects on the life and death of her father and celebrates his commitment to kindness to others throughout his life. While Huiras narrates the events that led to her father’s death, she also describes how his actions and character significantly affect her life, helping her grow into the woman she wants to be.

Labor & Delivery is getting tears in your eyes when you watch a couple you’ve connected with welcome their baby into the world. Even though you’ve just met and will likely never see each other again, there’s something special about sharing that experience that makes you feel like you’ve known each other forever. Labor & Delivery is a place full of opposites. A woman grieving a devastating loss can be in the room next door to a family celebrating a new addition and 14-year-old mother can be in the room next door to a 45-year-old mother. Regardless of the circumstances, each family that walks through the L&D doors will be forever changed.

In this essay on life behind the doors of the delivery room, Dr. Grunebaum shares what it’s like to both celebrate and grieve with families and how difficult it can be to manage both the chaos and joy that comes with the birth process. If you choose to write an essay about a process so personal as birth, leave out any details that could identify the people involved, as Grunebaum does in this essay. 

The struggles that come with having immigrant parents may include constant seeking of approval, always having to be responsible, as well as immigrant parents discussing the future that they may have already planned for their child. More often than not, immigrant parents constantly remind their child, or children that they expect big and great things from them in the future, which is part of why they came to this country.

In this essay, Bezikyan discusses the unique pressures of being a first-generation American-born citizen. In addition to offering her perspective, she also offers the opinions of others in similar circumstances. This helps to support her opinion and help others see the shared experience of people born to immigrant parents.

Narrative Essay Topics: Your first day of high school

Whether you’re a college or high school student, you likely remember your first day of high school—stepping away from middle school and becoming a young adult. The first day of high school is rife with emotion, and describing your experience can provide your reader with an interesting perspective on how you deal with transition and change.

When describing the big day, use details. Explain how you felt as you walked toward the door, how you felt when you struggled to find your classes, and what it was like opening your new locker for the first time. As you write, you may find it helpful to avoid technical details (like the minute-to-minute scheduling of your classes) and instead focus on unique or tough moments or how accomplished you felt by the end of the day.

Your best friend has been there for you through thick and thin, and writing about how the two of you met can be a fun narrative essay topic, no matter your age or writing level.

As you tell the story of how you met your best friend, describe how your connection grew over time. Perhaps you were thick as thieves right away, or you needed some time to realize that you’d met a lifelong friend. For some inspiration, reach out to your best friend and ask them what they remember from the day you met—it can be fun and fresh to get their perspective on how your first meeting went.

Birthdays are a time to celebrate, and writing about a particularly excellent birthday can be a great topic for your narrative essay. When discussing your best birthday party, include all details, including who you invited, what you ate, and how you celebrated with family and friends.

You may also want to talk about why that particular birthday was so meaningful to you. If it was a landmark birthday (like your sweet 16) or a special event (like your last birthday party at home before you left for college), be sure to mention this, so your reader understands why this event was so significant in your life.

There’s no way around it: traumatic things happen in childhood, and wonderful things happen. Writing about childhood memories can be relatable and provide an instant connection with your readers.

When choosing a favorite childhood memory to write about, think back to memorable times in your life because they’re connected with strong emotions. Perhaps you want to write about when your baby sibling came home from the hospital or your first baseball game.

If you choose to write about a difficult childhood memory, the process for choosing a topic is still the same. Think back to a childhood memory that evokes strong emotion. While writing about a negative childhood memory can be an excellent way to write a compelling personal essay, it can also bring up challenging thoughts and may feel traumatic.

Have a particular time that made you red in the face? Writing about an embarrassing moment is relatable and can provide a humorous topic for your narrative essay.

When writing about your embarrassing moment, it can be helpful if you’re willing to laugh at yourself and find the humor in the situation you went through. Be sure to describe what happened from start to finish, painting a clear picture of the moment for your readers. Describe your emotions as the embarrassing moment occurred, and talk about what happened after the moment was over.

Wrestling with a difficult decision can feel impossible at the moment, and reflecting on the experience of making a difficult decision to your readers can make for an excellent narrative essay topic.

When you’re talking about a difficult decision in your narrative essay, give plenty of background information so that the reader fully understands why you’re wrestling with a tough choice. Don’t give away your decision at the start of the essay; rather, take the reader through your thought process as you had to decide what to do.

Sharing an act of kindness you did with someone else—or a random act of kindness that someone did for you—can provide a warm, fuzzy topic for your narrative essay. When writing about an act of kindness, focus on how the act made you feel, whether you were the giver or the receiver of the act.

Much like writing about meeting your best friend for the first time, it can be helpful to talk about your state of mind before and after the act of kindness occurred. Perhaps you were going through a tough time, and the act of kindness helped to boost your mood. Explaining the emotions that came with the act of kindness and the facts of the situation can help your reader feel connected to your story.

Narrative Essay Topics: A Tribute To Your First Pet

Whether you have a dog, a cat, or something more exotic, many readers will be able to connect with the love that a kid has for their first pet. When writing a narrative essay about your first pet, please explain how you felt the first time you laid eyes on them. This may mean describing when they were first presented to you as a kitten or a puppy or the first time you saw your older rescue pet.

Talk about the qualities you loved most about your pet, whether that was their ability to comfort you after a bad day or how they were never too old or tired to go outside and play frisbee. Focus both on the descriptive qualities of your pet that allow your reader to imagine what they looked like and the emotional qualities that keep your first pet near and dear to your heart to this day.

If you have a pet currently, you can mention them in your narrative essay about your first pet, talking about their qualities that remind you of your first pet. While it can tug at your heartstrings to describe the memory of your first pet, writing about the love you have for an animal is nearly universally relatable, and your readers will love hearing about your fond memories of your furry friend.

Tip: If writing an essay sounds like a lot of work, simplify it. Write a simple 5 paragraph essay instead.

If you’re still stuck, check out our available resources for  essay writing topics .

narrative essays topic ideas

Bryan Collins is the owner of Become a Writer Today. He's an author from Ireland who helps writers build authority and earn a living from their creative work. He's also a former Forbes columnist and his work has appeared in publications like Lifehacker and Fast Company.

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164 Narrative Essay Topics for School & College Students

A narrative essay tells a story about a series of events. At the core of this kind of essay can be a personal experience or a fictional plot. Any story can be a basis for a narrative essay!

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Narratives can look similar to descriptions. Still, they are different. A descriptive essay aims to explain the details of a specific moment. Narrative writing focuses on a sequence of events to tell a complete story.

In this article, we have prepared a list of narrative essay topics for high school, college, and university students. The topic ideas are divided by spheres. In the collection below, you’ll find the ideas based on personal experience as well as fictional narrative essay topics. Make use of resources offered by our custom writing experts to write any paper!

  • 🔝 Top 10 Topics
  • 📖 Fictional Topics
  • 🧑✍️ Personal Narrative
  • ✈️ Traveling
  • 🧒 Elementary

✏️ Middle School

🧑‍🏫 high school.

  • 👫 Relationships
  • 🧸 Childhood
  • 💡 Writing Guide and Tips

🔝 Top 10 Narrative Essay Topics: High School

  • Your childhood role model
  • How you overcame hardship
  • The best news you have ever heard
  • The time you experienced culture shock
  • A story of how you mistreated someone
  • The most memorable encounter you’ve had
  • An unexpected event that changed your life
  • The most embarrassing conversation you’ve had
  • When you realized you were wrong in an argument
  • A person who changed your opinion on something

📖 Fictional Narrative Essay Topics

The art of writing fiction is all about narrating a story. In a fictional narrative, you are free to create a tale that doesn’t relate to real life. Take a look at the fictional narrative essay topics below:

  • Write a narrative where a girl discovers her superpower.
  • A story about a land that has 25 hours in a day.
  • Describe your version of the future .
  • Fiction narrative where a person discovers big city life.
  • Come up with an apocalyptic story.
  • A group of scientists discovering a new world inside the Earth.

When writing a fictional narrative.

  • Write about a hamster that prevented a house robbery.
  • A person who saves the country from mass-produced poisoned food .
  • A group of high school students helping to improve their city.
  • A new civilization in a far away galaxy.
  • Write about a grandfather who was secretly a spy.
  • A narrative about a person waking up from the surgery with a different identity .
  • Create a story about a mysterious musical instrument .
  • A college student who won the presidential election.
  • Compose a story about a painting that looks different in every new house.
  • An anonymous person sends lots of money to the poor.
  • Come up with a fictional narrative about a family with unusual tendencies.
  • A movie star who lives out their roles in real life.
  • Passengers of an airplane encounter a UFO .
  • A narrative where a farmer grows strange plants.
  • Write about an orphan who finds out about their inheritance .
  • Story of siblings who resolve a long-lasting argument.

🧑✍️ Personal Narrative Essay Topics

A personal narrative is devoted to the author’s own experience. Therefore, feel free to write in first person. Include your thoughts and emotions. Do your best to describe the details of your narrative. This will help the reader to relive the story with you. Here is the list of excellent topic ideas for your essay:

  • Memories of your first sports coach.
  • A story of how you dyed your hair.
  • Write about something you did against your parents’ will.
  • Recall a day when you got in a fight with your best friend .
  • What was the most exciting adventure in your life?
  • An unfortunate situation that had a good ending.
  • Write about the time when you had to train hard for a competition.
  • Describe the turning point of your life.
  • An experience when you had to overcome your fear.
  • Write about the circumstances that brought you and your parents closer.
  • Describe a memorable conversation with someone.

Vivian Gornick quote.

  • An imaginary world you’ve created as a child.
  • Who gave you the most valuable lesson in your life?
  • One time when you regretted doing something.
  • A particularly embarrassing situation you went through.
  • Your memories of seeing something very beautiful.
  • A moment that made you proud of yourself.
  • Recall a time when you taught a child to do something.
  • What was the most memorable news report you saw in your life?
  • Describe a day when you stood up for someone.
  • Write about the best birthday party you’ve ever had.
  • Share your experience of being lost.

📚 Literacy Narrative Essay Topics

Literacy narrative revolves around reflecting on feelings connected to reading and writing. For this type of essay, think of yourself as a reader and a writer. You can describe any reading experience, whether it is a book, email, or social media post.

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  • The most touching piece of writing you’ve ever read.
  • Write about a book that impacted you the most.
  • A news article that changed your view on life.
  • What book character do you most identify with?
  • Talk about a piece of fiction that captured your imagination.
  • What was your favorite novel growing up?
  • The scariest story you’ve ever read.
  • Recall your emotions after reading a heartfelt social media post.
  • What is the most boring book you’ve read?
  • Describe a book that you would reread over and over again.

A book report is considered a narrative essay.

  • Your experience of reading a story to a child.
  • Have you ever read something that taught you a lesson?
  • Do you see yourself becoming a professional writer?
  • Recall the day when you had to complete your first writing assignment.
  • How does sharing thoughts on social media make you feel?
  • If you were to write a book, who would be the main character?
  • Talk about the most personal thing you’ve ever written.
  • Describe your experience of composing a poem.
  • Why can someone have difficulty with writing?
  • Recall what it was like to read for the first time.
  • What does journaling mean to you?
  • Have you ever been proud of something you wrote?

✈️ Narrative Essay Topics about Traveling

In this section, you get to engage your creativity! A narrative essay about traveling is supposed to show the reader what it’s like to explore the world. Present a story taking place in a real or imaginary location:

  • Your first time traveling to another country.
  • Friends taking a trip to the Great Canyon.
  • Write a narrative about traveling to your dream location.
  • Describe a trip to the Taj Mahal.
  • A day-long road trip.
  • Share your experience of visiting a historical site.
  • Come up with a story about getting around the airport .
  • What to do if you are lost in a foreign country?
  • A day in the life of a flight attendant .
  • Write about eating unusual foods from around the world.
  • Describe talking to a local in a foreign language .
  • A narrative about going on a seven-day cruise .
  • Tell the reader about the most breathtaking view you’ve ever seen.
  • Write a story about riding a train.
  • A short narrative about an out-of-state road trip.

Robert Louis Stevenson quote.

  • Traveling to see your family on holidays.
  • Come up with a narrative about hitchhiking across America.
  • What is it like to travel in the air balloon?
  • How to prepare for a trip around the world.
  • What to do if your luggage got lost in a foreign country.
  • Describe packing a suitcase for a long trip.
  • A story about a person missing their plane.

🏫 Narrative Essay Topics about School

This section is for all grades! Writing a narrative essay about school gives you a chance to share your personal experience as a student. You can write about precious memories, challenges, or influential people in your school career. Pick one of the narrative essay topics about school from this list:

🧒 Elementary School

  • Write a story with your favorite teacher as the main character.
  • Describe your first day at school.
  • A fun memory with your best friend.
  • What is your favorite thing to do during a break?
  • Tell your reader about something interesting you learned in class recently.
  • A day when you had to leave school early.
  • Recall your favorite celebration with classmates.
  • Write about your favorite school subject.
  • A story about your most unusual day at school.
  • How did you bond with your classmates?
  • Come up with narrative about a memorable event at the cafeteria .
  • The last day of school before the summer break .
  • One time when you forgot to bring something to the class.
  • Describe how you worked on a science project.
  • The most challenging class you took in middle school.
  • A story of how you pranked a friend.
  • Have you ever won a school competition?
  • The day when you’ve decided on your future profession.
  • Write about the teacher who impacted you the most.
  • A story of a serious conversation you had about your grades .
  • The day when you got in trouble with the principal .
  • Reflect on a class you will never forget.

👫 Narrative Essay Topics about Relationships

Narrative essay about relationships focuses on presenting a story about connections between people. You can write about your family, friends, or loved ones. Make sure to pick a statement that you will expand on in your story. Use the following list of narrative writing topics to come up with your narrative about relationships.

  • A conflict between generations .
  • What is it like to be in love ?
  • Write about how hatred can destroy relationships.
  • Describe an example of loyalty.
  • A story about maintaining friendship via social media .
  • Come up with a narrative where people with opposite personalities are getting along.
  • Tell the reader about somebody being generous.
  • Write about a couple being honest with each other.
  • A story where classmates treat each other with respect.
  • Describe a family that maintains loving relationship no matter what.
  • A story where you help somebody who used to be your enemy .
  • How friendliness can brighten up a person’s day.
  • Talk about the pain of ending a relationship .

Brandon Sanderson quote.

  • Children learning from their parents about empathy .
  • A narrative about food connecting people.
  • Come up with a story about unfulfilled expectations.
  • The importance of authentic conversations in a friendship.
  • What relational patterns do you see in your family?
  • Manifestations of real love in everyday life.
  • A story when someone makes a sacrifice for the sake of others.
  • Describe a situation where parents are bonding with their child.
  • Talk about the most meaningful relationship in your life.

🧸 Childhood Narrative Essay Topics

Childhood narrative essays are about sharing memories from the time when you were little. You can write about playing with friends or a day when you fell off the bike. Or, ask your family members to recall some episodes from your childhood.

  • A story of how you received your nickname.
  • Write about playing with your favorite toys.
  • What is the most memorable place you went to when you were little?
  • What kind of friends did you have when you were little?
  • Did you ever break anything?
  • Recall your earliest childhood memories.
  • What was the first valuable lesson you’ve learned as a kid?
  • Share your favorite childhood sports memory.
  • A story of your first triumph.
  • What did you enjoy doing when you were little?

Marcel Proust quote.

  • A moment from your childhood that your parents often recall.
  • Which talents did you have when you were a child?
  • What was it like to grow up with your siblings?
  • Write a narrative about your favorite pet.
  • The most memorable childhood moment with your family.
  • Were there any challenges you had to overcome as a kid?
  • What was your favorite children’s book ?
  • Did you ever get lost when you were little?
  • An exciting sleepover you had with friends.
  • Write a story about how you and your friends went on an adventure.
  • A family holiday that you will remember forever.
  • What was your favorite food in your early years?

💡 Narrative Essay Writing Guide and Tips

As you already know, writing a narrative essay is very similar to telling a story. Here are a few tips to remember for narrative writing:

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  • Tip 1: Use your memories. Take time to write down everything you can recall about the event. You can use it as a basis for your paper.
  • Tip 2: Be clear. Stick to the main idea of the essay. It’s better not to add characters or details that are not relevant to the story you’re telling.
  • Tip 3: Choose words carefully. In an essay words to are like paint on a canvas. The use of vivid language can help you create a story worth reading.

Now, pay attention to this step-by-step guide. It will help you outline an on-point narrative essay:

  • Introduction. In the opening paragraph, determine the main idea of the paper. Make a clear thesis that reflects the purpose of your narrative. To help yourself with this part, you can try a narrative essay thesis generator .

In this essay, I want to share my happiest childhood memory of playing with my older brother.

  • The body. Since you are writing the narrative essay as a story, make sure to tell the story well. Think through the plot with conflict, climax, and a powerful conclusion. Take your time to introduce the setting and the characters. All this will make your paper entertaining and easy to read.
  • Conclusion. Bring your narrative to a logical end. Expanding on the thesis statement will help you write a great conclusion.

Playing with my older brother taught me the true meaning of family, and I’m very grateful for it.

We hope this article helped you figure out how to write a narrative essay!

You may be also interested in:

  • How to Write a Narrative Essay: Easy Guide and Useful Tips
  • How to Start an Autobiography about Yourself: Full Guide + Autobiography Examples
  • How to Write a Creative Essay: Tips, Topics and Techniques
  • Breaking Down the Types of Essays: a Complete Guide for Success

🔍 References

  • Narrative Essays: Purdue University
  • Nailing the Craft of Narrative Writing: WeAreTeachers
  • Narrative and Reflection Writing Samples: Western Technical College
  • Drafting a Narrative: Walden University
  • Scholarly Personal Narrative: University of Vermont
  • The Power of Personal Narratives in the Classroom: University of Washington
  • Fiction Writing Basics: Purdue University
  • How to Write a Literacy Narrative: Pen and the Pad
  • Literacy Narratives: UNC Charlotte
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125 Picture Prompts for Creative and Narrative Writing

What story can these images tell?

Paper sits in a typewriter. The words “It was a dark story night” have already been typed.

By The Learning Network

For eight years, we at The Learning Network have been publishing short, accessible, image-driven prompts that invite students to do a variety of kinds of writing via our Picture Prompts column.

Each week, at least one of those prompts asks students: Use your imagination to write the opening of a short story or poem inspired by this image — or, tell us about a memory from your own life that it makes you think of.

Now we’re rounding up years of these storytelling prompts all in one place. Below you’ll find 125 photos, illustrations and GIFs from across The New York Times that you can use for both creative and personal writing. We have organized them by genre, but many overlap and intersect, so know that you can use them in any way you like.

Choose an image, write a story, and then follow the link in the caption to the original prompt to post your response or read what other students had to say. Many are still open for comment for teenagers 13 and up. And each links to a free Times article too.

We can’t wait to read the tales you spin! Don’t forget that you can respond to all of our Picture Prompts, as they publish, here .

Images by Category

Everyday life, mystery & suspense, relationships, science fiction, travel & adventure, unusual & unexpected, cat in a chair, happy puppy, resourceful raccoon, cows and cellos, people and penguins, opossum among shoes, on the subway, sunset by the water, endless conversation, falling into a hole, lounging around, sneaker collection, the concert, meadow in starlight.

narrative essays topic ideas

Related Picture Prompt | Related Article

Public Selfies

Night circus, tarot cards, castle on a hill, security line, batman on a couch, reaching through the wall, beware of zombies, haunted house, familial frights, witches on the water, blindfolded, phone booth in the wilderness, shadow in the sky, a letter in the mail, hidden doorway.

narrative essays topic ideas

Point of No Return

Darkened library, under the table, playing dominoes, looking back, a wave goodbye, out at dusk, conversation, walking away, alone and together, a new friend, heated conversation, up in a tree, hole in the ceiling, under the desk, at their computers, marching band, band practice, in the hallway, in the lunchroom, the red planet, tech gadgets, trapped inside, astronaut and spider, computer screen, special key, tethered in space, on the court, in the waves, city skateboarding.

narrative essays topic ideas

Fishing in a Stream

Over the falls.

narrative essays topic ideas

Under the Sea

Sledding in the mountains, cracked mirror, wilderness wayfaring, car and cactus, walking through town, tropical confinement, travel travails, roller coasters, atop the hill, climbing a ladder, under the ice, other selves.

Students 13 and older in the United States and Britain, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public and may appear in print.

Find more Picture Prompts here.

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    Focus on a specific event or detail to make your narrative more focused and impactful. Look for universal themes like love or personal transformation that connect with readers on a deeper level. Brainstorm ideas and write freely to uncover compelling topics. Decide on storytelling techniques like flashbacks or foreshadowing and choose a topic ...

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  3. 100+ Interesting Narrative Essay Topics For Your Next Paper

    Narrative Essay Topics for Grade 5. My First Day at a New School. The Time I Learned to Ride a Bike. A Visit to a Haunted House. The Day I Met a Real-Life Superhero. My Most Memorable Family Vacation. A Surprising Encounter with an Animal. The Mystery of the Missing Homework. The Best Birthday Party I Ever Had.

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    3 Narrative Essay Topics for Students. 3.1 Narrative Essay Topics for High School Students. 3.2 Good Narrative Essay Topics for College Students. 4 Topics for essays on themes: 4.1 Personal Narrative Essay Topics. 4.2 Personal Experience Narrative Essay Topics. 4.3 Narrative Essay Topics About Childhood.

  5. 50 Narrative Essay Topics

    We've got 50 narrative essay topics designed to prompt students to craft memorable written narratives. These can be modified for students in elementary, middle and high school. Feel free to print the entire narrative essay topics list for plenty of inspiration for your next narrative essay assignment! Narrative Essay Topics. Your first day of ...

  6. Narrative Essay Topics

    A narrative essay is a prose-written story that's focused on the commentary of a central theme. Narrative essays are generally written in the first-person POV, and are usually about a topic that's personal to the writer. Everything in a narrative essay should take place in an established timeline, with a clear beginning, middle, and end.

  7. 150 Narrative Essay Topics

    150 Unique Topics for Narrative Essay. It can be quite tough to think of something meaningful to write your essay about, but almost any experience you have can be an interesting topic. For one person, the first time they played a sport could be a traumatic experience, for another it could be life-changing.

  8. How to Write a Narrative Essay

    When applying for college, you might be asked to write a narrative essay that expresses something about your personal qualities. For example, this application prompt from Common App requires you to respond with a narrative essay. College application prompt. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure.

  9. 100 Greatest Narrative Essay Topics

    Here are 100 potential narrative essay topics: A time I overcame a fear. The day I met my best friend. A family vacation that went wrong. The experience of learning to ride a bike. Attending my first concert. My most difficult class in school so far. My proudest accomplishment. A time I failed at something.

  10. 100+ Narrative Essay Topics for your Next Assignment

    These topics are all a natural fit for a story arc, which is a central part of a narrative essay. Childhood Tales. Writing about your childhood can be a great choice for a narrative essay. We are growing and learning during this delicate and often awkward time. Sharing these moments can be funny, endearing, and emotional.

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    A great narrative essay topic is both personal and widely relatable. Check out these narrative essay topics to see which resonates with your story. ... Whether you use narrative writing prompts or not, a narrative essay should always be a moment where you share your story. More often than not, your story is relatable to others. To craft the ...

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    Good ideas for a narrative essay often include a plot, characters, setting, and themes written to engage and entertain a reader. The piece usually contains reflections on the event's meaning, significance, and how it has impacted the writer's life. Here is a list of good topics for narrative essays. Climbing mount Longonot.

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    These personal narrative essay ideas could help you explore some of such wishes. How It Felt to Be in Love For the First Time. Treachery and Betrayals: The Closest People Have Most Power to Hurt You. Choosing between a Partner and a Friend: Story of Heartbreak and Recovery. Surviving a Break-Up & Becoming Stronger.

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    Narrative Essay Topics for Different Grades Let's look at the narrative speech topics for different grades. Narrative Essay Topics for Grade 5. My first bicycle ride. My dad is my hero. A day with my grandmother. My first day at school. My best friend. My favorite teacher. A school trip to the zoo. My grandpa's hands. The most exciting day ...

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    This is why we've come up with 151 of the best narrative essay topics and ideas for you. 40 Best Personal Narrative Essay Topics. Personal stories make for the best narratives. This is why choosing a personal subject as your narrative essay topic might be the best idea. Although sharing an intimate story might seem daunting at first, remember ...

  20. Narrative Essay Topics and Story Ideas

    Narrative essays are truly works of art, and good artists must practice their craft. Here is a list of 101 narrative essay topics, prompts, and short story ideas to give students the practice that they need to become better writers: Everybody gets afraid sometimes. If there were no fear, there would be no opportunity for bravery.

  21. Narrative Essays: Examples And Topic Ideas For Students

    7. An Act Of Kindness. Sharing an act of kindness you did with someone else—or a random act of kindness that someone did for you—can provide a warm, fuzzy topic for your narrative essay. When writing about an act of kindness, focus on how the act made you feel, whether you were the giver or the receiver of the act.

  22. 164 Narrative Essay Topics for School & College Students

    In the collection below, you'll find the ideas based on personal experience as well as fictional narrative essay topics. Make use of resources offered by our custom writing experts to write any paper! Contents. 🔝 Top 10 Topics. 📖 Fictional Topics. 🧑 ️ Personal Narrative. 📚 Literacy. ️ Traveling. 🏫 School.

  23. 150 Narrative Essay Topics To Impress Teacher in 2024

    Traveling Narrative essay topics: A Journey Through Ancient Cities: Exploring History and Culture. Backpacking Adventures: Lessons Learned from Life on the Road. Navigating the World's Majestic Mountains and Rugged Terrains. Island Hopping: Experiencing the Beauty of Oceans and Beaches.

  24. 125 Picture Prompts for Creative and Narrative Writing

    For eight years, we at The Learning Network have been publishing short, accessible, image-driven prompts that invite students to do a variety of kinds of writing via our Picture Prompts column ...

  25. Welcome to the Purdue Online Writing Lab

    The Online Writing Lab at Purdue University houses writing resources and instructional material, and we provide these as a free service of the Writing Lab at Purdue. Students, members of the community, and users worldwide will find information to assist with many writing projects.