The first important thing to remember about a narrative essay is that it tells a story. The author may write about. 1  an experience or event from his or her past. 2  a recent or an ongoing experience or event. 3  something that happened to somebody else, such as a parent or a grandparent.
The drafting phase of the writing process entails the actual composing of the text. During this phase, writers use prewriting activities to generate a piece of writing in rough form.
Elements of a Narrative. A narrative text engages the reader in a storytelling format that carefully examines the major characters and provides a sequence of events or a structured plotline. The plot often follows a chronological sequence of events, but not always. Some narratives involve flashbacks or shifts between time periods.