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.
Quick Answer. A narrative format, presenting information in the form of a story, requires an opening hook to engage the reader's interest, followed by a chronological sequence of events to detail when, where and how the relevant actions unfolded. The purpose of a narrative in both written and spoken form is to tell an overall coherent story.