Personal Narrative Brainstorming

Here's a list of personal narrative writing prompts to get you thinking about a time to write about.

Describe a time you had to do something you really didn’t want to do. 

Write about a before and after.  What was life like before?  What was life like after?

Write about a time when you had to experience pain in order to get a huge reward.

Write about a memorable encounter you had with someone you didn’t really know.

What makes your family unique? 

Write about a time you felt like an outsider and how you dealt with it.

What makes/made your upbringing unique?

Write about a loss and how it has affected you.

Write about a time when you had to make a hard decision.  Were you happy with the outcome?

Write about a crazy experience or adventure you’ve had.

What are you afraid of?  What strategies do you have to cope with your fears?

What is your favorite place and why?

Write about a time a friend helped you, or you helped a friend.

Write about an object or family relic that is especially important to you.

Write about a time you helped make the world a better place.

What is the strangest/worst job or chore you’ve ever had?