Narrative Essay Topics: 200+ Fresh Ideas for Students

Students at school and colleges are assigned narrative essays quite often. If you got this task as well, there is nothing you should worry about! Such types of papers do not require any specific skills. However, you need to know some basic rules, which you will find in this article. Writing a narrative essay allows sharing stories and experiences, creating a vivid plot with well-written characters and various sensory details. If you are not sure what to write about, our article can help as well — we have the best narrative essay topic ideas and writing tips.

How to write a narrative essay?

The first thing you need to do before actually starting your essay is to pick a topic. If you can’t find something you like, don’t get upset. Make a list of things that interest you. Also, you can take a look at the list of topics for a narrative essay presented below and choose the best ones.

As soon as you single out the fields of your interest, Google each of them to learn more until you realize that you have found the right one. There are different types of narrative essay topics, so you will have many options to choose from. You can also think of some events you experienced in your life — there will be something great to tell.

After that, you have to plan the content of your paper. How do you want to start and end it? Remember that the introduction should draw the attention of readers, so try to begin your essay unexpectedly. For example, if you are writing about your first year in college, don’t describe your first day — that is too obvious.

It is best to use the first person (it can be either ‘I,’ or ‘we’) since the purpose of a narrative essay is to talk about important things from the point of view of the narrator. Of course, you can write in the third person if you think that it will fit your essay better.

Don’t forget to work on the details! Adding descriptions of objects, places, and characters will make your story vivid and compelling. Moreover, such details help to impress your readers and create an engaging atmosphere.

Sometimes, you might feel that your story is missing something, even if you have a well-planned plot and bright characters. In this case, you can employ some interesting twist: for example, something unexpected happens in your narrative — it can be the antagonist who turns out to be a different person, a big event that changes the lives of many people, or a shocking truth that suddenly comes out. You can also add some jokes and depict funny moments if you feel that it is going to work perfectly for your story. Of course, there are different narrative essay topics to write about, but you can surely find something interesting or amusing to write about for each.

Make sure to revise the first version of your essay. Then, take some time to relax and take a break from writing. After at least a few hours, go back to your essay to have a fresh look at it. To get the most out of your editing, do the following:

1. Break down big sentences into smaller ones;

2. Remove or substitute terms that have more than one meaning because your readers may misread them;

3. Rephrase sentences that sound confusing;

4. Delete all the ideas and arguments that are repetitive;

5. Detect grammar and spelling mistakes and correct them;

6. Make sure the paper is formatted correctly;

7. Check the structure of the essay to see if it has all the necessary parts.

Note that you need to proofread your essay more than once since you might miss some mistakes revising it the first time.

Narrative essay topics for college students

A narrative essay is a great way to share your knowledge, feelings, and experiences. Even if you are not into writing that much, don’t miss an opportunity to write such a paper. It’s not a difficult type of paper to work on, but make sure to find good topics for a narrative essay that you are passionate about. This way, your writing experience will be truly awesome.

Here are some great narrative essay topic ideas for college students:

1. Talk about the book you have recently read. Why did you like it? What did this book teach you? Talk briefly about the plot and main characters.
2. Describe your first day at college. How did you feel?
3. Describe stress sources in your daily life. What is the most stressful thing you encounter every day? How do you cope with stress?
4. If you live in a dorm, describe your experience. Do you enjoy living there? Who are your roommates?
5. Describe your career plan. How do you imagine your future? What is your dream job?
6. Tell your readers about the hardest exam you have ever had. Which discipline was it? How did you prepare for it?
7. Describe a tough decision that you had to make. When did it happen? What did you decide in the end?
8. What challenges did you overcome in college? How did you cope with everyday stress and achieve your goals?

Even if you haven’t found the topic you like, there are still a lot of narrative topics for college you can choose from. Just do enough research and pick something you really like!

Narrative Essay About Entrepreneurship and Innovation

1. My First Business: How a Lemonade Stand Taught Me Entrepreneurship

2. From Idea to Reality: The Story of My First Startup

3. The Day I Failed and Learned the Secret to Business Success

4. How Selling Handmade Bracelets in High School Sparked My Entrepreneurial Journey

5. A School Project That Turned Into a Real Business

6. My Experience Pitching an Idea and Facing Rejection

7. How a Simple Invention Solved a Big Problem in My Community

8. Learning to Take Risks: My Journey as a Young Entrepreneur

9. Turning Passion Into Profit: The Story of My First Side Hustle

10. The Unexpected Lessons I Learned from a Business Failure

Narrative Essay About Cultural Exchange and Diversity

1. The First Time I Traveled Abroad: A Culture Shock Story

2. How Hosting a Foreign Exchange Student Changed My Perspective

3. A Meal That Taught Me More About Culture Than Any Textbook

4. Breaking Language Barriers: My Experience Making Friends in a Foreign Country

5. The Moment I Realized the Power of Cultural Diversity

6. From Outsider to Insider: Adjusting to a New Culture

7. The Time I Celebrated a Holiday from Another Culture

8. Lessons I Learned from a Multicultural Classroom

9. How Moving to a New Country Shaped My Identity

10. Overcoming Stereotypes: A Story of Cultural Understanding

Narrative Essay About Mental Health and Self-Care

1. The Day I Finally Asked for Help: My Journey to Mental Wellness

2. How Meditation Helped Me Overcome Anxiety

3. Learning to Say No: A Story About Setting Boundaries

4. The One Habit That Changed My Mental Health for the Better

5. From Burnout to Balance: How I Learned to Take Care of Myself

6. The Moment I Realized It’s Okay Not to Be Okay

7. How Journaling Became My Best Therapy

8. The Summer That Taught Me the Importance of Self-Care

9. My Battle with Stress and How I Finally Found Peace

10. How a Simple Walk in Nature Helped Me Through a Tough Time

Narrative Essay About Volunteering and Community Service

1. How Volunteering at a Homeless Shelter Changed My Perspective

2. The Unexpected Friendship I Made While Doing Community Service

3. A Small Act of Kindness That Made a Big Impact

4. The Time I Organized a Charity Event and Learned a Valuable Lesson

5. Giving Back: How Volunteering Taught Me the True Meaning of Gratitude

6. How Helping Others Helped Me Discover My Purpose

7. The Day I Realized One Person Can Make a Difference

8. My Experience Building Homes for Those in Need

9. A Volunteer Trip That Changed the Way I See the World

10. Why I Keep Going Back: The Power of Serving My Community

Narrative essay topics for high school students

If you are a high school student and got a narrative essay as an assignment, don’t get upset that you don’t know what to write about — our essay writing service has a list of great narrative essay topics you could use to write your narrative essay:

1. Talk about the city you were born in. What are the special fairs or holidays that are common only in your city?
2. What role does family play in your life? How do you spend time together?
3. What is your greatest accomplishment?
4. Describe your first day at school. How did it go? How did you feel that day?
5. Talk about any field trip your class took. Where did you go? What were you doing?
6. Talk about your favorite teacher. Why do you like him or her?
7. Tell the readers about your best vacation. What did you do then? Did you go somewhere or stay at home?
8. What is your favorite subject at school? Why do you like it?

Essay About Music and Creativity

1. The Song That Changed My Life

2. How Learning to Play an Instrument Taught Me Patience

3. The First Time I Performed on Stage: A Story of Fear and Confidence

4. How Writing Music Became My Escape

5. The Unexpected Inspiration Behind My First Song

6. How a Music Class Transformed the Way I Express Myself

7. The Power of Lyrics: How One Song Helped Me Through Hard Times

8. From Noise to Harmony: My Journey in a Band

9. The Day I Discovered a New Genre That Spoke to My Soul

10. How Music Helped Me Connect with My Culture and Heritage

Essay About Sports and Teamwork

1. The Game That Taught Me the True Meaning of Teamwork

2. How Losing a Championship Made Me a Better Athlete

3. The First Time I Stepped Onto the Field: A Story of Nerves and Determination

4. The Day I Had to Put the Team Before Myself

5. From Rivals to Teammates: How Sports Created an Unlikely Bond

6. The Injury That Changed My Perspective on Team Sports

7. Why My Hardest Practice Was My Most Valuable Lesson

8. The Unexpected Hero: A Game-Winning Moment I’ll Never Forget

9. How a Team Sport Helped Me Overcome My Fear of Failure

10. The Day I Realized Leadership Is More Than Just Being the Best Player

Essay About Overcoming Stereotypes

1. Breaking the Mold: The Moment I Proved Everyone Wrong

2. How I Overcame the Stereotypes About My Background

3. The Day I Realized Labels Don’t Define Me

4. When Someone Underestimated Me—And I Surprised Them

5. How Moving to a New School Taught Me the Power of Breaking Stereotypes

6. Challenging Gender Stereotypes: My Experience in a Male-Dominated Sport

7. The Moment I Learned to Look Beyond First Impressions

8. How a Teacher’s Words Helped Me Overcome a Stereotype

9. Fighting Against Expectations: A Story of Self-Discovery

10. How I Changed Someone’s Mind About Me Without Saying a Word

Essay About Unexpected Friendships

1. The Friend I Never Thought I’d Have

2. How a Simple Act of Kindness Led to a Lifelong Friendship

3. From Strangers to Best Friends: A Friendship That Started in the Unlikeliest Place

4. The Time I Misjudged Someone—And How They Proved Me Wrong

5. An Unlikely Bond: How I Became Friends with My Biggest Rival

6. How a Group Project Turned into a Friendship I’ll Always Treasure

7. The Day I Befriended Someone Completely Different from Me

8. What I Learned from My Friendship with Someone from Another Culture

9. How a Shared Struggle Created a Friendship That Changed Me

10. The Friend I Met by Accident—And How They Changed My Life

Fun and easy narrative essay topics

Sometimes, you don’t feel like spending too much time on any assignments, or you just wish to write a narrative essay without putting much effort into it. For both cases, there is a great solution — to pick some easy and fun narrative essay topics from this list:

1. Describe your favorite meal. Which type of cuisine is it? Is it sweet, sour, or spicy?
2. Think of the best childhood memory you have. How old were you? What were you doing that day? How did your mood change?
3. Talk about your favorite genre of music. Why do you like it? Does it help you to get through hard times?
4. What would you do if you had a billion dollars? Tell the readers how you would spend it. Would you donate it to charity?
5. Which superpower would you like to have and why? Where and when would you use it?
6. Tell the readers about the best journey you had in your life. Where did you go?
7. Describe a ridiculous misunderstanding you had with another person. What happened? How did the situation turn out for both of you?

So here are short narrative essay topics for an easy essay for your consideration.

Narrative Essay About Animals and Pets

1. The Day I Rescued a Stray and Found a Best Friend

2. How My Pet Taught Me the Meaning of Unconditional Love

3. The Funniest Thing My Pet Ever Did

4. Losing My First Pet: A Heartfelt Goodbye

5. The Time I Faced My Fear of a Certain Animal

6. How Volunteering at an Animal Shelter Changed My Perspective

7. The Unlikely Friendship Between My Pets

8. When My Pet Saved the Day: A Story of Loyalty and Bravery

9. The Summer I Spent on a Farm and Fell in Love with Animals

10. How Adopting a Pet Made My Life Better

Narrative Essay About Vacations and Road Trips

1. The Road Trip That Didn’t Go as Planned—But Became Unforgettable

2. Lost in a Foreign City: A Vacation Adventure I’ll Never Forget

3. The Most Breathtaking Place I’ve Ever Visited

4. The Time We Got Stuck in Traffic for Hours—And Made the Best of It

5. My First Vacation Without My Parents: A Lesson in Independence

6. How a Last-Minute Trip Became the Best One Yet

7. A Family Vacation That Took an Unexpected Turn

8. The Time I Tried Something Completely Out of My Comfort Zone While Traveling

9. When the Journey Was More Fun Than the Destination

10. A Road Trip That Strengthened My Friendships

Narrative Essay About Food and Cooking Disasters

1. The Time I Set Off the Fire Alarm While Cooking

2. My First Attempt at Baking—And the Hilarious Result

3. The Day I Accidentally Used the Wrong Ingredient

4. How I Turned a Cooking Disaster into a Delicious Surprise

5. The Time I Tried an Exotic Dish and Instantly Regretted It

6. A Family Recipe Gone Wrong: My Kitchen Nightmare

7. How I Ruined Thanksgiving Dinner (And Made It Memorable)

8. The Time I Cooked for a Special Occasion—And It Was a Total Disaster

9. A Cooking Experiment That Ended in Flames (Literally!)

10. The Time I Thought I Could Cook Like a Chef… But Reality Hit Hard

Narrative Essay About Amusement Parks and Thrill Rides

1. The First Time I Rode a Roller Coaster: A Story of Fear and Excitement

2. The Theme Park Mishap That Turned Into an Unforgettable Memory

3. When I Got Stuck on a Ride and Panicked for No Reason

4. The Best Amusement Park Day That Almost Didn’t Happen

5. How I Overcame My Fear of Heights at an Amusement Park

6. The Day My Favorite Ride Broke Down—Right Before My Turn!

7. My Funniest Theme Park Memory That Still Makes Me Laugh

8. The Unexpected Friendship I Made While Waiting in Line for a Ride

9. A Family Trip to an Amusement Park That Brought Us Closer Together

10. The Ride That Left Me Speechless—In the Best Way Possible

Personal narrative essay topics

If you think that you are ready to share a little bit about yourself in the essay, you can go ahead and write personal narrative essay topics. Remember that you don’t have to share anything if you don’t feel like doing that. But if you are completely sure that you want to talk about your experience and emotions, describing them in detail, then go ahead and do that! Here is a list of narrative essay topics you can use to write about yourself:

1. Do you have a role model? If yes, describe this person. Why does he or she inspire you?
2. What is the greatest conversation you had in your life? Who was the person you were talking to? What did you talk about?
3. Tell about a song that has touched you emotionally. Where did you hear it for the first time? What feelings does it evoke?
4. Tell your readers about a moment that has changed your life. When did it happen and how? How old were you?
5. Which devices play the most significant role in your life and why? How often do you use them and for which purposes? 
6. What is the best news that you have ever received? When did it happen? How much did this news influence your life?
7. What is your best childhood memory? How old were you?
8. What do you do when you feel depressed? How often does it happen to you?

Essay About Survival and Resilience

1. The Toughest Challenge I Ever Faced—and How I Overcame It

2. How a Setback Became the Turning Point in My Life

3. The Time I Got Lost and Had to Find My Way Back

4. When Everything Went Wrong, but I Refused to Give Up

5. The Day I Learned the True Meaning of Strength

6. Overcoming My Biggest Fear: A Story of Courage and Growth

7. The Time I Had to Push Through Pain to Reach My Goal

8. How I Rebuilt Myself After Failure

9. The Hardest Decision I Ever Had to Make

10. Surviving the Unexpected: A Test of Strength and Determination

Essay About Sibling Relationships

1. The Best and Worst Parts of Having a Sibling

2. A Childhood Memory with My Sibling That I’ll Never Forget

3. How My Sibling and I Went from Rivals to Best Friends

4. The Time My Sibling and I Pulled Off the Perfect Prank

5. The Lesson My Younger/Older Sibling Taught Me

6. A Sibling Fight That Changed Our Relationship Forever

7. How My Sibling Helped Me Through a Difficult Time

8. The Funniest Memory I Have with My Brother/Sister

9. When My Sibling and I Had to Work Together—And It Actually Worked!

10. How My Relationship with My Siblings Changed as We Grew Up

Essay About Moving and New Beginnings

1. The Day I Moved Away from Everything I Knew

2. Starting Over: My First Day in a New School

3. How Moving to a New Place Changed My Perspective on Life

4. The Unexpected Challenges of Starting Fresh

5. Saying Goodbye to My Childhood Home

6. The First Time I Had to Make New Friends in a New Place

7. How Moving to a Different Country Taught Me About Myself

8. Packing Up and Letting Go: The Emotional Side of Moving

9. From Fear to Excitement: How I Adjusted to My New Life

10. A New Beginning That Turned Out Better Than I Expected

Essay About A Life-Changing Book or Movie

1. The Book That Opened My Eyes to a New Way of Thinking

2. How One Movie Completely Changed My Perspective on Life

3. The Story That Inspired Me to Take Action

4. The Movie That Made Me See Myself in a New Light

5. A Book That Helped Me Through a Difficult Time

6. How a Story Taught Me a Lesson I’ll Never Forget

7. The Fictional Character Who Changed My Outlook on Life

8. How a Movie Scene Stuck with Me and Changed My Actions

9. The Book That Made Me Love Reading

10. A Movie That Made Me Rethink Everything I Knew

Argumentative narrative essay topics

There are always issues that have more than one perspective. You can always choose one of these as a topic for your essay, but you have to be ready for the fact that they will not be easy to write about. On the other hand, topics like these give us a lot to think about, and eventually, we change or alter our views. Here are some interesting narrative essay topics that you might find controversial:

1. Does Facebook sometimes make other people feel sad or depressed? Why does it happen? You could share your personal experiences or stories that your friends and family have told you.
2. Gender bias in universities and colleges: Have you ever faced it? How did it influence your studies? Do you have friends who experienced the same situation as you did?
3. How do social standards influence teenage girls? Tell a story about how stereotypes impacted your life and how you fought them. You can also share other stories and compare them.
4. What does a profile on social media tell us about people? Do people indeed lie about themselves to look better on social media? Why do people do that? Does it make them feel miserable in the end when they realize that their lives don’t look that way?
5. What role does religion play in the lives of modern people? How did you come to the understanding that you believe or don’t believe in God? You can share your experience with religion or tell stories that your friends and family told you.
6. Video games: do they distract young people from studying or help to develop new skills? Which experience do you have with video games, and do you enjoy playing them or not?
7. Is modern art still important to society as it was hundreds of years ago? Do you often visit art galleries, and if so, describe how you feel when you walk into the museum and look at pictures or sculptures?

Narrative Essay About Artificial Intelligence and the Future

1. How I Came to Believe AI Will Shape Our Future

2. The Day I Realized Robots Might Soon Be Smarter Than Us

3. My First Encounter with Artificial Intelligence and What It Taught Me

4. The Role of AI in My Career Choice

5. How a Science Fiction Movie Made Me Think About the Future of AI

6. The Moment I Faced a Real-Life Example of AI Changing My World

7. Will AI Replace Us? A Personal Experience That Made Me Question

8. The Time I Used AI to Solve a Problem and Was Amazed by Its Efficiency

9. How I Learned to Trust AI—and Why That Was a Big Deal

10. The Future I Envision: How AI Will Transform Our Everyday Lives

Narrative Essay About Environmental Issues and Sustainability

1. How a Beach Cleanup Inspired Me to Change My Lifestyle

2. The Day I Realized How Small Actions Can Help Save the Earth

3. My Journey to Understanding Climate Change and How It Changed My Views

4. The First Time I Saw the Impact of Pollution on Nature

5. A Trip That Opened My Eyes to Environmental Injustice

6. How I Started Recycling and Learned the Importance of Sustainability

7. The Time I Took a Stand for the Environment—and Felt Proud of It

8. When I Finally Understood the Urgency of Protecting Our Planet

9. How One Documentary Changed the Way I See the World’s Natural Resources

10. The Moment I Realized the Earth Needs Us: A Personal Story of Environmental Awareness

Narrative Essay About Politics and Personal Beliefs

1. The First Time I Voted and What It Taught Me About Democracy

2. How My Views on Politics Changed After a Life-Changing Experience

3. The Day I Stood Up for My Beliefs in a Political Debate

4. When I Realized Politics Are Personal: A Story About My Family’s Influence

5. How I Learned to Respect Opposing Views During a Political Discussion

6. The Time I Changed My Opinion About a Political Issue

7. Why I Decided to Get Involved in Politics: A Personal Story

8. How a Political Activist Inspired Me to Stand Up for What I Believe In

9. The Moment I Realized My Voice Matters in the Political World

10. A Heated Election Debate That Made Me Rethink My Political Identity

Narrative Essay About Gaming and Its Benefits

1. How Gaming Taught Me Teamwork and Collaboration

2. The Day I Realized Gaming Could Be a Tool for Learning

3. The Time Video Games Helped Me Escape and Heal from a Tough Time

4. How a Multiplayer Game Taught Me Patience and Strategy

5. My Journey Through Gaming: Lessons I Learned Along the Way

6. The Unexpected Benefits of Gaming: How It Helped Me Build Confidence

7. The Day I Realized Gaming Could Teach Me More Than School Ever Did

8. How Video Games Brought Me Closer to My Friends

9. The Role of Gaming in My Personal Growth and Development

10. How Gaming Helped Me See the Value in Problem-Solving and Creativity

Final Word

Many good narrative essay topics were covered in this article, but you are not limited to them. If you search well, you will surely find something exciting to write about. Always believe in yourself, work hard, and you will write the best essay!