Construct an outline of the events in the essay, including an idea around which the essay will be built. You may not have a typical thesis statement for the narrative essay, but you should identify the point your essay will make, such as, "Studying abroad can be an incredibly enriching experience." Make sure to define a beginning, middle and end, and include a climax and resolution in the structure of the outline. Include brief notes regarding the setting and characters.
Determine a point of view to use throughout the essay. You can write a narrative using your point of view, in which case you use the pronoun "I," or an observer's point of view, using the pronouns "he" or "she." Whatever point of view you decide on, stick with it throughout the writing.
Begin drafting your narrative, using your outline as a guide. Use language that allows the reader to envision the scene. Sensory descriptions of the sights, sounds and smells in your setting are crucial to a strong narrative. Instead of "He had brown hair and wore a red shirt," use more specific, image-invoking adjectives: "His wavy hair was the color of raw honey and his slightly rumpled, brick-colored sleeves were pushed haphazardly up to his elbows."
Write with active, meaningful verbs. Instead of "I went to the store," use "Pressed for time, I half-walked, half-jogged the eight blocks to the store." Consider using dialogue, or conversation between multiple characters, to reveal character traits. The following conversation describes the relationship between friends: "Have you heard about the concert on Friday? It sounds so exciting!" Katie said. "It sounds lame to me. That band is weird," replied Jackie. "Yeah, you're right. Never mind," Katie sighed.
Edit your draft. Look for any areas that are poorly developed or that don't fit with the rest of the narrative. Ensure that the point of view stays consistent throughout the essay. Make sure all points from the outline are included in the piece.
Proofread your narrative. Check for spelling and grammar mistakes. Ask another person to proofread as well; this can be a classmate, a teacher, a parent or a friend. A second set of eyes can be helpful in catching any mistakes.
Compose a final draft of the essay. Use the changes you and your alternate proofreader identified to improve upon your first draft. Reorder or reword content if necessary. Do a final spelling and grammar check.