Brainstorm about the writing prompt. Take notes, make a list or create a web to organize your ideas. For example, the assignment might be to write a personal narrative about a time in your life when you achieved a goal. If your goal was preparing dinner for the family, jot down how it seemed impossible at first, how you got your inspiration to complete the task and what you did to accomplish the goal.
Find out who will be reading your narrative and tailor your story to the audience. If younger students will be reading it, you may want to use simple sentences and inspirational language. If your classmates are the audience, you may want to add more humor.
Use the first person point of view (I), since you are the main character in the narrative. Develop your characters by depicting their physical makeup as well as their character traits. Try to show their traits through their actions rather than just telling about them. For example, if the character is sad, instead of stating that, show it by saying something like "he wiped away a tear." Include dialogue to make the narrative realistic.
Describe the time and place in the narrative using vivid language. The backyard might be a winter wonderland covered with snow, or birds may be chirping in the trees to announce the coming of spring. This is called the setting of the story.
Develop a plot with a beginning, middle and end. Describe the situation when you started to set the goal and include the problem you had to overcome to achieve it. As you and possibly others resolve the problem by the end of the narrative, your character traits become evident. For example, you may have attempted to prepare dinner but the food was overcooked. You might have tried again and achieved your goal, showing how diligent and motivated you are.