Understanding the correct narrative essay format is essential for academic success. Whether you’re writing for a high school assignment or a college-level English course, proper formatting ensures that your work appears polished, credible, and easy to follow. A well-formatted essay doesn’t just follow structural conventions—it reflects your attention to detail and respect for academic standards.
In a narrative format essay, your storytelling skills shine through, but they must be presented in a way that aligns with institutional expectations. Depending on your instructor or institution, you may be required to use APA or MLA formatting. Knowing how to format a narrative essay helps you avoid losing marks for technicalities and ensures your essay is taken seriously.
This guide will walk you through the format of a narrative essay, covering both APA and MLA styles. Whether you’re preparing a personal narrative for psychology (APA) or a reflective story for literature (MLA), this breakdown will help you present your narrative essay ideas with clarity and professionalism.
How to Format a Narrative Essay in APA Style
If you’re writing a narrative essay APA format, it’s likely for a course in psychology, education, or another social science. The APA style narrative essay emphasizes clarity, logical structure, and a clean presentation. Here are the essentials:
General Guidelines:
- Font: 12-pt Times New Roman or a readable serif/sans-serif font.
- Margins: 1 inch on all sides.
- Spacing: Double-spaced throughout, including title and references.
- Page Header: Include a page number in the top-right corner.
Title Page:
Include the title of the essay (bold and centered), your name, institutional affiliation, course name and number, instructor name, and due date—all centered on separate lines.
Example:
The Day I Found My Voice
Mohsin Khurshid
University of Westbrook
PSY 101: Introduction to Psychology
Professor Michael Porter
April 10, 2025
In-Text Citations:
If you reference any sources, use APA-style in-text citations (Author, Year). For example: (Azka, 2021).
References Page:
Include a separate References page with full citations in APA format if external sources are used. Alphabetize entries and use a hanging indent.
The narrative essay APA format allows for personal storytelling while maintaining academic standards. Keep your writing clear, organized, and reflective, but follow formatting rules carefully to make the best impression.
How to Format a Narrative Essay in MLA Style
If you’re writing a narrative for a literature, humanities, or English class, you’ll most likely need to use MLA format for a narrative essay. The MLA narrative essay format allows for a bit more creative expression while still enforcing important academic structure.
General Guidelines:
- Font: 12-pt Times New Roman.
- Margins: 1 inch on all sides.
- Spacing: Entire essay should be double-spaced, with no extra space between paragraphs.
- Indentation: The first line of each paragraph should be indented 0.5 inches.
Header and Title:
In the upper-left corner of the first page, include:
- Your Name
- Instructor’s Name
- Course Title
- Date (Day Month Year)
Center the title of your essay on the next line (no bold, italics, or underline). Do not include a separate title page unless instructed.
Page Numbers:
Add your last name and page number in the upper-right corner of each page (e.g., Khurshid 1).
Citations:
If your MLA format narrative essay example references any outside sources, include in-text citations using the (Author Page Number) format. Example: (Azka 22).
Works Cited:
Only include a Works Cited page if you use external references. Follow MLA guidelines for citation formatting.
When using MLA format for narrative essay writing, focus on building a strong personal voice while respecting structural expectations. Your creativity can thrive—within a clean and consistent framework. Now that you’ve learned the essentials of narrative essay format, you’re ready to move deeper into the writing process. Proper formatting sets the stage, but what truly brings a narrative essay to life is how you structure your content and convey your story. Need help planning your structure? Our Narrative Essay Outline Guide Article provides a ready-to-use template and examples to organize your story effectively. Whether you’re writing a personal memory, a fictional event, or a reflective experience, having a solid outline and knowing the right format will make your writing clearer and more impactful.
FAQs
The format you use—APA or MLA—largely depends on your course subject and your instructor’s guidelines. Use APA style for essays in psychology, education, or other social sciences. If you’re writing a narrative for a literature, English, or humanities class, go with MLA format. When in doubt, check your assignment prompt or ask your professor to confirm. Sticking to the correct format shows professionalism and academic discipline.
No, mixing formats is not recommended. A common mistake is blending elements from APA and MLA (e.g., using an APA title page with MLA citations). This creates confusion and signals a lack of attention to detail. Academic writing expects consistency. Choose one format and stick to it throughout your paper—title, headings, in-text citations, references, margins, font, and spacing. Following one narrative essay format from start to finish ensures clarity and helps you meet institutional expectations.