Almost every type of writing — at least, writing that’s interesting — tells a story. An autobiography tells readers about events in the writer’s life. An opinion column uses an anecdote — a brief description of an event or experience — to personalize an abstract issue. An article on ESPN.com describes what happened in a game — and speculates about what it means for the playoffs. In fact, some people have said that everything we do can be understood as a story.

If the subject of your reflection is an event in your past, shaping your essay as a story (that is, a chronological narrative with a beginning, a middle, and an end) is a natural way to proceed. But other kinds of subjects also lend themselves to storytelling. For example, because writers of reflective essays often share their thinking about a subject by explaining how they arrived at their conclusions, they essentially tell a story about their reflections.

As you draft, think about what kind of story you want to share. Will it be a tale of triumph against all odds? Will it lead to a surprising discovery? Will it have a happy ending? Will it be a tragedy? A comedy? A farce?

To create a story, consider the following elements:

Even if you don’t present your reflection as a traditional story, the elements of storytelling can help you shape your observations in a more concrete manner. For example, by asking who is involved in your subject and how they have dealt with conflicts, you can decide whether you should focus on a character’s actions or on the reasons leading to a conflict. By asking about the climax of your story, you can decide whether to focus your reflection on a single event or on the results of that event.