Author: Vidya Prabhakar
Do you have a story to tell? Open any magazine today and you will discover that the most popular articles are personal essays. People want to read about the real life experiences of others that are enriching and relatable. It’s the form of writing that gets readers into your world and evokes a response.
Basics of writing personal essays
The framework of a personal essay comprises of a basic point of view, an emotional involvement and a learning that emerges at the end of it. The narrative written in an anecdotal, engaging, conversational style peppered with humour makes the piece evocative and immediate. At the end of the piece, feelings expressed should linger in the minds of the reader and allow them to ruminate.
The write-up will ring true when you just be yourself and write about stuff that matters. Lighten up, but don’t try to be funny. Humour should emerge naturally in your writing. Writing from personal experience is all about being self-revelatory without being exhibitionistic and self-absorbed. (Yes, readers do not want to know your favourite brand of toothpaste) The spirit and willingness to share a personal experience without dwelling on the I, me, myself issues will make your piece stand apart.
Generating Ideas
Our personal experiences offer a repertoire of material with which to write. You can even turn hobbies and interests into essays by combining experience and research . Life, emotions, people, noisy and quiet moments can be put on page. Journaling is an effective way to channalise and record special thougths and incidents. It tracks your thought process and reflects shifts in focus and priorities. These often act as a muse for your writing. Life is often less than idyllic; writing about your struggles ( relationship, weight loss, job search) requires honesty and courage. A word of caution here – writing is not an alternative to whining. Also, no one tolerates a windbag – not even in print.
Think about incidents like struggles, accomplishments, celebrations, death, failure that you feel passionately and obessess about. Vacations, character sketches of people (maybe those you get under your skin), childhood incidents, incidents where you called upon your inner resources to grow are often good starting points.
Piecing an experience together
A personal essay can begin in any of the following three ways:
a) A direct introspective sentence that makes the reader sit up and read
b) A compelling dialouge that makes the reader to want to know more
c) Drawing up a word picture-a scene that sets the context and evokes interest.
Any of these approaches can be followed by statements, scenes or dialouges. Breathe life into your experience by reliving it, dramatising the scene and describing the emotions prominently felt. Capture the people, action and feelings as vividly as possibly on paper. Readers are looking for the truth and want to join you in the journey to compare notes with their own lives.
Selling your work
Personal essays are popular sections in magazines and newspapers today. Study the market to find the magazines that you are interested in writing for. Read atleast 10 back issues of the magazine to understand the content, tone and style of the magazine you want to pitch for. Submissions are normally addressed to the articles/senior editor. Editors typically look for articles that are about the reader – what sells today are “how to” articles. A magazine can easily hire an expert to come up with 10 tips on how to improve a relationship, but it takes a candid personal essay to humanize it. You can qualify if you share an enriching or enduring experience that others will enjoy and benefit from.
A busy life offers opportunities and experiences that you can commit to paper.
About the author:
Full Name: Vidya Prabhakar – Vidya is a Chartered Accountant and a Psychology postgraduate. She has worked in finance, banking and the content development industry. Reading, writing, baking and needle crafting are among her many pursuits.
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