Here’s the next step for writing a personal essay. Of all the genres of creative writing this is the most accessible and most publishable. Each and every one of you out there has a personal essay to write.
Step Two: Narrative or Scenes?
What is the door into your essay? Is there a scene to write rendered with the devices of fiction – dialog, setting, action? Or is your story more of a narrative with bits of experiences that form a whole? My essay mentioned in the last post had to cover a lot of ground – not only because it had to be longer than the short essays I usually write, but also because of the subject. My dreams as a kid and my journey from that point to now covers a lot of time. In the end I wrote a series of vignettes, most of which had a few lines of dialog. However another recent essay, a short one of only 500 words, covered a thirty minute health crisis my husband had, and I wrote it in the present tense, all in scenes with action and dialog, and then a few lines of conclusion at the end.
Obviously there’s no rule to how you’ll invite your reader into your story, but remember the old cliché: show don’t tell. If your essay feels flat, maybe a scene with dialog and action will liven things up.
I loved the prompt about the dreams I had for a career as a teenager. I wanted to be a fashion designer. I wrote away for a brochure to the Trapagan School of Design, and spent hours copying the illustrations in the NY Times (in those days) the designers used illustrations and not stick thin models. Anyway, today i have a closet full of clothes, and give away fashion advice which I guess fulfills my fashionista diva, but I cant say that I followed my childhood passion. But it does prompt me to think about how fashion has played a role in my life -- meeting Dianne Von Furstenberg. I won't give that one away. Maybe it is an essay. All best to you as always, Barbara
Posted by: loren stephens | November 16, 2008 at 09:19 AM
Loren - That's an essay I want to read!
Posted by: Barbara | November 19, 2008 at 07:33 PM
Hi Barbara. Well I wrote the essay on Diane. Now I just need to find a home for it. Maybe Ms. Magazine will take it. Who knows but why not???? Best, Loren
Posted by: Loren Stephens | March 09, 2009 at 07:46 PM