Personal Writing
A Few Tips for Writing Personal Essays
Here are a few tips for writing personal essays from the Publishing Insights column of the March/April 2021 issue of Writer's Digest.
Laura Davis: On the Story That Begged To Be Told
Author and writing instructor Laura Davis discusses the process of starting, stopping, and starting again with her new memoir, The Burning Light of Two Stars.
Writing Mistakes Writers Make: Undermining Your Expertise in Self-Help Writing
The Writer's Digest team has witnessed many writing mistakes over the years, so we started this series to help identify them for other writers (along with correction strategies). This week's writing mistake is undermining your expertise in self-help writing.
Bobby and Cheryl Love: On the Power of Telling Your Own Story
Bobby and Cheryl Love discusses the process of writing coauthoring their memoir, The Redemption Of Bobby Love: A Story of Faith, Family, and Justice.
25 Ways Reflective Writing Can Help You Grow as a Writer (And as a Person)
Reflective writing—or journaling—is a helpful practice in helping understand ourselves, and by extensions, the stories we intend to write. Author Jeanne Baker Guy offers 25 ways reflective writing can help you grow as a writer (and as a person).
3 Tips for Writing a Memoir Everyone Wants to Read
A memoir is an open window into another's life—and although the truth is of paramount importance, so too is grabbing hold of its reader. Writer Tasha Keeble offers 3 tips for writing a memoir everyone will want to read.
How I Researched My Biography of Her Majesty the Queen
Acclaimed author Matthew Dennison shares his process for researching his biography about Her Majesty the Queen, including the problem with anecdotes, variability of private papers, and other nonfiction resources available to biographers.
Four Ways to Incorporate Empathy Into Writing
Author J.R. Jamison explores how writing with an empathetic eye (and ear) can enhance character development.
Bruce McCandless III: On Remembering His Father Through Memoir
Bruce McCandless III discusses how he finished what his father started in his new memoir, Wonders All Around.
5-Minute Memoir: Anonymous Fame
5-Minute Memoir is exactly what it sounds like—a personal essay on some facet of the writing life, be it a narrative or a reflection, pensive, touching or hilarious. Enjoy this installment from Barbara Neal Varma.
How I Managed to Get Six Books Published in 2021
Author Rajani LaRocca shares how she went from selling one middle-grade novel to releasing six books in a single year.
Late to the Party: On Being a “Mature” Debut Author
It's never too late to start your writing career. Shawn Nocher, author of A Hand to Hold in Deep Water, shares her journey.
How Personal Writing and Journaling Is Good for the Soul and Why Your Journal Is Your Soulmate
Bestselling author Laura Munson shares how personal writing and journaling is good for the soul and why your journal is your soulmate, including how to get more out of the process if you're feeling blocked.
How to Write a Biography of a World Leader
When writing a biography, you want to make sure that the story you tell is more than just a list of facts about the person's life. Biographer Supriya Vani shares her top tips for writing a successful biography.
Marilyn Peterson Haus: On Battling Feelings of Disloyalty When Writing Memoir
Debut author Marilyn Peterson Haus discusses the surprises that came with writing her memoir, including struggling with feelings of disloyalty to her family while writing.
Brian Broome: On Letting Other Genres Inspire You
In this article, author Brian Broome explains how a Gwendolyn Brooks poem inspired him to write his memoir Punch Me Up to the Gods.
How to Write a Eulogy When the Need Arises
While plenty of eulogies are delivered by a clergy member, the perspective provided by a close friend or family member can retell cherished memories of the deceased. If you find yourself needing to pen one, let this advice by Paul Vachon guide you.
How to Approach Friends and Family About Your Memoir
No one can decide whether showing your memoir to loved ones before it goes to press is the right choice for you. However, if you're planning to approach your friends and family about it, let memoirist Ronit Plank give you 3 tips for doing so.
What Is a Personal Essay in Writing?
In this post, we look at what a personal essay (also known as the narrative essay) is, including what makes it different from other types of fiction and nonfiction writing, examples of effective personal essays, and more.
Negative Space: An Interview With Lilly Dancyger
Catapult and Barrelhouse Books editor Lilly Dancyger talks about her debut memoir Negative Space.
Finding Your Nonfiction Writing Niche and Understanding Why This Is So Important
Why specialize? It's a question many nonfiction authors face. Author Rick Lauber explains how focusing in on one subject can help your writing create a bigger impact—and even widen your audience.
Through Another’s Eyes: An Auschwitz Survivor Inspires His Biographer
Popular lecturer and biographer Joshua M. Greene discusses the hardship of writing the biographies of Holocaust survivors, and the biography that convinced him to continue writing.
How I Taught Myself to Write in English
Novelist Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau describes what it was like to transition from writing in French (her native language) to publishing her debut YA novel in English.
Joshua M. Greene: On Balancing Poetry and Conciseness in Biographies
Popular lecturer and biographer Joshua M. Greene shares how he handles writing a biography that is both accurate and concise while still illuminating the subject's personality.