The Golden Nugget in a Personal Essay

Life has a way of making us sit up and take notice. Things we experience often turn out to be good lessons. If we want to share what happened and what we learned, the perfect venue is the personal essay. 

The personal essay concerns something that happened to you. It might be highlighting most any kind of experience--humorous. tragic, interesting, timely and more. You can write pages about what occurred, use imagery, lovely phrases, action verbs, show rather than tell, and more. That's all quite important. But you need one more thing to make your personal essay worth a reader's time.

The golden nugget in a personal essay is illustrating a universal truth or what you, the writer, learned. Sometimes, it's spelled out perfectly. Other times, it is only inferred, but in such a way that your message is clear. 

What is a 'universal truth'? One definition is 'messages or codes of behavior that tell us what it means to be human'.

When you write a personal essay, you're saying "Here's what happened to me and what I learned." 

Today's quote is the perfect springboard for those who want to write a personal essay. Maybe you should hold onto what happened that hurt you long enough to write about it. Writing about your experience can do two things. It helps you understand and can be a step toward healing after a traumatic experience. You might also be of help to other people by relating your experience. 

The personal essay is a perfect way to find insight in ourselves and to offer that golden nugget to others. 

Making a Point In Personal Essays

Sharpened to a point!

The most important quality in a personal essay is that it makes a point. It shows a universal truth or allows the reader to learn something about life and how we live it. 

Readers enjoy the anecdotes that are most likely the greater part of a personal essay. In fact, that section may take up the vast majority of the number of words you write. All of it is used to make that point that you want your reader to know. 

Should you write several paragraphs when bringing out your reason for writing the essay, or memoir? That is not necessary. Sometimes, one sentence will do it. There is no set number of words. In fact, I'd say you don't want to belabor the point.

Some who write personal essays write hundreds of words but never show the reader why he/she is writing those words. You want the reader to finish with a feeling of "Oh, wow!" or "Yes, of course!" or a smile and a nod of the head. 

Where, in the essay, should you reveal your reason for writing? Anywhere. I think the spot most choose is after relating the incident that illustrates your point. You could write many paragraphs, then toss in that all-important sentence or two. You can also use it for your ending paragraph. You're in charge. Put it where you think it fits best. 

Occasionally, the point or truth you're hoping to illustrate is only inferred. Right or wrong? It's alright but why make it so hidden? There's nothing wrong in just saying it.

When you read personal essays, use your writer's eye. Find that point or the universal truth in each one as you read. Ask yourself if you would have placed it in the same part of the essay, or would you have done something different. Reading the essays others write serves to help you write better ones of your own. 

Like those pencils pictured above, sharpen your point so it's clear for your reader. Don't overdo it. Say it once and no more.