Social Media Ideas for Personal-Essay

Dear Semesta

Dear Semesta,Continue reading on Medium »

The Long and Happy Life of an Unpublished Essay

An essay can have benefits beyond those that come from publication By Elizabeth Roper Marcus Shortly after taking up writing in my late 40s, I finished a memoir piece I was proud o...

That one musical instrument I got scared of

A piano that kept finding meContinue reading on ILLUMINATION »

Good Companions: Writing Essays to Support Your Book

By Andrea A. Firth My husband and I recently spent a couple days in Paris where we celebrated our 34th wedding anniversary. I can say without hesitation that I’ve got a great mate...

IDENTITY

What makes you the same person you were yesterday, or the child you no longer remember being?Continue reading on Medium »

Writing for One Imagined Reader

Not a crowd. Not no one. One person.Continue reading on Medium »

Tiny Memoir Contest for Students: Write a 100-Word Personal Narrative

We invite teenagers to tell a story about a meaningful life experience in just 100 words. Contest dates: Sept. 16-Oct. 28, 2026.

The Grammar of Confession: How Pronouns Create Vulnerable Prose

By Huck Smith The first draft of the essay about firing Marcus was written in “you.” You take the promotion. You tell yourself it’s a good decision. You don’t notice the room closi...

Digital Mementoes

Nine Notes on the End of the Story Continue reading on Medium »

The Little Things People Remember About You

The best parts of you can’t be listed on a resume.Continue reading on Medium »

Writing in First Person? Dial Up the Charisma

By Amy L. Bernstein First-person POV may well be the most complicated point of view. When you build an entire story around the “I” voice, you commit to installing the reader deep i...

Nineteen Truths and One Beguiling Lie about Life from 20 Years of The Marginalian

It is an odd thing, looking back on your life, trying to recognize in the mirror of memory the people you used to be, finding them strangers: the person who kissed your first kiss,...

I moved between 2 countries and languages as a teen. I got very good at proving myself.

I attended four high schools while moving between the US and Dominican Republic. Constantly being misjudged taught me to advocate for myself.

AAKANKSHA – The Art of Desire, Attachment, and Becoming

On desire, attachment, renunciation, and the strange freedom of becoming yourself.Continue reading on Medium »

Fun, or Something Like It: Caring Gently About Our Memoirs

by Danya Kaufmann I spent a couple weeks in Dharamshala one summer, up in the lush green mountains of Northern India. The village was enveloped by a magical mist, and I was in heav...

Prolog - Pernah Menjadi Banyak Hal

Kalau suatu hari nanti seseorang bertanya siapa aku, mungkin aku akan kesulitan menjawabnya.Continue reading on Medium »

A Ghost in the Machine: An Eerie Tale from the Psych Lab

Personal Perspective: An early research experience taught me an important lesson in overcoming adversity. The story has motivated and guided me.

This is my first writing here

What does one write about when they have a lot to say and share? Do we need to stick with what the industry calls a niche?Continue reading on Medium »

How College Essays Have Changed—and Stayed the Same

The Things I Hear

Beyond the beauty that can be seen, I’ve always been fascinated by the beauty that can be heard.Continue reading on Medium »

Music Room

Some memories are connected to particular things, and at times, music!Continue reading on Medium »

Four Possible Ways to Look at My Thesis.

A Personal MFA Design Thesis Journal on exploring topics, falling in love with one, occasionally regretting it, but hopefully being…Continue reading on Medium »

Does Writing Letters Build Character?

Personal Perspective: As traditional letter-writing fades into history, which character-building skills will we lose?

A most precious possession

A liberal arts education led the way to careers, books, art, relationships – and writing lives well lived.