Day 18: Writing The Personal

We’re half way through nonfiction week!Today, we’re discussing writing the personal: what does it mean to write personal, reflective stories? What boundaries do you have? What boundaries can you cross? Why can writing personal stories be so effective?Whether it’s creative nonfiction, poetry or personal essays, people love to read about real life. It’s relatable, it’s poignant and it’s an accurate representation of life experience. Writing about the personal can have a myriad of benefits and impacts: it can assist in healing and grieving processes or let others know that they’re not alone in their habits or dreams. It can be funny or sad, but usually it’s real—and that is the beauty of it.However, writing about the personal can also be difficult. Some stories we are not ready to share, others we are not willing to read. The key to writing the personal is finding an audience who can relate or appreciate what you’re telling them. There is almost always a niche waiting to hear your story and, sometimes, it turns out to be a bigger audience than you originally thought. That’s because the personal applies to everyone. Stories about your own life experience can be inspiring to some, but can mirror real life for others. Your personal writing can be thought provoking and brilliant, but most of all it is real.Guess what! We’re launching Voiceworks Issue #100 in Brisbane today! Come down to Avid Reader Bookshop, 193 Boundary St, West End, Brisbane, for readings, drinks, magazines and good company! Find out all the details and tickets on the Avid Reader website.There are plenty of opportunities for young writers to contribute personal writing on the web and in print. Join us in tonight’s Google Hangout with Emma Jones, Sam George-Allen and Hannah Story, to discuss all the ups and downs of writing personal stories, then check out our Resources list on our website for some ideas and get pitching! Writing Challenge! Journaling is a great way to start writing about the personal, even if it is for your eyes only. Keeping a journal is a great creative outlet and writing every day helps to improve your skills. Check out Rookie Magazine’s great guide to keeping a journal (and sticking to it. So go out and buy yourself a cheap notebook (decorate it if you like) and start journaling!