4 Personal Essays I Loved Feasting On This Week

Free AI web copilot to create summaries, insights and extended knowledge, download it at here

1954

Abstract

s for my entire writing career. In fact, contests started my writing career over 12 years ago. I entered a nationwide fiction contest in New Zealand and surprised myself by winning it.</p><p id="aad7">My winning piece was a short story that a judge from another contest had hated. Writing is so personal.</p><p id="6467">What one judge hated, another loved. Something to keep in mind if you don’t win!</p><h1 id="96d9">Here are 4 stories I’ve enjoyed this week:</h1><p id="5dda">This story by <a href="undefined">Sandi Parsons</a> reads like fiction, but is a creative, often funny, take on a very serious true story.</p><div id="74c0" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/for-forty-nine-years-ive-had-the-reaper-breathing-down-the-back-of-my-neck-8f76c3848c15"> <div> <div> <h2>For Forty-Nine Years I’ve Had the Reaper Breathing Down the Back of My Neck</h2> <div><h3>So I put on my big girl pants and flipped him the bird</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*l4CClgHO-I7QhvdJ)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="ca8f">This story by <a href="undefined">Shari Walker</a> touched my heart and held me close the whole way through.</p><div id="a612" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/trash-bags-were-her-suit-case-60963e35ceac"> <div> <div> <h2>Spending My 18th Birthday Homeless and at a Bus Stop</h2> <div><h3>You never forget moments like that.</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*gys8u6OtZ7ccpCkJ)"></div>

Options

</div> </div> </a> </div><p id="79ae"><a href="undefined">Scott Stockdale</a> doesn’t hold back. He leads us through vivid scenes to tell his raw and relatable story.</p><div id="7bc6" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/im-shy-please-leave-me-alone-570c9a1d488f"> <div> <div> <h2>I’m Shy, Please Leave Me Alone</h2> <div><h3>The knots from bullying are hard to untangle</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*zb0Pd8gUUI_BF_BnlMBKtw.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="725e">What can I say about my coeditor <a href="undefined">Ash Jurberg</a>’s story? Honest, moving. Just read it. It’s one that stays with you.</p><div id="6203" class="link-block"> <a href="https://ashjurberg.medium.com/through-my-brothers-death-a-new-life-emerged-64dc2ecd038d"> <div> <div> <h2>Through My Brother’s Death, A New Life Emerged</h2> <div><h3>There were many costumes, but only one that was the perfect fit</h3></div> <div><p>ashjurberg.medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*9YjsocHFUhB4nXSaDuzr-w.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="63b8">Have you posted an entry yet? Or have a favorite you’ve read? Share it in the comments.</p><p id="191c"><a href="https://becauseyouwrite.substack.com/"><b>Because You Write<i></i></b></a><b><i> is Kelly’s free newsletter. If you want individual feedback on your stories, email Kelly at [email protected]</i></b></p></article></body>

Creative writing doesn’t always get valued, even though it’s soul food

Creative writing often doesn’t get the attention it deserves.

The flashy listicle and practical “How to…” get the stage most of the time online. But when you go out of your way to write creative nonfiction, it does good things for you.

Reading it is wonderful too. Reading it, writing it — it feeds your soul. I’ve been loving all the extra creative work being posted. It’s a creative nonfiction feast!

If you know me at all, you’ll know I’m obsessed with Creative Nonfiction, especially Personal Essays (I even run courses on them).

So when a Personal Essay Challenge was announced for August, I just about burst out of my skin with excitement.

Of course, only a few people can win — some people have complained about that — but winning isn’t the reason I enter contests. Okay, we all know it’s fun to win.

But…writing contests also bring out our best work.

They challenge us to step out of our “safe” zone and try new things.

We get feedback.

We edit harder.

We write with more passion.

We push ourselves.

I’ve been entering contests for my entire writing career. In fact, contests started my writing career over 12 years ago. I entered a nationwide fiction contest in New Zealand and surprised myself by winning it.

My winning piece was a short story that a judge from another contest had hated. Writing is so personal.

What one judge hated, another loved. Something to keep in mind if you don’t win!