How to write a Personal Essay?

There are different reasons why people write personal essays. For instance, high school students write for college admissions, whereas the writers write it for sharing personal stories with others. A personal narrative essay can enlighten and motivate the readers with information gained from real-life experiences. 

What is a Personal essay? 

A personal essay is a piece of writing that helps in describing an important lesson learned from the experiences gathered in life. The essay often generally describes a significant event from the views of the first person and can be written in different writing styles such as a formal essay, or the form of a creative nonfiction story. Generally, personal essays make use of conservational language that helps in creating a connection with the readers. The essays can be very uplifting and inspiring, or they can also be a sign of warning to others not to make mistakes made by the author. 

Personal essays cover different varieties of subject matters. They could range from the first time you failed your test in school to an estranged family member or a moral turning point of your life in your teenage, or experiencing a war-like situation to surviving abuse, or about some professor or scholar who changed your views regarding the literature. Any specific moment of your life that helps in sparking growth or changes your life in any way can be described in the personal essay and fill it with your personal experiences.

Do’s and don'ts of personal essay 

Structure of a Personal Essay

A good and attractive personal essay should begin with an introductory paragraph, followed by a body paragraph and a conclusion.  The standard length of a personal essay is five paragraphs, however, personal essays can both be longer or shorter as long as they have the following three sections: 

• Introduction: The first sentences of the personal essay should be a hook statement that will help in grabbing the attention of the readers. Provide a personal statement that you can prove in the body of the essay. Avoid making mistakes like starting with a famous quote especially when this is a college essay and try making a unique bond with the readers. 
• Body: The body of the essay is for your story containing the personal evidence and main points in the essay supporting the thesis statement of your essay. This is a place where you as a writer, share your personal experiences that changed your point of view and reflect the knowledge you gained. 
• Conclusion: The conclusion of the personal essay should be connected with the thesis of the essay and contain the moral of the story or highlight a deeper truth. Review and highlight the importance of the essay and sum up the important things you want your audiences to take from this piece of writing. 

Important tips for writing Personal Essays

Although the writing process is different for different individuals, there are a few general guidelines to keep in mind when preparing a personal essay.

• Creating an essay outline: It is important to create a draft for the personal essay, that will help in laying out the main points and setting the tone of the message you are willing to share. The outline will help in figuring out early regarding the different moments that are important to mention and worth writing about in the essay. No matter what topic you decide, it should have an emotional impact on yourself and you learned a lesson from that in some way.
• Starting with the intro: In the introduction, it is important to mention the hook statement, and the thesis statement and create an emotional impact with the readers. Set up your audiences regarding the essay and what information it will contain and provide them with something to think about. 
• Fill in the body paragraphs: Make use of sensory details about the sequences of the events revolving around the thesis statement to help the readers guide through the personal essay. Make your own story in the body paragraphs and lead the readers to the main point. 
• Be specific: A descriptive essay about any significant moment in your life is more engaging than a general overview regarding something that occurred to you. Provide all the necessary details regarding the real-life characters or any particular feeling that you have experienced. 
• Provide a Conclusion: Summarize what you have learned from the experiences and the message you want to pass on to the readers. Although maybe it can be difficult or an unsettling revelation, it should end with a positive or hopeful note, and help it feel more uplifting or aspirational. 
• Proofread your work: Aside from looking for grammar and spelling, make sure that the intent is clear and the narrative is easy to follow. No matter how well and good you are in your writing skills, it is always advisable to reread your work and ensure that the story has been solidified.