Telling and Selling: How to Write Personal Stories
All experiences can be ideas and your best writing is what you care about anyway.
Personal stories can be sold to anthologies, such as Cup of Comfort and Chicken Soup for the Soul, and magazines (there’s a ton!). Some resources that will help in your submission search are Wooden Horse Publishing, Writers Market, and Freelance Success. You can also google “call for submissions.”
Every story asks a story question. Without a question, the story will feel unfocused and without a clear point. Using “will” or “would” will sharpen the story question, better than “what” or “how.” For instance, “will I ever run a marathon?” or “would I ever be published?”
Since most short stories only have 1200 words, your story question must hook the reader and let them know what your story is about. It must be fast.
When writing personal stories, the character arc is how “you” changed. How you realized something or how you had a moment of understanding. Use facts to ground the reader in your story even if it is your personal account.
If your story does not have dialogue, you might want to reconsider editing to add it. Dialogue brings writing to life. Even though dialogue might not be “exact,” it is important to recreate the past the best you can.
When writing dialogue, a good rule of thumb is to have three sentences and then a break. It keeps things active on the page. Also, make sure to read your dialogue aloud. Even though it may read right, it may not “sound” natural. Keep in the mind that people don’t talk in perfect syntax or in flowery language. Keep it real.
Outlining is a good way to get started on your short story. Break it up in Acts (Act I, Act II, Act III) to find the plot and conflict and get things moving in the direction you want your story to go.
You also want to establish your theme, which is the general idea of your story.
Try to use all three senses while you’re writing. Everybody uses visual, but try to show how the setting sounds, smells, and feels. A good tip is to read a poem before you write to help evoke sounds and feelings.
Avoid passive voice in your story. These are your deadly “was/were” verbs. Your first draft might have a lot of passives, but try to make at least 90% of your verbs active. Great verbs will carry your story and add texture. For example, instead of “walk” try “saunter, trudge, scuffed, and skipped.”
Don’t forget descriptions. Metaphors (comparisons) and similes (like or as) are very powerful at evoking images for your readers.
Critique groups are important for polishing your work for publication. Make sure you have a great query and cover letter … they make a huge difference between an instant rejection and a look. A general rule of thumb to think about when it comes to editors is be easy to work with… don’t be difficult!
