How to Use Personal Experiences in Your Writing

There's nothing more demoralizing than an empty sheet of paper (or a blank screen) for someone who wants to get started writing. If the piece of paper had shoulders, they would shrug back at you and return your stare. It doesn't take long to move from – I want to write the best article, to a more despair filled – what should I write about? If you're on the screen, you might get distracted and forget to write what you came for.

If you want to be a writer, you got to write. Simple as that. If you are waiting for that stroke of inspiration for the smashing debut novel, I am sorry, that's not happening. You are going to be waiting forever. This is mental abhorrence, a lame crutch you are using to prop up your lazy mind. It's a mental block that you have to overcome to be a writer.

Matter in Your Writing

One way to get the words flowing out is to look at your own life and your deep experiences. You will find a lot to write about. Think about the painter. How much of paint he would have dabbled and how many sheets of art paper he would have used before getting to a point where he can think of doing his masterpiece? A boat bobbing up and down on the waves, the dahlias in bloom at your front yard, the breeze that gently lifts the curtains up or that smiling child playing hide and seek behind the pillar. They are all subjects for the artist. Why are they not writing prompts for you?

Naga sir used to say – What's the earliest memory you have of your childhood? Suddenly you realize what a wonderful point to start with! The way you stole sugary treats and rolled all over the kitchen floor in ecstasy, or the time you sat for a game of marriage with your childhood sweetheart and got scratched all over your cheek, or the way your teenage heart skipped beats when you held her hands for the first time. Or the dramatic moments when your teacher sent you off from class because you were late. Maybe you like the present more. How about those silly whispers that your colleague mentioned the other guy at the office? And the wild Thursday nights where friends had a couple more drinks than they could tolerate and danced like cheerleaders endlessly. Or the group threw out two running friends for rebelling..

I am just skimming, there could be a lot more. Imagine the secrets you have been hiding in your drawer. Angry days, happy days, sad nights and laughter. There has been so much happening in your life. And so there is a lot to write about. Pick up anything that strikes you and tell us why it touches you. Why does it move you? You will find many who will nod their heads in agreement. Some may convulse in repulsion. It's alright. You could write for them the next time. No wonder then that in a survey of writers, 72% reported using personal experiences as inspiration for their writing.

Why Personal Experiences Can Make Great Writing

Imagine the power of sharing your personal experiences in your writing. When you do so without hesitation, readers can sense the authenticity that resonates in your words. It's a breath of fresh air in a world where so much, including creativity, seems manufactured! Let's delve into how you can turn your real-life experiences into captivating fiction. As a beginner, it's essential to understand that your personal experiences are a treasure trove of material for your writing. Drawing from what you know and have lived gives your work a sense of authenticity that readers can connect with. Writing that incorporates personal experiences is more likely to be perceived as authentic by readers. Your first actionable tip? Start with minor details from your life and weave them into your narrative. It could be a conversation you've had, a place you've visited, or an emotion you've felt. Begin here and see your fiction come alive with personal experiences. Many have felt similar emotions or faced similar challenges, so they see themselves in the story, making it more relatable and impactful. Secondly, every person's journey in unique. The combination of personality, experience, place, and people is different for each one of us. Penning that unique experience makes it special for your reader. Your emotions and experiences add depth to your expression. And that differs vastly from observing events from a distance as a second person.

Understanding the Difference Between Fiction and Real Life

Real life happens as a collection of random events. Narrating life as it happens is quite drab and mundane, much like Rick, who films a plastic bag swirling around in the wind in the movie - American Beauty. But when you tell a story, it has to have a beginning, middle and the end. It needs a structure, a meaningful construct that holds up all the interesting events that convey the message to the reader. To write a compelling story, you can draw inspiration from real-life events and vividly describe them, but it's important to weave them together in a way that makes sense and resonates with the reader. In life, a real person is a complicated mixture of emotions, feelings and actions, often unpredictable. The characters in your story require boundaries within which they work, and they necessarily subscribe to the events that make up your story. They can mirror real-life characters, but will typically carry a mixed bag of characteristics. About 63% of best-selling authors incorporate personal experiences into their writing.

The real life flesh-and-blood characters frequently behave and respond unpredictably, while in fiction they often follow cause-and-effect, and often respond to the tunes of the author. There is a logical progression of fictional characters as they move from one end to the other end of the story. Real life events are more random, and it is up to us to derive meaning out of it. So how can you transform these raw, unpredictable elements of real life into a refined piece of fiction? Start by identifying significant moments from your personal experiences. These could be anything from a mundane day at work, a heart-wrenching breakup, or even the exhilarating rush of a skydive. Each of these moments carries a wealth of emotions and sensory details that can lend authenticity to your tale. But remember, it's not just about regurgitating your life on paper. It's also about reshaping and refining these experiences to serve your narrative. So go ahead, delve into your past, extract those hidden gems, and begin crafting your story. It's time to turn the ordinary into extraordinary.

Avoiding Common Pitfalls When Writing about Real Life Events

One of the most common challenges that writers face when using personal experiences in their writing is the fear of being vulnerable. It can be difficult to share personal experiences with others, especially if they are painful or embarrassing. However, vulnerability can be a powerful tool in writing, as it allows readers to connect with the writer on a deeper level. To overcome this challenge, you should remember that you are in control of how much you want to share and can choose to keep certain details private if you wish to.

Another challenge is the tendency to get too caught up in the details of the personal experience, which can lead to a lack of focus in the writing. It's important to remember that personal experiences should be used as a starting point for the writing, rather than the entire focus. You should ask yourself how your personal experience can be used to create a compelling story or convey a message to the reader.

A third challenge is the risk of alienating readers who may not relate to the writer's personal experiences. While personal experiences can be powerful, they should be used in a way that is relatable to a wider audience. You should consider how your personal experience can be used to highlight universal themes or emotions that readers can connect with, rather than focusing solely on your own individual experience.

Conclusion: Embrace Your Personal Experiences to Enhance Your Writing

So, you've taken the time to contemplate your personal experiences and how they can bolster your writing, eh? That's fantastic, because it's time to take that leap. No more shying away from infusing your work with real-life experiences, no more hesitating. It's time to embrace your personal narratives fully.

Why, you ask? It's simple. Personal experiences breathe life into your writing. They make your stories relatable and authentic. But remember, using personal experiences isn't about chronicling your life word-for-word, it's about drawing inspiration from it. Your goal should be to evoke emotions and stir the reader's imagination. So, are you ready to take your writing to the next level?

Here's your actionable tip:  Start with a memorable event from your life. It doesn't have to be monumental, even the most mundane can be a compelling story in the right hands. So, pick an event, any event. Now, write a short story around it. Remember to evoke the emotions you felt during that time and depict the atmosphere around you. That's it. You've made your first stride into the world of writing, infused with personal experiences.

So, what's your take away from all this? Embrace your personal experiences. They are not just stories, they are your stories. Use them wisely, and see your writing blossom.

Remember, every experience, every emotion, every memory is a potential story. So, don't shy away from them. Embrace them. Let them into your writing, and watch how they transform it.

Writing is, after all, a form of self-expression. What better way to express yourself than through your own experiences?

Above all, don't be afraid to experiment. Maybe today it's a short story, tomorrow it might be a poem or a novel. The world of writing is vast, and your experiences are the perfect vehicle to navigate through it.