I have a hard time even discussing my life with others so this is incredibly uncomfortable for me. I am a very private person so I have a lot of difficulty discussing my life. Also, I am quite good at research essays because it is what I was conditioned to do through years of speech and debate. Personal essays are awkward for me because they have no structure... at least it feels like though I assume that others have some method.
However, I managed to write one. Basically, by just thinking and writing what I thought instead of planning every single word. I am honestly mildly scared to show people this writing. It feels so vulnerable. I am not protected by massive amounts of formal language and, instead, must tell a personal story in my vernacular.
I understand the assignment. I understand that it is attempting to put me out of my comfort zone, and I most definitely am. I understand the intention. But it is definitely difficult. It is somewhat exciting to actually feel challenged in my writing. I partially hate it for making me vulnerable but I am also loving the feeling of something new. Good luck everyone. I know I need it.
Hi Haille. I think it's easy to assume that personal essays are deeply personal. They often are but they don't need to be. What makes them personal is that you're not in hiding the way we often are in academic writing. The personal essay is more about how you think and see things. But the topic can be on anything.
ReplyDeleteHaille -
ReplyDeleteI know how you feel, I've always written in a very dry, formal, and detached style because I felt as though I needed to impress whoever was grading my work. The personal essay has been a welcome break from this style, in fact it's quite liberating! But it's very foreign to me - so trust me when I say you're not the only one finding it difficult!