How to Write About Something That Happened
“It's a big mistake to assume great stories need to be about big ideas.”
“The inspiration and body of a story can come from anything, from any experience or impression.”
– Jeff Somers
Here’s some sound advice for all college essay writers hoping to avoid cliche topics and tell an authentic story.
An initial idea doesn’t have to be profound, or even a fully formed concept, Somers writes in a recent Writer’s Digest. (paywall). “It just has to make you want to write more about it.”
To you, your daily life seems mundane. But it’s kindling for telling a story admission officers want to read. Here are a few things to look out for:
Initial Moments of Curiosity: What gives you pause? What makes you think? Where are you when it happens? What are you in the middle of doing?
Small Talk Highlights: Write about your conversations, the ones that seem to come out of nowhere – on the bus, around the lunch table, or during idle times at school. What do you talk about? What do you say about them? What do you think about them now?
Moments of Grace (or Cringe): Write about a memorable thing that happened to you or someone else and stuck with you long after it passed. It could be a random encounter or a moment of gratitude. What happened?
Embrace Verisimilitude: Verisimilitude is the idea that literature should be true to reality. Textual elements—characters, dialogue, setting, images—should be believable, plausible, authentic, lifelike.
Mapping What Happened for Deeper Insight
Of course, a quirky everyday event isn’t enough. It’s just the starting point.
The Tea Essay is a perfect example. Sylvia, one of the first students I worked with, opened her essay with a description of her morning tea routine:
I gently remove the tea bag from its paper sleeve and prop it in my ceramic mug. I pour in scalding hot water, measure out two spoons of sugar, and watch the heap of crystals drown. With a splash of milk and a good stir, the brew turns the color of a light hazelnut.
My heart is full, my morning cup of tea finally complete.
Tea becomes a vessel to take the reader through the things that matter to her. Sylvia uses tea to write about what motivates her as a learner, her sense of responsibility as an older sister, and how mindfulness helps her keep perspective.
(Read more about the Tea Essay case study here and here.)
Need some prompts for getting started? Here are two useful approaches, adopted from Somers.
The Wildcard
Start writing about an everyday aspect of life. Lay it all out in detail. (Here are some writing craft tips to help you along the way.)
Then, drop something completely unexpected into the middle of the narrative.
The Outsider
Ask: What did I do today? Answer like you’re an outsider, observing yourself.
Create fresh perspective. What would someone say if they were watching you get ready for the day or preparing for a big competition or exam?
Start Small
With summer around the corner, remember that you don’t need to write about the greatest or worst experience in your life. You don’t need to write a “perfect” essay with lots of big words. You just need to get started. Use these prompts and exercises to help.
Want to go even deeper?
Contact me to schedule a free 30-minute consultation to tell me about the story you want to tell on your college application.
