How and why to write personal essays and first-person reported features

When Noah Michelson pitched the concept of HuffPost Personal - a vertical that publishes "real stories from real people about real experiences" about six times a week - to his superiors in 2018, he didn't expect them to bite.

But, to his surprise and delight, they did, and the section has taken off: Its narratives often rack up millions of views and even land some authors book and movie deals. "People really respond to personal essays," says Michelson, the section's director who also co-hosts HuffPost's "Am I Doing It Wrong?" podcast.

HuffPost Personal authors' rawness about experiences like family estrangement or ethical nonmonogamy often contrast with the measured, objective voice of a health care journalist more comfortable dissecting a medical study's statistics than divulging how they've conquered an inner demon.

But there are reasons (beyond potentially attracting more readers) to consider branching out into first-person territory, whether it's a personal essay or a reported piece in which you're the central subject.

Amy Klein, a New York-based freelance health and lifestyle reporter, says she finds it rewarding to serve as a "guide" for readers facing similar challenges or asking similar questions. For many years earlier in her career, she penned the Fertility Diary at the New York Times, and has written about whatever she's going through - be it dating or bee-keeping - for various publications ever since.

"People who are suffering from something … they love to read about other people's journeys to know that they're not alone," Klein says.

Including your voice in a story pitch can help set your ideas apart in a competitive freelance market, too. When I pitched a Vox editor a story about emotional hangovers, for example, I didn't just offer to write an explainer on the term, but rather to detail what, to me, having an emotional hangover actually feels like. I got the assignment.

Plus, a first-person approach to health journalism can make writing dialogue smoother (you only have to talk to one person rather than observe people talking to each other) and details richer (you're tapping into your own senses - not relying on others' recollections - after all).

Still, successful essays and first-person reported stories don't always come naturally to even seasoned journalists. There are also some potential drawbacks to consider before dipping your toe in. Here's what Michelson, Klein and I recommend.

Lean into your strengths

Most of Michelson's contributors aren't writers by trade, but they do have a compelling story to tell. Professional journalists may have a leg up because - among other skills - they already know how to write strong sentences, structure a readable story, consider and address the types of questions readers might have, and engage with the editing process.

Health care reporters in particular can be a good match for this type of writing since health-related essays that include both personal perspective and broader knowledge of the issue at hand are especially well-received, Michelson said.

"A lot of people want to read about [health care] in a way that isn't purely policy, or at least they come through the front door because it's a personal essay and then there is some policy or some reporting in the piece as well that's actually very useful," he said.

Find your unique angle

One of the first things to ask yourself is "why is it first person?" Klein says. Maybe you have long COVID or chronic fatigue or had an unsettling interaction with a health care professional. But often, that's not enough. For example, a recent HuffPost Personal essay wasn't just about a woman who had breast cancer; it was more about her obsessive quest to discover why a part of the treatment process was so excruciating.

When coaching writers to narrow in on an angle, Michelson asks them to "zoom out" and think: "What would someone else want to know about my experience and what might they relate to?"

You don't have to wait for something to happen to you, either; you can create a story by inserting yourself into a controversial trend or visiting a buzzy spot, for example. I've written about my experiences taking a biological age test (I was bitter at the results), participating in a trendy "group conversation practice" (I was confused by…all of it) and tasting various alcohol-free beers (I liked the brand WellBeing's brews the best).

Know where to pitch

To pitch great personal essays or first-person reported features, it's helpful to read great pieces in those formats - and to get familiar with the types of publications most likely to publish them.

In addition to HuffPost Personal, The Cut is known for its juicy narratives, for example, (pitch guide here) and Business Insider frequently publishes essays on parenting, relationships, health (mis)diagnoses and more. Today.com also publishes essays on family, health, pop culture and more. There's the esteemed Modern Love column of the New York Times, of course (submission guidelines here), and a similar column at the L.A. Times called L.A. Affairs (here's how to pitch).

Klein has had success with Aeon, The Washington Post and Slate. Check out AHCJ's Freelance Market Guide for more ideas: Cosmopolitan's lifestyle editor said that personal essays are one of the best ways to break into the mag.

Know when not to use first-person

First person shouldn't be forced. For example, when Klein wrote about women experiencing surprise pregnancies on Ozempic for the Washington Post, she kept herself out of it. Sure, she could have said "I talked to so-and-so" or interjected some of her own challenges with conception, but doing so may have diluted the central characters' voices.

There's also a middle ground between a deeply personal essay and a traditionally reported third-person story.

In her book, "The Trying Game: Get Through Fertility Treatment and Get Pregnant Without Losing Your Mind," for example, Klein peppered in her own experiences navigating infertility, but included plenty of research and other voices too. "I didn't have endometriosis. I didn't freeze my eggs. I'm not gay. I didn't do it alone," says Klein, who calls the book more self-help than memoir. "So I put my stories in the book sometimes and sometimes I didn't because I … wanted those [other] stories in there."

Still, some reporters have no desire to turn the lens (or pen) on themselves; that's fine too. Others may opt against writing about their own experiences with health-related services or products that they cover (or would like to cover) in the name of objectivity.

Finally, be prepared for backlash. While no journalist is immune to negative reader "feedback," mean comments can cut deeper when you've put your personal life on the line. Klein's top advice: "Don't read the comments."

Plus, it's important to consider how those closest to you - and even those who could be close to you in the future, like a theoretical next boss or date - could react. "There are some things you can ask yourself before you submit or even write it to get a gut check: If a family member saw it, how would they feel about it? What would this do to your relationship?" Michelson says. "Just some very basic questioning can save everyone a lot of heartache."