10 Tips to Write About Real-Life Experiences

In this blog post, we’ll give you 10 tips to write about real-life experiences.

Writing, for most people, is a showcase of creativity and the extent of their imagination. But for some, it’s way more than that.

Fiction and creative writing are prevalent forms of artistic expression.

From these genres and titles, readers come to admire what a brilliant mind can portray using words and phrases.

However, while fiction is great and all, it’s not the only platform for writers.

Writing about real-life experiences is just as impactful and can be just as creative with careful composition and an eye for detail.

But most importantly, it offers psychological relief to the writer by means of conveying strong emotions through written words.

Catharsis, or whatever you call it, real-life experience writing affords the same release of tensions and pressures.

As a rather underrated form of writing, particularly in the literary world, penning real-life experiences could very well be the way for you to go about it. 

Whether you’re doing it to show readers what you’ve experienced or as a way to release some pent-up emotions, writing about real life is rewarding in more ways than one. Now, if you wish to come up with a kickass first draft, follow the tips below:

Are you writing Fiction or Nonfiction?

When writing about real life, you have the option to do so in a fictionalized or nonfiction format. If you want to stick with the latter, you’re better off with a straightforward style and tone rather than trying to be overly poetic or literary.

In other words, there’s no need for flowery language or elaborate metaphors. 

However, if you feel more comfortable with a fictionalized version of your life, you could get away by experimenting with different styles and techniques. Still, be reminded that it could result in less authenticity when compared to real-life experience. 

1 – Go with a story-like approach.

Writing about real life isn’t a documentary or anything you learn from in school. The idea is to make it interesting, which means taking an emotional angle through your writing style and tone instead of narrating everything as it happened. 

You intend to make readers feel what you’re feeling.

So, write it like a story and use descriptive words – the purpose of which is to paint vivid images in the minds of your readers rather than just listing events one after another.

2 – Don’t be afraid to get too raw with emotions.

Part of writing about what you’ve experienced is exposing yourself to some degree and delving into the more emotional aspects of your life. Sometimes, it can be an intensely raw experience that you’re writing about – and that’s perfectly fine.

In a way, it’s all about digging deep and finding something within yourself that you wish to convey in your words.

You could feel a range of emotions – anger, sadness, confusion, disappointment or love – and there’s nothing wrong about it, so long as you let them out through the written word.

3 – Focus on the sensory details.

Since you’re writing about something that happened in real life, you ought to capture the details and make them come to life through sensory descriptions. 

For example, when describing a person or an event, focus on different aspects of each one – what they look like, their facial expressions, how they sound, and even their mannerisms.

In other words, hand your readers a clearer picture of what you’re trying to portray and immerse them in your story.

4 – Take advantage of words that evoke emotions.

If you’ve been writing long enough, you know that certain words or phrases will conjure up specific emotions.

Case in point: for some people, the sound of a baby’s cry is enough to make them burst into tears, or perhaps the sight of a faded photograph triggers an intense wave of nostalgia.

Use those words and phrases to your advantage as you’re writing about real-life experiences, as they’ll help evoke the same emotions in readers.

Whether it’s sadness or anger, include those words that add more colour and meaning to your story. 

5 – Eliminate the “ego.”

You may be writing your real-life experience, but that doesn’t mean you have to subject your readers to every single detail of it.

It means you should eliminate preconceived notions or pride in your writing – even if you once felt strongly about what happened or consider yourself right while in the moment. The goal is to relay an objective version of what happened, free from the biases and judgment that come with it. 

6 – Detail the characters and perspectives.

Depending on the real-life experience you want to write about, the people involved might come into play.

Whether it’s a memory of your childhood or something that happened in the workplace, detailing how different characters acted and reacted is essential. 

Likewise, if there was a specific perspective involved – yours or someone else’s – you’ll show that as well and provide a more nuanced understanding of what happened.

7 – Allow yourself time away from the experience.

Sometimes, taking a step back before writing about your real-life experience is necessary – especially when it comes to deeply emotional or painful events.

The goal isn’t to necessarily forget what happened but rather to distance yourself from it so you can write about the situation more objectively.

With time, you’ll process your experience and create something meaningful that accurately reflects what happened – remember that the goal is to prevent too many emotions from interfering with potentially beautiful writing.

8 – Research your book.

Wait, why would you do this? If you’re writing about a real-life experience, why incorporate something from your life instead? 

Simple: research allows you to learn more about the situation, whether it’s a specific historical event or something that happened in your home.

It means reading more about what happened and discovering different perspectives, which can provide a richer writing experience and greater detail.

Needless to say, if you’re going to write about a real-life experience, do your research, so you capture it accurately and honestly. 

9 – Let it sit and edit later.

Once you’ve finished writing your real-life story, don’t immediately send it to an editor or proofreader.

Instead, let it sit for a while, so you get to revisit it and make any necessary changes as you deem necessary. The goal is to have fresh eyes and make the necessary changes. Otherwise, you risk sending out a flawed piece of writing to an editor – which isn’t ideal or professional.

10 – Feedback doesn’t hurt.

You’re a writer, so you’re probably used to getting feedback on your work.

But what about when it’s a real-life experience that you wrote up and want others to read?

If you’re confident in your abilities or have had some success with writing in the past, don’t be afraid to send it out for review. It’ll help you improve your writing skills and get feedback on the content. 

As with all forms of writing, there’s no one “right” way to write a real-life experience.

But then again, by focusing on the sensory details, eliminating the ego from your writing, and allowing yourself time away from the experience, you might even surprise yourself with how well you write.