Member-only story
State of the Narrative Arc and Moving Forward — Boosts, Features, Commentary
Personal narratives and memoirs to kick off 2025
February’s here, and am I glad. How about you? I’ve always liked this month. It feels like flowers are around the corner. Right now, we’re still in the weeds a bit with current changes here.
Tonight, a woman wrote me and shared this message:
Hey. I’m going to be leaving Medium on Feb 27. My goal has never been to make money here, but I am a disabled woman on a fixed income, and with the drop in earnings, I’m losing too much money…
This makes me sad. She can’t afford membership, so she is leaving — along with many more of you who have been faithful readers and writers. I’m here to support you with gratitude. It’s all I’ve got for you right now.
In the time I’ve been on Medium, I’ve experienced several of the platform transitions and changes. Currently, my earnings have dropped — not just a little. A lot. I know yours have too. Thank you for hanging in there, and continuing to write with The Narrative Arc. I’m happy to support your strong writing.
Sunday afternoons — after Superbowl Sunday! — I’ll be running a writers’ hour and helping you improve your work. If you’re a current writer with The Narrative Arc, I’ll be in touch through a newsletter and an announcement here. I’ve edited thousands of essays, here and beyond. Published in many venues, and have written a book. I can help you, just as I have for the last few years. We will get through this and learn more.
I’m also excited to be collaborating with some writer friends, as we brainstorm ways to support writers.
For now, we’re here to accept your submissions, and in January, your writing impressed us. We’re sticking around and can’t wait to see what you bring us this month.
Writing tips for your stories
- Craft personal essays or memoirs with a beginning, middle, and end. Your conclusion should be as compelling as your opening paragraphs. You’re not in college anymore, so make it flow well. Play with the white space. Read the successful writers in nonfiction, memoir, and personal essays topics (or in this publication)…
