2024 Personal Essay Writing Challenge: Day 2
And just like that, we’re on to Day 2 of this challenge. I want to thank everyone who shared their essays in the comments yesterday for Day 1, but I also appreciate the many who are writing on their own as well (I can see many, many more are following along). So let’s get back to writing!
For today’s prompt, write a personal essay based on a story you’re most likely to tell others. We all have these stories and anecdotes that we share with strangers or new friends. Maybe it’s something you did; maybe it’s something a friend or relative did (I have quite a few about my little brothers, for instance). But these are our go-to stories to share with people. Think about one or two, and write your personal essay for today.
Remember: These prompts are springboards to creativity. Use them to expand your possibilities, not limit them.
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Completely separate of this fun and free personal essay challenge, be sure to check out the annual Writer’s Digest Personal Essay Awards. The top prize is $2,500 cash, publication in Writer’s Digest, and more.
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Here’s my attempt at a Most Likely to Tell Story personal essay:
“The Call,” by Robert Lee Brewer
The summer after I graduated high school was one during which I would often sleep in every morning, which made it all the more abnormal that I woke up early on this particular day. My radio was on, and I could hear that the DJ was taking a call from a listener.
“Congratulations,” exclaimed the DJ. “You’re the eighth caller! You win tickets to see the Cranberries!”
“Oh, wow,” responded the winning caller. “This is great!”
“Yeah,” agreed the DJ. “What’s your name?”
“Alex,” said the caller. “Alex Gose.”
And that’s when I really woke up. Alex Gose? The same Alex Gose who I had several sleepovers with when I still lived in Fairborn? The same Alex Gose who was my best friend in middle school before I moved away to another city? The same Alex Gose who I went to my first unaccompanied concert (Guns N’ Roses and some unknown opener named Soundgarden) with after moving? As the DJ and caller continued their conversation, I could tell that, yes, it was the same Alex.
Wow, I thought, what an amazing coincidence that I should hear him call in and win tickets! And then, I either fell back asleep or got up and went about my day.
Knowing me, I probably thought about how we used to play one-on-one basketball and haunted the local comic book shop, Bookery Fantasy, looking for our favorite comics (Alex was into Marvel titles, and I was all about DC). I probably remembered the times we walked across the train tracks to watch movies at the dollar theater, including the time we watched Arachnophobia (and I was sure spiders were hiding in the shadows on the walk home afterward) or Dances With Wolves, when my eyesight was so bad that Alex had to read the subtitles for me. Good times, great memories.
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That summer, I worked as a dishwasher at a local chili restaurant, which was perfect for my introverted personality as it allowed me to hide in the back, wash dishes, and listen to as much music as I wanted during each shift. When I wasn’t washing dishes or sleeping, I would go for runs to prep for my freshman season of running cross country at the University of Cincinnati and have random adventures with all the friends I’d made in my new hometown. It was a great summer. And then I got the call.
My mom knocked on my door to let me know someone was on the phone for me. Somehow, despite being an introvert, I had a lot of friends and never knew who would be on the other end of the line.
“Hello,” I answered.
“Heeeeyyy, Robby,” was the response I received. “This is Alex Gose.”
“No way,” I said. “I just heard you on the radio the other day. You won tickets to see the Cranberries. So weird.”
“Yeah,” he said. “I wondered if you wanted to go with me.”
And yes, of course, I did. And we traveled together out to Columbus, talking the whole way there and between sets and on the way home. It was like we picked up where we left off. We found out we were both going to the University of Cincinnati, and we would run into each other occasionally on campus (and years later both of our baby siblings coincidentally went to the University of Oklahoma).
I admit that I’ve always been one to believe in signs from the universe and that good luck comes with being open to when it reaches out. If it gives you the call, be prepared to answer and see where it takes you.
(Note: OK, I made it an entire, single day keeping my personal essays under 500 words, but then again, this is one of my favorite stories to tell.)