Today’s post is part of my “Writing Resources and Tips” section. Friendly reminder that if you are not interested in writing topics, you can adjust your subscription preferences by visiting this link and unselecting any sections that don’t interest you.
The personal essay is a popular format for many writers, but if you want to publish first-person pieces, it can help to consider other formats to widen your publishing possibilities.
While watching editor panels, I’ve also heard editors say that they would like to get more pitches with humor in them, so thinking about different formats for humor writing can be useful, too.
When might you want to try a different format?
At the idea phase: When I get an idea for a piece, I often spend some time cycling through what format it might work for — essay, satire, micro piece, etc. Sometimes you can spin an idea into more than one piece or try it out in different formats to see what works best.
If you have been submitting a piece and haven’t had luck placing it somewhere. Shifting the form might help you to get it picked up.
When you want to try something new. Trying a new format can be an interesting challenge or motivation for writing a piece.
When you know a particular pub wants a certain type of piece. If you see a call for submissions for pieces in a particular format, then it might be worth trying out.
Potential formats
Product reviews. Many sites run reviews of products based on personal experience. Reviews can also have funny or voicey elements to them. Places like Business Insider accept pitches for these.
Recommendations/advice pieces. Some first-person pieces are essentially recommendations for something that worked well for you that might help solve a problem for others. Maybe you have a hack for getting kids to eat kale or for enjoying doing your taxes (if you have the latter one, please also let me know). Self is one venue that runs these types of pieces.
Travel pieces. Many travel pieces have first-person elements, and these pieces can be infused with humor. Reading travel pubs (and submission guidelines) for places like AFAR and Fodor’s can give you an idea of their voice and formats.
Micro pieces. Sometimes, rather than a full-length first-person piece, you can write a micro memoir. If you have an essay that isn’t working in a longer format, you could try it in a shorter format for places like The New York Times Tiny Love Stories.
Culture essays: Some first-person pieces can weave personal experiences into thoughts about books, TV shows, or films. Electric Literature runs of some of these pieces.
There are lots of other formats you can try, too! Reading writers or publications you admire can be another way to find different formats.
If you are looking for more info on publishing funny personal essays, this post might help.
If you are looking for more venues for pitching, then perhaps I can interest you in this paid subscriber benefit — my publication pitching guide.
Thanks for reading Humor Me, a newsletter featuring funny stuff and writing tips. In case you’re new here, I’m a humor writer and freelancer whose work has appeared in New Yorker Shouts, McSweeney’s, Slate, Real Simple, and more. Find out more about me at julievick.com.
Any typos in this newsletter are a result of the text being written by a human and not AI.
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Thanks, Julie! Someone in my writing group just wrote a humourous story that would work well in a travel magazine. Are the travel mags you list in your publications guide all places that accept humor pieces? I wasn't sure if that guide is focused on humor or just a general guide. Thank you!!
Thank you for these great ideas, Julie! I will share them with writer friends!