This I Believe
Essay-Writing Tips
To guide you through this process, we offer these suggestions:
Tell a story: Be specific. Take your belief and ground it in the events of your life. Consider moments when belief was formed or tested or changed. Think of your own experience, school and family, and tell of the things you know that no one else does. Your story need not be heart-warming or gut-wrenching – but it should be real. Make sure your story ties to the essence of your daily life philosophy and the shaping of your beliefs.
Be brief: Your statement should be between 350 and 500 words (one page typed). That’s about three minutes when read aloud at your natural pace.
Name your belief: If you can’t name it in a sentence or two, your essay might not be about belief. Also, rather than writing a list, consider focusing on a core belief, because three minutes is a very short time.
Be positive: Please avoid preaching or editorializing. Tell us what you do believe, not what you don’t believe. Avoid speaking in the editorial “we.” Make your essay about you; speak in the first person.
Be personal: This is radio (which is very similarly written to video). Write in words and phrases that are comfortable for you to speak. We recommend you read your essay aloud to yourself several times, and each time edit it and simplify it until you find the words, tone and story that truly echo your belief and the way you speak.