the craft. universal truths.

It’s often discussed in relation to personal essays, but this week, I wanted to talk a little about universal truth and why it matters in all of our writing.

When we talk about a universal truth, it’s this idea that no matter what space, time, culture, something can be agreed on as true. Now, give or take right because at times cultural differences can color this. However, it’s fair to say that certain things are common among us all. For instance, love. How it manifests or our expectations around it may vary, however, as human beings, there is a basic connection around the concept of love, our longing for it, the way it at times evades us, and the fact that it’s something we all need.

The reason universal truths are important in writing is because writing is all about connection. When we read something, whether an article or a novel or anything in between, we tend to want to gain understanding and often figure out how what’s written relates to us. Even when we’re reading a news article, we’re saying “how does this information affect me?” or “What does this novel tell me about myself?”

I know, we’re so self-absorbed. Ha! But this is why, even when we’re writing a very personal story, what sets a good personal essay apart from a mediocre one is tying into the bigger picture. So, if you’re writing about how a particular album helped you overcome grief, somewhere in your analysis, it would be great to tap into the various ways that arts and culture support the greater grieving process. Maybe even talk to other people about how they’ve used music to heal.

It’s not something that we have to manufacture or overthink. I often come back to this idea that there’s “nothing new under the sun,” right? So, I know that the things I decide to write about are not so unique. Good Morning, Love, in my opinion is almost just as much a coming of age story as a romance. And so, the universal truths that exist are being in your early 20s and trying to pursue your dreams, wondering if that pursuit and love can co-exist, balancing the job and the dream. I didn’t start out saying, what universal truth can I address? However, knowing that this story doesn’t exist in a vacuum helped me to hone those concepts in my revision process.

The reality is, readers want to connect. And it doesn’t mean that the subject of the writing has to be exactly like the person reading it. Whether you're Black, White, Green, Tall, Short … some things will always be true. Some life lessons are relatable across all spaces. “The truth Hurts,” “Some things are worth the risk,” “Never say never,” I could go on.

Tropes in literature, universal truths, all help to give our writing direction and a vehicle to be understood. I know that can sound like it takes the sexiness out of creativity, but it shouldn’t. But you can still be as creative as possible in your storytelling. People prefer what’s familiar. Your job is to highlight what’s familiar in your story. This is the selling point. This is how you help people understand what your story is about at the core. Stripped down.

Lately, I’ve been thinking about the business of writing vs. the art of writing. It’s important to identify which of the two is your goal. When it comes to the business of writing, universal truths are what help your work spread more widely.

Writing/Job Opportunities

Philadelphia Stories seeks poems for the 2023 Crimmins Prize for Poetry! First place is $1,000. Three runners up receive $250. Deadline is 11/30/22. There is a $5 fee for each poem. The Crimmins Prize celebrates risk, innovation, and emotional engagement. We especially encourage poets from underrepresented groups and backgrounds to send their work. Our judge for 2023 is J.C. Todd! For details & to submit, visit https://philadelphiastories.org/poetry-contest/

RESONANCE, a personal essay series on Bandcamp is accepting pitches exploring our emotional relationship to music. They pay $375 per piece and you can pitch mariana@bandcamp.com. Here's the archive: https://daily.bandcamp.com/resonance

Ankara Press is taking novel submissions.

FIYAH is a quarterly speculative fiction magazine that features stories by and about Black people of the African Diaspora. They’re accepting submissions.

The Athletic is hiring a Staff Writer to cover the New York Yankees.

The LA Times is hiring a Seoul Correspondent.

The Wall Street Journal is hiring a Reporter, Careers & Workplace.

Newsday is hiring a Writer, Sports Special. Hiring a Nets Beat Writer and a Giants Beat Writer.

University of North Carolina Wilmington is hiring an Associate Professor, Creative Writing.