Tip Sheet: The Most Important Sentence In Your Story
Finding focus, Marion Roach, special essay class discount for paid subscribers
What story are you telling?
I still remember my college days when my professor challenged us to distill our story into a single sentence that would fit on the back of a business card. At first, we all struggled, cramming long sentences written in tiny letters. But we got better at it as the term went on.
This exercise, though frustrating at the time, taught me that understanding the core of your narrative is essential. When you can articulate what your piece aims to convey—be it an article, essay, or chapter—the other aspects of writing become a little clearer.
When you are clear on the story you are telling, you know just which details need to be there and which to leave out. It’s easier to choose quotes, create dialogue, develop tension and pace. The focus is like a guardrail keeping you on the road to your story.
Get Focused
I once wrote an article about how visualization can help people with rheumatoid arthritis manage pain. With that focus, there was no need to cover medications or tips on how to manage the house, it was all about how to visualize comfort.
In a personal essay about a childhood kindness, I knew I didn’t have to describe anything but the key moment. No need to get into other upsets, or what happened in junior high. The story was about this one moment, and how it changed me. Anything outside of that scope was irrelevant.
How Do You Know, What You Know?
In one of my favorite Simply Write w/Polly Campbell podcast episodes, memoirist and teacher Marion Roach says telling a story, especially in memoir or personal narrative, comes down to writing how you learned what you know now. It’s not about a topic or an idea; instead, the story is about a specific moment or occurrence and transformation, as illustrated by a personal experience.
She urges writers to examine every page they write to ensure it is relevant to the story they are telling.
The story, Roach says, “isn’t about what you did, it’s about what you did with it.” An example she gives in the podcast is about dogs. You might want to write about your dogs, but that’s not a story. The story might be about how dogs can help people, as illustrated by the personal experience you share, or research, or other insights.
Get Clear
As writers, we face countless decisions about characters, structure, and conflict. A strong focus helps streamline those choices. If your character is in a tense moment with an intruder, you won’t waste space on irrelevant furniture details. Instead, you’ll lean into action and tension. So, take the time to nail down your focus statement—it’s a small investment that pays off in clarity and impact.
Here’s how to get to it:
Start writing. Sometimes, when the focus is hard to find, it’s best to just sit down and start putting words on the page, pretty soon, probably in a page or so, you’ll start to see patterns emerge, themes coming back to a single idea, or issue. Then, back it up and work on your focus statement or nut graf.
What is the problem? Identify the challenge the character will encounter in the scene, the problem people are working to overcome and that will help you get closer to the focus and the essence of what the piece is about.
Boil it down to the bones. When my husband comes in from work and we debrief our days, he always goes chronologically. He’ll tell me every little detail and it goes on and it’s not all that interesting (shh, don’t tell him). Often, I’ll stop him and say, give me the highlights. We’ve been married a long time, so I can get away with this. But often the thing he pulls out as a highlight is something he hasn’t even mentioned yet that changed the vibe of the entire day. This is the story I want to hear. If you could only share one story from the day, what would it be? Do that with the story you are writing. What is the one thing people must know in this scene, or about this character or the product or problem? Tell them that.
What Is It Really About?
Right now I’m working on a new book project. One of the challenges has been–like it always is for me–that I’m excited about everything. I always feel like this in the beginning. I’m heavy into research, learning all kinds of new stuff, and I want to put it all in and share it with you too, but that would make a muddled mess. I need to figure out what the book is really about, boil it down into a sentence
That’s when I’ll be ready to write it.
Now tell me, what is your story about?
Simply, Write,
-p
Essay Writing Workshop with Amy Paturel
Sundays, January 26, 2025 and February 2, 2025
Amy has been a favorite guest on the Simply Write w/Polly Campbell podcast and I’ve taken her essay class and recommend it. Now she’s here offering a discount to Simply Write subscribers who sign up for the class.
During this intimate two-Sunday workshop, I’ll break down both personal and reported essays. You’ll have the opportunity to analyze effective essays and share your work in an intimate group setting.
The first Sunday we’ll focus on three things:
1. Discussing the difference between personal and reported essays.
2. Reviewing effective essays of both types and identifying the key elements of a salable essay.
3. Brainstorming essay ideas in a low-stakes environment.
The second Sunday we’ll workshop your essays and reported essay pitches live.
Attendees are limited to 8. Please send me a sample of your published or unpublished work to reserve your spot.
COST: $299 Mention Simply Write w/Polly and receive $25 off.
About the Instructor, Amy Paturel:
For nearly 20 years, Amy has taught hundreds of aspiring and professional writers how to tackle a personal essay. She pens essays for The New York Times, The Washington Post, Good Housekeeping, Wired, The Los Angeles Times and several other publications. Two of her pieces have been featured in Newsweek’s “My Turn” column, and she has won two “honorable mention” awards in ASJA’s personal essay category (2009 and 2011).