The knowledge that my discriminations are skewed and not always universally desirable doesn't stop me in the least from making them.

You must read a lot of personal essays - you needn't reinvent the wheel.

Domesticity has been a challenge for me but painful as it's been, engaging with family has been a school for reducing solipsism and increasing my understanding of people's different reactions to stress.

I am apt to be harsh in my secret judgments of others, seeing them as defective because they are not enough like me.

A personal essay often includes some or a lot of personal confession. That makes the reader feel less lonely in their confusion and darkness.

The essay must be artistically rendered: You must keep the reader engaged, whether with wit, conflict, mischief, and/or yes, with honesty.

For most of my life, I have wanted broad impact but now, at 72, I'm not so sure that's always my first priority.