What's a reported essay?
- Diana Burrell
- Oct 23, 2017
- 3 min read
I meet a lot of writers who want to write essays.
Scratch that. They want to be paid when they write essays. Now there's nothing wrong with wanting to write—and get paid for writing—essays. However, if you're an avid reader of popular newsstand magazines, you know that most of them aren't packed with essays. Many don't run essays at all; and the magazines that do run one essay each issue, usually on the back page and often from a writer who's well known to the magazine and/or the reading public.
I like to encourage students and not squash their writerly dreams, so I gently suggest that they turn some of their essay ideas into something I call a "reported essay." A reported essay reads like a magazine article—you've got your lede, your nut graf, original reporting and quotes from sources and experts—but the article includes those elements of essay writing that writers find appealing; the personal anecdotes, funny stories, teaching moments, and/or resolutions to situations that can help other readers.
Here are a couple articles I've written that I consider "reported essays":
I could have chosen essay form to detail my decision to limit our family size to one child or written a funny essay about how I travel to England with an empty suitcase to fill with cookbooks, but I've grown to love the marriage between personal experience and reportage.
Why should you consider reported essays?
Magazines buy more reported essays than essays.
Go to your local newsstand and flip through a couple consumer magazines. They're typically filled with stories written by journalists and freelancers who've injected a bit of themselves into their articles. These types of articles are staples for a lot of magazines, whereas these same magazines may buy one (or none!) straight essay for each issue.
There's just a bigger market for reported essays over essays with no reporting.
Competition to place essays is fierce.
It's simple: you've got a lot of writers wanting to sell essays and a limited number of outlets that will buy those essays. If you want to sell more work, you need to broaden your horizons.
You can sell a reported essay on proposal.
If you want to sell an essay, you must write the essay first then send it in to the magazine. It's one of the rare instances where a writer 'writes the article first" rather than querying for it. Why? You can't tell the editor, "I'll write a touching essay about what it meant to find my birth father after 30 years of searching." He needs to read your 500 words, to feel what you went through during your search, to see how you changed through the experience, and to find some emotional connection to your story that will not only resonate with him, but will elicit an emotional response with his readers. Only by reading the finished product can he learn if your story is, indeed, touching.
If you reslant your idea and position it as a reported essay, however, you can query for it. You might open your query with a brief overview of how you found your birth father, then explain to the editor that your proposed article will show how three other adults found their birth parents through social media sites as you did, as well as provide tips for other readers in their search for birth parents. That's just one tack you could take; there are dozens of other angles you could consider.
The material would be better served in an article.
I've read a lot of essays in my career, many of them beautiful, tear-provoking, or hilarious. However, the ones I see as a teacher usually don't deliver that emotional "bang" an essay demands. If you consistently struggle with this aspect of essay writing (I'm raising my hand here; essay writing demands digging deep into yourself, and frankly, I get squeamish around my own blood and guts), you may find a much better match in the form of a reported essay, where your ace reporting can bridge emotional gaps.
I'm not saying that you should give up essay writing, or even suggest that the reported essay is an "easy way out." If you've got a story that would make a wonderful essay, go for it. On the other hand, if you want to increase your income or end a losing streak on essay sales, consider adding the reported essay to your arsenal.
Are you an essay writer and would you consider this other form of writing? Do you enjoy writing reported essays? Add your comments below.
(This article previously appeared on the Renegade Writer blog, which is no longer publishing.)
बिहार सरकार द्वारा अनुसूचित जाति और अनुसूचित जनजाति वर्ग की मेधावी छात्राओं को उच्च शिक्षा के लिए प्रोत्साहित करने हेतु मुख्यमंत्री मेधावृत्ति योजना (Mukhyamantri Medhavriti Yojana) की शुरुआत की गई है। इस योजना के तहत बिहार बोर्ड से 12वीं कक्षा में प्रथम श्रेणी (60% या उससे अधिक अंक) से उत्तीर्ण छात्राओं को ₹15,000 और द्वितीय श्रेणी (50% से 59.99% अंक) से उत्तीर्ण छात्राओं को ₹10,000 की एकमुश्त प्रोत्साहन राशि प्रदान की जाती है। यह राशि सीधे लाभार्थी के बैंक खाते में ट्रांसफर की जाती है। योजना का उद्देश्य आर्थिक रूप से कमजोर वर्ग की छात्राओं को उच्च शिक्षा के लिए प्रेरित करना है। इस योजना का लाभ उठाने के लिए आवेदक का बिहार का स्थायी निवासी होना, अनुसूचित जाति या…
Study in Abroad with MERRAKii
MERRAKii is a leading study abroad consultancy in India, dedicated to transforming international education through personalized mentorship and strategic guidance.It connects students with global opportunities, fostering leadership and nurturing global citizens. With a data-driven approach and holistic support, MERRAKii empowers learners to achieve academic and professional success on the world stage.
Study in georgia
Study in usa
Study in uk
Study in australia
Study in canada
Kerala is a major hub for aspiring nurses seeking opportunities in Australia, with several reputed agencies offering guidance and recruitment services. These agencies assist with eligibility assessments, documentation, English language training (IELTS/OET), and registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). They also help candidates navigate bridging programs like the Outcome-Based Assessment (OBA) and secure job placements with Australian healthcare employers. Popular agencies in Kerala include Overseas Education Consultants, Dynamic Health Staff, and Aster Medcity Recruitment Services. It’s important to choose a registered, experienced agency with a transparent process and strong placement record. Verifying their credentials and client feedback helps ensure reliable support throughout your nursing migration journey to Australia.
Click here
Paint Protection Film | Ultrashieldx
ULTRASHIELDX specializes in premium Paint Protection Film services designed to safeguard your vehicle's exterior from scratches, chips, and environmental damage. Utilizing advanced technology, their PPF offers unmatched clarity and durability, ensuring your car maintains its pristine appearance.
paint protection film for car
What is best paint protection film
Top 7 Tips to Protect your Car From Scratches
Selecting the Best Coating for Your Vehicle: Teflon vs Ceramic vs PPF
How to Clean Car Windshield?
Top Mistakes People Make When Choosing Paint Protection Films
Dichroic Glass
EasyToken has developed a healthcare portal called EASY TOKEN to provide a shared platform for patients and medical professionals to address their needs. Easy Token is much more than just an online tool for scheduling appointments; it encourages people to make the most of their time and resources when it comes to getting healthcare. Seeking Change and extending an invitation to assume responsibility for health, as a sound mind and soul can benefit society much. Work together to provide convenient healthcare in order to capture more than 50% of the Indian market for the health care sector.
https://www.easytoken.in/kanpur/speciality/ob-gynecologist
https://www.easytoken.in/kanpur/speciality/dermatologist
https://www.easytoken.in/kanpur/speciality/general-physician
https://www.easytoken.in/kanpur/speciality/orthopedist
https://www.easytoken.in/kanpur/speciality/ayurvedic
https://www.easytoken.in/kanpur/speciality/pediatrician
https://www.easytoken.in/kanpur/speciality/urologist
https://www.easytoken.in/kanpur/speciality/dentist
https://www.easytoken.in/kanpur/speciality/cardiologist
https://www.easytoken.in/kanpur/hospitals/delta-hospital-saket-nagar-kanpur
https://www.easytoken.in/bengaluru/hospitals/vijayanagar-hospital-vijayanagar-bengaluru
https://www.easytoken.in/kanpur/hospitals/rs-hospital
https://www.easytoken.in/bhopal/hospitals/roshan-hospital-govindpura-bhopal
https://www.easytoken.in/kanpur/hospitals/ahuja-hospitalv