This filmmaker thought she could write the screenplay for her own love life. Then she got lost in a hailstorm at 12,000 feet, searching for her ex, and realized she desperately needed a new ending. This week’s pick isn’t a deeply reported story but instead a personal essay, albeit a truly epic one.
I absolutely love how Melissa Johnson uses screenplay devices to keep readers riveted through every moment of this harrowing and hilarious story. If you’re in need of a fun, escapist romp this weekend, give this story a read—or listen! The audio version you’ll find at the top of the story is read delightfully by Melissa herself.
As always, thanks to our paid subscribers, who make inventive longform storytelling like this possible. ❤️ Memoir## How I Wrote Myself into a Real-life Romantic Comedy – That Turned into a Survivalist Thriller He doesn’t love me. And he isn’t looking for me — so I damn well better survive the night on my own. No food, no tent, no map.
No one to blame but myself. Too bad burning hot shame isn’t a heat source. I Was Taught to Hate My Lesbian Neighbors.
The summer my parents’ marriage was falling apart, my best friend’s two moms saved me—even though my dad said they were going to Hell. We're looking for super unique and interesting first-person stories that focus on one moment, one day, one week, one season. It was the halcyon days of social video, eons before TikTok, and one gung-ho idealist had a simple plan to change the world.
His Kony 2012 campaign… © 2026 Narratively, Inc. · Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
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