For those new to the personal essay, one of the biggest hurdles is figuring out what makes for a good piece versus a self-indulgent ramble. Christopher Frizzelle, the arts editor of The Stranger, Seattle's leading weekly newspaper, will be teaching the course Writing Great Personal Essays in Seattle on Wednesday. Amongst the things he'll tell you is knowing what you can turn into a good essay (versus a mediocre blog post.) If you want to learn more, sign up for his class--quickly!

Ask yourself:

• Am I ready to write about this? A personal essay draws on your experience in the world, and the more loaded your experience is, the deeper and more meaningful your essay will be. If you're scared to write something, that's usually a sign that you should. That said, is it something you're ready to share with strangers? If not, you won't be able to write about it honestly, and if you aren't able to write about it honestly, it isn't going to be a great essay.

• Where is the action? Although personal essays often have reflective passages, action is crucial for getting the reader (and editor) interested, illustrating your points, and moving your essay forward. A great personal essay tells a story, or several stories, with vivid scenes, characters, and dialogue. Do you have enough to work with?

• Is it interesting? Consider: What do you have to say about this subject that hasn't been said before? If what you want to say is easily encapsulated by a cliché, or if you already have all the answers to the questions you have, then it's probably not interesting. If what you want to say subverts what people usually think about a subject, or if you're conflicted about something and can't stop thinking about it, or if the more you learn about this subject the more you want to learn, well, you're probably onto something.

• Am I excited about doing reporting and/or research? A great personal essay sends the writer in many directions-you begin wondering about implications, history, cause and effect, other people who've seen what you've seen, other writers who've written on related topics, what experts think, etc. If your mind goes in a million directions when you think about your subject, there is probably enough there to sustain your (and your readers') attention. If your essay is a long one, you will undoubtedly do reporting and/or research that doesn't end up in your final piece; if you are interested enough in your subject, this won't feel like lost time. (And extra reporting and/or research will make your writing more confident.

• Is it newsworthy? Is your topic directly (or even tangentially) related to current headlines, recent studies, or trends you have noticed? This won't make the writing in your essay any better, but it may make it easier to sell to an editor.

• Has someone else already written this? Ask your friends-especially those who read a lot of magazines and newspapers-if they've ever read an essay about your topic. If they can think of something, find it and read it; make sure the essay you have in mind is original.

• Do I already have my first sentence? Or know how it should end? Or what the tone should be like? If you know the answers to any of these questions, you've already begun writing it in your head. That's a good sign.