Fiction and personal experience are different types of writing and serve different markets. So, first decide your basic goal. If it's to publish, many more opportunities exist in nonfiction than in fiction. Do you know what publications you want to approach? If so, write what they contain.

When writing personal stories for family or self, you can do what you want. But if you seek publication, you will fare better if you style your work for the editors who will judge it. There are many ways to write about personal experiences. I suggest you study the market for personal writing to determine what type of writing will best help you meet your writing goals.

My web site offers a fairly extensive listing of paying markets for personal essays. It's free at www.writingtoheal.com/pew/markets.html. That may get you started in deciding where you want to take your writing.

In the meantime, start writing. You can adjust for the market later but there is no substitute for getting the words down.

Good luck,

Carol

Besides short stories, I've also been sending out personal essays for publication as well.  As a matter of fact, I have been sending in opinion letters to the newspapers and magazines since 1979. 

My personal essays have been about my very favorite actress, the late Eva Gabor; the lighter side of the 1960's, the other side of the telemarketing industry, the 2006 Elections, and my favorite vacation spot, Santa Monica, California; just to name a few.

My essay on the Sixtieswas named Honorable Mention in Byline Magazine's Personal Essay contest. Some Green Acres trivia questions that I sent in to a farming magazine back in January will be published in its July/August issue.

Although my essays about the Sixties and telemarketing were published in the local newspapaers, the other ones have been rejected. I'm going to take advantage of that personal essay website that I heard about and keep on trying.