<p>I’ve decided to write about my brother. He died of cancer a few years ago. I’m thinking of writing on how profoundly he has influenced me, even in death. He taught me lessons about life, and I know I’m who I am today because I knew him.</p>
<p>Any advice on writing about a sad topic? Or should I just think of a different topic because it’s too sob-storyish?</p>
<p>I wrote about my father, who died when I was very young, and how he influenced me. I can’t say how well it’s worked because I’m still waiting to hear back. I think it will depend a lot on how you approach the topic. Stay away from cliches, and focus on the effect your brother had on YOU, not on him or his death. </p>
<p>There’s definitely nothing wrong with sad topics in general. The best essays are emotionally moving–funny, inspirational, scary, or sad. If you can make the admissions officers cry, that shows that you’re a very good writer–but you want Les Miserables tears, not Nicholas Sparks tears, if you get what I mean.</p>