How to Write an Outstanding Essay from a Bad First Draft
How to Write an Outstanding Essay from a Bad First Draft
Writing is rewriting. That’s the reality—whether you’re attempting to pen the great American novel or finally impress your AP English teacher. The more comfortable you become with revisions, the stronger your writing will be.The biggest hurdle many face (their writers’ block) is staring at white space and trying to will the thoughts from their heads onto the blank page. Have you experienced this? Ever written the first word or sentence only to erase it dozens of times? If you’re like me, then the answer is a frustrating yes.There is a cure that will improve not only your writing, but your mindset. If you want to write a great college essay, or any other paper for that matter, then you must embrace the freedom in writing a bad first draft.Let’s take a look at some of the major reasons why.
Perfectionism Kills Progress
Have you ever danced to a song by yourself? When no one is watching, you are free to be as silly and bold as you can imagine. This is how you learn your best moves.The second you have an audience, however, it’s much more difficult to move with the same abandon. You start second-guessing yourself. All of a sudden, there’s this pressure to be “a good dancer.”Writing is no different.Think of writing your first draft like dancing by yourself. Follow the rhythm wherever it takes you. If you waste time trying to edit your work too early, then you will lose your train of thought and possibly forget important points you wanted to make. There is a time and place for perfectionism. But that time and place is not the first draft.Allow your brain to produce as much content as possible for any given topic. You will sort through it later and find the true essence of what to actually write.Remember, you can’t even get to the final product without finishing a first draft. Don’t prolong the process; commit to making progress despite your urges to edit.
The Flow Doesn’t Flow in a Row
Very few people conceive an idea in its completed state. Imagine J.K. Rowling coming up with all the ideas for the Harry Potter series in one sitting.Even though she had several hundred pages to fill, while you only have several hundred words, the principle remains the same. Strong writing is rarely linear.If you remove the worry of writing a good first draft, then you are free to jot down all the ideas that might eventually make your essay stand out. Instead of getting bogged down trying to complete one thought, allow yourself to write as the ideas come to you.It’s okay if your first draft only makes sense to you. You will have time to analyze it once it’s complete. Undoubtedly, you will have written something that moves you in a positive direction.
The Gold is Often Buried
Writing sharply and succinctly is a learned skill. Knowing the precise moment to enter a story for maximum clarity and effect doesn’t happen by accident. Strong writers practice “trimming the fat” from their work on a regular basis. You will write great college essays as you improve this skill. Beginning with a thorough, even if unpolished, first draft will make this much easier. In working with hundreds of students, I’ve found that their best ideas or most interesting phrases are often buried within their rough drafts. Crucial points were unearthed later on, only because these students were willing to just write everything that came to mind in the first place.Don’t pay attention to the word limit when you start. It’s much easier to craft 650 meaningful words from an essay that began at 1,000 words.When you’re forced to make tough decisions about how to make all the points you feel are necessary, you will be more careful with your language and eliminate anything you don’t need.
There’s No Prize for One-Take Wonders
Writing is an art, not a sprint. There are no scholarships awarded for completing your college essay in one try.If it takes you 10 drafts to say what you need to say, then embrace the process. The most important thing is that admissions officers get the best sense of who you are, so they can make an informed decision about your application.Make sure that you are judging success by the correct markers. The truth is, this won’t be easy for many students. By approaching the writing process with the mindset of improving one draft at a time, you will ultimately create work that makes you proud. Start the right way with your first draft. As you sit down to write, remind yourself that there is no chance that what you’re writing now will be your final version. Therefore, you can write with the freedom to express yourself however you need to in that moment.
Writing a Great College Essay Requires Having a Sound Process
Maybe writing is not your forte. Perhaps the idea of how important the college essay is to your application makes it hard to choose an idea that’s “compelling enough.” This is perfectly normal.The good news is you can move beyond any fears you associate with the college process and share your story with admissions officers in a way that moves them.Whether you’re the editor of your school’s newspaper, or English is your least favorite subject, you can write a strong college essay by trusting the revision process. Allow yourself to write a bad first draft, and you will take a crucial step toward crafting an outstanding essay.
The expert admissions consultants at Wise World Prep have helped hundreds of students maximize their potential of being admitted to their top choice colleges and universities. Over 20 years, we have successfully guided students through each stage of the application process – from choosing competitive high school courses to building an appropriate college list to drafting winning essays to writing persuasive update and appeals letters. We would be happy to answer your questions and partner with you to create a successful admissions roadmap.
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