If you are wondering how in the world you are going to get from the prompt you see on your screen to the essay that you need to submit, don't worry, I've got you covered.

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Step 1 - Brainstorm on Topics:

You are not going to be wasting time staring at the screen wondering what to write about. Instead, we will run through some fun, yet searching, brainstorming exercises where you will do a deep dive into your life experiences. From the pages that you fill with specific recollections, random facts, and quirky tidbits, we will mine this information for the seed that can grow into that stellar essay. It is a myth that essays have to be about really sophisticated topics and weighty reflections. No, far from it! The best topics are at the grassroots level of your being, the macro shot of your lens, the simple things, and the seemingly mundane. And we will find it.

Step 2 - Writing that first messy draft:

You will get specific instructions on how to write that first draft in a simple step-by-step manner. This stage of writing is not about bringing out the big guns. It is about letting your fingers fly over the keyboard without worrying about which words to use and how a sentence sounds. This is the raw free-write that lets you let it all out onto the screen. Here you will just write from your heart, the story in its original state. You can use your head later in the process. Be fearless in this stage and don’t write for anyone but yourself. Also don’t worry too much about word count here.

Step 3 - Editing those 2nd, 3rd, 4th versions of the essay: 

Here is where you will start to apply some thinking to the process as we work on the hook (that attention grabber, that first impression maker line!) that reels in the reader. We will also pay attention to the end and how it wraps up the story, and we will work on everything in between, and whether it includes enough reflection and growth and a positive takeaway from your experiences. We will also bring out the scissors and start pruning words to make the writing much more concise where less is more! At the end of this stage, your writing will start to resemble what your actual finished essay will look like. You may not be at your optimal word count yet, but you are on your way there.

Step 4 - Refining those 5th, 6th, 7th iterations:

Here we start refining language and taking it to the next level of writing finesse. We will look at the flow of your writing and whether the transitions are seamless and logical. We will use the scissors more and work hard on getting this draft down under the word count. You will also have started working on your other essays by this point, and the big essay won't take up all of your session time.

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Step 5 - Proofreading and final look over:

You are on the home stretch. We will proofread your essay together and separately, to make sure your essay is 100% free of any errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling. By this stage, you will be able to sit back and enjoy the finished product, the evidence of all your hard work and revel in your ability to tell your own story so succinctly. Time to celebrate!

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