HOW I WRITE ... ESSAYS

Essays are usually not regarded as the most exciting of writing exercises. They are usually about boring topics and are used in academics. When I think of essays, I usually think "essay tests" which are not fun for anyone. However, if you follow a basic structure, you can write an essay on almost anything. Make sure to include an interesting introductory paragraph, logical middle using three points, and a concluding paragraph ending with an idea that will stick int he reader's mind.

The introductory paragraph should set up your essay topic and lay out the three main points you will include in the middle. Avoid saying anything like, "this essay will talk about," or "I will address three points of," because that is boring. Try to introduce your three main points in a natural and conversational manner.

A basic, typical essay contains three middle paragraphs that address three main points regarding your overall topic. This seems to be the universal construction; speech givers recommend sticking to three main points in the middle of speeches as well. Make your three points specific and related. Use good transitions to make sure the first paragraph flows logically into the second, the second the third, and the third into the conclusion.

Once you've written your introduction and your middle, you are ready to write your conclusion. Recap what was contained in the body of your piece while avoiding saying anything like, "we've just discussed," or "I've just covered." Figure out a way to tie everything back together to reinforce how your three points relate to each other and to the main topic. Finally, use a point of irony or humor or some interesting fact to end your conclusion in an effort to make the essay stick in the reader's mind.

Numerous references have been written on the topic of writing essays for a variety of applications. Hopefully I have provided a general basic overview to get you started the next time you need to write an essay. And, perhaps, like it did me, it will help you to score in the 91st percentile on the essay portion of your GMAT.

HOW I WRITE PREVIEW

It has occurred to me that though how people approach writing various subjects, genres, and, for lack of a better word, things, has similarities, it also has differences. So the next several weeks, I will be blogging about how I approach and "do" the things I write.

This is what I have in mind:

• Website copy writing
• Essays
• Poetry
• Novels
• Personal narrative or memoir
• Articles
• Blogs
• Social media posts
• Emails
• Journals

Today I'll talk a bit about how I approach my writing practice. I would love to say that I wake up every morning at five a.m., get right to writing, and have dozens of brilliant pages of copy by ten a.m. But, alas, that is not true. When I was working on one novel, I did get up an average of four mornings each week at 6:30 a.m. and wrote for a couple of hours before having to go to my at-the-time out-of-the-house job, but I did it reluctantly. Most mornings the only thing that motivated me to get out of bed was the thought of my rotting, pre-programmed coffee.

Nowadays, between taking graduate classes, doing volunteer work for Midwest Writing Center, and carting kids, I am a full-time writer. Though I am a full-time writer now, I'm always intending to spend more time actually writing. With a couple of recent regularly paying gigs, that is happening to a degree. As far as my writing practice, I really have no set schedule and no set routine.

I keep a three week spreadsheet of my days broken down into two hour blocks from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. that I fill in with my planned activities. This helps me to meet my deadlines and fit everything I want or need to accomplish into my schedule. It is a fluid and flexible plan so I probably never follow it exactly, but I know if I get groceries when I was scheduled to work on my blog, I'd better swap somewhere. I also keep a calendar with specific lists of tasks to complete in the week; I go by the week since my aforementioned general schedule changes so frequently.

Whether I write long hand with pen and paper or on the computer varies by what I'm working on. Generally, though, I type anything concrete I'm writing like an article but will go long hand for poetry and journal writing. I probably do write every day but not creatively and not always in the project where I want to be, but it is a process and work in progress. That's one of the great things about writing; if it doesn't work one way, you try something else.

Happy writing. I hope you enjoy my upcoming posts!

-The Wordsy Woman