Tiny Writes
How are you feeling about your upcoming school year? Anything you're nervous or excited for? If you have any questions about navigating your new class year, or something you wish you knew sooner? Drop it here, maybe a fellow ywp'er has some advice!
Best of luck with the start of school!
Comments
I'm really struggling to write my college essay. I feel more pressure around it than any other thing I've written because it's more consequential, and a lot of my application is centered around arts and writing so I know colleges are going to be expecting a good essay from me. It's hard to strike a balance between the creative part and academic essay part. Does anyone have any advice on how to deal with the pressure or at least work through it?
SO valid. I went through so many drafts and topics and fully restarted several different times. I'd say to remember that you're already a good writer and you enjoy it! Try not to think about what is expected of you and just write about your passion or explaining your art first. You can always balance it more later or make it sound more "academic", but it's important not to loose your unique writing voice. Readers will know when you're being genuine and since you are so creative I'd lean into and preserve that part, don't doubt your creativity!! The academic things you can put in after and your college app can talk about that more too.
I'd suggest taking a step back and allowing yourself to brain dump/word vomit ideas about your topic and at least when I was going through this I was told to write about something that they couldn't see on my application. That helped me, becuase there wasn't a right or wrong answer, and I could make it more like a story. Also take a break from it for a few days and come back to it. Or treat it like a YWP prompt so its not as stressful to think about! You can then thread those writings all together into your actual essay.
Also what stressed me out most was thinking about writing it. It's better to get a rough draft out of the way, give yourself patience, kindness and grace and then draft again. Above all else, have confidence in your writing ability!
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