A reader of this newsletter sent me a DM which follows: 'Please, help me. I want to write an essay. I need some tips'.
This piece constitutes my response. Maybe, you'd find this helpful.
Image source: Inc. Magazine
So you want to write an essay? Not just any kind but ones that stand out? (Note the pluralisation). If yes is your answer, use the following tips.
First thing first. READ. Well! Great writing is closely related to the reading quality of the writer. Not necessarily how much h/she reads but how well the reading was like a writer's. So my first tip for you is to read two essays whose topics pique your interest.
Side note: read about types of essays after you have written the essay you're about to write.
Secondly, WRITE. This is where the real work begins. The response to the question, "how do you write so well?" is: by writing continuously, with every subsequent attempt producing better results than the preceding. So after reading the two essays, grab your pen and spill out the words that come to mind about the topic you want to write on. Care less about correctness with any of the element. This is first draft. You shouldn't expect perfection.
Write continuously, with every subsequent attempt producing better results than the preceding.
Now that you have dumped those random ideas in writing, put the draft aside for a while. Come back to it after a substantial amount of time spent away from the piece. RE-READ your first draft. Look out for gaps to fill in with statistics, those portions to be left out, and seek out a better format to craft your essay.
The next step is: RESEARCH. This is the journey into the wild. This is the search for the information to fill the loop holes identified in your re-read of the first draft. And also a re-organisation of the entire piece; sorting what (tenses and paragraphs) should come before or after another. Take notes as you go on this trip.
RE-WRITE. This is now time to integrate all you've gathered from your adventure in the wild. Fit them appropriately into the structure designed during the re-read. It is permissible to pay less attention to any form of correctness, from orthographic perfection to accurate expression.
The real deal: EDIT. This process is like looking at your work with a microscope. Seek out any tiny faults, even as tiny as a missing alphabet, and make corrections. It is advisable to read aloud your writing, while conditioning your ears to work as the eyes are optimised with the microscope in the laboratory. Reading to someone else or someone else reading to your hearing is a plus.
Having followed the procedure outlined accordingly, pat yourself on the back. Find out if your faculty(ies) approve of the the work and tag it excellent. Then you are free to publish; if your audience is your sibling, it is not bad. So far as any one who reads is impacted positively (it can be assumed negative, sometimes, however). Nonetheless, ensure you don't incite your reader nor steal someone's work due to reasons best known to you.
It is more honourable to learn a thousand ways not to go about an endeavour than to utilise several means to put up a false identity.
Success on this never ending journey!
✍️Was this helpful? Leave your questions or observations, if any, in the comment section. I'd respond to them.
✍️SUBSCRIBE. So you don’t miss out other valuable updates.
✍️SHARE. To anyone you think will find this helpful.
Commenting, especially constructively, is a great way to sharpen your writing.
Wow! Simplified 📑📌
Subtle made simple.