Hello everyone, Liam M. here, your average college student from the U.S. who has somehow survived the essay battlegrounds of academic life. Through my years at university, I’ve penned essays ranging from the dreadfully dull to the surprisingly sensational. Here’s a peek into my journey of mastering the art of essay writing, peppered with tips that might just save your academic life (and sanity).

Getting Started: The Hardest Part

Every time a new essay assignment lands on my desk, my initial reaction is to procrastinate. If this sounds familiar, welcome to the club! The hardest part is always getting started. To combat this, I set a timer for 20 minutes and just start writing. It doesn’t matter if it’s good or not. Most ideas don’t seem perfect at first, but they can evolve into something great. This method has saved me countless times from the black hole of procrastination.

Research: Not as Boring as It Sounds

I used to think research was just a fancy word for “reading stuff I don’t care about,” but I’ve come to realize that good research is like detective work. Finding that one article or book that perfectly supports your thesis is wildly satisfying. My tip? Use your university’s databases instead of just Googling everything. Academic sources make your essay stand out like a gourmet dish in a sea of fast food.

Finding Your Thesis

The thesis is the backbone of your essay; it’s what you’ll defend to the death (or at least until the end of your conclusion). I find my best thesis statements come when I talk out my ideas with friends or professors. Sometimes, explaining your thoughts out loud gives you a new perspective, and suddenly, you find your argument.

Writing It Down: Making Sense of the Chaos

A good opening sentence can set the tone for your entire essay. I like to start with something provocative or intriguing, something that will make my readers want to continue. From there, it’s all about supporting your thesis with your research, structuring your paragraphs so that each one builds on the last. Transition words are your best friends here—they help your essay flow smoothly from one idea to the next.

Edit, Edit, Edit

My earlier versions of essays often look like a tornado passed through them. Editing is crucial; it’s where you clean up the mess and polish your ideas. I usually read my essays out loud — it’s amazing how many mistakes you catch that way. And always get someone else to read your work — a fresh pair of eyes can spot things you’ve missed.

The Final Stretch: Conclusion and Submission

The conclusion is your mic drop—it’s your last chance to make an impression. Summary your main points briefly and end with something memorable. As for submission, I make sure to check all formatting guidelines twice. There’s nothing more tragic than a brilliant essay losing points for being formatted wrong.

That’s pretty much the gist of how I tackle my essays. Has every essay been a masterpiece? Absolutely not. But have these tactics helped keep my grades afloat in a sea of literary challenges? Definitely. I hope these tricks help you as much they have helped me. Now, go forth and write—that paper isn’t going to write itself!

Until next time,
Liam M., not your average essay enthusiast