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"Genius is 1% inspiration, 99% perspiration." Thomas Edison
A MASTERPIECE DOESN'T JUST HAPPEN. It takes work, even when you don't feel inspired. Many writing teachers like Donald Murray say writing is a cyclical process not a product. Some say the first draft is just for yourself. Some say a piece of writing is never done, but just good enough to publish the first edition.
THE GENIUS COMES after re-reading, revising, and getting others to review, and then doing it all again until you're proud of it. Don't put your name on an essay and turn it in unless you are proud of it. And at least read it out loud once for Pete's sake.
Check out the graphic below that explains the process visually:
DO NOT turn your essay in if you are not proud of it.
DO NOT wait until the night before the due date.
DO NOT ask someone else to read your essay if you haven’t already read it once yourself.
DO NOT fear getting started or making mistakes.
DO NOT expect perfection on the first draft.
DO just get started.
DO revise towards excellence.
DO trust the process.
DO read your first draft out loud and revise yourself first.
DO ask someone else to review your first draft.
DO use the Getting Started idea generation strategies.
DO put the essay down and come back to it later with “fresh eyes”.
THE WRITING PROCESS: EASIER THAN YOU THINK
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