so close. :)

When I'm asked to write an essay, I first jot down the ideas that come to my mind immediately. Then, I wait for several weeks before I finalize on how I want to present my ideas to the reader. This is one of the most crucial parts in my writing process because professors in college are no longer looking for an essay that conforms to rules and standards, such as the 5-paragraph essay. My professors want me to think critically and convey my arguments through my writing. Hence formulating my ideas and arguments take priority above all. The next few steps all concern writing and not the thinking involved in writing. Occasionally, I might change my idea or argument but the backbone of the paper I am about to write is usually laid down in its pre-writing phase.
Next, comes the writing phase where I write the introduction and the conclusion. This takes me at least two days as I write my papers in paragraphs and not as a whole. In the writing phase, completing the introduction is of utmost importance, since I cannot begin working without one! I then write the rest of my paper in blocks and I spend at least two to three hours per paragraph. Over the years, I have observed that with each paper I consistently get spurts of energy in which my best ways to present the idea, or organize the sentence come out. I tend not to rely on this energy but this has happened quite frequently. Once done with my part of writing, I feel extremely relieved since the hardest part is done.