I could cut the opening comment on this thread by 20%, and nothing of substance would be lost. To put yourself in the frame of mind to do this, read Strunk and White, “The Elements of Style.” (Rule No. 1 is “Vigorous writing is concise.”) Then read your essay.
For example, I could take your opening sentences (#1 below) and easily swiften them. I haven’t removed any ideas, just words. #2 below is 20% shorter than #1.
1: I have always loved writing. It has always been a channel for me to authentically express myself, to explore new ideas, and to exercise my creativity. However, my style of writing has always been quite flowery and abstract. I have a naturally non-linear writing style that flows freely, like a stream of consciousness, but can sometimes be difficult to understand. My mind always spins with metaphors and imagery, and conveying these thoughts through writing has always been a joy to me. I wish to express myself fully and authentically in my college essay, but I fear that colleges will find my writing style too pretentious, decked out in "purple prose". I have a a free-flowing writing style that bleeds with my thoughts, feelings, and emotions.
2: I have always loved writing. It has been a channel for me to express myself, explore new ideas, and exercise my creativity. However, my style of writing has been flowery and abstract. I have a non-linear style that flows freely, like a stream of consciousness, but can sometimes be difficult to understand. My mind spins with metaphors and imagery. I wish to express myself fully and authentically, but I fear that colleges will find my writing pretentious, decked out in "purple prose". I have a free-flowing writing style that bleeds with my thoughts, feelings, and emotions.
Follow-up to my preceding coment. “Elements of Style” was my favorite book in college.
Rule No. 1. Omit needless words. Vigorous writing is concise. A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts. This requires not that the writer make all his sentences short, or that he avoid all detail and treat his subjects only in outline, but that every word tell.
WILLIAM STRUNK, JR. and E.B. WHITE
Elements of Style was written 60 years ago.
My favorite more recent book on the writing process is “Writing Tools,” by Roy Peter Clark, which is indespensible. Or, really, anything by Roy, who is widely considered one of the top writing coaches in the country. I can’t recommend it enough.