<p>Keep brainstorming. Carry a notebook with you for the next month and write down any ideas that come to you. Essay writing is tough work. The best advice I can give you: Forget about the big picture – that might come later in the process. Start with something small – maybe it’s an idea or a conversation you had with someone – and build on that. Personally, I like starting an essay with a snippet of dialogue, as it uses fewer words, draws the reader into the story by setting the stage and let’s the reader use their imagination. And it also allows the writer to start with something small and build upon it.</p>