<p>Basically, I always hear people who wrote successful essays say "I've worked (2 weeks/1month/2months/etc)" on their essay.
My question...how?
Is it best to write the whole thing at once and then edit it a bit everyday.
OR
Everyday, add a bit more and more, and edit as you go. </p>
<p>Not sure what is the best way to approach the essays :/</p>
<p>When I work with my students, I ask them to write the entire first draft all at once. Then I provide comments, and they revise. Usually, we go through 3 drafts in the first week. Then I ask them to set the essay aside for a couple days and not even look at it. Setting the essay aside provides the distance you need to be able to identify parts of the essay that aren’t working. Usually, by the end of the second week, we can finish the essay up. I suppose we could spend 2 months working on the essay, but at a certain point, we have to be practical and accept the law of diminishing returns. Besides, there are lots of other essays to write!</p>
<p>So, to summarize:
1-Find someone you trust to give you feedback. That’s a critical part of the writing process.
2-Consider doing a few drafts in quick succession after getting feedback.
3-Make sure you allow enough time to set the essay aside for a few days so you can get some distance.
4-If you’ve put in the work and are happy with your essay, don’t be afraid to say it’s done and move on to the next one.</p>
<p>Good luck writing!</p>
<p>Jon</p>