<p>I'm applying to a program that requires an essay on why I am interested in this program, and I remember now how much I hate writing essays. I've been considered a good essay writer, but I personally hate the way I write. I overuse words and phrases like "stark contrast" and "demonstrates" and their synonyms, and all my essays sound the same. Maybe essays just suck all the creativity out of me. I'm going to college in the fall and I'll need to write a lot of essays, so does anyone have tips for writing essays that aren't generic and painful to write?</p>
<p>Try and find your voice. Like, just sit down and start writing about what’s on your mind or something. The best stuff I’ve read (that isn’t fiction) has a voice. </p>
<p>It can be tough in academia since throughout middle and high school we’re taught to write in a very formulaic, predictable, and analytical way. God, imagine reading something like The New Yorker or The Economist written in the way a high schooler has to write papers. That would suck! But for some reason we don’t teach kids how to write like they do in real publications.</p>