<p>Yay... thanks to lots of help from some people here, the book I wrote on college essays is now published - at least the Kindle version. Softbound version in production. Woohoo!</p>
<p>I would give a link or even a title, but that would be a commercial post, which I do not want to do. But... if you go to Amazon and search for college essay advice, you'll find lots of useful books.</p>
<p>To those who read and commented on drafts, thanks! And to those here who have just been fellow posters, I hope I didn't steal too many of your ideas. :)</p>
<p>September 27, 2010 was a good day for dig. There. That ought to be enough for folks to pick it out on the kindle college essay list. Way to follow through on your plan.</p>
<p>collegeshopping… I <em>was</em> commenting on student essays, but that is not a fun thing to do. You get asked for comments on the first rough draft, and by the time you start looking, you are getting bombarded with requests to edit changes they’ve made. And it’s not that the essays are bad - generally, they’ll do for what’s needed. Even though you get thanks, it’s still seems like a thankless task.</p>
<p>Because of the book, I actually got approached by someone to set up a service, but it’s just not in me.</p>
<p>The approach I used is one I haven’t seen before: The mantra for essays is “show, don’t tell.” The ultimate “show” examples are movies. Almost all screenplays have the same basic structure to try and get the audience emotionally involved with the main character through a story arc which shows the character overcoming obstacles to obtain a goal and become stronger in the process. By applying that structure and story arc to writing college admissions essays, the result should be more powerful and more memorable. The book presents exercises and techniques for creating that structure (easier than it sounds). Unlike other advice books, this one follows - in detail - the evolution of four different essays from thought to topic to writing to polishing. It has lots of other examples as well. It also takes the most common application essay prompts and gives some insight on how to approach these.</p>
<p>Ooops - just re-read the above and it does sound like a commercial. But we’re all friends here (unlike the Parent Cafe - LOL).</p>
<p>Congratulations for having the perseverance to write and publish a book! Of all the things I’ve ever tried to do, none have been as difficult as actually completing a bookwhich is why I haven’t. I admire you for doing so, and I hope sales go through the roof. :)</p>
<p>m.s - Thanks. Only the ebook version is available now, but in the process of getting the actual hard copy book done as well. Not sure which will sell better, but I suppose I need both</p>
<p>Oh, I’ll download it right now. I have two more daughters, and they haven’t applied to college yet. Besides, I really want to know how to do that (making it visual.)</p>
Can’t wait to get it!</p>
Way to follow through on your plan.</p>