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Prompts

3 lies you’ll tell yourself about your college essay

April 3, 2017 by Sara Nolan

You can write your essay once you let go of these lies

Three lies about your college essay you best not believe, starting now: My story doesn't matter. Nothing has ever happened to me. I don't know how to impress the admissions officer. Some help debunking these lies: All stories matter equally, like all people (should!) matter equally. If you got born, which I assume you did, something huge has already happened to you.  From there, a million little and big happenings got you to the present. It doesn't really matter what you pick to talk about, so long as you can say something that is important to you. Then you connect that thing to a broader message or point.   Finally, "impress"? You've picked the wrong verb. Try "how to move" the admissions officer.  Continue Reading …

Filed Under: Integrity, Prompts, State of Mind, Uncategorized, Writing Tips Tagged With: admissions officers, college essay writing, freewriting, how to write

Do something amazing, make amazing things

January 18, 2017 by Sara Nolan

Here are some people who are actively doing creative things that are elevating and amazing. Because sometimes we need to focus on what's life-affirming (and not this crappy political morass). The force of the imagination can open a tightened chest. Check out three these mighty real folks: Three Amazing Artists with a message My former student, Jordan Hiraldo, who made it out of a tough childhood on the streets of New York City.  He realized by keeping his ear to the local scene, he could do something amazing with his lens and capture artists in their everyday hustle. Because, let's face it, we have to hustle. Check him out here. My colleague, teacher, friend, Holly Wren Spaudling, whose off-grid childhood primed her for a life of inquiry and poetry as inoculation against cultural madness. Check her out here. My guide Maya Angelou, whose childhood trauma left her elective mute at 7 years-old. She found her voice again only after a savvy poetry teacher refused to listen to her work if she wouldn't read it aloud. Here is Maya's insistent message to young people: "You are all we have." Listen to the whole journey here. (Get your tissues/snot sleeve ready!). Prompt Yourself Up How about you, amazing person? What creative impulse runs through you, and how can you let it all hang out-- like, now? (Because I can't keep listening to these confirmation hearings, it's killing me, I'd rather look at anything even remotely amazing that you make-- yes, you, really). How has your childhood shaped you? How have your unique conditions given you a unique eye-- and what does that eye see? What have you made lately? Can you reach for some materials now and release your imagination, just because? How will you be part of setting us all free? These are the questions that art can often answer better than fact alone. Do something amazing, and show it to us. The world needs this everyday.  Continue Reading …

Filed Under: Destiny, Prompts, Teachers, Uncategorized, Wisdom Tagged With: childhood, creative work, imagination, poetry, Writing

Paying Attention (to Freewriting)

August 23, 2016 by Sara Nolan

paying attention to the changing sky

If you've been paying attention, you know we think free-writing is THE way to start your college essay. But unexpectedly I came across some sage advice on how NOT to begin your essay, which I'll pass onto you. (Don't fret-- it leads right back to free-writing.) Being Bored, Lazy, Trivial and Proud: that's how not to write your college essay. Paying attention? Got that? Need a sharper voice to tell you so? Sit up and listen to these words from poet Frank O'Hara. Or better: read them out loud. Don’t be bored, don’t be lazy, don’t be trivial, and don’t be proud. The slightest loss of attention leads to death. — Frank O’Hara, 1964 Did he say death? He said death! To avoid such certain death, here are some free-writing exercises to set your observer free.  Your medicine is...Your attention!  And what simple steps must you take? Pay it! (Don't worry: your doctor would approve.) (And the admissions committee would definitely approve, because they are SO bored of being bored!) Your inner observer can do the work There is nothing better you can do for your college essay success (or your writing voice, period) than to liberate your honest inner observer. Who's that? Glad you asked. It's the little voice inside you that knows--or could know-- what you're really like.  Where you shine, where you falter, where you are (join the club, membership free) unmistakably human. Let's look at this quote again, then complete all or some of the prompts below. Don’t be bored, don’t be lazy, don’t be trivial, and don’t be proud. The slightest loss of attention leads to death. — Frank O’Hara, 1964 Free-Writing Prompts: Reflect on something from your life that makes you: 1) bored, 2) lazy, 3) trivial and 4) proud.  (One example for each, please, and using as much detail as possible) Reflect on something that makes you sit up and pay attention. Voluntarily (say, Simone Biles) or involuntarily (say, gunshots). Speculate: how could you cross the  Continue Reading …

Filed Under: Prompts, Uncategorized, Wisdom, Writing Tips Tagged With: advice, attention, Free-writing, how to start your essay, poets, prompts

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