5 Routines for writing free flowing MBA Essays

Writing is not your full-time gig. It is mine. I create books, blogs, analysis, articles, newsletters, sales pitch, advertising, and rants to my wife and close friends through email in what I call, “Atul’s Weekly rants.”

You are multitasking through projects, worrying about choosing the wrong school, keeping a low profile on your MBA plan, managing the politics in your team, coordinating with recommenders, preparing for the GMAT, collecting your transcripts, developing a plan to address your profile weakness, arranging funds and writing and rewriting essays.

I know – it is tough for, you.

You can’t suddenly develop the skills to create engaging prose, but there were even greater multitaskers – Doctors, Engineers, Politicians, Administrators, and Scientists, who went on to create some of the best collection of letters, books, and journals.

All you have to do – is write freely.

I had clients, who in their first draft didn’t convey their grasp of writing ‘hooks’ and ‘page-turners.' At best, their version was average.

A little nudge and guidance on ‘storytelling’ tips can do wonders for the applicant’s writing style.

Clients who went on to create memorable 2nd drafts absorbed everything I said. There is a point in the Essay Review and Consulting service where I and the client are completing the next action step without much communication. We have become a team. They recognize the mistakes. I recognize specific actions required to improve the client’s narrative.

It’s magic.

Those who couldn’t reach that level, blocked the learning I had to offer, from ego, fear of failure or some false belief about the writing process.

So how do you write freely?

Routines.

Everybody has a routine.

I have two blocks of writing time. 10-12 am and 2-6 pm. That is when I create some of my best writing. Also, these are the blocks where I am not bothered by administrative tasks, meeting, and chores.

1) Allocate uninterrupted Block of Time

Your routine will be different. I know a client who takes the first 10 minutes of his 1-hour lunch time for actual lunch, 10 minutes on reading the latest Financial news, and the rest 40 minutes, on writing. He goes to an isolated meeting room and creates drafts for his essay.

In just 1-week, he has a formidable collection of free-flowing ideas, narratives, and interesting turning points.

2) Daily Reading

Once you are in Business School, you will read over 10,000 words every day. Develop a habit of reading – interesting opeds, financial news, trends in your industry, or thought pieces from influencers you respect.

Reading in any form improves your writing skills. I used to avoid reading. Now I have a collection of over 200+ books in my Kindle Store. It doesn't matter whether the creation is from an anthropologist, scientist, doctor, politician, or an entertainer.

Allocate 30 minutes to read a memoir. Observe how the author is creating a unique personal tone and voice for the book.

3) Daily/Session Editing

Daily editing is a practice I used for my books, not for my blogs, newsletters or creative outputs that require fast turnaround time. Essays are like books. They need several iterations of reading, re-reading, re-writing, and editing.

Some phrases just never fit with your voice. It came from the impression of ‘what to say’ rather than ‘what you would say.' Edit them. If necessary, remove them. Your voice is unique. After you create the 2nd draft, that unique groups of idioms, phrases, and narrative arcs will be truly your own.

The R2 deadlines are close. So you might not have the luxury to wait until the end of the day for editing. Instead of daily editing, allocate time for session editing.

Schedule Example

1.  Session 1: 40-minute free writing (1:20 pm to 2:00 pm)
2.  Session 2: 20-minute editing (3:30 pm to 3:50 pm)
3.  Session 3: 20-minute free writing (6:00 to 6:20 pm)
4.  Session 4: 10-minute editing (10:45 pm to 10:55 pm)

Schedule Output Example

40-minute free writing: 750 words
20-minute free writing: 400 words

4) Coffee

If you are ‘Chai’ person, Coffee is not for you. I had analyzed the one ingredient apart from booze and cigarette, that would keep you alert – black coffee.

Consume at least 2 cups in quick succession (1-hour gap).

Don’t go overboard on the size of the cup or you would hear a buzz or go on an incoherent rant on your weakness and long-term goal. The genius will be revealed in the editing session, and you will regret borrowing phrases from blockbuster movies and hip-hop artists.

5) Accountability Partner

Unless you get the support of your family, it becomes extremely difficult to manage the schedule for your writing session. Chores and interruption from time wasters should be avoided at all cost. You need your boyfriend/girlfriend/spouse to come up with creative stories for your absence from social events, and they should be given the authority to question your productivity.

Once you are accountable to someone, you will put in the work. If you think fear of missing out or the countdown to the deadline can propel you to create the best narrative, think again.

Follow the 5-step writing process even if you are 1 week away from the deadline.

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