Writing Freely Exercise #2 - Replace Blank Stare with Questions

I have written two books this year. One on France with details of top MBA programs and funding options. Another one a similar book on MBA in the UK.

When May 5th hit, I faced what you are likely to face in the next 3-months - writer's block.

Hope you have read the first part of the series on creating a worry audit to write freely.

Another useful tip that has helped me write over 2000 articles in F1GMAT and over 10 books is the 'replace Blank Stare with questions'

In any form of writing, we pause to collect the thoughts, frame the sentence or add elements of storytelling.

Don't add questions when you are thinking. Let the thoughts rush to you or flow around until you convert them to meaningful or memorable phrases.

Depending on your writing style and the frequency with which you create, you might have become accustomed to a routine.

It is tough to articulate how long the words play around your head before changing its state to a format that is acceptable for your audience.

Even the first draft must meet certain quality standards. This becomes tricky when you don't have any experience. I would recommend that you consider our Essay Editing (1 Essay) or Essay Review Service (More than 1 Essays) to determine whether your essay passes the originality test.

A safe rule of thumb is 15 minutes.

If you are staring at a screen or a notebook without adding even a single line for over 15 minutes, it is time to frame the next line with questions.

Why 15 minutes?

I have seen MBA applicants, play with the rough draft on sentences that they should not, but the sheer perseverance sparked a free flow of sentences that became the foundation of their story. Don't underestimate the power of starring at a blank screen. But you have to set a deadline for each writing session.

Typically, a 500-word MBA essay - at least the first draft is created in 5-6 30-minute sessions with each session connecting the story from the previous thread to the next, turning the lines to plot points and the paragraphs to page-turners.

Once you know the structure of storytelling, it becomes easier to create original essays. Learn how with Winning MBA Essay Guide.

Example: What would you say is your biggest weakness?

As we had shared in our Sample MBA Weakness Essay, there is no point in mentioning weaknesses on which you have not worked. Our life is a self-improvement session on Acid with the inner critique pushing us to reach our full potential. If you have not worked on your weakness, you didn't find it important to influence your future.

Let us say the outline of the weakness essay is:

1) The origin of your fear and how it turned into a weakness
2) The impact of the weakness on your daily responsibilities
3) How you found the right mentor/process/innovation/life lesson to address the weakness
4) Details of how you worked on the weakness
5) The impact of working on your weakness - turning a weakness into a competitive skill.
6) How you hope to work on your weakness during the MBA program

"In grade 4, I was encouraged to take part in the annual elocution competition....."

Let us say you had this opener and you have no idea how to turn this sentence into a story that hooks the admission team."

Wait for the natural flow of sentences.

If the 15-minute deadline didn't create the next sentence, frame questions like:

Question 1. Who encouraged me for the competition?

Question 2: How to describe the audience?

Question 3: Any memorable backstory on an interaction with a friend/teacher before the competition?

Question 4: How did I open?

Question 5: How did the audience respond to my opener?

Question 6: What is the first low-moment in my story (using W-Pattern structure)

"In grade 4, I was encouraged to take part in the annual elocution competition."

Question 1. Who encouraged me for the competition?

Miss Sophie John found my elaborate response in the class as a potential for a public speaking career.

Question 2: How to describe the audience?

The assembly of high schoolers were the first time in a fortnight that the entire school has come together to watch a competition.

Question 3: Any memorable backstory on an interaction with a friend/teacher before the competition?

Just as I was about to enter the stage, Miss John gave a thumbs-up sign.

Question 4: How did I open?

With excitement and a big smile, I started "O Captain! my Captain!"

Question 5: How did the audience respond to my opener?

I saw the adorning faces of my class singularly focused on my delivery. While glancing over the crowd, I saw Ravi and paused.

Question 6: What is the first low-moment in my story (using W-Pattern structure)

The pause turned into a 20-second blank stare. All my forceful recollection and desperation didn't bring "our fearful trip is done" to my lips. I stood frozen.

Learn how to create W-Pattern narratives with Winning MBA Essay Guide

Childhood Fear as the Basis of the Weakness

"In grade 4, I was encouraged to take part in the annual elocution competition. Miss Sophie John found my elaborate response in the class as a potential for a public speaking career. The assembly of high schoolers were the first time in a fortnight that the entire school has come together to watch a competition. Just as I was about to enter the stage, Miss John gave a thumbs-up sign. With excitement and a big smile, I started "O Captain! My Captain!". I saw the adorning faces of my class singularly focused on my delivery. While glancing over the crowd, I saw Ravi and paused.

The pause turned into a 20-second blank stare. All my forceful recollection and desperation didn't bring "the prize we sought is won" to my lips. I stood frozen"

Note: The final draft would not include all the descriptions mentioned above, but to write freely, you should untrain your mind away from word limit.

With each iterative editing, we separate the essential from the elaborate story narratives.

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