Connor’s milestones

It takes at least 5,000–8,000 words of raw content to have enough material for a great essay. We’ll show you how to get that many words out quickly using a sophisticated, pro-level writing tool we call, Write a Bunch of Crap.

You’re going to sit down and write even if it’s horrible, near-incomprehensible babble. Some of the best essays come from the most, errr, crappy crap.

Connor’s is pretty bad:

left of the patch of grass is an apricot tree. Thats what i want to focus on. The tree is big. The apricots didnt ripen until mid july. Once mid july hit tho the tree became laden with them. It droops over now. Some apricots a golden orange, others starting to shade red, and then the ones that are green still waiting to turn.

I enjoy the apricots. The first day i came to work and they were actually ripe it surprised me. I had only be gone two days and all the sudden the tree had tons. That day i was also working a nine hour shift. So i would naturally get bored. Everytime i got bored i went and picked apricots. When i got really bored i slid on my vans and climbed to the top of the tree and jumped. This shook down many apricots and was lots of fun. I made it into a game trying to see how many i could get. I figured out the best parts of the tree to shake and jump. Time passed by. Eventually the shift was over and felt the same length as a 6 hour shift. Not many boats even came.

It turned into a habit. Now, every time i get bored i go pick apricots. There are so many ripe ones now i dont even have to shake the tree. I collect the most apricots out of any of my coworkers. My boss dehydrates the apricots. I tasted one and it wasnt bad but it was sour.

This is a terrible rough draft. Like, really, horribly, awful bad. And that’s perfect! Connor played around with his content and chose four stories to use in his essay. He took out sentences that didn’t contribute to his essay, found a rough structure that he could work with, and added placeholders so that people reading this couldn’t say, “Hey! You need a catchy opening line, transitions, and an ending!” This is about 1200 words—twice the length of the Common App essay. As you read this, notice how his intentions come through: [[[catchy opening line]]]  Even further left of the patch of grass is an apricot tree. Some apricots a golden orange, others starting to shade red, and then the ones that are green still waiting to turn.  I enjoy the apricots. The first day i came to work and they were actually ripe it surprised me. That day i was also working a nine hour shift. . Everytime i got bored i went and picked apricots. When i got really bored i slid on my vans and climbed to the top of the tree and jumped. . I made it into a game trying to see how many i could get.  Time passed by. Eventually the shift was over and felt the same length as a 6 hour shift.  I didnt expect to work over 30 hours a week every week of my summer.  To be honest at the start of the summer i was hesitant to work 25 hours a week. Now im to the point where im used to 35 a week. I want more time off but i know the struggles it would cause for my pregnant boss. I know i committed to something even if its more than i expected. I work and i work and i work. Yes i know adults work way more- they also get payed more. Plus im not an adult. Plus its summer. I know the opening and closing routine by heart. I know the passcode to deactivate the gas pump. I know exactly when to do each necessary thing so i can spread them out and not be bored out of my mind.  One prominent habit is listening to music and audiobooks. Obviously when Im filling up customers gas or helping guests take out kayaks i dont do taht. Thats relational. Thats fun. Thats my favorite part of my job. I get to meet new people and improve my small talk (which before the summer was terrible). Buttttttt.. When im raking the small rocks on the homemade beach to look like a zen garden or closing the pool in the warm shadows at 9, its something that helps the time go by much quicker. Ill then pop in an airpod- one at the beach and both at the pool. And ill listen. Sometimes to the voices and lyrics of kanye or j cole and sometimes to the voices of old men reciting a captivating book. Either way its better than silence.I like it. I like feeling productive.  Another habit ive picked up is saying the same thing to every boat as they first approach the dock: “hi guys, hows it going”. Then i proceed to ask where they are from and talk about that. If theyre dry i talk about the weather. Sometimes i talk to myself for a bit until they warm up. Im not usually like this. Im usually reserved until you get to know me.. Then im like this. However, boredom changes that so i just lust for a conversation.. And a tip.    Ive gained things which will help me forever such as work experience and social experience. And ive gained things such as random splurts of knowledge or my enjoyment of music and audiobooks .  My personality is usually quiet until i get to know you and then I talk and I talk – that’s something I’ve improved on recently over the past year or two – before I’d be really shy [[[Smooth transition goes here]]]]  One of my biggest fears is fireworks. It sounds irrational but its real. When i was a toddler i went to a seafair parade in Seattle. At this parade there was a pirate ship which shot off extremely loud cannons. Since then ive been scared of loud noises. I was even scared of balloons till about 6th grade. Not good looks. I had to go to a therapist about it and we tried a few different things but none seemed to help. However, the older ive gotten the better ive gotten. Yes im still very scared of fireworks and jump whenever i hear them, but ive overcome my fear of balloons and can pop them myself.  I told my boss that i am scared of fireworks and she laughed at me.  She  said she doesnt understand but either way there will be fireworks tonight. I laughed and said i know.   My closest friends still will make fun of me but i know they will be a little proud. They know its always been one of my strangest fears. Everyone has fears but im trying to conquer mine even if its only a little bit at a time. Maybe one day i can set off fireworks on my own. Im scared of fireworks and some people may laugh but deep down im a little proud of it. [[[Smooth transition goes here]]]] I love sports- both playing and watching.  Fantasy football combines my love of sports with my love of definite evaluation and results. I analyze players stats to decide which players i want on my team. Then on game days i constantly check ESPN to see if my players are producing like i hoped. This thought process is exciting and rewarding for me. So i talked with my closest 9 friends and asked if they would be interested. They loved the idea.  hOWEVER i had to execute it. I was going to have to set up the league and plan the draft and make sure everyone stayed committed.   I was  excited. My friends were too. I also made sure we had pizza and lots of good food. Then came my research. My dad and i got two magazines for both of us to share. I read the magazines through and looked at the different stats and opinions and weighed out in my head which players i would ideally pick.  My friends came. I had a strategy.  It was all for the fun but i truly wanted to win.  The end result of the board with the players names was so appealing to me. I was proud of the fun event which i had organized and led. My team ended up falling short of my original projection. My team name: hot tamales did not disappoint tho.  The fantasy football draft became a tradition which we still continue at my house every year.  [[[Smooth transition goes here]]]] It turned into a habit. Now, every time i get bored i go pick apricots. There are so many ripe ones now i dont even have to shake the tree. I collect the most apricots out of any of my coworkers.  She said to me “these are literally the fruits of your labor”. I laughed. That has stuck with me. At the beginning of my work there were no apricots. Now there are many. Just like the apricot tree i have started to bear fruit.  I like the apricots because its satisfying to complete the task of picking them up and having a reward. [[[Awesome ending goes here]]]]

We’ll give you a new set of tools, tips, and tricks that you’ll use to bring your essay to life, polish the language, and make it flow from start-to-finish. The good news is that you’ll be working on an essay that you know says what you want it to say. Enjoy Connor’s final Common Application essay: An apricot a day keeps the boredom away. As I work my nine-hour shift, I gravitate to the apricot tree at Kelly’s Resort. Some apricots are a golden orange, others crimson, and the rest a premature green, waiting to turn. I enjoy the apricots. The first day they were ripe, it surprised me. Every time I get bored, I pick apricots. When I get really bored, I slide on my Vans, climb to the top of the tree, and jump on the branches. I make it into a game, seeing how many I can get to fall. Time passes by. Eventually the shift is over – who would’ve known it was nine hours? “Chad’s out, schedule’s changed,” my boss groaned. “What happened?” “I don’t fully know man, but you’re working overtime now.” I was hesitant to work 25 hours a week. Now, it’s going to be 35. I want more time off, but I know the struggles it would cause my pregnant boss. I know I committed to something, even if it’s more than I expected. I listen to music and audiobooks to pass the time. Obviously, when I’m fueling customers’ boats or helping guests borrow kayaks, I keep my ears open. That’s relational. That’s fun. That’s my favorite part of my job. I get to meet new people and improve my small talk (which before the summer was subpar). But, when I’m raking the small rocks on the homemade beach to look like a zen garden, or closing the pool in the warm shadows in the evening, music and audiobooks help the time go by. I’ll pop in my airpods – one at the beach and both at the pool. And I’ll listen. Sometimes to the voices and lyrics of Kanye or J. Cole and sometimes to the voices of old men reciting a captivating book. Either way it’s better than silence. I like it. I like feeling productive. “It’s the Fourth of July!” I exclaim as I skip into work. “Too bad I’m scared of fireworks.” I slow down my skip. One of my biggest fears is fireworks. It sounds irrational but it’s real. On the bright side, at least I’m not scared of balloons anymore. “Seriously??” My boss laughs. “Have fun today.” She pauses. “You’ll be busy enough, you’ll never notice.” I was anxious, sure, and some may laugh, but deep down I’m a little proud. Having worked for over a month now, I was comfortable with conversations like this. Even if I was frightened, as long as my boss was amused, could I really care? I’m slow to warm to new people, but once I’m warm, I’m warm. “Football is starting again, time to get your butts kicked!” I joke. I’m overly warm with my friends. Every year, I execute a plan with my nine closest friends to form a fantasy football league. We poke fun, win and lose some, but in the end it’s all just for kicks. We gather at my house and draft players for our teams. My strategy is to rely upon the research. I read magazines, analyze stats, and envision a scale in my head, tipping towards the better player. My friends use a cheat sheet. The banter is extraordinary. At least ten times throughout the night you’ll hear “why would you take him??” Once the season starts, we debate at school like we’re on sports radio. I’ve never won. My team is analytically good, but too average. I won’t be deterred from my statistics though; one day I will win. Whether I win or not, the tradition means something to me. Everything I do means something to me, or why would I do it? I gain the most from life not through success, but experience. I succeed by learning from experience. Every tradition or activity I take part in – it’s intentional. Even picking apricots.