Holiday Baking: Mug Cake vs. Petit Four
How is an essay like a pastry? Neither should be made in the microwave.
This year, I discovered there is such thing as a Mug Brownie. You can even buy one-step “mug brownie mix” packets, but even from scratch, they aren’t difficult. A bit of flour, sugar, cocoa powder, water, butter, vanilla, and a dash of salt … and a minute later, you have a hot brownie. Or at least, a semblance of one.
For an emergency chocolate boost, it can’t be beat. But it doesn’t look particularly pretty, and the texture lacks consistency. The top is underdone, molten and bubbly, while the bottom is too cakey to be a true brownie, and there’s always the odd chewy bite that feels like gristle—I have yet to figure out where that’s coming from. Let’s just say, I wouldn’t serve them for a party.
If you write your essay with the 650-word limit in mind, starting at the beginning and stopping when you’ve “filled the mug,” so to speak—you’re going to get a mug brownie. At best, it will be a semblance of the essay it should be.
Thoughtful brainstorming, smart organizing, and purposeful editing will bring you instead to a petit four—a tiny piece of perfection, worthy of your most important audience.
Begin your prewriting without an eye on the word count, mixing copious amounts of quality ingredients, like stories with vivid details and challenging ideas. Stir in a large mixing bowl with room to properly blend the ingredients—so there’s no gristle. Stirring your ideas on the page means bringing like ideas together to let them work together to tell the same story. Choose the perfect cake form and pour just enough batter, so the complete story fits in the space allotted. Then give it time in the oven to develop a strong conclusion.
Finally, of course, the quintessential petit four is perfect in looks, with an eye to detail. So take the time to frost—that is, edit—slowly and carefully. It won’t be fast, but it doesn’t have to feel overwhelming—it’s still just bite-sized.
Still stressing about your applications? Don’t let them ruin the holidays. Schedule a 15-minute consultation to learn how I can help.
(Photo by Brooke Lark on Unsplash)
How to Title a College Essay
by solsofttech | October 31, 2024 | Uncategorized | 0 Comments
A Letter to Parents with Good Intentions
by solsofttech | August 30, 2024 | College Admissions, college essay tips | 0 Comments
Admissions & the ADHD Brain: Don’t Do It Later
by solsofttech | July 30, 2024 | College Admissions, college application essay | 0 Comments
Admissions & the ADHD Brain: First, We Get Started
by Cara Kalf | July 15, 2024 | College Admissions, college application essay | 0 Comments
Chat GPT is Not Going to Save You
by Cara Kalf | June 30, 2024 | college coaching, College Essay | 0 Comments
Triggering Your Editor: How to Write Tough Stuff
by Cara Kalf | June 15, 2024 | college application essay, College Application Tips, Uncategorized | 0 Comments
How to End Your College Essay: 12 Strategies To Finish
by Cara Kalf | May 30, 2024 | college application essay, College Essay, writing tips | 0 Comments
But How Do I Start? My Go-To Trick for Writers of All Ages
by solsofttech | May 15, 2024 | College Application Tips, college essay tips | 0 Comments
Tricks from English Class: The College Essay As Literature
by Cara Kalf | April 30, 2024 | College Essay, College Essay Examples, college essay tips | 0 Comments
Top Ten Success Resolutions for Striving Students 2024
by solsofttech | December 30, 2023 | College Application Tips, college coaching, College Essay | 0 Comments
What NOT to Write in Your College Essay
by Cara Kalf | September 30, 2022 | Cara, College Admissions, college application essay, College Application Tips, College Essay, college essay tips, writing tips | 0 Comments
How to Write an Essay on College Football
by Cara Kalf | September 15, 2022 | College Essay Examples | 0 Comments
Why Do You Want to Attend This College, Anyway?
by Cara Kalf | September 1, 2022 | Cara, College Admissions | 0 Comments
How to Write a US College Admissions Essay
by Cara Kalf | August 15, 2022 | College Admissions, college coaching | 0 Comments
Describe a Person You Admire
by Cara Kalf | July 30, 2022 | College Essay, College Essay Examples | 0 Comments
Meeting Your College Admissions Deadlines 2022 – 2023
by Cara Kalf | July 15, 2022 | Cara, College Admissions, college application essay | 0 Comments
College Essay Specifics: Writing about your Goals in Life
by Cara Kalf | June 30, 2022 | college essay tips, writing tips | 0 Comments
Your Essay Is Your Introduction
by Cara Kalf | June 15, 2022 | College Essay Examples, College Application Tips, College Essay | 0 Comments
Tips For Selecting A College Essay Topic
by Cara Kalf | May 30, 2022 | College Essay, Cara, college application essay, College Application Tips, college coaching, college essay tips, writing tips | 0 Comments
Types of College Application Essay
by Cara Kalf | May 15, 2022 | college application essay | 0 Comments
The Hero’s Journey, or, Why I Do What I Do
by Cara Kalf | March 15, 2020 | Cara | 0 Comments
How NOT to Write About Coronavirus on Your College Essay
by Cara Kalf | March 31, 2020 | Cara | 0 Comments
Layering
by Cara Kalf | April 15, 2020 | Cara | 0 Comments
Bread Baking as Essay Writing (An Extended Metaphor)
by Cara Kalf | April 30, 2020 | Cara | 0 Comments
Warming Up for the Big Game
by Cara Kalf | May 15, 2020 | Cara | 0 Comments
A Go-Anywhere Bulletin Board for Your College Application Planning
by Cara Kalf | May 30, 2020 | Cara | 0 Comments
How Do I Start My College Essays?
by Cara Kalf | June 15, 2020 | Cara, College Essay, college essay tips | 0 Comments
The Fundamental Attribution Error … And How It Works in Your Favor
by Cara Kalf | June 30, 2020 | Cara | 0 Comments
“Curated Imperfection” and the College Essay
by Cara Kalf | July 15, 2020 | Cara | 0 Comments
What a First Draft Is … and Is Not
by Cara Kalf | July 30, 2020 | Cara | 0 Comments
Snapshots not Scrapbooks
by Cara Kalf | August 15, 2020 | Cara | 0 Comments
Get Out of Your Own Way
by Cara Kalf | August 30, 2020 | Cara, college application essay, College Essay Examples | 0 Comments
The Tortoise and the Hare and the College Application
by Cara Kalf | September 15, 2020 | Cara, college application essay, College Essay Examples | 0 Comments
The Application is Trying to Tell You Something
by Cara Kalf | September 30, 2020 | Cara | 0 Comments
Making the Decision About Early Decision
by Cara Kalf | October 15, 2020 | Cara | 0 Comments
No Fear Finishing Strong
by Cara Kalf | October 30, 2020 | Cara | 0 Comments
Have You Found the End?
by Cara Kalf | November 15, 2020 | Cara | 0 Comments
Thanksgiving Storytelling
by Cara Kalf | November 30, 2020 | Cara | 0 Comments
Success Resolutions for Striving Students
by Cara Kalf | December 30, 2020 | Cara, college application essay, College Application Tips | 0 Comments
What Are You Reading 2021?
by Cara Kalf | January 15, 2021 | Cara, College Admissions, college application essay | 0 Comments