I'm no expert, I don't really know what i'm doing but I thought I would share some tips that have helped me while writing personal statements. And actually I have to credit the majority of this list to friend of my sisters who was helping me not to freak out whenever I brought this up. Hopefully you'll find some of these tips helpful and useful :)

1. Make a list of possible themes, topics, memories etc. This is a great starting point for you to expand on, or just have a general idea of how you want your essay to look like. 
2. Make t-charts. Now I don't mean outline the entire essay, but you totally can if you want to. What i've been doing is picking different topics I want to talk about and slowly expanding on them so that I have an array of things to talk about and mention. I like doing this because it provides structure and helps me get an idea of where I want to mention things and how I want to go about it. 
3. Have a cute notebook. Maybe this is just me but I love going shopping for school supply stuff so i'll jump at an opportunity to buy a notebook and pen. Plus it's a nice motivator to push you to write and plan.
4. Do: Word Dumps. One thing that has definitely helped me is just writing whatever it is I want to write about in that moment and just write. It might suck but at least you now have a starting point from which you can only grow. Plus it's nice to just say everything you can think of in one go because it allows you to have an idea of what this section might sound like. 
5. Set aside time everyday. Just spending 20 min a day writing or planning or just trying to figure out the prompts helps. This most important part of this essay is your voice. You have to find it and make sure it's infused in your essay. The second most important thing is revision. You need to dedicate time to get both of those things done.
6. Find a peer/teacher/person to help you edit. As I just mentioned in number five, revision is important and more often than not a fresh pair of eyes is helpful if not integral top this process.
7. Killer playlists. I swear music just makes things so much better. If your are frustrated you can take a five minute dance break, or maybe you can find a song that reminds you of a moment in your life. Or maybe it just stops you from wanting to throw everything you've written out the window.
8. Don't be afraid to be personal. Sometimes you need to share personal experiences to show people who you are. You don't have to share everything, but don't be afraid to share some personal things. It helps you seem like a real person and helps keep your voice stable and genuine.
9. Write this as if you were writing a story. This helps me become more invested in writing it and in turn makes my essay easier to read. Instead of it being a stiff boring essay, you can add life with metaphors and jokes and memories. You shouldn't lose the structure, you just need to make your voice shine when writing your essay.
10. Make every word count. Don't't just write something to write it, make sure every sentence helps show your voice and answer the prompts.
11. Just breath and remember that you are more than the words you write down. It can get pretty overwhelming trying to fit your life, your entire being into a word limit. So just breath and do your best and give yourself time to do your best. So just breath and if things don't work out one day, come back the next day with new ideas and fresh perspectives. It's important that even though this is such a long process, you just need to take it step by step.

So what are your tips or tricks for writing personal statements?

Motivational Monday #4

Everyone always is talking about how important it is to be yourself. Everyone is always spitting out cliche's about being the best you while never really meaning what they say. I mean what I say. We are constantly afraid of not being enough in a society that seems to put us down every time we show a tiny piece of our true personalities.

At the end of the day, no one matters more than your happiness. You have to live with yourself. Not that cruel evil kid at school, not that stupid teacher that doesn't like you, not that frienemy your circle of people, and not even your parents. Just you. So screw everyone else. Be you. Be happy. You aren't here to be someone your not just to make someone else happy. This is your life and being unhappy and miserable is only going to cause you more pain than being yourself.

It;s hard sometimes to accept yourself, especially when, as I said earlier, everyone is telling you that you aren't good enough. But you have to work on loving yourself and being happy with who you are. So embrace your quirks, eccentricities, your weirdness, those who care about you will love those parts too. So blossom, be you. Be you in the best way you know how. It's okay if you don't know who you are, it's okay to take your time, just do things that make you smile and laugh and bring good things into your life. Because hiding yourself and staying tight in a bud is not how you want to live life. How is anyone ever going to see how amazing you are if you don't ever just blossom?

I got the idea for Motivational Monday from Sprinkle of Glitter

Life Updates: NaNoWriMo

 How's your week been so far? Been keeping busy, busy? I have. I swear I don't think I've ever been this busy in my life.

Anyways, I need to update on what's happening and what I have planned. As I'm sure you've noticed I haven't really been updating my blog. Partly is because of school, partly because I'm a procrastinater and that means sometimes other things overshadow my blog, but mostly it's because of NaNoWriMo. Last month I blogged for an entire month, everyday. And this month i'm attempting to do what so many eager and creative souls are doing, write a novel in thirty days. If any of you guys are doing this, let me know in the comments. We can Writer Buddies! lol You can add me Here

Which brings me to this months expected posting schedule. Chances are I will update once or twice a week for the next month. I will keep up with my review, do bookish posts, and maybe throw an OOTD if i'm feeling really blog-y. And maybe i'll do a NaNoWriMo post. I was thinking of maybe doing a weekly re-caps, advice and rants. I'm not sure yet but let  me know if that's something you guys would like :)

So yeah guys! NaNoWriMo! For those of you doing it, good luck, you guys are awesome!

Okay since i'm going to be somewhat gone for the rest of this month I though I could console y'all with another giveaway. Sound good? Yay!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blogtober: Dear Younger Me

Hey. Hows elementary school going? How's long division coming? If it's not going to well, it's okay, you'll end up using a calculator anyways. What about english? Still writing 6 page essays? Good. It's nice isn't it, writing. I'll tell you a secret, you end up writing more as you get older and *whispers* you even run a blog!!! Amazing I know! Enjoy being in the single digits while you can. Run free and be crazy. Let your imagination run the world around you, reality can wait, when you're this young. I know, I know, you're not "young", but a few years from now, you'll agree. Just don't try to be older than you are. Just stay what you are. You're not too old to play pretend. You're not too old to play hide and seek. So go ahead and just be you're elementary school self!

Middle School. It sucks. I know. And you know what, it doesn't really get much better. You do meet some pretty cool people though. So even if middle school life sucks, just remember you have people. I know you're sad right now. And it's a scary sad. I know that life isn't what you want it to be, and that sometimes you don't know what to do with yourself, and I know this sounds like B.S but just smile because you'll be okay. Maybe a little scarred, a little charred, but okay. I know that right now you probably don't feel like enough. But you are. I promise. It's hard for you to feel that you are, but just keep telling yourself that because one day you'll look in the mirror and believe it. So life sucks now. But don't forget you have people. You have really awesome friends. Some pretty cool siblings. You'll survive and maybe not be wiser, but definitely stronger.

The beginning of high school sucked. I know. I've been there. You were a shy girl thrown into a place where being social is essential to survival. And sometimes people suck and they ignore you, when all you're doing is being nice and three years later you still kind of hold a grudge. And that's okay. That's high school for you. I know you're waiting for some great friends, and that waiting really sucks and whoever says they don't mind it, is lying. Patience is a virtue but it can also be torture waiting. It'll be worth it though. You're friends are awesome. I know you had to leave your old friends, but those who really loved you and whom you loved are still friends with you. Whoever says otherwise is lying to you. So be weird, crazy, wild even, you'll find people who will accept you. Word of advice though, forgive people, but don't forget what they did, it's important to know where you can place your trust.

Alright young me. It's time for future you to get back to her life. The life that is pretty much not what you wanted as a 6 year old, or what you thought high school life would be like when you were in 7th grade. 9th grade me. You got it right, for the most part. Yes, I still go to BHS and no, I did not end up taking 6 AP classes, I'm taking 4. Life is not like the movies. High school especially. And that's okay. You're working hard to get where you want to be. Don't ever be sorry for that.

Love Always,