Escape Essay Hell!: A Step-By-Step Guide to Writing Narrative College Application Essays

by Janine Robinson

Escape Essay Hell! is a fast-and-easy guide to writing narrative-style essays for college application essays. Janine Robinson, an English teacher and professional writer who has tutored college-bound students on these essays for years, acts as a personal writing coach to guide and cheer students through this dreaded process.
College admissions "experts" tell students to "Tell a story," or "Make the essay about you!," or "Be an individual." And this is all correct. But no one ever explains exactly HOW they can do this. Until now.
In her motivating guide, Janine takes students through 10 simple steps to find engaging topics and then craft compelling essays using storytelling writing techniques. Students will learn how to identify their unique defining qualities, write engaging mini-stories called anecdotes, and use a powerful Show and Tell writing formula.
Escape Essay Hell! can help students write personal statements and respond to prompts for The Common Application, public university, private college, supplemental, graduate school and scholarship essays.
By following these informative and inspiring steps, students will escape Essay Hell in no time at all--and have their best shot at landing in their dream school!
(For more help on how to spin topics for specific prompts, check out Janine's other helpful guide: "Essay Hell's 2013-14 Prompts Primer: Strategies for The Common App, UC and Other College Application Essays.")

Genres: College, Education

76 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 11, 2013

About the author

Janine Robinson is a freelance writer, editor and teacher from Laguna Beach, California, who coaches college-bound students on their college application essays. Over the past couple decades, she has worked as a staff reporter for top newspapers, including The Miami Herald and The Orange County Register. She also was the editor of a monthly lifestyle magazine for women in Orange County, California, and worked as an editor for several Internet-based education and news sites, including Entrepreneur Media. Currently, Janine is the editor of a luxury lifestyle magazine called Pelican Hill Magazine, based in Newport Beach, CA. She also earned a teaching credential for high school English.

Janine shares advice and tips on how to write personal narratives on her popular blog, Essay Hell, where she helps students learn to craft stand-out application essays for college or scholarship applications.

When she's not working on the computer in her garage-based office, she loves to hike, surf, go birding, do yoga, hit the flea markets, play ukulele, travel and READ!

Reviews

[Raina Saini · Rating 2 out of 5]

good book but did not magically give me my college essay so for that reason it disappointed

[Sparkleypenguin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a great short read to help me with college essay writing because that's something I have to do soon. I'm sure once I sit down and actually look at the prompts and write the essay I will be more thankful for this book. But for now, it was just another thing to get through for school.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the essay book I wish I had written. I will recommend it to many of my students, especially those who are paralyzed by the blank page and "high stakes" of drafting their personal statement.

[Jason Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

excellent practical advice! a must-read for any student applying to college.

[Elizabeth Turlington · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book for a course on how to properly counsel students on their college admission essays. It was concise, well-detailed, and easy to read. I think the "Show and Tell" method as described in this book is a great way for students to work through their essays and get them completed on time and in a stress-free manner. If you're a student and don't know where or how to start your writing process, I highly suggest you pick up this book! It is an incredibly short read and it includes a checklist to make sure you have all the necessary requirements for a good essay and Robinson even includes sample anecdotes to give you an idea of how to start writing.

[Kathaleen Coyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic & easy to follow

I would recommend this book to anyone who has a story to tell, but doesn’t know how to get it on paper. Escape Essay Hell gives an insightful and logical way to structure narrative essays, while artfully drawing out the personal and often overlooked details that help connect with readers. Janine Robinson has created a fantastic guidebook in simplifying and helping navigate college application essays for both parents and students alike.

[Phúc Nguyễn Lê · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really good book for personal question. Recommend it!

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this book as a gift and was eager to read it. I am familiar with the Essay Hell website and have found it loaded with great advice and tips. As the author of a "competing" book on writing essays, I was eager to see how this book's approach matched mine. I found it to be very readable and to-the-point with excellent tips and methods. Finding essay fodder in "the mundane" is critical and her advice on structuring the "story" is right on. The book is indeed short and can be read in a single sitting. This is a good thing. Students today are overwhelmed with a gazillion books and tons of "advice," some conflicting and cannot even begin take it all in. This book gets right to the point, clears it all up, and can be a huge help! Starting an essay is the hardest part of all, and one of the best things about Escape Essay Hell is the collection of many examples of the first paragraphs of real student essays.

[pankaj chandak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Succinct with actionable recommendations

I have used multiple essay writing books, like many others. This books is to the point. It breaks down the overwhelming (hell?) task of essay writing into multiple and specific tasks. I could use it as a template. I wish there were more examples in-line with the 10 step guide. I would recommend this to anyone who is looking to start or revise their essays. Must read, particularly for its succinctness and step by step guidance.

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great resource, and not just for college applications. Robinson does a good job of explaining how to write an engaging narrative essay. Unfortunately her book is marred by a couple copy-editing mistakes, but the advice she gives is sound. Her method will work for college essays, yes, but could also be effective for persuasive writing.

[Luann Mae Holmes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've only read a few books on this topic but I found this one to be concise, straightforward and easily comprehensible. Robinson outlines 10 easy steps with some (not too many) specific examples. After finishing this very short book, I felt completely confident in my ability to help my 12 grade daughter tackle the college application essay.

[Crystal]

It was really good to understand how to write essays.

[Akzh Ka · Rating 5 out of 5]

good!

[Afreen]

Got me into really competative programs. I highly recommend it for slow readers or people who don't have much time.