by James Mayo, Department of English

We all approach the writing process differently, and what works for one certainly doesn't work for another. Some, for instance, love the pressure of deadlines, while others feel the pressure is overwhelming at times. It is my belief that student writers should get started as early as possible. Starting early gives students a chance to devote plenty of time to the revision process--proofreading, rewriting, visiting the Writing Lab, having draft conferences with instructors, and so on. Perhaps most importantly, writers who start early enough avoid the stress and anxiety of the deadline, and we all know that students have enough stress and anxiety as it is. So don't make things harder than they should be; just get to it. We all have less time than we like to think.