If you struggle to stay on track with your essay writing and often get punished because you tend to say a lot without really making the valid point, then consider the ‘grain of sand’ approach.

The ‘grain of sand’ approach is where you spend time constructing the one sentence that perfectly explains the central point of your essay. From here, you build out with the evidence, references and other elements, safe in the knowledge that your essay has that focus. This one sentence is known as the ‘grain of sand’.

The grain of sand is also a great way to spark inspiration if you’re stuck for a way to start your essay. It can act as that one building block you need to develop your essay. Equally, if you get stuck at any stage, refer back to the grain of sand and think about whether you’ve sufficiently supported your central point.

As you’re writing the rest of your essay, constantly refer back to your grain of sand to make sure you’re staying focused on your main point. Everything you add to your essay should be linked to your grain of sand. If it seems tenuous, then it’s likely that you’ve strayed too far from the subject.

The grain of sand is certainly a useful tool when it comes to essay writing, but it can be used for other forms of writing. For instance, if you’re writing a novel then your grain of sand might be the revelation you want a certain character to have at some point in the story. Even if you’re writing your CV, you might have a grain of sand which is the one thing you want a potential employer to know about you.