What are the best order of steps for completing a personal essay?

Pre-writing:

• Self-Reflection: Reflect on your life, experiences, values, thoughts, and feelings to identify potential essay topics.
• Brainstorm: Generate a list of ideas and moments from your life that may serve as a compelling basis for your essay.
• Narrow Down: Choose the most suitable topic that aligns with the essay's purpose and offers opportunities for meaningful reflection.
• Research (if necessary): Conduct research if your essay involves specific events or topics that require factual accuracy.

Drafting:

• Mind Mapping (optional): Create a visual representation of your ideas and how they connect, forming an outline for your essay.
• Write an Introduction: Introduce yourself, capture the reader's attention, and give a glimpse of what your essay will focus on.
• Develop the Body: Elaborate on your central theme and idea. Present your experiences or points in chronological order or based on their relevance to the topic.
• Include Details: Use descriptive language and precise details to bring your experiences to life and help readers connect with your narrative.
• Show, Don't Tell: Instead of simply stating emotions, use vivid descriptions to showcase your feelings and thoughts to enhance the reader's understanding.
• Incorporate Analysis and Reflection: After recounting experiences, analyze and interpret their significance in your personal growth or development.
• Conclude Gracefully: Summarize the key points of your essay, reaffirm your thesis statement, and leave a lasting impression on the reader.

Revising and Editing:

• Set It Aside: Allow your draft to rest for a while. This will help you approach the revision process with a fresh perspective.
• Review: Read through your essay critically, examining the structure, flow of ideas, and overall coherence.
• Revise: Make necessary revisions to the content and organization, ensuring that your narrative flows smoothly and effectively.
• Edit for Grammar, Spelling, and Punctuation: Pay meticulous attention to grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors.