Essay

I want to say that it has been a while since I last wrote an essay, but I have just submitted one. Would I still say 'it has been a while since I last....' or would I have to go further to the past and say: It had been a while ... (Since I want to talk about the time before this essay)? I would say it to warn the reader that there might be some mistakes.

For instance: Sorry, it has been a while since I wrote something like this. (would present perfect work even though I just wrote one essay?) I hope you understand what I mean.

Thank you!