What to Expect in an SWC Writing Consultation

The Stone Writing Center (SWC) consultants enjoy working with all students on every part of their writing processes. The first few visits to a writing center can be intimidating, and even after it becomes a normal part of your writing process, you may want to get more out of your sessions. This resource offers tips to relieve the stress you may experience when visiting the SWC and help you make the most of your time here.

Consider Your Areas of Focus

Have you ever gone to the doctor, certain that you know exactly what you want to talk about, only to forget during the appointment? This can happen in a writing session, too.

Take a few minutes before your consultation to write out a bulleted list of questions and/or concerns you want to tackle. The consultants are here to help you, and they are happy to work toward addressing your questions and strengthening your ideas.

You might not be able to get through every concern in one session. Keep track of what was talked about in each session. The next time you sign up, you can recall what you still want to address.

Ask Questions

The SWC consultants never tire of questions and encourage you to ask for clarification any time you are unsure of something in your sessions. In fact, SWC consultants love follow-up questions from students and discussions about their writing. Never hesitate to ask for more information when you do not understand something.

Absorb and Apply Feedback Before Re-Submitting

Taking time between each session allows you to tackle a new subject or revisit those areas you are still revising. When you set aside time for multiple sessions and apply revisions in between each, you ensure the consultants address your individualized topics with you every time, so your paper is consistently improving.

You should set aside a few days or more, when possible, to have plenty of time for multiple sessions.

Prepare for a Fresh-Eyed Reader

It is good to work with different consultants throughout your writing process because you get a fresh pair of eyes to look over your drafts. Consultants have different perspectives, so they can catch different things.

Think about the Avengers, for instance. The superheroes have their own sets of skills and are uniquely suited to different kinds of opponents, and they are even more powerful when they fight an enemy as a team, right? In the same way, the more opinions you get on your paper (your opinion included), the more well-rounded feedback you will receive.

Keep in mind it can also be beneficial when your consultant is not an expert on the subject of your writing. You serve as the expert on a subject through your writing, and you are teaching the consultant something new. Your consultant serves as an impartial reader, helping you see the effectiveness of your writing by showing you what a reader learns from your work and offering feedback on making your writing clear to those less familiar with your subject.