BRENNA MACARTHUR

Writing is an incredibly personal and individualized ritual that over the course of one’s academic life becomes more and more constricted by rules. Yes, these rules allow us to present our arguments to each other in a way that can be understood by all, yet these expectations can sometimes infringe upon our creative agency. However, writing still presents an amazing opportunity for people to express their ideas and reactions to anything and everything they see in the world. The Sweetland Center for Writing presents a unique opening to explore this individuality in writing and help writers harness the rules that dictate our written language and utilize them to the best of their advantage in addition to pushing them outside of their comfort zone. 

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All of this requires a delicate balance. This one word captures the essence of my consulting philosophy. As in everyday life, balance is essential to conducting successful and progressive consultations in the peer-writing center. Too much talking leads to not enough listening and vice versa. At the end of the day (or session in this case) both situations end in missed opportunity. Over time I have come to find there are a few things that guide my consultations in the writing center to help avoid such a misfortune. Among them are open and friendly dialogue, collaboration, and a mix of directive and non-directive techniques, all of which need to be kept in balance.

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More than anything, I believe it is vital to begin the session with a smile. This may sound trivial, but establishing a friendly demeanor with the student upon their arrival sets the mood for the rest of the session. A smile can go a long way in opening up conversation between tutor and student. If the student feels welcome in the center, they are more likely to actively participate in the session without fear of judgment. It is amazing what ideas and inspiration can come out of an open and nourishing relationship. As tutors, we have to nurture and cultivate the inner writer in every student that walks through our doors.

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Furthermore, establishing open and friendly dialogue inspires collaboration. Without collaboration the session would be utterly pointless. In the instance where the tutor puts forward more than the student, the student’s voice is at risk of fading from their piece. In the instance where the student puts forward more than the tutor, the student risks missing valuable insight. Two minds are better than one and the writing center is no exception to this rule. Powerful things happen in twos; two minds, two perspectives, two totally different outlooks that have the same goal in mind: to make a better writer. It is important to remember that you can learn just as much from the student as they can learn from you.

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I’ve never been good at picking one side over another, always seeing the benefits and detriments of each, which is why a mix of directive and non-directive techniques is necessary to balance the session. As a tutor, I see it as my responsibility to guide the student in their writing processes and journey to self-discovery (because all writing in a sense helps us learn more about ourselves). At the same time, it is my duty to refrain from overstepping my role and tainting a student’s ideas with too many of my own. It is a give and take process that often requires a high level of self-awareness in addition to a high level of social awareness. 

 

It is my hope that as a writing consultant I will not only help students become better writers, but that, through their time with me, they will become skilled wielders of the rules that govern our writing so they can better express their own goals and purposes. If a student leaves with a new technique in their bag of tricks, feeling more confident in their writing, or a question to further pursue, I would consider the session a success.