Howdy folks, Lauryn here.
This just in: be on the lookout for some bright orange pumpkin eggs scattered about campus! We tutors have placed eggs all over campus for you to find!
When you locate an egg, crack it open and bring it to the Writing Center to redeem a cool prize!
Happy hunting!
Hi readers, Lauryn here. I am bringing to you exclusive book recommendations from your favorite blog writers: Jake Long and Lauryn Everly.
Lauryn’s Book Recommendation: The House on Mango Street
A deeply poetic and moving kind-of-sort-of YA memoir, The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros follows a young girl by the name of Esperanza, as she grows up in a shabby house on shabby Mango Street. Young Esperanza faces a plethora of trials and tribulations as she hopes and dreams of someday having a real house of her own, far away from her rundown town. Mango Street offers poignant, poetic snapshot chapters of what it’s like to come of age as a young girl–the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Jake’s Book Recommendation: The Count of Monte Cristo
In “one of the best revenge books ever written” (-Jake), we follow the protagonist, Edmund Dantes, through false imprisonment and a journey for treasure. The book is incredibly raw and never holds back. Dantes, something of a Robin-Hood figure, is an extremely well-written character, and the entire book makes for an overall extremely exciting read.
We hope you enjoy our books! Comment down below if you love these books.
Stay frosty, cool cats.
-Laur
There are many ways to say goodbye but the variety doesn’t make the goodbye any easier. Here at the writing center, we would like to inform our readers that our fellow Tutor, Carson Bolash, has recently left his position as tutor. I know that some of you may be worried that his writing expertise will be put to waste, but do not fear, he is pursuing a English teaching degree and plans on continuing his pursuit of english excellence in a classroom of his own, where he hopes to find the next Hemingway or Poe. Carson’s contributions to the writing center have not gone unnoticed, his Tiktoks always put a smile on the faces of viewers and his advice always soothed the hearts of his students. And we as a whole would like to say thank you for all you have done for the Writing Center.
“I don’t know what to write.”
“I don’t know how to get started.”
Hey all, Lauryn here. Even as a fourth-year English major, I, just like you all, experience bouts of writer’s block. Additionally, writer’s block is something that we are very often asked about at the Writing Center.
So… what can we do about it? Well, there are a few different things you can try. And I’m going to name a few, just for you! Let’s get started.
Sometimes, a change of scenery can do wonders for your mindset. New sights and sounds can spark fresh ideas. Personally, I like to write in the library; the environment always makes me feel more productive.
Whether you’re writing creatively, or don’t know where to start with your research paper, writing down your stream of consciousness can be a great way to spark some ideas. Set a timer for a few minutes and write down everything you’re thinking about. Every single thing. It might help you think of something new!
I am a firm believer in learning by example. Finding a mentor text to use as a model for your own paper can be incredibly useful, especially if you’re stuck on formatting. Remember to use mentor texts responsibly! Always cite information you find elsewhere.
If you’re stuck, try discussing your ideas with a friend, a classmate, or… a Writing Center tutor! Talking through your thoughts can sometimes help you figure out where you’re headed. A fresh perspective could be exactly what you need to get on the right track.
We get it, sometimes you end up writing a whole paper in one night. But that stress might be what’s holding you back and blocking you! Instead of forcing yourself to write a whole lengthy paper in one sitting, give yourself the time to do it in chunks. Plan accordingly and try for a paragraph a day. Taking breaks and pacing yourself can help when you really aren’t feeling a whole paper.
So… did that help? I hope it did!
Remember, you aren’t alone in the writing process. Schedule your appointment at the Writing Center today and talk through your writing struggles.
That’s all for now!
-Lauryn