Month: September 2026

Hi all!

I have been thinking about this topic recently! As someone who works in the Writing Center AND is going through school to become a teacher, I find myself wondering how I can convince others (who don’t enjoy writing or find it hard to enjoy when it’s a challenge) to believe that writing really does matter.

If we couldn’t or didn’t write for school, we would not learn how to apply ourselves better in the professional settings we will eventually be working in. Medical, educational, business, and many other fields require real attention to our ability to write as effectively as we can. Even how professional things like your resume are written will matter, so your growth as an educational writer is a stepping stone to that part of your life!

If we couldn’t or didn’t write in our everyday lives, we would not be able to communicate efficiently with the people around us; our writing would stop us from expressing ourselves in intentional ways, and we might find it difficult to read as well. Writing is so important to our everyday communication and function; we don’t even realize what all we do that requires it. It’s important not to take for granted our knowledge when it comes to writing, because it adds so much value to our lives.

I am curious: what are your beliefs and thoughts on writing? Has academic writing soured your beliefs about it? Why?

Don’t forget to appreciate how amazing your writing is, no matter the grade you get for it or what your writing is for, because you are doing something that has taken years to develop, and it’s something that will ALWAYS get better. Stay positive about your writing!

~ Lauren

Hi Writers!

It may sound silly, but a lot of students struggle to properly format an email. Since emails are a formal, professional method of communication, it is important to know what the proper formatting for an email is!

Subject Line/Header

All emails should have a subject line, which could also be regered to as a header, or a title. This should be succinct, as it should get across the purpose of the email to the recipient without overwhelming them with information. They will read that information when they read the body of the email.

Salutation / Greeting

After you write the subject line, the first line of your email should contain a salutation or greeting. If you know the person well you could use [Hi (name),], but in more formal settings, you should stick to [Dear (name),].

Introduction

Beofre you get straight to the point of your email, it is polite to introduce yourself to the person if they do not know you, or wish them well. Then, you should state the main point of the email within the first few lines.

Body

In the body, you should write (in paragraph form!) any other information you need to share with the person you are sending the emial to, or ask any questions you are asking this person.

Call to action

If you are asking something of the recipient, you should do so near the bottom so that they have a higher chance of remebering it. If the informaiotn or action needed is time sensitive, set a date and time you need the information done by, and supply it at the bottom as well

Sign off and Signature

Before you rush to hit send after writing the body of the email, you need to sing it off somehow. The default in professional settings tends to be:

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

but the word [sincerely] can be swapped for other things. For example, I like to use [Best Wishes]. Once you proofread, you should then be good to send our your email!

Hopefully this guide can help you to elevate the quality of your emails!

 

Happy Writing!

~Cam

 

 

Hi Writers!

Writer’s block can be the bane of my existence sometimes, and I’m sure it can be for some of you out there as well. Weather you’re writing for fun, or for an assignment, getting out of writer’s block can feel impossible. Here are some tips I’ve come up with that have helped me to get out of writer’s block:

Change your Environment

I’ve found that sometimes when I get stuck while trying to write, simply changing something about the environment I am writing in can help. Sometimes, this means physically moving to a different location. This may include a different location in my apartment, or somewhere outside of home like the library! Additionallt, I’ve also found changing some thigns about the area I am already located in can help. For example, changing the lighting (for me, I specifically work better in darker environments), playing some background music, or even lighting a candle are all things that have helped to pull me out of writer’s block.

 

Just Write Words

It might sound painstakingly simple, but you just have to force yourself to write. Put words on the page without worrying about if they’re good enough or stopping to edit along the way. As long as you can get something written down, you can always make it perfect later!

 

Take a Short Break

It may be benefical if you find yourself really stuck to just step away for a little bit. Clearing your head, eating a snack or a meal, or going for a short walk all may be beneficial in breaking writer’s block. At a certain point, anything is better than staring at a blank page with absolutely no idea what to do with it!

Hopefully, if you ever find yourself in writer’s block, any combination of these strategies may help you to break out of it.

Happy Writing!

~Cam

Hi Writers!

The Writing Center is open for the Fall 2026 Semester!! Our hours are the same as less semester, which in case your forgot are:

Monday-Thursday: 12:00pm – 8:00pm

Friday: 12:00pm – 4:00pm

As a reminder, we have three different types of appointments! In person, Zoom, or asynchronous online appointments. You can book any of these through Starfish, or for an in person appointment you can just walk right in as well!

The Writing Center is student run and student led, meaning that all of our tutors are students! We are here to provide one-on-one per feedback for any kind of writing, in any stage of the writing process, because every writer needs a reader!

We look forward to seeing you at the Writing Center this semester!

Happy Writing!

~ Cam 🙂