​​​​At any point in the writing process, you can schedule an appointment with the Center for Writing and Academic Success (CWAS) to work with a writing coach. Click here to schedule an appointment using WC Online.


If you are in the midst of prewriting, a writing coach may help you...

  • find or develop a prewriting strategy that works well for you
  • find connections between ideas
  • by discussing the topic with you. Some people are verbal processors. If you need to talk through your ideas as part of your prewriting, your writing coach can be a sounding board and provide outside perspective and ask questions for you to consider
  • by guiding you in transitioning from prewriting to outlining

 

If you are in the midst of outlining & planning, a writing coach may help you...

  • develop a thesis
  • structure your outline using the prompt
  • organize your sources
  • provide an outside perspective once your outline has been written before you begin drafting. Your writing coach may discuss with you any questions either of you have about the outline. 

 

If you are in the midst of writing the first draft, a writing coach may help you…

  • Target what you know so that you can focus on writing those first.
  • If you are feeling stuck, the writing coach can provide an outside perspective and help you brainstorm.
  • If you feel like you are generating too many ideas, the writing coach can help you focus your ideas towards your main topic. 
  • Compare your first draft to your outline and discuss any shifts that have occurred and help you re-structure your framework and build direction as you complete your first draft. 

 

If you are in the midst of revising, a writing coach may help you.

  • By providing additional feedback, one of the suggestions for revision.
  • If you feel stuck in terms of improving the flow of your paper, the writing coach may support you by providing resources or strategies to aide you in this area.

 

If you are in the midst of editing, a writing coach may help you...

  • By providing additional feedback, one of the suggestions for editing. Note that writing coaches will not edit for you. However, they can listen as you read the document (or read it to you) and ask questions to draw your attention to errors that you may overlook on your own. 
  • By explaining formatting rules and requirements. They may also refer you to the appropriate sections of the APA Manual or Saybrook Handbook of Format and Style. 
  • By co-developing an editing checklist for your use on your current paper or future papers.​