Writing Center

About us

The Writing Center is staffed by Writing Center Consultants, who are available to help you with any kind of writing project at all stages of work. You may come in with an idea or a finished draft. We are open on a drop-in basis. You are also welcome to work in our space at Ford 105 any time! For accommodations, please call us at 503-370-6959.

Hours

• Monday: 9 a.m.–9 p.m.
• Tuesday: 9-11 a.m. and 1-9 p.m.
• Wednesday: 9 a.m.–9 p.m.
• Thursday: 9 a.m.–9 p.m.
• Friday: 9 a.m.–7 p.m.
• Sunday: 11 a.m.–5 p.m.  

Our Mission

The Willamette University Writing Center exists to foster a writing culture on campus through the following activities:

• Consulting with writers on all kinds of writing and at all phases of composition;
• Studying the processes of writing and response to writing in order to increase our ability to work effectively with writers;
• Generating material on the processes of writing and on the structure, style, and mechanics of written texts, and providing this information to the campus;
• Encouraging expression in all written forms including analytic, artistic, expressive, and informative;
• Providing support for literary and writing-oriented organizations, clubs, and departments;
• Providing an informal link among students, faculty, administrators, and other campus resources on issues related to writing.

What to expect in a writing consultation

A consultation is a face-to-face, one-on-one meeting between a writer and a writing consultant to talk about a writing project--anything from a College Colloquium paper to a senior thesis. Sessions usually last about three-quarters of an hour (major projects may take longer). Writers can bring in all types of work, from science projects to free-verse poetry, and consulting can occur at any stage of the writing process--before any drafting has begun or after the work has been graded and returned.

Don't worry, we are not going to "tear apart" your paper. We are outside readers who will let you discuss the issues you want to discuss, give you feedback to help you focus on your writing, teach you techniques that can make you a better reviser, and ask you direct questions that will challenge you to think about your project. We are friendly and constructive in our criticisms, and we will not hesitate to point out what is good about your writing.

What to bring to a consulting session

You don't need to bring much to an appointment at the Writing Center. Just bring your writing project to date (which may be only notes or ideas), and an open mind. Also, please think about what you especially hope to accomplish in the session so we know where to focus. If your project is for a class, try to bring the assignment; that way, we know exactly what you've been asked to do. Likewise, if it's for an application, try to bring the form or instructions.

Staff

In the Center, you will find:

• Consultants— the Writing Center's most important resource!
• The consultation room— a sleek new space with writers' handbooks, books on writing in particular fields, dictionaries, style manuals and many other resources. You're invited to come in here and write, and to meet here with Writing Center Consultants.
• The Director, Annette Hulbert — Students who are grappling with certain aspects of their writing — above and beyond individual assignments — are welcome to set up a meeting with the Director to discuss the writing process and strategies.