Bryn Mawr 101: The Writing Center

Tell us about the mission of the Writing Center and how it supports students’ academic success at Bryn Mawr.

The Writing Center is a place for students to think and talk about writing with their peers. Our mission is to create a culture of writing at Bryn Mawr: to bring writing out into the open, support writers as they grow, and promote agency and confidence. Writing is essential for refining thought, generating knowledge, and communicating with a variety of audiences. At a liberal arts college, nearly every course involves flexing your writing muscles. No matter what you major in, you are a writer.

What kinds of unique resources and services does the Writing Center offer? 

We offer free hour-long individual conferences on any kind of writing assignment, at any point in the process. A conference is basically a friendly conversation with a peer who is trained to listen, ask questions, suggest options, and teach you strategies for pre-writing, drafting, revising, and line editing. We also offer consultations on public speaking—including participating in class discussions—and on essays for advanced foreign language courses.

"Tutors can help writers break large assignments into manageable tasks, set deadlines, and schedule future check-ins."

Another service we provide is accountability. Tutors can help writers break large assignments into manageable tasks, set deadlines, and schedule future check-ins…and the Writing Center is a great space to write! Tell the greeter at the welcome desk that you’ve come in for accountability while you write, set a goal for the work session, and get started. A staff member will keep you on track.

How does the Writing Center collaborate with other campus offices to provide support for students?

The Writing Center staff works closely with Emily Balch Seminar (ESem) faculty and the director of multilingual writing, Kelly Frantz, to support first-year students during the transition from high school to college academic writing. We also collaborate with faculty who teach writing-intensive courses in the majors or advise senior thesis writers. Class deans, access services, reference librarians, and other campus resources often encourage students to contact Jen Callaghan to discuss options for ongoing writing support.

Who makes up the Writing Center team, and what are the best ways for students to connect with them?

The center is staffed by sophomores, juniors, and seniors with a range of academic interests who have been trained to facilitate conferences with fellow student writers. They’re encouraging and non-judgmental. Students can book an appointment online or drop by the Writing Center, on the first floor of Canaday. 

Jen Callaghan directs the Writing Center. Students can email her to set up a time to talk if they're nervous about writing, struggling with writing assignments, or need additional support. She can help set long- and short-term goals and suggest resources for improving your writing.

What should incoming first-year students know about the Writing Center before they arrive on campus?

Seeking feedback is a tried-and-true technique for producing good writing. The authors of your favorite books, articles, poems, and essays all received feedback from a trusted peer at some point before publishing. The trick is to figure out when you find it useful to share work in progress and who is the right reader for you. Experiment by visiting the Writing Center at different stages of the writing process and try new tutors until you find a good fit.

We understand how challenging writing can be. But we also love how satisfying it is to finish an assignment and feel proud of what you said and how you said it. We’re excited to watch you grow as a writer over the next four years, from your first ESem essay to the last paragraph of your senior thesis.