Take Notes, Record What Clients
Say
Get clients to talk about their ideas, what they want to convey
in their essays. When they do this, write down what they say.
Convert their spoken words into writing. Then read back to them
what they said. Oftentimes, with a little tinkering, you can use
their words to come up with thesis statements, or even lengthier
passages to be used in their essays. Often you’ll read back to them
what they've said, and they’ll be surprised at how articulate it
is.
Along those lines, make sure you and the client always have a
pen and paper ready for each session. The client should have a pen
in hand or the laptop in front of her so she knows she is the one
who owns the paper and will be doing the bulk of the session
work.
You’re Not an Expert—You’re a
Guide, a Facilitator, a Peer
Don’t ever begin to think of yourself as the Grammar Expert or
the Writing Guru. You are a collaborator, one with more writing
experience than the client, but a collaborator nonetheless. A good
way to reinforce this is to get up during a session, grab a
handbook, and spend some time looking up answers with the
client.
Lower Order Concerns and Reading
Out Loud
There will be times when you and the client will look at local
concerns in the text. Ask the writer to read the text aloud and you
might be amazed at how many errors they are able to spot on their
own. Also, try to get the writer to pay attention to wherever he or
she hesitates during the course of her reading.
It does indeed make sense to help writers proofread their work.
Just make sure that you and the client are working together to help
identify errors.
Always Stay on
Track
While it can be important to have free flowing conversations
with clients—this is supposed to be fun, after all—be wary of
wasting the session with talk unrelated to the task at hand. Many
times writers will feel reluctant to dive into the assignment. And
sometimes Writing Counselors will feel reluctant to get to work
tutoring! This often results in two people having a great time
chatting about anything but the writing task. It’s your job to keep
the session focused on the client’s needs as a writer.
Collaborating with
Peers
Don’t think of yourself as an expert with all the answers.
You’re a guide, a facilitator. Most of all, you’re a collaborator,
someone having a conversation with a fellow student about ideas and
writing. Before, during, or after a session you should always feel
free to ask another WCer for advice or suggestions. Your actions
are you modeling learning methods: asking others for help, looking
things up together, planning your time, etc.