Have you just started academic writing or have you been struggling for a while? Are you in desperate need of some help with your thesis? Or do you simply need someone to listen to you when you think out loud and organise your ideas? Look no further! The Writing Centre may be exactly what you need. We are here to help you with your academic writing, in all possible ways. In this blog post, we present to you the Writing Centre and its coaches: Luna, Tess, and Sophie.

You may or may not have heard of the university’s Writing Centre, a new part of the Language Centre, which has now been up and running for two months. We would love for you to not only get to know the Writing Centre, but also its coaches. This gives you an idea of who we are and may help you choose when making an appointment with one of us! 

Coach Luna

Hi there! My name is Luna de Rouw and I’m one of the coaches of the UG’s Writing Centre. Some of you may know me from the European Languages and Cultures bachelor’s programme, of which I am currently in the third year. Writing a BA thesis myself, I know how hard it can be to get your ideas on paper. As a coach, I do not only get to help students with this difficult process, but also discover some useful tools for my own use. What a job!

I am 23 years old and have been enrolled in the ELC programme for 4 years now, which means I have some study delay. The cause? Lack of confidence, writer’s block, no inspiration, etc. I have experienced all of these struggles during my studies. In the ELC programme we are asked to write an essay very often, and so I have encountered difficulties with regard to writing many times. I have, however, found some ways to deal with these problems as well. The Writing Centre’s peer to peer coaching programme offers methods for sharing these tips and tricks in such a way that students can apply these in future writing too. By doing so, they bring their writing to the next level and make great and lasting progress. It feels good to help students who, just like me, struggle with writing sometimes and give them the tools they need.

What I like the most about this job is reading all different kinds of texts. A medicine student’s master thesis about an unknown bacteria, or a first year art history student’s paper about some pretty painting, you name it. Every day I discover new fields of study, which makes me realise how big the academic world is. It really amazes me how much there is to learn and it inspires me to continue studying.

I think being a good writer opens up opportunities for you and your academic career. To be able to convey your message in an engaging way, gives you the power to really make an impact. Having a smart idea is the first step, but sharing it with the world requires a set of skills you might not yet have, or do not feel very confident about. If you have a great idea, but you don’t know how to get the words down on paper, you are more than welcome to join me or one of my colleagues for a session at the Writing Centre. Looking at your work together can make it much easier and more fun than doing it alone!

Coach Tess

Hi everyone! My name is Tess and I am one of the three writing coaches of the Writing Centre. I am 23 years old, and in 2020 I started the BA English Language and Culture. During these three years I have grown to love medieval literature, and this has followed me all the way into my Master’s programme Literary Studies (Track Writing, Editing, and Mediating). 

As a student of English L&C the writing component is very significant. Immediately from the start of the first year I have had writing modules and these extended all the way into a large part of the second year. This allowed me to not only gain writing skills, but also become familiar with the many struggles that come with it. Like many students I have had issues with argumentation, writer’s block or just not knowing where to start at all. Over the years I have realised that I am not the only student experiencing this, yet at the beginning I sometimes felt like I was and everyone around me was doing fine. This is what I like about the Writing Centre: the fact that we are students allows us to relate to these struggles, which can reassure students that they are not alone. I think it’s safe to say that every student has experienced struggles with writing at some point in their career, and it’s important for them to know that it’s normal and they can always ask for help. Struggles with academic writing are a university-wide phenomenon, which is why we as coaches are able to help students from every faculty! 

Especially now with some years of experience, I have really grown to appreciate the writing skills I have gained so far and am now very aware of its value. It is so important, not only within but outside of academics too, to have a good skill set in writing, because it’s useful everywhere. Whether it’s a thesis, a short paper or a motivation letter for a job or internship, writing skills will make the difference in how you bring across your point. The Writing Centre can help you further develop these skills. Often I find that students definitely already have the knowledge, they just need that bit of help to get it on paper which, understandably, is hard! Luckily we are here to help with that.

If you’re looking to improve your writing skills in a peer-to-peer way, where there is time and space to discuss what you need, don’t hesitate to book an appointment!

Coach Sophie

Hi everyone! I am Sophie. Let me start by saying: I didn’t always enjoy writing. When I first started university, writing assignments often left me feeling overwhelmed. I’m now 22 years old and in the final year of my bachelor’s in European Languages and Cultures (just like Luna). Before this study, I completed a bachelor's degree in American Studies. A programme I truly loved. It introduced me to a wide range of historical texts, cultural theories, and critical perspectives. This all came with their fair share of numerous writing assignments. Both of my degrees are part of the Faculty of Arts within the RUG. If there’s one thing you can count on in this faculty, it’s writing. Whether it’s a short essay or a full-scale research paper, writing is at the core of most courses. Sometimes I was guided by a specific topic, and other times I was free to decide everything myself. While that freedom can be exciting, I know from experience that it can also feel like a lot to handle.

When I began university, I often had a very clear idea in my head of what I wanted to say. The arguments made sense, at least, in my thoughts. But when I tried to put them on paper, things quickly became messy or unclear. I’d reread what I had written and realise it didn’t quite reflect what I meant. That happened more often than I’d like to admit, and it made writing feel frustrating and even a little discouraging at times. Looking back, I would’ve really appreciated having someone to think along with me. To help me clarify my thoughts, and guide me in developing my writing skills. At the time, that kind of support wasn’t easily available. Now a few years later, I’m glad to be in a position at the Writing Centre where we as writing coaches can offer that space to other students. 

Over the years, writing has become something I value deeply. Not just as an academic requirement, but as a skill that is also helpful in my daily life. I have come to enjoy the process of shaping ideas in my thoughts out on paper. It is almost like a little puzzle. I have learned that writing doesn’t have to be something you figure out all on your own. Writing isn’t about getting it right the first time. It is a process. Something that improves with practice, feedback, and a little guidance along the way.

How do we help students? 

Well, that depends! As our coaching sessions are one to one, you get a fully personalized treatment. Doesn’t that sound luxurious? Putting all jokes aside, it really is a unique treatment that you get. Every student is different, and every coach is different. This makes the interaction and the outcome of each session unique. Booking sessions with different coaches can also lead to different outcomes of the sessions. This is why you are definitely encouraged to talk to all three of us if you want to.

What makes our coaching really stand out is the freedom it offers. Instead of focusing solely on completing a specific task or fixing individual mistakes, we look at the bigger picture of your development as a writer. This approach allows you to see your strengths and challenges not just in one assignment, but as part of your overall growth. Each time you work with us, you’ll hopefully learn something new that can be applied to your next writing challenge. Whether it’s organizing your ideas, connecting paragraphs, improving your argumentation or research question, the goal is to help you become a more confident writer. We also know that that doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a process, and we’re here to support you every step of the way.

The one thing that is always the same, is the non-directive way of coaching that we handle. We will never tell you what to do, or what ‘is best’, because there often is no right or wrong. Writing is a matter of style and everybody has different preferences. We as coaches are not perfect either, as there is always room for improvement. We keep in mind that you are the author of your text and that you will always be. Meanwhile, we try to challenge you to take on a different perspective when you look at your own writing. Try to imagine you were someone else reading your text, what would you see? What is clear and what is less clear? How do you think a reader might perceive your tone or your style? How do you feel about that? These are possible questions that we could ask a student to take a critical look at their own writing.

Some students already know what is wrong, but have not come up with any solutions yet. Others have never taken the time to consider other possibilities, and are stuck in a tunnel vision. And some students simply don’t know where to start, being completely consumed by the stress or the difficulty of the topic. Looking at the text together in a safe space with no distractions or time pressure, can simply be all they need. The beauty of this approach is that it removes the pressure to “get it right” in one go. Therefore we hope to create a relaxed environment where you can explore and grow as a writer without feeling judged or pressured.

We also believe that writing is a skill you get better at the more you practice. That’s why we’re here for you throughout the whole year. You can make up to 5 appointments with us per writing assignment. Let’s say you have had a few sessions with us for an essay during the first semester, but would like some help again when writing your thesis in the second. You can! Every writing assignment is different and may therefore propose its own difficulties. Whether you want feedback on a draft, help with a specific section, or just want to chat about how to level up your writing process, we’ve got you covered. Whatever it is that you need, wherever you are in the process of becoming an academic writer, and in whatever way you want to become a better writer, does not change how happy we are to help you. So why not try it? It is free, easy and possibly very useful. We hope to see you soon!