If I could be honest with you all for a moment, I feel like my writing lacks something. I am young and growing, I know there is plenty of room for improvement, but sometimes I get really down on myself because I feel as if the content I am putting out is lacking in … Well, I don’t really know in what, or else I would have implemented it, ya know?

Something my Odyssey editor likes to say is that there are six golden rules of writing; they are “read, read, read, and write, write, write.” Okay, maybe that sounds like its provolone-extra-cheesy, mozzarella-obvious, but she has a point. If you’re not constantly expanding on the sources you read from, you end up with a narrow view of things. If you’re not consistently practicing your writing skills, you’re aren’t getting better. So, read³ and write³.

With our inevitably busy college schedules, it can be hard to find the time read³ and write³; that’s when I go to the MSU Writing Center. Two heads are always going to get more done than one alone will, and the Writing Center provides trained writing tutors that will team up with your noggin to help you with any kind of writing task you could be set out to accomplish.

The other day I stopped in and spoke with Haleigh Wallace and Laura Estrada. Both ladies are exceptional tutors who work with students in the Writing Center and gave me some insight as to what the Writing Center is and what the goals are there.

Haleigh told me that the Writing Center is “not an editing service,” unfortunately. But like all great establishments, they have a secret menu. While they do not advertise to be an editing service, sometimes folk who really appreciate writing take a guilty pleasure in editing the works of others (I know I do). Maybe we’re a tad bit narcissistic or perhaps we genuinely want to help others become well-spoken individuals. Either way, I do not see this as a negative.

I learned from Laura that the main goal they hope to accomplish when a student comes to the Writing Center for help is to help that student understand what they’re trying to write. At times it is difficult to discern what exactly our professors are asking from us. Plenty of times I have noticed that my own writing may have a lot of good ideas but it is uncoordinated and all over the place. I can say with confidence that these ladies, along with the other wonderful Writing Center staff, would definitely say that their general goal is to get an A on our papers.

The Writing Center can assist in all types of writing assignments. I learned that so far the Writing Center has helped students with their research reports, lab reports, personal essays, appeals, Eureka projects, and even APA format. Also, if you do not have a copy yet, consider acquiring a copy of the book L.B. Brief. This is the Writing Center's equivalent to the Bible.

There are TWO LOCATIONS for the Writing Center. Between Monday and Thursday you can catch them in Prothro-Yeager, room 201B (the upstairs atrium), between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. For those students who could not imagine being awake before 11 a.m., I understand how it could be difficult to get in there. For you guys, Thursday and Sunday, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., the Writing Center apparates to the Moffett Library Honors Lounge.

Lastly, an important thing to remember is that we attend a liberal arts college. Before you thank me for the common knowledge everybody already knows, did you realize how much writing you were going to have to do here? Intellectual curiosity and critical thinking form the foundation of any liberal arts institution. Intellectually curious people who are thinking critically about, well, whatever it is we think about, need to communicate their results effectively and appropriately. Long story short, writing is a vastly important educational tool that Midwestern State loves to employ, and if you ever need help, the Writing Center has got your back.

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