Do You Suffer From Graphophobia? (Fear of Writing) Help is on the Way!

Is your student a frustrated and/or fearful writer? 

I believe that writing is a process and that all writing is creative writing. Like any art form, looking at a blank page can be intimidating, but taking knowledge, imagination, and creativity to that page can be exciting and rewarding for writers and readers alike.

The following are some of the areas of writing I will address with your student on a one-to-one basis:  

Getting Started.  Many writers get stuck before they've begun. We will identify and strategize what it is about writing that keeps your student from getting started and/or finishing. 

Focus: I prefer the term "focus" in place of "thesis" because I believe that a focus allows a topic room for growth and development. Sometimes we have more than one thesis. 

Audience: Who is the writer addressing? What is the writer hoping/expecting to achieve by addressing this audience? For instance, is your writer trying to convince you why they need a car or writing a paper in support of a local cause?

Tone/Style:  How your writer writes what they write matters. Is the goal to make the reader laugh? Cry? Think?

Editing/drafting: First drafts are .... well, first drafts. Writers write and re-write. We'll address editing strategies and learn the difference between a draft and a finished product.

One of the most important aspects of becoming a good writer is learning to self-edit and self-critique. This means being able to be objective about your own work.

My teaching experience has taught me that most people have a limited number of what I think of as writing "issues." In a non-judgmental and supportive environment, we will work towards helping students gain confidence and learn to approach writing without fear.  

My teaching style: I'm pretty laid back. I like to have fun, especially when learning and honing a skill invites levity. 

Note: This is not a grammar course.  We will primarily focus on structure and content.