Helping students become better writers

From dissertations to love letters, the Miller Writing Center consultants are ready to assist any Auburn student on any writing project.

Gabby Bates, a senior majoring in creative writing and minoring in Spanish, has worked at the MWC since her freshman year when she decided to get paid to do something her friends already asked her to do.

 
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“I was in my intro to creative writing class and there was this girl that sat in front of me and she very quietly made an announcement that the Miller Writing Center was accepting applications,” Bates said. “I thought it sounded awesome because I was already helping my friends with their writing for free.”

The Writing Center consultant position offers flexible hours and opportunities to take on leadership roles. Bates now works six hours a week and is a lead consultant, which is a position where she does mentoring and helps with staff meetings. She has also traveled to writing center conferences where staff members “meet with people from all over the country and talk about writing center work.”

Although Bates is an English major, the Writing Center hires students in all majors and seeks the broad knowledge base that these varying fields can bring.

“We actually like to have a diversity of majors on our staff,” Bates said. “As long as you’re an Auburn student in good standing you are invited to apply.”

The Miller Writing Center is a free service offered to all Auburn students. Consultants will assist students with any kind of writing at any stage in the writing process, but the MWC is not an editing service.

“Lots of people think that we are an editing service where you can come in, put your paper in front of us and well fix things for you,” Bates said. “We do not do that.”

Instead, the MWC works with students to improve their writing skills.

“It’s rewarding when you have people come back repeatedly and you can see them growing as writers and becoming more confident as writers,” Bates said. “It’s just cool to be a part of that.”

Helping students may be rewarding, but working with writing also helps improve the consultant’s writing skills.

“When I originally applied I said I would do this even if it didn’t pay, and I think that’s still true,” Bates said. “Working with any kind of writing is going to help me with my writing, so in a way I’m getting paid no matter what.”

The Miller Writing Center has six locations and the hours of each can be found on the website.

“You can make an appointment by coming to one of our locations or, as we recommend, you can go to our website and make an account.” Bates instructed. “It’s really easy, and there is actually a how-to video on our website to walk you through the process.”

For more information or to make an appointment visit https://fp.auburn.edu/writing/writingCenter.aspx