The Rewarding Experience of Being a Writing Tutor

by Samantha Szumloz

Photo by Gabrielle Henderson on Unsplash

Being a writing tutor requires more than just grammar, essay structure, research, and citation proficiency. It calls for a level of patience, humbleness, and compassion. It additionally calls for a desire to explore the self as well as outside perspectives. 

When we take on the title of “writing tutor,” we do not automatically turn into pedagogical guides on high horses, or all-knowing lords with the pen. Rather, we become allies walking hand-in-hand with our clients through their academic obstacles, ceaselessly growing in knowledge along with them. 

​By looking at tutoring writing in this way while stepping into the shoes of the writing tutor, we can become better penners, better thinkers, and better people overall. ​

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Image via Unsplash by Thom Milkovic

Dialogues

First and foremost, tutoring writing can make us contemplate our own styles and modes of scribbling. I have been a writing tutor at my university’s writing center for two-and-a-half years now, and I can say that I have read essays from a variety of academic contexts, including sociological and econometric contexts. Most of my personal readings constitute literary analyses, pop culture reviews, informative articles, flash fiction pieces, and poems, so these genres are not my cup of tea. Even though I have difficulty understanding the content of these papers at times, it is fascinating listening to their authors. Their differing views, strengths, and voices open my eyes to other genres and subjects, inspiring me to go beyond my comfort zones with my own projects and research practices. ​

For instance, I can recall conversing with a sociology student at my writing center about serial killers (I know. It’s a grotesque subject). We yapped about how there are more male serial killers in the public spotlight than women, roping in Aileen Wuornos’s impact on America’s perception of psychopaths. It really got me going. Not only did it further my interest in serial killers within popular culture, but it also inspired me to write my own fictional story involving a female French prostitute and her assassin pals, now published in the literary magazine Villain Era Lit. By listening and contributing to conversations that we would not typically seek out on our own, we can reach another level of inspiration in our writing lives. Tutoring, particularly in writing center spaces, fosters a plethora of conversations yet to spark new ideas for personal creative projects. ​

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Wetting Feet

The responsibilities of a writing tutor can additionally sharpen critical thinking skills fom looking at small potato things like sentence structures to big picture details like paragraph sequences. Carrying out these analyses over-and-over again with authors-in-progress can strengthen our judgments as educators, penners, and even editors, hardening our credibility and professionalism. This process is not easy. It takes loads of tutoring sessions and pedagogical explorations to detect minor and major potholes in writings. ​

I can recall having difficulty articulating to clients what they needed to rework in their papers when I first started out as a writing tutor. It was due to a lack of confidence, a fear that I was going to be picked apart for sounding “unintelligent.” However, I pushed through. The more I held appointments and casually interacted with clients, the less anxiety I felt about my articulations, which made me bolder with my feedback. My newfound boldness even prepared me for editorial positions outside of tutoring, such as my Poetry Editor role with Glassworks.

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Alliances

Tutoring writing can also equip us with the collaborative skills necessary to step into greater synergetic work modes. One of my favorite parts about the tutoring process is jogging clients out of their writer’s block by asking them questions about their objectives and providing concept recommendations for them to conjure up their own ideas. When two parties put their hearts into collaboration and view teamwork as avenues for improvement rather than “forced work environments," we can reach a higher state of being in our workplaces and social circles. What better way to practice our collaborative skills than through a tutoring space? ​

Image via Unsplash by Vardan Papikyan

For example, I had a friend come in for creative writing help a few years ago. She needed fresh eyes on a few prose poems she wrote for her school literary magazine. Since poetry is one of my favorite things to write, I was able to probe her with specific questions, such as, “What themes are you attempting to express through your words?” and, “What is the purpose behind these line breaks?” My inquiries made her contemplate the overall intentions of her poems, motivating her to revise and edit aspects of her writings. And since I was writing my own poetry at the time, I too was able to share some of my poems with her, absorbing her feedback for my own artistic improvement. Thanks to tutorial collaboration, we both attained something that day. ​

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New Voices

Going back to the notion of feelings, I can declare that tutoring writing has made me more understanding in regards to personal challenges outside of academia. A semester ago, I met a foreign exchange student at my work. He needed assistance on a class assignment, but he also needed to rant about American food, American social customs, and his home sickness. I did not stop him from ranting because I knew, for the sake of his mental health, he needed to talk. After the session ended, I was disappointed in myself. I thought I could have done more to help him. I was wrong. A semester later, I shared a class with this particular client. He came up to me, put a hand over his heart, and thanked me for listening to him months ago. It made my day knowing that my work as a writing tutor can be as small as validating people’s thoughts and emotions through open ears. ​

On top of this experience, I have worked with students who manage a variety of disabilities, some struggling more than others. For a season, I helped a journalism student with Cerebral palsy reach out to employers within broadcasting companies by writing out email drafts for him to utilize when applying for positions. It was an angering experience because it opened my eyes to the lack of resources that many disabled folks face from their preexisting support systems. But its challenges made me more aware of the flaws in my surroundings, prompting me to take action. I became one of his advocates — reaching out to disability services and his aid, ensuring that he was getting the proper support he needed beyond what I could offer. ​

Image via Unsplash by Marlis Trio Akbar

Tutoring neurodivergent writers, or writers of different backgrounds, can plant in us the belief that there are more methods of learning, writing, and creative thinking than what is publicly expressed. It can make us see ourselves in dimensions that we have never seen before, providing us with new purposes that not only serve our self-perceptions, but others in our communities. All in all, this practice can immerse us in various human experiences. ​

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The Bottom-Line Truth

I will confess: Tutoring writing is not an easy gig. It is certainly a bumpy ride. There will be days when you can’t help everyone that walks through your door. You may not have the answers to every question your tutees ask. And, like most jobs, there will always be grouchy clients demanding you to do their work for them. Writing is not for everyone, nor is it your obligation to make writing for everyone. The tutoring journey is not a road to sugarcoat, but I will promise you this: If you are determined to connect with other writers, to assist them as best you can using all the knowledge you possess, you will evolve inside and out. ​