The Writing Center

University of Wisconsin–Madison

Welcome to the UW–Madison Writing Center!

Every writer needs a reader. We support students working on all kinds of writing projects. Learn more about our appointments, workshops, writing mentorships, and writing groups. 

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We’d love to meet with you! You can schedule all individual writing appointments through WCOnline, our online scheduler. We offer in-person appointments at our Main Center and satellite locations, as well as Virtual Meetings and Written Feedback. Click the “Learn More” button to set up a WCOnline account and to find the appointment that’s right for you.

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Black History Month

Dr. Monica M. White is Associate Professor in Environmental Justice and Gaylord A. Nelson Distinguished Chair in Integrated Environmental Studies.

Happy Friday, and welcome back to the Writing Center’s celebration of Black History Month! All February we are featuring writing profiles of Black faculty and administrators across UW-Madison’s campus. This week we’re spotlighting Dr. Monica M. White, Associate Professor in Environmental Justice and Gaylord A. Nelson Distinguished Chair in Integrated Environmental Studies. Swipe through to learn about Professor White’s writing process and see some of her favorite spots to work! Below is her full response: My relationship to writing is complicated. There are days when the words flow smoothly from my head, to my heart, to my fingertips, onto the page. Other days, every word is a search through the rough to be found, polished, and integrated into the flow. Scholarly writing is also a conversation between me and the scholars who have come before me. Because I am an ethnographer, I must take special care in the way I depict the words, ideas, thoughts, and actions of people who have let me into their lives. This process includes moments of joy, happiness, tears, and sometimes anger, but ultimately, always, passion. And when I transmit that passion, I believe, my readers feel, not the emotions of the writing process, but the ideas and feelings I have come to share. Thanks for reading, and hope to see you all next Friday for our final Black History Month spotlight!

Black History Month

Dr. Diane C. Gooding is a Professor in the Department of Psychology.

Welcome back to the Writer Center’s celebration of Black History Month, featuring our final February spotlight! This week we’re spotlighting Dr. Diane C. Gooding, Professor in the Department of @uwpsych. Swipe through to learn about what Professor Gooding writes and what her writing process and rituals entail! Below is her excerpted response-- see the full version on our FB page! As a professor and research scientist, writing is integral to my job and my professional identity. Writing allows me to teach on a larger scale and for a longer time frame. After conducting a scientific investigation of risk factors for schizophrenia, or precursors of later psychosis, I have to disseminate the findings. In the world of science, to make a lasting impact, you must document what you’ve done. As scientists, we write, submit our work for critique, and then revise. It’s essential to be open to feedback and to use it constructively to improve your work. It’s equally important to write clearly when communicating to others about their research so that I can help them to advance the field as well. Writing about my research requires a different style of writing than writing a more theoretical paper. In either case, however, it’s necessary to communicate as clearly as possible. Do not be afraid to revise your work several times before submitting it. My writing is accompanied by a few rituals associated with the creative process, and the process of revision. I typically listen to music while writing, though the type of music varies with the task at hand. Writing incisively and persuasively can be challenging so it’s important to nurture oneself while engaging in it. I also like to drink tea, preferably from a favorite mug or a pretty teacup, while writing. I also use my writing to help recruit research participants. Regardless of whether the potential participants are from a general or specialized group, I write as though I am speaking directly to someone. I write with intention across all the types of writing that I do. Thanks for celebrating Black History month with us and learning about writers across our campus. Next week begins our Women’s History Month spotlight!

Black History Month

DeVon L. Wilson is Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the College of Letters & Science.

Welcome back to the Writing Center’s celebration of Black History Month where we’re sharing writing profiles of Black faculty and administrators from across campus. This week, we’re featuring DeVon L. Wilson (@devonlwilson), Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the College of Letters & Science! Swipe to learn what Dean Wilson writes and what helps him do it. Below is his full response. As a person who grew up in a culture centered in oral traditions, I have found writing in my professional and personal life allows me to reach a broader audience whether I am working on a blog for my podcast; peer reviewed manuscript; strategy document to advance institutional goals in diversity, equity and inclusion; or responding to acts of injustice. However, I still seek to draw from the communal feeling that is inherent in those oral traditions. Therefore, I have found that participating in writing groups or having an accountability partner is critical to my approach to the writing process. Shoutout to those who’ve been an inspiration on those early morning Zoom sessions! See you next Friday with a new feature! Until then, Happy Black History Month!

Black History Month

Dr. Fabu Carter is Senior Outreach Specialist for the Wisconsin Alzheimer's Disease Research Center. Dr. Carter is also an accomplished poet and storyteller. She writes under the name Fabu and was the Madison Poet Laureate from 2008-2011.

This February, we’re celebrating Black History Month at the Writing Center by spotlighting Black faculty and administrators across campus! Our first profile is of Dr. Fabu Carter, Senior Outreach Specialist for the Wisconsin Alzheimer's Disease Research Center. Dr. Carter is also an accomplished poet and storyteller. She writes under the name Fabu (@poetfabu) and was the Madison Poet Laureate from 2008-2011. Swipe through to learn about what motivates her writing and what tips she has for writers! Dr. Carter’s full responses are below. “I immerse myself in the culture, stories, aesthetics, world view and literatures of Black people from Africa to America and everywhere we live and breathe. I combine all this with my personal experiences and then I write. My creativity as a child, helped form me into the poet I am today. I write to encourage, inspire and remind. When I don’t write, I don't feel as well. Writing is as necessary as breathing. I’m always participating in the creative process of writing; whether it is reading, laughing, researching, thinking, experiencing or writing in my head before I put words on paper. Writing is my strong voice in an American society that prefers to ignore most of who I uniquely am. We all have a purpose to discover, embrace and enjoy. My purpose is to use words for love, justice and to cause people to think more deeply about who and what is truly important. Writing is necessary communication, whether it is writing down a scientific observation, composing a love letter, formulating an essay, creating a poem, or a book that changes everything, we all need to write.” Thanks for reading and come back next Friday to check out our next Black History Month spotlight!

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