About the Program
The Madison Writing Assistance (MWA) program offers free, one-to-one writing support for community members at libraries and neighborhood centers throughout the city (see map at the bottom of this page), and now online. Our friendly, experienced instructors are happy to help people with their writing across a wide range of genres, including resumes, cover letters, application essays, grant proposals, creative writing, and various forms of life writing.
Read more about MWA in Madison Public Library’s Impact Story, “Writing the Future You Want.”
MWA services are made possible through generous donations from the Evjue Foundation, the UW Anonymous Fund, and Altrusa International of Madison, along with administrative and program support from the UW-Madison English Department, the UW-Madison Writing Center, and our library and neighborhood center partners.
Hours & Dates of Service
MWA’s fall term will run from Monday, September 16 through Saturday, December 7, with the exception of November 28-30. MWA writing coaches will be available for consultations at the times and locations listed below.
Mondays
4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Lakeview Library
Tuesdays
10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Goodman South Madison Library
Wednesdays
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Meadowood Neighborhood Center (partner site with Job Shop)
Thursdays
4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Hawthorne Library
Fridays
3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Sequoya Library
Saturdays
1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Goodman South Madison Library
Monday-Thursday
Appointments by request
Video chat (Zoom) + Email
Schedule an Appointment
Meet with us in person
Madison Public Library branches
Step 1: Check the Madison Public Library events calendar to see when and where Madison Writing Assistance is available.
Step 2: Click on the date and time you want in the calendar, and select “Sign up/Register.”
Step 3: Call your selected library branch with any questions about your registration, parking, and public health policies.
Meadowood Neighborhood Center
Step 1: Visit the Meadowood Neighborhood Center between 10:00 AM and 12:00 PM on Wednesdays.
Step 2: Check in with the JOB SHOP inside the Center for additional guidance and resources for job hunting.
Meet with us online
If you can’t make it to one of our public locations, you can still discuss your writing with us via video conference or email.
How to make an online appointment
Email us at mwa@writing.wisc.edu to schedule an online appointment. In your message, please include the following information:
- Your name
- Available days/times
- Brief description of your writing project
We will respond to your email within one business day to confirm an appointment time.
Email appointment policies
Your writing coach will provide feedback within one business day of your scheduled appointment. Your coach will spend approximately 45 minutes reading and commenting on your writing. If you share a long piece of writing, please indicate as specifically as possible what you would like receive feedback on.
Accessibility
The Madison Writing Assistance program is committed to making its tutoring service accessible for all Madison-area writers, both in-person and online. If you would like to request accommodations (for example, ASL interpretation), please contact us at mwa@writing.wisc.edu.
MWA Staff
Administrative Staff
- Seth Umbaugh, Associate Director
- Jay Lowe, Assistant Director
- Ellen Cecil-Lemkin, Coordinator
Contact Us
If you have a question for MWA staff, you can email us at mwa@writing.wisc.edu. You can also follow us on Facebook!
Map
View Madison Writing Assistance locations in a map of the city. Click a location for more information!