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I Have Writing Anxiety: Here’s How the WRC Helped Me

Nothing I learned as a tutor-in-training prepared me for just how ecstatic consulting with a tutor would make me feel. When I was a first-time consultee, I knew to anticipate valuable, perhaps even radical progress; I did not expect the elation that might accompany it. In retrospect, of course, my exhilaration makes perfect sense: in just over thirty minutes with my consultant, Bianca, we accomplished what would have taken countless hours and crippling amounts of stress and self-doubt on my own. Typically, my anxieties about committing to ideas and sharing my work prevent me from starting to write or asking for help. Making an appointment and working with a consultant allowed me to circumvent these obstacles, freeing my ideas and empowering me to challenge the way I approach the writing process. 

Simply making the appointment helped jump-start my writing process. The appointment date set a deadline ahead of the real one, leading me to prepare material far sooner than I would have otherwise. To avoid the possibility of blanking in the middle of the session, I free-wrote to get as much relevant information out of my head and onto paper as possible. My prep generated far more material than I knew I had. Here, my fear of embarrassing myself when sharing my ideas drastically outweighed my reluctance to begin writing. Ironically, my anxiety helped bypass itself. At the same time, I felt more comfortable writing freely because there was no grade accompanying this deadline. So, while I still maintained anxiety about both my writing and the appointment, even the concept of participating in a consultation began to lessen my anxiety’s effect. 

My seasoned tutor further alleviated my fears, first by skillfully establishing a friendly, open, and safe environment. I arrived at the appointment a bundle of tension and nerves; all of that stress began to melt away as soon as Bianca began to work her magic. She created a comfortable environment with such dexterity that I did not realize she was doing so until well after it had fully materialized. She built rapport through a smooth combination of small talk and conversation. Even this early in the consultation, Bianca assumed the part of the active listener, responding in a way that assured me that if she would listen with care to my thoughts about the weather, she would listen to my concerns about content relevance. Her relaxed demeanor persuaded me I had nothing to worry about. Bianca made it clear that she intended to help as a competent, knowledgeable friend rather than judge as a teacher; in doing so, she assuaged much of my anxiety about showing her my work.

Bianca dealt with my anxiety about committing to ideas by facilitating a conversation adapted to my personality. From the start of our work, she tailored her strategies to my needs by asking what would help me best. We began with writing an outline: I would talk through ideas and she would write them down. This exercise required me to confront my tendency to overthink before I spoke. She noticed this tendency quickly and adopted new strategies to push me through it. Rather than sit in silence while I reached for a thought, Bianca made the brainstorming a conversation. If I could not find the idea I was looking for, she would offer a possibility as a jumping-off point. If I seemed reluctant to express an idea, she would help me phrase it and offer validation. This steady stream of encouragement and facilitation slowly but surely bypassed my anxiety, and I began to trust my instincts more. Thinking out loud made the burden of committing to an idea a shared one, curtailing my anxiety. This conversation concluded with the creation of my thesis statement: alone, I would have agonized over the sentence for hours; with Bianca, it took five minutes. 

Never before have I so easily surmounted my self-doubt in writing, and that is a testament to just how valuable the WRC and its staff can be. I know how difficult it can be to ask for help, but, as the saying goes: two heads are better than one. Sometimes, a friendly face and some time to talk through your work can make all the difference. As a fully-trained tutor now, I continue to book more WRC consultations myself. With all the joy and success they have brought me, I would be a fool not to do so.

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Crafting a Social Media Activism Post

There is no doubt that 2020 has been a year of change. Amid a global pandemic, various civil and human rights movements (most prominently Black Lives Matter) mobilized and reached larger audiences. Now, more than ever, people share their opinions and frustrations over social media in the hope of raising awareness and using their voices for positive change. Some of us, however, struggle to find the appropriate words or message. I often feel stressed over whether I say too much or too little on social media. But by implementing a few common-sense strategies before posting, I now craft more thoughtful, confident, and respectful messages. Thorough research, thinking about the intended audience, carefully composing the message, and proofreading at the end will help create a social media post that is not only well-crafted, but well-informed and powerful.

Do Your Research!

As with any school assignment, know the facts before you sit down to write. Misunderstanding the gravity of the topic or situation will reduce your credibility and might be offensive. Look up current events, catch up on the history behind the movement, and familiarize yourself with the goals of an organization. Reading literature on a specific topic like racism also allows for more in-depth understanding. Check out the WRC’s list of literary recommendations and our Statement of Solidarity with Black Lives Matter.

Additionally, research what an opposing organization might say as you prepare to address an audience. Using evidence from their argument in a new way might especially sway them toward your perspective. By informing yourself of all aspects of an issue, you’ll strengthen your argument and write with more depth and nuance.

Think about the Intended Audience

Are you posting on Instagram to followers who understand the topic well? Are you posting on Facebook to friends who might not be in the loop? Are you responding to someone who has opposing views? To write the most effective post possible, think about who will read this post. Beginning with a detailed history of the movement might make sense if your followers have not taken the time to research it themselves. Be prepared for the possibility that the audience will include someone who disagrees with you. This summer, in fact, I helped a friend respond to a follower’s Instagram story that undermined recent anti-racism movements. People in disagreement may see your response as a personal attack. Even if that is how you feel like acting, explain how their arguments contradict the facts, or how your argument is more inclusive. Make an effort to bring them into the conversation, rather than starting a name-calling match. This will make others more open to talking with you while maintaining the strength and influence of your post.

Craft the Message

The main step, crafting the message, should be done with thought and attention. Use your research and understanding to bring up facts and opinions that demonstrate the importance of your argument. In addition, your language choices are especially important when addressing controversies.  Words hold power in their denotations (primary meanings) and their connotations (positive and negative associations), so take care to use language that is not only correct and widely accepted, but also inclusive and sensitive to historical meanings.

Take your stance with clarity and directness, but be sure to know where you stand within the debate. If you have no personal experience but want to speak out in favor of a movement, just make sure your post doesn’t come off as performative or forced. Demonstrate that you not only support a movement but also have an interest in learning more or changing your behavior.

Social media posts are often paired with pictures or videos. Choose these wisely. There are abundant images on the internet depicting protests or other events that portray the significance of your topic. Images add depth to your post and catch your followers’ eye as they are scrolling through their feed. Just remember that not all images are in the public domain. The W&M Libraries offer some easy-to-use advice for finding copyright-friendly resources for media projects.

Before Posting, Re-Read

Before posting, ask yourself some questions. Is this the message I want to convey? How will these words positively (or negatively) affect someone’s view of the movement? If your words match your intention, post! If not, maybe have a trusted peer or family member help you out. Whenever possible, avoid confusion about your claims. Stand up for these arguments proudly and confidently.

With all of these tips in mind, go forth and craft your thoughtful, well-informed, influential social media post and enter into the conversation about significant moral topics of our day. After all, the world needs more people who take the time to stop, research, and, most importantly, speak out on the complexities of these issues if we are to move forward.

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How My Time at the WRC Affects My Life as a Teacher

The WRC end-of-year party at Prof. Sharon Zuber's house in 2019. Luc Nguyen is in the center (fourth from the left).
The 2019 WRC end-of-year party at Prof. Sharon Zuber’s house. Pictured, from left to right: Zaira Mughal, Jessue Urgo, Sara Franklin-Gillette,  Luc Nguyen, Rachel Wilmans, Genny Thomas, Jackie Keshner, Davis Gold, Bianca Bowman.

When I interviewed for a position as a consultant at William & Mary’s Writing Resources Center during my freshman year, I spoke about my dreams of becoming an English teacher. I said that by helping my peers with their writing, I would be able to build skills that I would need in my future career. I drew upon my experience at my high school’s writing center and marveled at how much my own writing had improved once I was asked to explain good writing to others. The director of the WRC, the great Dr. Sharon Zuber, agreed and hired me.

Now, as a full-fledged English teacher in Fairfax County, I am reminded of my time at the WRC every day. When I meet with students about their writing, I conduct the conference just as I would for a consultation at the WRC. I ask the student to read their paper out loud, paragraph by paragraph. I jot down notes on a piece of scrap paper. I show students how to correct their mistakes and ask them to apply their new knowledge later on. I search for those priceless “lightbulb moments” in which students’ eyes widen and a puzzle piece snaps into place. I even reward students who come see me after school for extra help with a mint or piece of candy, just as I would at the WRC.

But when I think back to my time at the WRC, the memories that are most prominent don’t involve writing conferences at all. I remember afternoons spent behind the welcome desk, shooting the breeze with my coworkers as we waited for our consultees to show up. I remember late night “study sessions” after the WRC had closed, which usually turned into a contest of who could procrastinate on their work in the most creative way. I remember gathering with my coworkers at Dr. Zuber’s gorgeous home on the York River during finals week, soaking in sun rays while singing the praises of our graduating seniors. Don’t get me wrong; the actual “work” of writing conferences prepared me for my future in the classroom. But simply basking in the brilliance of my coworkers was invaluable in that it showed me the importance of supporting one another in the world of education.

Looking back, I realize now how much I leaned on my coworkers. They covered shifts when I had scheduling conflicts and reminded me to submit my payroll forms. They shared treats with me on nights I had missed dinner and comforted me when a consultation went awry. Sometimes, even when I wasn’t scheduled to tutor, I would just sit in the WRC and watch my coworkers work their magic. Everyone was just so brilliant in their own way, and I wanted to soak up every ounce of their expertise.

Teaching is no different. My job would be borderline impossible without the constant support that I receive from my coworkers. I borrow lesson plans and handouts, workshop ideas, and ask for advice about difficult classroom situations. At the end of the year, I realized that nearly every member of the English department had supported me in some way. The success that I have experienced so far is largely rooted in the generosity of my peers, from helping me to rearrange bulky furniture to offering kind words of encouragement at the copier. I hope that I can reciprocate their kindness as my career continues.

For a bevy of reasons, I have always felt a need to prove myself as someone who is capable of succeeding on my own. I suspect others feel the same, especially those at William & Mary. However, the WRC family reminded me about the importance of collaboration and community. As the world becomes increasingly polarized, I hope that others will glean some knowledge from my time at the WRC. To me, the WRC was so much more than a tutoring service. It was a microcosm of the ideal working world, one that collaboratively supported its individual members to reach incredible heights.

Formerly a consultant at the W&M Writing Resources Center, Luc Nguyen currently teaches English in Fairfax County. You can read more of his writing at https://medium.com/@lucnguyen14.