Is writing one of those skills that has just never come naturally to you? Do you think you could benefit from advice from one of your colleagues who has been in your shoes?

If the answer is yes, the University of New Haven’s brand new peer tutor service can help you. Called Writer to Writer, it is dedicated to helping students with all types of writing.

Created by First Year Writing Director, Mary Isbell, this program was originally intended to help students who were taking the Writing Proficiency Exam, which was required for students to graduate.

Most sophomores and freshman have probably never heard of the exam because it has completely changed this year, and because of this, Writer to Writer has also changed.

This unique program focuses on the premise of the advantages of peer tutoring. A common question is if the Writer to Writer program is part of the Center for Learning Resources.

The answer is no, but that does not mean the people who work with the program discourage students from using the CLR.

Writer to Writer is different in that it is a program built on student experience. The program aspires to help students who are looking for help from fellow students who have been through what they are going through.

Writer to Writer tutors are a variety of majors, including English, Criminal Justice and Music Industry, Engineering.

Whether you are one of these majors or any other, the tutors will be able to help with your writing assignment.

The Writer to Writer tutors are trained to help with research papers, guided essays, technical memos and other writing assignments, freshman through senior year.

The faculty advisor of Writer to Writer is Isbell, an English professor at UNH and the Director of First Year Writing.

“Peer tutoring is one of the most important things we can do to build a strong culture of writing on campus,” she said.

Writer to Writer fosters a nonjudgmental environment that allows for success. It centers on discussion and conversation about what the writer can do to improve their skills.

“Writer to Writer basically helps kick start the really productive conversations that students might not think to start on their own,” Isbell added.

Writer to Writer is an important alternative to the CLR, said Isbell, in that it provides another way for students to get the assistance they need.

Isbell concluded, “Very few things make me happier than seeing tutoring appointments happen around campus: two students talking about ideas and finding solutions to the challenges presented by college-level writing assignments.”

The ultimate goal of Writer to Writer is to help students who struggle with writing by making them feel more comfortable with the process and attain new skills.

The unique thing about Writer to Writer is that there is no set location. Tutors are located in Westside Lounge, the Bartels Student Activity Center, the Library and more.
Writer to Writer can be followed on all social media with the username “unhwtow.”

Appointments can be made at www.newhaven.edu/writertowriter.