In Need of a Writing Tutor?
My son can write, he just can’t get started. When my husband tries to get him to outline he says, “how can I know what I’m going to write until I’ve written it?” Usually our “discussions” about writing descend into arguments. Is there anything you can do to help?
The whole family shudders when we find out that our daughter has an essay assignment. It means lost weekends and some very unhappy nights. I don’t know what to do to help her get motivated. She’s a bright girl, but she seems to have some sort of block when it comes to essay writing. Can you help?
I’ve just been informed that my son’s essay is due tomorrow. He claims he’s been working on it in class, but I have that sinking feeling in my stomach. I’m on a tight deadline myself and anyway, I’m not a very objective judge of his writing. Can you help at this late date?
My new job requires me to do a lot more writing than I’m used to. I always hear that employers are unhappy with the quality of writing they see in the office, so I’m nervous. Is there anything you can do to help me with my new job requirements?
It looks like you can relax, now.
Scribe Tutor offers one-on-one tutorials, webinars, and free tips and tricks, all focused on helping you and yours write better.
From the sticky note links above you can find information on how to set up tutoring for students of any age, access college and adult-focused webinars on specific writing challenges, read testimonials from former students, and order services. You’ll also see the link for the free tips and tricks—a page we add to regularly.
You can learn more about who we are in the About Us link in the menu above along with details appearing on the new tutors as they join us. In the sidebar you can find links to some of the writing our tutors have published as well as a full-service writers cooperative, in case you’re looking for a different kind of writing help.
If you don’t see what you’re looking for, don’t hesitate to email.
Striking Fear in the Hearts of Parents Everywhere
Why college grads can’t write — Joanne Jacobs.
The above blog post is sobering and sad. It’s also true.
I taught high school English for a decade and know how hard it is to get kids to write well. It’s not impossible, it’s just difficult. And it’s not something a parent can or should necessarily do. Writing is intensely personal, especially to teens and young adults, and when a parent tries to tutor, buttons can easily be pushed.
However, working with a tutor, especially a tutor who works with both the student and the parent, can save hours of tears and frustration. That’s one of the things makes our services different. We’re teachers by trade–not guns for hire–and know how to listen to parents and offer them strategies to help their child. We also know how to listen to kids and enjoy working with them–in person or virtually–and watching their writing improve.
If you have questions about the services we offer or need to tailor a program to your child’s individual needs, don’t hesitate to email..
10 Tips on How to Write Less Badly – Do Your Job Better – The Chronicle of Higher Education
10 Tips on How to Write Less Badly – Do Your Job Better – The Chronicle of Higher Education.
This article from the Chronicle of Higher Education is aimed at college age students, but don’t let that stop you from taking a gander.
In fact, let me show you a bit:
4. Give yourself time. Many smart people tell themselves pathetic lies like, “I do my best work at the last minute.” Look: It’s not true. No one works better under pressure. Sure, you are a smart person. But if you are writing about a profound problem, why would you think that you can make an important contribution off the top of your head in the middle of the night just before the conference?
Writers sit at their desks for hours, wrestling with ideas. They ask questions, talk with other smart people over drinks or dinner, go on long walks. And then write a whole bunch more. Don’t worry that what you write is not very good and isn’t immediately usable. You get ideas when you write; you don’t just write down ideas.
The articles and books that will be read decades from now were written by men and women sitting at a desk and forcing themselves to translate profound ideas into words and then to let those words lead them to even more ideas. Writing can be magic, if you give yourself time, because you can produce in the mind of some other person, distant from you in space or even time, an image of the ideas that exist in only your mind at this one instant.
http://chronicle.com/article/10-Tips-on-How-to-Write-Less/124268
If procrastination is a problem for you or your child, then we’re here to help. Tutees will receive email nudges reminders to keep them on track while working on a paper along with “face time” in our online classroom.
What it all comes down to is this—hire us to help you or your child write better and there’s no escape. We will have you writing better at the end of the process.
What’s So Great About Writing?
For a long while now we’ve romanticized writing.
We think “writer” and in our mind’s eye it’s Hemingway at the bullfights, or Fitzgerald, drink in hand looking fabulous, or Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle…and that last one’s getting warm…
Writing is a lot closer to Jack in The Shining than Shakespeare in Love.
It’s hard.
It’s work.
And glamorizing it doesn’t help.
I was lucky enough to get to see some honest-to-goodness craftsmen at work when I was just starting out. I watched as these writers and storyboard artists—real pros—on a major Disney film in the early nineties wrestled with dialogue and story and nuance. Trust me when I say they didn’t just dash off a draft and call it a day.
Sometimes they spent hours finding just the right word.
Was it worth it?
You bet!
You saw the movie! You loved it! (So did I, and I saw it way more than any human should ever see a film. Except maybe Casablanca…)
The point is this—precious few of us are born as great writers. Most of us have to work at it. And smart kids (and adults) are behind a mighty large 8-ball on this one, because smart folks are used to things coming easily to them. If writing doesn’t, that kid (or adult) may not have any tricks to fall back on for learning something on their own that’s as tough as writing.
Ask me how I know.
So, when you take a gander at the products page, you’ll notice that there are no “one shot deals.” There’s no quick and dirty edit-my-paper-for-me-and-call-it-a-day. That’s because above all else, I’m a teacher, and you won’t learn a dang thing if we go about this by heading down that slippery “quick fix” slope.
Nope, you have to learn to write well so you don’t need me. That’s my goal. It’s a lousy business model, but it’s the only reason to teach. Just go off on your merry way and—if you would be so kind—send me the next kid who’s struggling.
Don’t see an option you need? Email. Wonder if there’s a different payment plan? Email. Need help with something else? Just Ask.
And thank you for stopping by!
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