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No matter how accomplished or confident a writer you are, every writer benefits from having someone else read their work. That's why U-M has the incredible Sweetland Center for Writing on various locations throughout campus. Best of all, their services are free to use for every Wolverine!

The Sweetland Center for Writing offers free one-to-one writing support to all students. Whether you're brainstorming, drafting, revising, or editing, Sweetland can help you produce the best version of your piece.

Sweetland consultants will work with you on assignments for class, resumes and cover letters, personal creative writing projects, and even multimodal projects.

Sweetland offers many services to help undergraduate students strengthen their writing skills, including three options for face-to-face consultation. Visit the Peer Writing Center and its campus-wide satellite locations, meet with Sweetland faculty at the Writing Workshop, or log onto the Online Writing Lab (OWL) for guidance at any point in the writing process.

The Sweetland Center for Writing is committed to serving the needs of all students at U-M, in accordance with our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement.

If I need help with my writing once I get to campus, what should I do?

A good first step in seeking writing help is to go to your instructor—they’re highly trained in their fields, usually more than happy to provide support for their students, and likely to have the clearest perspective on what they’re looking for in the assignment.

Start by considering what parts of the writing process are most challenging for you, and talk with your instructors about your writing goals and any concerns you may have.

Sweetland’s services are a great additional resource for help with writing, since all writers benefit from another set of eyes on their work.

Make an appointment at the Peer Writing Center, Writing Workshop, or the Online Writing Lab to talk with a trained consultant about your assignment, resume and cover letter, or personal project. It’s a good idea to come into Sweetland in the earlier stages of an assignment, rather than waiting until the last minute to get help.

Sweetland peer and faculty consultants will work with you on all parts of the process, from brainstorming, to drafting, all the way to final revisions. We can also help with conceptualizing, storyboarding, and fine-tuning digital assignments. Seek help early and often to make your writing the best it can be!

 

What is the Peer Writing Center and what are its campus-wide satellite locations?

The Sweetland Peer Writing Center is an excellent resource available to all undergraduates seeking writing support. Sweetland’s trained peer writing consultants are invested in your success and happy to assist you at any stage in the writing process.

Having trouble coming up with a topic for your essay? Feel free to stop by for a brainstorming session. Already cranked out a rough draft? Peer consultants can help you organize your ideas and polish your prose before that looming deadline.

Though they can’t copyedit or proofread your work for you, they are happy to work collaboratively with you on a wide variety of projects, including—but not limited to—academic coursework, job application materials, and personal statements for graduate programs.

The Peer Writing Center is located in G219 Angell Hall, on the ground floor, and there are additional satellite centers located in the Shapiro Undergraduate Library, Alice Lloyd Residence Hall, and the Duderstadt Center on North Campus.

If you’d like to take advantage of this useful resource, you can schedule an appointment on the Sweetland Center for Writing website. Walk-ins are also accepted whenever possible, so you should never hesitate to stop by!

 

I’m unable to come for in-person writing assistance; can I still receive help with my writing?

Yes! Sweetland’s Online Writing Lab (OWL) is a great resource to get remote help with writing, whether you live off-campus, are studying abroad, or just don’t want to leave the comfort of your dorm room.

Upload your assignment and video or text chat with a trained peer writing consultant to receive the same high-quality writing support you would in person. Make an appointment on our website!

Sweetland’s website also features lots of information on building writing skills and helpful resources, such as writing guides that cover topics ranging from creating a strong thesis to punctuating quotes. Check them out online!

 

What is Writing Workshop? How do I sign up?

In addition to the Peer Writing Center and the Online Writing Lab, Writing Workshop is a source of writing support that is available to all undergraduate and graduate students.

Writing Workshop is staffed by Sweetland faculty members who specialize in teaching composition, teach many of the writing classes on campus, and are eager to help you improve your academic writing. They can provide you with one-to-one attention and an individualized approach to your work that will help you maximize your potential as an academic writer.

Like our peer consultants, faculty consultants in Writing Workshop will work with you on all parts of the composing process, from brainstorming, to drafting, all the way to final revisions, as well as helping with conceptualizing, storyboarding, and fine-tuning digital media assignments.

Writing Workshop is located in 1310 North Quad, on the ground floor. If you’d like to take advantage of this useful resource, you can schedule an appointment on the Sweetland Center for Writing website.

 

Does Sweetland hire students?

Yes! Sweetland offers work-study opportunities as Peer Writing Consultants (see program info below), and as front desk receptionists at the center’s main offices and Writing Workshop in North Quad and its Peer Writing Center in Angell Hall.

There are also non-work-study positions available through the Peer Writing Consultant Program, which provides undergraduate students from across the University with an opportunity to assist fellow U-M undergrads with their writing.

Sweetland-trained peer writing consultants offer traditional face-to-face consulting at our main Peer Writing Center (Angell Hall G219) and satellite offices (Duderstadt Center, Lloyd Hall, Shapiro Undergraduate Library) as well as online consulting via OWL (Online Writing Lab). Learn more about our work by reading our Peer Writing Consultant Program Mission Statement.

Applications are accepted twice a year, in the Fall and Winter terms. Accepted students enroll in Writing 300: Seminar in Peer Writing Consultation, which trains them to become theoretically informed and reflective Peer Writing Consultants.

Students who excel in Writing 300 are invited to join the Peer Writing Consultant Program and enroll in WRITING 301: Practicum in Peer Writing Consultation. After completing 301, students may be asked to continue on as paid consultants.