Kodee Zarnke

Sophomore, Consultant since 2018

Advice for writers
Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Collaboration is key! If you’re stuck, you can always reach out to professors, classmates, friends and of course the writing center! It took me a semester freshman year to realize this. Most professors are happy to help guide you in your writing process. Many times I’ve gone in during a professor’s office hours to discuss questions I have over a paper, ideas I have but need help formulating and to get advice. I often receive insightful topics to pursue further. The Writing Center has also helped me tremendously in this way. In addition, it’s always helpful to brainstorm with peers or to talk through ideas with a friend. So, the two takeaways are 1) writing is scary, but you’re not alone, and 2) you become a better writer by learning from others.

How do you get started on a writing assignment?
First things first: breathe. Just because I’m an English major with a knack for writing doesn’t mean I’m free from essay anxiety. Staring at a blank page is incredibly daunting, and the jumbled mess of thoughts running around in my head can be just as frightening, so it’s best to fix those two things straight away. First, after going over the assignment thoroughly, I’ll fill that blank page by channeling all my ideas onto paper. This helps me solidify a focus and form a topic. Once I have a topic, I’ll consider the argument I want to make and jot down a guiding statement, essentially a rough thesis. From there, I’ll create a few main points to center around my claim, and then I’ll begin to gather evidence. If I have enough evidence to support my main points in favor of my argument, I will create a formal outline, usually with as much detail as possible so I have a solid foundation when I begin to write.