Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have a stapler I can use?
Yes, we do! Come on in.
Do I need to make an appointment or can I walk in?
We prefer writers to make appointments so that there will definitely be a consultant available, but we do work with writers who drop by whenever we can. Do know that we get real busy around midterms and finals each semester. Do plan for these times and call ahead if you possibly can. For more information about how a consultation works, please visit our What to Expect page.
Can I set an appointment for the same day/time each week?
You bet! One thing we know for sure is that becoming a better writer takes time. We are excited to work with writers who are willing to become regulars in the Writing Center.
Can I print my paper here?
If you are printing a paper you will be using during a consultation, yes. If not, there are computer labs available for printing purposes in the basement of Andrews, in Love Library, and in other locations around campus.
Can I drop my paper off for copy-editing and pick it up later?
One of the core missions of the Writing Center is having conversations with writers about their work. While consultants are happy to talk about sentence-level revisions such as grammar, it tends to work better when it is a dialogue where writer and consultant learn together and find resources answering their questions. Therefore, if you schedule a face-to-face or online appointment, you should be ready to spend that time collaborating together and being an active participant during the process.
If your schedule does not allow for this one-on-one engagement (although we really do think it's the best way!), we do offer limited appointments called eTutoring during our evening hours. These appointments allow you to upload a document (up to five double-spaced pages) and receive written feedback at the end of your appointment time. Keep in mind this is still not an editing service, and the consultant will offer suggestions both at the "big picture" and sentence-level as they read your draft. For more information on this type of appointment, visit our Online Services page.
Can I come to the Writing Center everyday or have appointments that last two or three hours instead of 25/50 minutes?
The Writing Center serves the entire student population of UNL, and so we need to make sure we are available for everyone's unique schedules. All writers with a WCOnline account are able to make up to two 50-minute appointments a week with a maximum of 50-minutes per day (this can be broken up into two 25-minute appointments). With this in mind, our writing center staff can book additional appointments during the week for you as walk-ins. Here's what to do if you've reached your weekly maximum and would like to schedule more appointments:
- Check the schedule for openings with a consultant
- Be at the Writing Center at the time of the appointment if you're wanting an in-person consultation, or give the Writing Center a call if you're wanting an online consultation (402-472-8803, available from 9am-4:30pm Monday-Thursday and 9am-12pm Fridays)
- Tell the Writing Center Assistant that this is a walk-in appointment and they will help create an appointment form for you
- After that, it's business-as-usual for your appointment!
You're always welcome to use the Writing Center as a space to sit quietly and work, just keep in mind our staff reserve the right to use particular spaces in the center for those with booked appointments.
What if the Writing Center consultant I am working with does not seem to understand my work or me?
Hmmm. Well, this does not happen very often, but when it does what we do not want you to do is walk away mad. Come talk to our Director or our Associate Director. One of them will listen to you and work with you to find a consultant who will be able to work well with you. They will keep listening and talking with you until they have found the right consultant for you.