Unleash Your Creativity in the Writing Center

Ask any college student what a writing center is for, and they’ll likely tell you it’s the place to go for help with research papers or lab write-ups. But if you ask about bringing in creative writing for review — a poem, short story or personal essay, for example — you could be met with hesitation.

Why don’t students bring creative writing to the MSU Writing Center? Perhaps it’s because they don’t realize they can. Maybe they think creative writing doesn’t belong in an academic space. But here’s the truth: it does.

The Writing Center is at the heart of campus support and serves as a sanctuary for creative works. Many tutors agree that the centers are not just for editing academic prose but also for fostering creativity.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if students think the Writing Center only helps with academic writing,” said senior Zoe Johnson, a double-major in writing and cell biology and neuroscience who works as a writing tutor. “We actually work with any type of writing, whether for class or not.”

I have brought a short fiction story into the Writing Center before and was met with nothing but support and open dialogue. The 45-minute session passed in the blink of an eye, as my tutor was fully engrossed in my story and provided valuable feedback. By the end of our session, I had a new perspective on my story — and on the Writing Center itself.

For anyone hoping to publish fiction or just writing for fun, visiting the Writing Center is an invaluable step in the process.

“With the rise of generative AI, I think human conversation is becoming more apparent, especially for creative writing,” Johnson said. “Fiction often seeks to elicit an emotional response from readers, and tutors can share their perspectives as a sort of trial run. Writers can also make repeat appointments to work on longer projects.”

Gabrielle Dorrence, who is a double-major in writing and sociology, has also visited the Writing Center with creative works. “It was mostly because I know a few of the employees and knew they could give good feedback. I particularly think short stories and novella-type pieces would be what I am looking for most,” they said.

Students should be able to bring their most personal works — poetry, fiction and nonfiction essays — into a space where ideas are as valued as grammatical conventions. Reimagining the role of writing centers opens the door for students to express their creativity on campus.

Although it can be intimidating to share such personal work with a tutor, Johnson encouraged students to go anyway. “In my opinion, the Writing Center is a very welcoming, positive environment—the perfect place to take that plunge into sharing your creations,” she said.

Dorrence shared this sentiment. “I think creative writing can be deeply personal as all art is. It is hard to share something like that in comparison to a lab report because a creative piece has a part of someone's inner world and workings. It feels much more vulnerable to share works like that with anyone,” they said.

By embracing creative writing, MSU’s Writing Center evolves into a space where students refine not only their academic skills but also their artistic voices. Poetry, fiction and personal essays belong here, too. With the support of empathetic tutors who understand the courage it takes to share creative work, students should feel encouraged to bring their most personal stories to the table.

The first step is rethinking what a writing center can be. By expanding the common perception of the Writing Center beyond academic boundaries, we open up a space for students to explore the stories that truly matter to them.

If you’ve been on the fence about making that Writing Center appointment, don’t be. Here, you’ll find more than just a tutor — you’ll find a collaborator.

To make an appointment with the Writing Center, head to https://www.montana.edu/writingcenter/.