Flanner Community Writing Center

Frequently asked questions

• Monday: 3-6 p.m.
• Thursday: 3-6 p.m.

What is a community writing center? 

• A community writing center is a place that invites everyone to talk, work, and collaborate on writing and written literacies. It’s a place where writers talk about writing, practice strategies, ask questions, exchange ideas and suggestions, and increase effectiveness and confidence in personal, school, and workplace writing. A community writing center is like a library except instead of checking out books, people work on writing their own books, letters, websites, and essays. 

Who may use the Flanner Community Writing Center? 

• Anyone between the ages of 10-100. Our services are provided free of charge to Indianapolis residents. 

How do I schedule an appointment? 

• Walk-ins are accepted during our regular open hours.
• Appointments may be scheduled by visiting www.marian.edu/writing-center.
• First time users will need to create an account in order to access our online schedule. Select "LOCATION: Flanner Community Writing Center" in the drop-down menu to display Flanner Community Writing Center hours.
• You may schedule an appointment by calling (317) 955-6244 or emailing writingcenter@marian.edu 

Where is the Flanner Community Writing Center located? 

• The Flanner Community Writing Center is located at 2424 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St. The center is accessible by IndyGo routes #34 & #15. 

What should I expect when I visit the Flanner Community Writing Center? What should I bring? 

• When you visit with a writing consultant, you should expect to be treated with respect and compassion. Our writing consultants will first listen and talk with you to learn about concerns and goals you may have about your writing and writing tasks. Then, writing consultants will work with you to chart an agenda and create a plan for the session and future sessions. Writing consultants will assist in a range of writing process strategies and techniques, providing responsive support in order for you to meet your writing goals.
• Writers may visit with a Flanner Community Writing Center writing consultant at any stage in the writing process. We encourage visits to the center before words are placed on the page, while you are drafting, and after you believe your writing is “done.” Writers do not need to have a draft in order to visit with a Flanner Community Writing Center writing consultant. In fact, visits to help strategize before writing the first sentence are sometimes the most helpful.  
• When you visit a writing consultant, you should bring the writing prompt (if there is one), any drafts that may exist, and any notes or materials that will assist you during your writing session.
• After each session, writers will be provided with a brief report of the session that outlines the nature of discussion, suggested techniques, and possible “next steps.” 

What type of writing may I bring to the Flanner Community Writing Center? 

• Workplace writing: Professional emails, memos, reports, resumes, and cover letters. 
• School writing: Assigned writing for school and academic purposes in middle school, high school, and college. When working with school-based writing, please bring all applicable assignment guidelines. 
• Personal writing: Memoirs, creative essays, letters, family documents, poetry, letters to the editor, etc. 
• Digital and social inquiry writing: Websites, photo essays, and podcasts that ask questions, document, and explore issues that impact our communities and neighborhoods. 

Who are Flanner Community Writing Center writing consultants? 

• Our consultants are faculty, staff and undergraduate student peer tutors from the Marian University Writing Center. Peer tutors take specialized courses and training in order to remain successful in providing effective writing support. 

Someone told me I am a terrible writer. I am embarrassed by my writing abilities. 

• That’s unfortunate. Writing is often challenging, and it’s understandable that some people feel frustrated by the idea of writing. We can’t change what you may have been told in the past, but we do believe everyone can write and confidence in writing can be learned. We hope you’ll visit with us. Your writing is probably amazing. 

Can the Flanner Community Writing Center help someone learn to read? Learn English?