skrivecentre

Skrivecentre, or writing centers, are organizational units within universities, colleges, libraries, or independent institutions that provide support to writers to improve writing across disciplines. Their aim is to develop writing skills and strategies, focusing on planning, argumentation, structure, clarity, and language rather than merely correcting text.

Typical services include one-on-one consultations with trained tutors, available in person or online; help with planning, drafting, revising, and editing; guidance on academic conventions such as structure, citation, and avoiding plagiarism; and workshops or courses on academic writing, grammar, or language support for non-native speakers. Many centres offer writing groups, online resources, and self-study guides to complement individual consultations.

Audience and goals often include students and researchers, though staff and external partners may also use the services. The emphasis is usually on developing the writer’s own abilities and autonomy, with a process-oriented approach that encourages drafting, feedback, and revision rather than performing edits for the writer.

Organisation and operation vary by institution but commonly involve centres located within universities or libraries and staffed by tutors with training in writing pedagogy, linguistics, or communication studies. Services may require appointments, but some centres offer drop-in hours or online consultations. They frequently collaborate with academic departments and aim to measure impact through student feedback, writing quality improvements, and increased confidence in writing tasks.