Praxis: A Writing Center Journal • Vol. 23, No. 1 (2025)

Introverts Achieving Confidence in the Writing Center: A Guide for Consultants

Katelyn Lentz
Pfeiffer University
klentz787@my.pfeiffer.edu

I’ve been working as a writing center consultant for a year now, and there are still times where I become anxious before a session.

I’ve always been an introverted individual. I’m naturally soft spoken and tend to shy away from crowds. I prefer being the listener in conversations and I have always been quieter than most. Because I recognize my own introverted tendencies, it’s easy for me to identify other introverts like me. While I recognize these apprehensive trends within myself, I also acknowledge the hesitant tendencies of people who aren’t as open or extroverted. This poses a question for our writing center: how can we become more aware of introverts and help them gain more confidence during sessions? Also, how can introverted consultants like myself become more comfortable during sessions in order to maximize our intellectual support?

Because of our communication style, introverts can seem disengaged. This can lead to being overlooked in certain group settings. But more often than not, we’re simply overwhelmed in situations that involve socializing or the need to express ourselves. Because of this, introverts can seem disconnected from other people. I want to help make our writing center and the consultants more aware of how they work with students and how they can create a more positive experience for introverted individuals. Writing consultants can assist shy writers to become more confident and elaborative with their writing process through various strategies that provide comfort and assurance.

With this in mind, I led a professional development session with our team of consultants to discuss strategies to increase engagement with introverted students. We first looked at what we’re doing already to accommodate shyer students, like emphasizing reassurance, expressing our own vulnerability, and leading with positivity in sessions. We recognized the welcoming

environment our writing center already creates. Due to the secluded location of our writing center, there’s less traffic of students which in turn leads to a quieter and relaxed setting. We offer different seating options to accommodate the preferred learning space for a given student as well, whether it be the standard table setting, beanbag chairs, or other preferred seating. The lighting we choose—natural sunlight instead of harsh fluorescent bulbs—also contributes to a calming environment where all students feel more inclined to focus.

During sessions, it’s important to provide reassurance while working with a student who appears introverted. Introverts can be incredibly self-critical and may judge themselves more harshly than non-introverts. Personally, I have an inner monologue that causes me to doubt the majority of my decisions, and these negative thoughts continuously cycle through my mind. The last thing an introvert needs to hear is overwhelming criticism from others; however, our responsibility as a writing center is to provide feedback to help students grow intellectually. We must therefore balance feedback and reassurance to ensure our introverted students are learning and gaining confidence. Providing feedback and offering compliments on an introverted student’s work provides them with a level of reassurance that consultants are there to help—in a positive way.

By expressing vulnerability we eliminate the possibility of possessing a superior persona. Just like the students they work with, consultants are students too, growing and learning on their academic journey. As consultants, we can express vulnerability during sessions to create a student-to-student connection to allow introverted students feel more comfortable. Approaching our sessions as opportunities for non-hierarchal learning makes for a less intimidating experience for students apprehensive in social settings. By making light of our own mistakes and incorporating personal experiences with writing struggles, we can create an understanding. In my

own sessions, I often express my struggles with writing to assure students they aren’t alone. If a student vocalizes a common obstacle they face related to writing, I share my experiences with that same challenge. Whether it’s brainstorming ideas, finding credible sources for research, or adding transitions to improve an essay’s structure, I want introverted students to recognize that writing is a process, and everyone has trouble at some point.

An approachable presence and positive attitude will help an introverted student feel comfortable during sessions, too. Speaking from personal experience, I feel more comfortable engaging with someone who exhibits positivity; a welcoming presence is preferable to someone with a negative attitude. From the beginning of the session, exhibiting an uplifting manner can help alleviate some stress introverts feel once they arrive. Though they may still be anxious when engaging with a new person, introverts are more inclined to work with someone who is welcoming, not one who seems disinterested or pessimistic.

Acknowledging an introvert’s writing process can help them feel more comfortable expressing themselves. At our writing center, we strive to maintain an inclusive setting that helps all students expand their writing process. We want them to leave each session having learned something new. Our seclusive location diminishes excessive noise and traffic, which produces a more relaxed environment for introverts to do their work. An introverted writer may be incredibly gifted with a mind full of ideas just waiting to reach the outside world. In a quiet, inviting setting, approachable consultants can provide reassurance and express their own vulnerabilities with the writing process. When we do, introverted writers can gain the confidence they need to be heard.