Zentrum für Schreibwissenschaft und Schreibberatung

Writing Consultation

We provide guidance on writing academic and other papers for your studies and career. Our services are aimed at students of all disciplines and levels. In individual consultations with experienced writing advisors, a wide variety of text types can be addressed – from introductory seminar papers to dissertations, from letters of motivation to research proposals.

Writing advice is available at every stage of the writing process: whether you have just collected your first notes or are already working on a rough draft. We introduce you to the “secrets” of a good text. Through targeted questions, we work together to identify the strengths and weaknesses of your text and discuss strategies for improving its quality. Based on this, we develop strategies for improving structure, argumentation, and linguistic clarity. In addition, we support you in overcoming writer’s block and accompany you with the final editing of your texts.

Who can get in touch with us?

The Centre for Writing Studies and Writing Consultation is open to all students and employees at the University of Klagenfurt. Subject to capacity, we also support other interested parties by prior arrangement. We work with students from all disciplines and levels; students writing in English, German as a second or foreign language and other languages are as welcome as native German speakers. Different types of texts – from proseminar papers to dissertations, from letters of motivation to exposés – can be discussed with writing consultants. Writing advice can be provided at any stage of the writing process, whether you have just started taking notes or already have a rough draft.

What exactly is a writing consultation?

Writing consultations are individual coaching sessions with trained writing consultants, which take place on campus or online. We support you throughout the entire writing process, e.g. in finding a thesis question, researching literature or creating the first outline. Upon request, we can also accompany you throughout your entire writing project. All content is treated confidentially.

What are some possible requests I can come up with?

support in understanding writing assignments
assistance in finding topics
feedback on structure or synopsis
coaching in revising your rough draft
questions about the appropriate use of generative AI in writing
…

What does a writing consultation NOT provide?

proofreading or editing
IT support
methodological advice

What do I have to bring to the writing consultation?

Bring along whatever you are currently working on. This could be a task, a rough draft, or feedback you have received and would like to incorporate into your text. If you wish, you can also send us your documents in advance via e-mail.

Who will I be working with in the writing consultation?

You will be working with writing consultants who are students themselves, come from a variety of disciplines and have completed at least one and a half years of training. They will support you as equals and act as allies in the writing process. On request, writing consultants are also available for German as a foreign language, as well as English and Slovenian, among others.

What are the benefits of writing consultations for advanced writers (e.g. doctoral students)?

A demanding writing project such as a dissertation also presents new challenges: How can I present my project in the most convincing way possible? How do I plan a long-term writing project? How do I position myself confidently as a researcher and writer in my discipline? Writing consultation can help you develop an academic voice, establish good writing routines, and better manage the decisions and doubts that arise during the writing process.

Do I need an appointment to meet with a writing consultant?

Yes, please contact info [dot] zesch [at] aau [dot] at to arrange an appointment. Depending on the workload, the time between your request and your appointment is usually about one week.

Fees for university members	Fees for external users
48,- € for Bachelor’s and Master’s students	48,- € for pupils
55,- € for doctoral students	78,- € for employees of other teaching and research institutions
55,- € for AAU employees	82,- € for all other persons (social tariffs reserved)

To arrange an individual writing consultation, please contact us at info [dot] zesch [at] aau [dot] at and let us know your request and your field of study.

Didactic advice on academic writing

For further information, please contact zesch [at] aau [dot] at.

Services for pupils and teachers

For further information, please contact zesch [at] aau [dot] at.