Meet the Staff Monday: Jake Clawson

Consultant: Jake Clawson

Major:  PhD in History

Year: 3rd year

What do you like doing best in your spare time?  
I ran college cross country and track when I was an undergraduate, so I still enjoy going out and running every day.

What’s the best advice anyone has ever given you about writing?
The first thing that comes to mind is Hemingway’s line about “the first draft of anything,” but that’s probably a little too crass for the blog.  So, I’ll go with the second best piece of writing advice anyone has ever given me.  I had turned in a book review for a class during my first semester of graduate school, and next to my summary of the author’s argument my professor wrote, “Get to the point.”  It was the best advice I’ve ever gotten because it was so blunt that I’ll never forget it, and because I think being clear and concise are the marks of a good writer (at least for writing history).

What has been the most rewarding part of your job at the Miller Writing Center?  
I’ve really enjoyed getting to work with writers from a variety of disciplines.  Obviously, I’ve worked with a lot of the freshmen in the composition classes, and that’s been fun.  Also, though, I’ve enjoyed working with other graduate students who are in disciplines much different from my own, like business and science.  I learn something new every time, and I get to talk to other people about how they go through the writing process.

Is there anything challenging about your job? If so, what is it?
Working with science writing.  I can’t get used to passive voice

Hidden talent?
I can touch my nose with my tongue.  Does that count?
(Staff response: That definitely counts.)

Any good book recommendations?   
Right now I’m reading Edmund Morgan’s American Slavery, American Freedom:  The Ordeal of Colonial Virginia.  Morgan addresses the salient paradox of early American history, specifically, how colonial Virginians could be so insistent on maintaining their liberties and freedom as Englishmen while also basing their society on African slavery.  Morgan has a keen eye for historical analysis, and he’s a great writer.  Although I’m a Civil War historian, it’s probably the most important book written about American history in the past 50 years.

You can work with Jake in our Athletics location of the Writing Center on Monday from 5-9PM, Tuesdays from 5-6PM, and Wednesdays from 5-7PM!