ASK Pilot: Writing Retreat for Doctoral Students, 21 October 2017
Writing retreats have developed as a way for researchers to disconnect from the pressures of everyday academic life and focus exclusively on their writing in a structured and supportive environment. Retreats involve thinking about writing and talking about writing with other writers, as well as, most importantly, getting writing done. The writing retreat model has many benefits for academics and universities. These include increased productivity and publishing output, but also academics’ expressed sense of reconnecting with their own writing and with themselves as writers (Moore, 2003; Murray & Newton, 2009).
The Unit for Academic Language is offering a one-day writing retreat as a pilot initiative to explore how this model could benefit students and staff at the University of Gothenburg. To lead the event, we have invited Kelly Peake, Head of Learning Development at Queen Mary, University of London and an experienced retreat facilitator as part of the Thinking Writing team there. Using a structured approach, Kelly will guide the retreat participants through a full day of individual thesis writing, which will also include some time for reflection on the writing process and the retreat model itself. The aim is to provide participants with a safe and focused space in which to get a lot of writing done!
• We are inviting doctoral students from all disciplines across the University of Gothenburg to participate in a one-day writing retreat which will take place at Pedagogen on Saturday 21 October, 9.00-17.00.
• Participation in this pilot retreat will be free of charge.
• Lunch and coffee will be provided.
• Please book only if you know you can attend for the full day (9.00-17.00)
Please note that in order to benefit from the retreat, you need to come ready to write. This means having already started your writing process by reading, planning, discussing with supervisors, and so on. Participants will receive more specific information and instructions closer to the event.
The facilitator will be speaking English, but there are no restrictions on the participants’ writing – all languages are welcome!
If you have any questions about the retreat, please contact Emma Karin Brandin, ASK: emma.karin.brandin@gu.se