WriteFest 2018 – Writing Retreat (Collegiate)

If you struggle to find time to make regular progress with your writing then a change of scene and some (supportive) peer pressure could help.

The aim of a structured writing retreat is to provide you with dedicated time and space, away from everyday distractions, to progress your own writing projects. You will work in short, focused bursts of time on a writing task of your choice (e.g. a journal article, monograph, thesis chapter, conference paper, blog post or any other scholarly output).

There is no ‘facilitation’ or specific feedback on your writing but we encourage you to set yourself writing targets and share progress with each other and there will be a member of staff on hand to keep time.

You will get the most out of the session if you:

– come prepared to write, saving any documents you need to access in advance
(wifi use during the sessions is discouraged)
– have a clear idea of the progress you want to make during the time
– bring a laptop or notebook and pen with you

These sessions are aimed at Doctoral Researchers and Early Career Researchers at Sheffield Hallam University who want to progress academic writing projects.

Draft schedule:

09:30 – 10:00 Introductions, writing warm up, setting goals, planning
10:00 – 11:15 Writing
11:15 – 11:45 Break and review
11:45 – 13:15 Writing
13:15 – 14:00 Lunch* and re-evaluating goals
14:00 – 15:00 Writing
15:00 – 15:15 Break and review
15:15 – 16:15 Writing
16:15 – 16:30 Wrap up

* please note that lunch is not provided but there are catering facilities nearby or feel free to bring your own.

More about writing retreats:

The programme is based on retreats run by Professor Rowena Murray, University of West of Scotland (who has published extensively on academic writing) and guidance developed at The University of Edinburgh.

Murray R and Newton M (2009) ‘Writing retreat as a structured intervention: margin or mainstream?’ Higher Education Research and Development, 28(5):527 – 39

http://www.ed.ac.uk/institute-academic-development/research-roles/research-only-staff/courses/writing-retreats

Book via Eventbrite:  https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/writing-retreat-tickets-51714890630