phd writing group

Search Website Search

Running an Effective Writing Group

Dissertation and Thesis Support: Writing Groups and Resources This workshop video covers strategies and best practices for organizing writing groups for thesis and dissertation writing. The presentation focuses on independent writing groups organized by graduate students and offers tips on establishing meeting rules and structures for running meetings effectively. The workshop also addresses other campus resources available to support dissertation and thesis writers. This workshop was recorded in 2020. (Approx. 20 mins.)

Tips for Successful Writing Groups —A blog post written by Chris Golde who works in the Graduate Education office at Stanford University. The post offers concise guidelines for setting expectations, developing ground rules, using time effectively, building trust, giving feedback, and dealing with other common challenges.

Making a Thesis or Dissertation Support Group Work for You [pdf]—From the Horace H. Rockham School for Graduate Studies, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Advice drawn from dissertation-writing advice books and from a focus group of doctoral students with experience in writing groups. The article suggests answers to common questions about forming and running a writing group. It includes advice for groups focused on the writing process and for those focused on the content of the thesis or dissertation.

Resources for Writing Groups —From UNC Chapel Hill. Includes guidelines for giving and receiving feedback, creative activities for writing groups to do, and a collection of worksheets to help groups get started (see “ Writing Groups Starter Kit ”).

Belcher, W. L. (2019). Writing your journal article in twelve weeks: A guide to academic publishing success . Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. (2nd edition) Belcher advises students to form writing partnerships or groups in order to increase their motivation and productivity. She recommends making a written commitment to a writing partner or group and provides sample forms and provides sample commitment forms (see forms associated with the book introduction). Belcher's book contains numerous exercises, many of which can be used to elicit specific feedback from writing partners. In the first edition (2009), the “Week 9” chapter contains a form for sharing feedback.

To report a broken link, please email the GWC at [email protected] .

• Enhancing Student Success
• Innovative Research
• Alumni Success
• About NC State

Expand Your Pack: Start or Join an Online Writing Group!

Are you looking for a way to get started on a summer writing project? While we often think of academic writing as a solitary pursuit, we can benefit from the community of other writers, whether they share advice about their processes, give feedback on our work, commiserate with our struggles, or simply work beside us virtually. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and amid busy schedules, online writing groups have proven an indispensable source of support for academic writers seeking accountability, motivation, and community .

Last fall, the Graduate School Professional Development Team launched the GradPack Slack Space for grad and postdoc trainees to join or start peer-lead online writing groups. Members can browse Slack channels to find virtual writing support groups with a variety of formats or disciplinary focuses. Alternatively, members can propose new writing groups based on their needs and interests and create new Slack channels for their groups.

To explore the benefits of online writing groups and best practices for leading them, we reached out to six current and former peer group leaders for their perspectives: Claudia Alberico (Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management PhD), Abida Haque (Computer Science PhD), Iwinosa Idahor (Educational Leadership, Policy, and Human Development PhD), Kate Jones (Geospatial Analytics PhD), Dr. Alex Milliken (a recent graduate in Computer Science), and Honey Minkowitz (Public Administration PhD).

Why Should I Start an Online Writing Group?

Help colleagues be productive and accountable

As Honey explains, “by becoming a leader, I could help other people that were in the same process.” Claudia adds that “working on Zoom was good for us to have that accountability, be able to share our anxieties, and learn from each other”. Iwinosa elaborates on the value of leading online writing groups for maintaining energy on writing projects: “I really enjoyed the momentum that we gained during the [spring 2020 online] retreat , and I didn’t want to lose that.” By forming a writing group, she connected with “other students who didn’t want to lose that either, so we were able to keep that going.”

Build community

Kate explains that “even though I’ve never met these people in person, I do feel very connected to them and their projects”.

For Iwinosa, “a big component was making sure that we were holding each other accountable and providing a community.” Honey agrees that the “biggest lesson for me was providing that opportunity for collaboration and connection” among writing group members. Moreover, Alex suggests that leading a virtual writing group can be an “opportunity to interact with folks outside your discipline or lab group.”

Practice leadership skills

All writing group leaders cultivate transferable skills such as maintaining meeting schedules, communicating with group members, and listening to members to establish meeting formats that work with their needs. As Abida notes, “I like to work with other people [and] I also like to lead things, so I thought it would be nice to lead a group, use my ideas, and experiment with them.” Alex specifically found the leadership aspects motivating for their own writing accountability: “if I personally lead things, then I’m more likely to be accountable as well. Knowing that I was going to be able to help others, in turn, guides me to get my own stuff done.”

Carve out dedicated time to make progress on writing projects

Kate finds that leading a group helps her to be intentional about scheduling writing time: “I’ve been setting aside a very structured hour every single week, which makes it seem less daunting to really carve out more writing time when needed.” Abida, too, notes that as a writing group leader, “honoring those times is really important also for yourself,” even if group members are not able to attend every meet-up.

What Type of Writing is Best for Me?

Here are a few common writing group formats that you could start or join based on the types of writing support that you are looking for:

• Productivity Groups meet regularly in real time to write together, for example on Zoom or other video conferencing platform. Members often start the session by sharing their goals and end the session by reflecting on their progress, and may incorporate techniques, like the Pomodoro technique , to divide a longer session into manageable working blocks.
• Accountability Groups meet briefly (for example, 30 minutes every month) to discuss goals and setbacks on writing and provide external peer accountability. Members might participate in accountability groups asynchronously by exchanging messages in a group chat app to motivate each other, share common struggles, and report small victories.
• Feedback Groups provide feedback on each other’s writing, such as advice about the structure/organization or style, by meeting via Zoom or other videoconferencing platform. These groups may meet less often than working groups depending on members’ writing timelines and goals (ex. monthly versus weekly or biweekly meetings).

Your writing group may combine aspects of these formats depending on members’ needs and interests. For example, Abida uses Slack to organize “hashtag writing sprints,” or virtual Pomodoro working sessions that do not require members to be on Zoom: “I’ll put a message on #general [Slack channel], and I’ll say, ‘Hey, everybody, I’m going to start sets of 20 minutes’.” She shares a link to the cuckoo.team collaborative timer tool to announce the start and end of each working block and break times. With this tool, users do not need to be on Zoom to participate in a virtual working session.

You can also join multiple writing groups for help with different aspects of the writing process. As Kate puts it, “don’t necessarily feel like you need to be in just one group. I know of four or five members who write in multiple groups” based on their writing goals.

How Can I be a Good Group Leader?

Be clear and consistent about the purpose and logistics of the group : As Alex suggests, “the group worked well when we had a scheduled meeting time,” and Iwinosa adds that it’s good to “stick to one time” for consistency.

Before the group begins, you should send a survey to prospective members about their availability. You should also have an informational meeting to determine regular meeting times and formats that are best for members’ needs and interests. For example, do members want to meet regularly to write together on Zoom, meet to discuss common writing challenges, or give feedback on each others’ work?

As the group starts, you should have a communication plan, such as when and how you will remind members about meetings and how members can communicate with each other (ex. Slack messaging, emails).

Abida likewise recommends having a consistent meeting time “because when people know [the meeting times], they can trust you, they can expect you to show up and to help them out.”

Create “rituals” to structure meetings : Your group should create a routine for every meeting. As Claudia explains, “I took a leadership role to actually get the group started, to say, ‘okay, we’re meeting to get to know each other,’ and we’ll decide what we’re going to do from there.” In her group, members greeted each other, discussed writing progress, and set goals for the working session before beginning to work using the Pomodoro technique. They also took a few minutes at the end of the session to reflect on their work period and set new goals.

Iwinosa suggests creating norms to manage expectations: “We set up guidelines [such as] ‘we’re doing it virtually,’ ‘we keep our cameras on,’ just to be able to see each other and to hold each other accountable”.

Honey’s group for public administration majors also has a routine. As she explains, “we talk for a while, catching up with lives and how things are going during COVID. And then we write in silence for a block.” These “rituals” build structure into the meeting and can help prospective members understand what they will get from the group.

Build rapport in a virtual setting : Likewise, it’s especially important now to create rapport, or an emotional connection, with group members. Admittedly, this can be challenging in a virtual setting like Zoom, but it’s crucial to create that connection and community when we are physically isolated from colleagues. Alex recommends establishing this rapport during the first meeting: “Try to get to know them [your group members], as opposed to just get to know what they’re working on. Ask them about extracurricular activities, or other things that they do that they enjoy.” These brief conversations can become part of your group’s routine, as Kate suggests: “Take that five or six minutes at the beginning of the writing meeting to still establish community”.

Be flexible, supportive, and responsive to group members’ needs : Effective writing group leaders listen to group members and negotiate norms that work with their needs. They also make adjustments when the current format isn’t working. For example, Honey mentions that “I’ve tried to hone it into what people are interested in.” Her group started as a motivational listserv for writers across disciplines but evolved into a feedback group for writers in her field of public administration: “A discipline-based writing group might be more beneficial” to connect writers with similar background knowledge and goals. Iwinosa likewise advises to “be as flexible as possible and offer a variety of options”. For example, you may need to shift the focus from milestone projects, like dissertations, and word counts to a broader set of “writing-related activities,” like analyzing data, summarizing literature, and practicing conference presentations that keep group members productive and motivated.

Good group leaders also cultivate empathy and help members celebrate small victories, “serving as that cheerleader for your group,” as Iwinosa puts it. Alex, moreover, suggests that leaders can “show that they [your writing groups members] can be proud of themselves for completing tangential, relevant tasks to their writing project” even if they did not accomplish their initial goal for the session.

Sometimes, group leaders have to reach out to members who are less responsive. This can be difficult, but, as Alex recommends, “if you notice that maybe someone is falling behind, or maybe they’re not showing up, reach out” using tools like email or Slack direct messaging. Iwinosa agrees that it’s important to be understanding and “show grace to your group. Understanding that there may be days where you’ll be the only one in the session, and then there’ll be times where the entire group shows up”.

However, writing group leaders should not feel pressured to micromanage members. Rather, the goal is to cultivate a positive, supportive environment for group members who engage and to recognize when your group’s working routines may not be the best fit for everyone. Abida explains that “what’s worked better for me…is to just be someone that is encouraging” to colleagues facing similar writing struggles and create a supportive virtual space for members to work together on writing.

Model good writing habits : As Iwinosa explains, being a group leader involves “encouraging not only your group, but also yourself as a peer leader, to take care of yourself, modeling what it looks like to take breaks to practice self care in order to stay focused and motivated.”

Get Involved!

For step-by-step guides on getting started with an online writing group, see these resources from Inside Higher Education and UNC Writing Center .

If you have questions or would like to share about a writing group you are currently leading, contact Dr. Katie Homar on the Professional Development Team.

• Expand Your PACK
• writing support

Leave a Response Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. All fields are required.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

More From The Graduate School

Preparing the Professoriate 

Engineering Your Post-Postdoc Career 

Join Us for Our Fall Online Writing Retreat 

PhD Writing Support

PDPA is pleased to offer a variety of writing support programs for PhDs across the disciplines at BU. These include synchronous and asynchronous resources. See below for descriptions and application requirements for Summer 2024 synchronous writing programs including the Dissertation Writing Group, Accountability Partners, and Dissertation Writing Institute & Intensive. 

For information on writing workshops, visit our Workshops & Events page . Visit the PhD Progression page for badges focused on building writing & communication skills. Follow us on social media or subscribe to our Doctoral Digest newsletter to receive updates about upcoming writing support programs and other events.

2024 Summer Dissertation Writing Retreats

Our 2024 Summer Dissertation Writing Retreats offer doctoral candidates significant, focused writing time in a community of like-minded peers. These four-day programs provide a high level of structure and accountability, and participants should expect to write for four hours each day. Lunch and coffee/tea will be provided, and space is limited.

This summer, we will be offering two Dissertation Writing Retreats:

Monday, May 13 – Thursday, May 16, 10 am – 3 pm daily, CDS 264

Monday, July 29 – Thursday, August 1, 10 am – 3 pm daily, Kilachand 101 (CILSE, 665 Commonwealth Ave) REGISTER

Dissertation Writing Institute

Monday, July 22 – Thursday, July 25, 10 am – 4 pm daily, Kilachand 101 (CILSE, 665 Commonwealth Ave)

A special program for new dissertation writers, our four-day institute will equip you with essential strategies to succeed in the dissertation writing process. Each day, you will attend skill building and professional development workshops facilitated by Professional Development & Postdoctoral Affairs staff. Workshop topics will include dissertation planning and goal setting for the academic semester. Each day will consist of morning workshops followed by structured time to implement the new strategies you learned and receive peer feedback. In addition, there will be a 30-minute lunch break and shorter breaks throughout the day. REGISTER

Participants must have advanced to candidacy and be actively writing either their dissertation prospectus/proposal or the first chapter of their dissertation.

Dissertation Writing Group

Mondays June 3 – July 15, 10 am – 1 pm, Zoom

Are you looking for structured writing time and a community of like-minded peers where you can make significant progress on your prospectus, dissertation, or other related writing projects? The Dissertation Writing Group (DWG) offers both! Each three-hour session will begin with a brief goal setting exercise followed by focused writing time. At the end of the session, participants will share their progress, reflect on the writing process, and set concrete goals for the coming week. DWG is facilitated by a member of the Professional Development & Postdoctoral Affairs team who will introduce guided reflections and share effective strategies you can build into your writing routine.

Please plan to arrive a few minutes early to sign in and set up your work station. As a courtesy to your fellow writers, you should also  plan to stay for the duration of the three-hour session ; late arrivals and early departures are disruptive to your fellow participants.  REGISTER

*Note: the summer DWG will be held remotely unless there is a strong preference in the registrations for an in-person group

Write-Togethers

Accountability partners.

Accountability Partners matches you with an interdisciplinary group of three to four other graduate writers for one-hour, weekly writing check-ins. During each meeting, participants will report on their progress over the past week, reflect on challenges they faced, and set goals for the coming week. Groups are also encouraged to maintain a shared daily writing log, and each group will be provided with a private Slack channel where members can share updates and resources throughout the week.

• ADVANCEMENT
• Office of the Provost /
• Villanova Institute for Research and Scholarship /
• Our Programs and Resources /
• Programs and Resources for Doctoral Students /

PhD Writing Accountability Groups

• Office of the Provost
• Academic Freedom and Freedom of Expression
• About the Provost
• Schools & Colleges
• Interdisciplinary Institutes
• Vice Provost for Research
• National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity
• LabArchives
• Internal Funding Opportunities
• Securing External Funding
• Sponsored Award Management
• Research Integrity and Compliance
• Research Facilities: HPC Cluster
• Research Administration Offices
• Teaching and Learning
• International Programs & Resources
• Academic Calendars
• Academic Catalogs
• Faculty and Student Resources
• Strategic Planning and Institutional Effectiveness
• Decision Support and Data Integrity
• VISIBLE: Villanova Initiative to Support Inclusiveness and Build Leaders
• Awards and Honors

Writing groups are one of the best ways to accomplish the extensive writing required at the PhD level, and can make the process easier, more efficient, and more satisfying.

This program brings doctoral students together to create successful, peer-led writing accountability groups. Groups launch with an online orientation. Previous participants have reported tremendous progress on their writing projects, increased motivation to sustain writing despite busy schedules, and support and collegiality among group members.  

We launch PhD writing groups the beginning of each fall semester. The next writing group launch will take place for the Fall 2024 semester. Fill out this interest form to be sent an application.

What Kind of a writing group?

There are many kinds of writing groups.  Some focus on feedback—exchanging their works-in-progress for review. Others gather people from the same field to share knowledge. Others focus on how to write more and better, sharing tips on being a productive writer. Still others, called write-in groups, are a scheduled time to write alongside others and benefit from the accountability and support this provides. Our writing group launch for Fall 2023 facilitates a combination of these last two:  write-in groups framed with brief discussions of goals, accomplishments, and sharing of challenges and tips on writing . Groups will consist of anywhere from 2 to 8 people (dependent on participant schedules) and meet virtually.   

Testimonials from past participants

"Great group of student to be working with."

"The regular, scheduled writing time has been vital as too has being part of a group which offers encouragement and writing advice as needed."

"The accountability of having another person during dedicated writing time helped ensure I did not put off my writing."

"The writing group held me accountable to writing every week. I would prepare for it on the weekends some weeks, so I would have a head start and be able to get into the more intense part of writing rather than trying to figure out what/ how to write during the session. Knowing I had that designated time made me become more organized in the writing process. I'm a REALLY slow writer and I feel like I accomplished a lot, not only in the sessions themselves but also in my preparation for the sessions. I also benefitted from connecting with other doctoral students. It helped me realize you can be a fast writer or a good writer and still struggle with the writing process. My group was very inspiring and I loved hearing about the projects they were working on as well - it was refreshing to step outside my little world and engage with others especially during the pandemic."

"It really helped keep me motivated, keep me writing and it was a huge support to me. My group were wonderful and really kept me positive and on track - and also writing consistently."

Examples of work accomplished during the writing group program

Completed dissertation proposal draft, along with intermittent drafts beforehand with edits. Currently editing proposal to do my in person proposal in June.

Completed data collection for dissertation project, analyzed all the data, and began writing chapter 4.

Chapter 1 revised, Instrument revision completed, Chapter 2 revision started, classwork paper (8 pages) written.

We use cookies and similar technologies to improve your website experience and help us understand how you use our website. By continuing to use this website, you consent to the usage of cookies. Learn more about our Privacy Statement and Cookie Policy .

• Our Mission
• Code of Conduct
• The Consultants
• Hours and Locations
• Apply to Become a Consultant
• Make an Appointment
• Face-to-Face Appointments
• Zoom Appointments
• Written Feedback Appointments
• Support for Writers with Disabilities
• Policies and Restrictions
• Upcoming Workshops
• Class Workshops
• Meet the Consultants
• Writing Guides and Tools
• Schedule an appointment! Login or Register
• Graduate Students
• ESOL Students

Setting Up Your Own Writing Group

People who form writing groups say they make more progress on their writing projects than they did previously. Writing groups provide accountability, community, regular time and space to write, and, if you set your group up accordingly, feedback on your drafts.

Research on writing productivity shows definitively that people who write for shorter periods of time regularly and frequently produce many more pages for publication than those who binge-write (Boice 1989, 1997). In addition, joining a group can reduce a writer’s sense of isolation. And if you form a writing-and-feedback group, you’ll get good practice in giving and receiving oral and written feedback—valuable skills for a professional.

If you are interested in establishing a writing group, you can set up an appointment to consult with one of our graduate writing specialists, who can discuss your goals with you and guide you through some of the decision points and logistics involved. Send a message to [email protected] saying you’d like to schedule a meeting to discuss setting up a writing group.                                                 

Types of writing groups

Write-together group – Meets to write together

Group members typically agree to arrive on time, stay for the duration, and turn off social media. Begins with brief goal-setting conversation; ends with brief reports of progress.

Feedback group - Meets to provide and discuss feedback on writing projects

Before each meeting one or more writers share a draft; group members read in advance and provide feedback during the meeting.

Accountability group – Meets to report progress on writing projects

Group members meet to report progress over the previous week, set goals for the following week, discuss issues, and share resources.

Policies and procedures to decide                                                   

Groups function best when policies and procedures are established collaboratively:

• When, where, how often will you meet?
• How many writers can participate?
• How will a typical meeting be structured?
• Will a single person facilitate, or will this role go to a different person each week?
• What are the policies for attendance?
• Feedback groups: How will you share drafts? What is the target document length?

Activities for getting started

• Do a writing inventory to learn when and where you do your best writing
• Discuss best practices in providing feedback

These centers provide detailed toolkits for new writing groups:

• UNC Chapel Hill Writing Center
• UCLA Graduate Writing Center

Selected Publications

Boice, Robert. 1997. "Strategies for Enhancing Scholarly Productivity." In Writing and Publishing for Academic Authors, edited by Joseph Michael Moxley and Todd W. Taylor, 19 - 34. Lanham, MD: Bowman & Littlefield. 

-----. 1989. "Procrastination, Busyness, and Bingeing." Behavior Research and Therapy , 27: 605-11.

Gradin, Sherrie, Jennifer Pauley-Gose, and Candace Stewart. 2006. “Disciplinary Differences, Rhetorical Resonances: Graduate Writing Groups Beyond the Humanities.”  Praxis 3 (2): 2-6. https://www.praxisuwc.com/new-page-83.

Hixson, Cory, Walter Lee, Dierdre Hunter, Marie Paretti, Holly Matsovich, and Rachel McCord. 2016. “Understanding the Structural and Attitudinal Elements That Sustain a Graduate Student Writing Group in an Engineering Department.” WLN: A Journal of Writing Center Scholarship 40 (5-6): 18-25.

Maher, Damian, Leonie Seaton, Cathi McMullen, Terry Fitzgerald, Emi Otsuji, and Alison Lee. 2008. “'Becoming and Being Writers': The Experiences of Doctoral Students in Writing Groups.” Studies in Continuing Education 30 (3): 263-275.

Maher, Michelle, Amber Falluccab and Helen Mulhern Halasz. 2013. “Write On! Through to the PhD: Using Writing Groups to Facilitate Doctoral Degree Progress.”  Studies in Continuing Education 35 (2): 193-208.

Phillips, Talinn. 2012. “Graduate Writing Groups: Shaping Writing and Writers from Student to Scholar.” Praxis: A Writing Center Journal 10 (1): 1-7.

The Writing Center

4400 University Drive, 2G8 Fairfax, VA 22030

• Johnson Center, Room 227E
• +1-703-993-1200
• [email protected]

Quick Links

• Register with us

© Copyright 2024 George Mason University . All Rights Reserved. Privacy Statement | Accessibility

Harvard Griffin GSAS is dedicated to helping students from all disciplines hone their writing and communication skills, as they move from seminar papers to fellowship proposals, articles, dissertation chapters, and everything in between.

• Dissertation
• Fellowships
• Maximizing Your Degree
• Consultations on Writing
• FWC Newsletter
• Practice Presentations
• Workshops and Info Sessions
• Writing Oasis
• Before You Arrive
• First Weeks at Harvard
• Harvard Speak
• Pre-Arrival Resources for New International Students
• Alumni Council
• Student Engagement
• Applying to Degree Programs
• Applying to the Visiting Students Program
• Admissions Policies
• Cost of Attendance
• Express Interest
• Campus Safety
• Commencement
• Diversity & Inclusion Fellows
• Student Affinity Groups
• Recruitment and Outreach
• Find Your Financial Aid Officer
• Funding and Aid
• Financial Wellness
• Consumer Information
• Life Sciences
• Policies (Student Handbook)
• Student Center
• Title IX and Gender Equity

Harvard Griffin GSAS students conduct innovative research every day—in libraries and archives, research centers, labs, and at fieldwork sites around the world. Communicating that research to an audience is what brings it alive, and writing remains the essential platform through which we share ideas, big and small, with our interlocutors.  

Harvard Griffin GSAS is dedicated to helping students from all disciplines hone their writing and communication skills, as they move from seminar papers to fellowship proposals, articles, dissertation chapters, and everything in between. Articulating complex ideas eloquently, precisely, and confidently is an immense challenge that all academics face. We strive to work with students—on both the individual and group levels—to help them accomplish this feat in their own writing. Ultimately, strong writing and presentational skills are crucial both for completing graduate degrees and achieving professional success in academia and beyond.  

See our menu on the left for details about all of our services. And for a wonderful additional resource, check out Harvard Library's Writing Toolkit , created specifically for graduate students. 

Fellowships & Writing Center

Share this page, explore events, related news.

Notes From a Writer's Desk: From Text to Text

The Fellowships & Writing Center (FWC) recently held two talks as part of our annual April Speaker Series: “The Translator as Reader and Writer”; and “Moving from the Dissertation to the Book.” [...] While these talks might seem to bear little similarity, a common theme emerged: the transformation of one form of text into another.

Notes From a Writer's Desk: Code for Writing

Being well-written is a merit as valid for coding as for writing. Conversely, some writing foibles prompt me to think, “A computer will not be able to understand this!” It occurred to me that coding principles and best practices can actually help to promote more lucid writing. 

Karan and Jiang Awarded Soros Fellowship for New Americans

The merit-based graduate school program, founded 26 years ago, celebrates the achievements and potential of immigrants and children of immigrants across the United States.

Notes From a Writer's Desk: The Genius of a Problem and Solution Framework

Imagine you are writing an article and there is a paragraph that just keeps getting longer and longer despite all your attempts to stop it. What would it look like to pause and think about the paragraph in terms of the problem and solution? 

The Writing Place

Interdisciplinary writing group faq, what are interdisciplinary writing groups.

Interdisciplinary Writing Groups are comprised of Northwestern PhD students who meet for two hours on a weekly basis to discuss and provide feedback on their own and fellow group members’ writing and writing processes. Groups are comprised of 5-6 members, and while no group contains more than one student from a single department/program, each group will be comprised of members who share  either  a qualitative or quantitative research focus. The groups are facilitated by Graduate Writing Fellows—advanced PhD Candidates from across the university.

Why should I apply to join an Interdisciplinary Writing Group?

Writing groups are an excellent place to get feedback on your writing and your writing process, as well as to practice providing effective feedback to other writers. Writing groups (and the deadlines associated with them) can also help you to maintain productivity and accountability, providing you with ongoing input on writing from the early stages of planning and drafting to the later work of revision and editing. Finally,  interdisciplinary  writing groups can provide you with new perspectives on your writing and research.

What happens during an Interdisciplinary Writing Group meeting?

Each group will be responsible for determining exactly how group meetings will run (e.g., how often each member will share writing, how feedback will be provided, etc.), and your group will make these decisions collectively during your first group meeting. Regardless of specifics, however, you can expect that each group meeting will involve some discussion of writing, as well as some group accountability/goal setting work.

Where and when do Interdisciplinary Writing Groups meet?

In winter 2024, we are hoping to have groups that meet both in person and online. In-person groups will meet on the Evanston campus. The exact day and time you meet will be based on all group members’ availability (you will indicate your availability as part of your application).

Who is eligible to apply?

You are eligible to apply if you are a PhD student who has (1) completed your coursework; (2) are working on writing associated with your research (e.g., dissertation chapters, articles, conference papers); (3) do not anticipate needing to miss more than one group meeting over the course of the fall quarter.

How do I apply?

Complete this online application by Tuesday, June 4.

If you have any additional questions, please contact Elizabeth Lenaghan, the Graduate Writing Place Director.

supportive. informative. community.

Join the community for just $5/month, your guide to: running a writing group.

i've written up this guide to starting, managing, and planning writing groups! it includes different ways to organize your group, guidelines, schedules, activities, and more. my aim with this guide was to walk you through my thought processes as i create groups (and benefit from them myself!), so that you can have more information as you create and run a group that meets your specific needs.

this is a 20+ page guide to help you:

explore different kinds of writing groups to find the balance that suits you best

information to help you set good guidelines and timing so your group can be sustainable and supportive

forms to help guide the activities of the writing group

activities to try in your groups to shake things up and go deeper with the craft of academic writing!

Writing groups ONLINE

Writing groups provide an opportunity to develop scientific writing expertise , and act as a supporting framework helping participants achieve their writing goals .

Writing groups meet monthly over a period of 6–12 months. Each session lasts 2-3 hours and is highly structured in order to provide maximum benefits to the participants with the following elements:

• Goal setting & evaluation . Reflection about the past month and setting goals for the next month. Reflective freewriting and conversation with a peer.
• Q&A session and discussion of relevant topics.
• Peer feedback on participants’ texts.

  Besides general writing groups with mixed participants, specialized writing groups are possible as well: I. “Kickstart your PhD” writing group helps the beginning PhD students develop their scientific writing skills , get organized and build collegial and collaborative relationships with their peers. Participants learn to use writing as a support for their scientific thinking, start to consistently document their research activities and develop productive routines. At the end, participants appear as confident writers ready to tackle independent writing projects.

II. “Finish your PhD” writing group functions as a success team and accountability group , helping participants juggle multiple projects and responsibilities, overcome challenges and work consistently towards their writing goals . This format provides a framework for participants to prioritize and schedule their writing and remaining experimental work, reflect upon their progress, plan next steps, ask for advice and feedback, and get inspired and motivated through their involvement with struggles and successes of their peers.

Participant feedback

I learned to think about a text in a more structured way — writing & revising now seems less overwhelming.

The monthly goal-setting was very useful. It helped me to stay on track with my thesis.

I really like this format because it connects PhD students and makes them more aware of each other’s work.

Diese Webseite verwendet Cookies, um Ihnen ein besseres Nutzererlebnis zu bieten. Wenn Sie die Seite weiternutzen, stimmen Sie der Cookie-Nutzung zu.

Utility Links

Utility navigation.

• New Students
• Graduate Organizations
• Graduate Alumni

Secondary Nav Penn GSC

• Your Space on Campus
• Support Our Work

Primary Nav Penn GSC

• Resource Guide
• Funding and Finances
• Navigating the Academy
• Graduate Student Life

Drawer Menu Penn GSC

• Back to main menu
• Join Our Team
• Accessibility
• Grad Center Spaces
• Reserve a Room
• Building Hours
• Mission and Vision
• Engage with Us
• Grad Center Advising and Support
• Penn Grad News
• About & Submissions
• New Student Orientation Hub
• For International Students
• Online Sessions for New Students
• Student Accounts & Technology
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
• Campus Activities
• Graduate Student Groups
• Conduct and Safety
• Living in Philadelphia
• Safety and Campus Conduct
• Alumni Resources
• Graduate Grants
• Graduate Emergency Fund
• Insurance Grants for PhD Students
• Dissertation Boot Camp
• Writing Groups
• Writers Rooms and Retreats
• GAPSA-Provost Awards
• About the Fontaine Society
• Resources for Current Fellows
• Fontaine News
• Teaching and Mentoring
• Resources & Support
• Language Programs
• Community Impact Fund
• Graduate Leadership Awards

Basic Page Sidebar Menu Penn GSC

Need motivation to write? Having trouble reaching your writing goals on time?  Joining a writing accountability group may help!

Whether you’re working on a dissertation, journal article, or other writing project, forming a group with other students working on writing projects is a great way to help one another make progress and meet deadlines, by providing accountability and encouragement along the way.

Check out our resources for existing writing groups or fill out the group matching form below and we will help connect you with a writing group or partner! 

This program is for current Penn graduate and professional students only. Others are welcome to use the writing group resources below, however we do not have capacity to match or support faculty or postdoc writing groups. 

To sign up for or register your writing group, please use one of the following Peer Accountability Group forms: 

Accountability Group Registration Form Use this form to register a group you have established 

Peer Writing Accountability Group Matching Form  (Form will be active when registrations open) Submit this form to be matched with a new or existing accountability group.

We conduct two rounds of matching each semester, please submit a form by the deadlines below and attend a Writing Accountability Group Introductory Workshop  (workshops will run before semester matching deadlines) to be matched (or re-matched) with a WAG. 

Whether you’re working on a dissertation, journal article, or other writing project, writing groups are a great way to help one another make progress and meet deadlines, by providing accountability and encouragement along the way.

Set Expectations and Ground Rules

We encourage you to schedule a meeting with the group to discuss why you joined and what you hope to gain from participating in a writing group. You may also want to share the challenges or habits that affect your writing. Finally, you should discuss preferences for how – and how often – the group with meet. If it’s helpful (we think it is), you can write up a set of “ground rules” and a set of shared goals for the group. These steps will help set the tone and clarify shared expectations for future sessions.

Your group may decide to schedule a regular meeting time or you may close each meeting by scheduling the next meeting. We recommend setting a rough agenda for each meeting (what goals you hope to reach, what you will be discussing, location/format), you will make it easier for group members to start helping each other with setting – and reaching – clear writing goals.

• How often will you meet as a group? 
• When will you meet? What days and times - and for how long? 
• Where will you meet? You may choose to meet in person (in a coffee shop, the library, etc.) or virtually via Zoom or a similar video chat. 
• Writing silently together
• Reporting on goals and progress
• Setting and discussing goals
• Exchanging and providing feedback on your written materials
• Sharing challenges and tips related to productivity and writing habits
• Social or personal conversations 
• How will you track and measure the success of the group? 
• Would you like assistance or support from the Grad Center? 

The Graduate Student Center partners with other academic centers on campus to provide support for academic writing through different series held each semester. View the current schedule at the links below.

Strategies for Success in Graduate Studies Series The Strategies for Success in Graduate Studies Series is a joint program from the Weingarten Center and the Graduate Student Center where learning specialists facilitate discussion-based workshops to support graduate and professional students in their coursework and scholarly projects!

Support for Publishing Series The Support for Publishing Series is hosted by the Libraries in collaboration with the Grad Center at Penn. Each workshop focuses on an element of the research or publishing process. During the semester, take part in in-person or virtual workshops covering citation management, impact metrics, promoting your work, selecting the right publishing venue, fair use, and more.

Research Communication Series The Research Communication series focuses on engaging and accessible communication to a wide audience through workshops facilitated by expert staff in Penn Libraries, Communication within the Curriculum, and the Grad Center. It also prepares students to participate in the  Penn 3 Minute Thesis  cosponsored by Career Services, GAPSA, and the Graduate Student Center.

Graduate Student Center University of Pennsylvania 3615 Locust Walk Philadelphia PA 19104 215-746-6868

[email protected]

Footer Menu

• Penn Provost Education Division
• Valuing Graduate Students

Get science-backed answers as you write with Paperpal's Research feature

Academic Writing Groups: 5 Benefits for Researchers

Writing for academia can be a daunting task, not just for early career researchers but also for seasoned experts, which has led to the emergence of academic writing groups. A lack of time, the pressure to publish and the consequent build-up of anxiety often translates into a situation where researchers find themselves struggling to write. A study undertaken in the US some years ago surveyed 40,000 academics and found that 27% had never published in a peer-reviewed journal, 43% had not published an article in a journal in the past two years, and an alarming 26% spent zero time on writing. 1 For those struggling to keep up with their writing, academic writing groups can be an invaluable support system!

What are writing groups?

Academic writing groups provide both early career researchers and faculty members a conducive environment where members can share their writing with others, receive feedback, and gain motivation and accountability for their writing goals. Online writing groups for academics are becoming increasingly popular with universities often encouraging students and faculty to join. Academic writing groups spur members to stay abreast and aware about reading and writing sources through regular interactions and networking. These groups provide a forum for researchers to come together frequently, either physically or online, to discuss theses or dissertations, journal articles, grant writings, and other kinds of academic articles or manuscript writing for publication.

The primary objective of writing groups is to help members to improve their writing skills with constructive criticism. Members of these academic writing groups evaluate and address specific challenges that members could be facing and also acknowledge and applaud progress milestones. In academia today, universities and academic institutions have specific, devoted faculty and PhD writing groups to help research students and scholars achieve their writing goals. While this broadly explains the increasing trend of researchers and scholars joining academic writing groups, let’s look at the specific benefits they offer.

Advantages of academic writing groups

Being part of physical or online writing groups for academics can benefit you in managing uncertainties in your publishing journey and professional growth. Here are 5 ways in which they can support research authors.

1. Providing a social anchor

The process of writing can often be a lonely effort that can be counter-productive and create apprehensions and doubt within the researcher or student. By being part of academic writing groups, you can always be assured to peer support and constructive feedback to your writing process. This can make the task more enjoyable. The constant interaction and exchange of ideas and perspectives imbues members with a sense of motivation.  Moreover, being part of a social support group enthuses them to move ahead with their writing tasks while successfully balancing work and home requirements.

2. Observing a writing schedule

Researchers and students are often constrained for time. They not only have to attend classes but also have to juggle multiple important tasks like reviewing literature, conducting lab experiments, data collection and analysis, along with taking on part-time teaching and attending seminars and conferences. Being a member of an academic writing group can help you reserve and devote specific time to focus only on your writing tasks and get assistance when required.

3. Increasing output and productivity

There is sufficient proof to show that being a member of an academic writing group increases productivity and output levels of members. There has been an increased rate of publications and grant proposals that have been submitted by members as part of writing groups. 2 Members are usually motivated to write more, and the regular writing group meetings and timelines enable them to be consistent with their writing goals.

4. Improving academic writing skills

One of the most beneficial aspects of being a member of an academic writing group is getting answers to any questions and/or doubts that you may have regarding your writing. The sustained process of exchanging information in a writing group means that one receives helpful advice and tips that can elevate the writing process and help you evolve as a better academic writer.

5. Creating a love for writing

Early career researchers, PhD students, and even experts sometimes, lack confidence in their own writing skills, which leads to a sense of fear and apprehension about the writing process. This gets worse when you don’t have English as your first language or when frequent rejections put a halt on your publishing journey. Here, academic writing groups come out as a supportive community, instilling confidence and empowering researchers and students to evolve as competent academic writers.

Making the Most of Your Academic Writing Group Experience

To fully benefit from your academic writing group experience, consider the following tips:

• Set clear goals: Define your research and writing objectives at the outset to ensure that the group’s feedback and discussions align with your aspirations.
• Actively participate: Engage proactively in discussions, provide constructive feedback to others, and share your insights openly.
• Be open to feedback: Embrace feedback with an open mind, as constructive criticism is an integral part of the learning process.
• Respect diverse perspectives: Embrace the diversity within the group and appreciate the array of perspectives and research backgrounds.
• Establish regular meetings: Consistency is key to the success of an academic writing group. Set a regular meeting schedule to maintain momentum and progress.

So, if you are an early career researcher or student, you may want to explore online writing groups for academics. Find out more about the group’s focus and interest, whether it is a PhD writing group, a specific thesis writing group, or a broader academic writing group, make a choice and join. Not only do these groups act as a valuable resource to improve your writing skills, it is also a great way to build and strengthen your professional networks.

References:

• Majumder, K. Why are researchers joining writing groups. Editage Insights, September 2022. https://www.editage.com/insights/why-are-researchers-joining-writing-groups
• Kwan. P.P., Sharp, S., Mason, S., Saetermoe, C.L. Faculty writing groups: The impact of protected writing time and group support, International Journal of Educational Research Open, Volume 2, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedro.2021.100100

Paperpal is an AI writing assistant that help academics write better, faster with real-time suggestions for in-depth language and grammar correction. Trained on millions of research manuscripts enhanced by professional academic editors, Paperpal delivers human precision at machine speed.

Try it for free or upgrade to  Paperpal Prime , which unlocks unlimited access to premium features like academic translation, paraphrasing, contextual synonyms, consistency checks and more. It’s like always having a professional academic editor by your side! Go beyond limitations and experience the future of academic writing.  Get Paperpal Prime now at just US$12 a month!

Related Reads:

• 3 Easy Ways for Researchers to Improve Their Academic Vocabulary
• Scientific Writing Style Guides Explained
• Top 5 Ethical Considerations in Research
• How to Find the Right Academic Editor and Proofreading Partner

Palette vs. Pallet vs. Palate: Understanding the Difference

Center vs. centre: how to differentiate between the two words, you may also like, phd qualifying exam: tips for success , ai in education: it’s time to change the..., 9 steps to publish a research paper, self-plagiarism in research: what it is and how..., 6 tips for post-doc researchers to take their..., 8 most effective ways to increase motivation for..., how to make your thesis supervision work for..., how to write a conclusion for research papers..., ethical research practices for research with human subjects, 5 reasons for rejection after peer review.

Graduate Writing Groups

Northeastern Writing Center: Interdisciplinary Graduate Writing Groups

Are you working on your dissertation or thesis in Spring 2019? Are you looking for writing support and accountability?

Apply for one of the Writing Center’s Interdisciplinary Graduate Writing Groups . These small groups of 3-4 students will meet several times throughout the semester with a Writing Center tutor, and members will take turns sharing their writing with their peers. Note that a graduate writing group is not a writing course; there are no lectures or homework assignments. Think of a graduate writing group as a group consultation where a writer receives feedback on a draft from several people.

Applications

Learn more and apply here: https://www.northeastern.edu/writingcenter/graduate-students-overview/graduate-writing-groups/

Due: Tuesday, January 8 th

Northeastern University graduate students working on their dissertation or thesis in Spring 2019

• Application

Alison Stephens [email protected]

• Accessibility
• Sustainability
• OU Job Search
• Legal Notices
• Resources and Offices
• Accreditation
• OU Report It!

How to tackle the PhD dissertation

Finding time to write can be a challenge for graduate students who often juggle multiple roles and responsibilities. Mabel Ho provides some tips to make the process less daunting

• More on this topic

Created in partnership with

You may also like

Popular resources

.css-1txxx8u{overflow:hidden;max-height:81px;text-indent:0px;} Rather than restrict the use of AI, embrace the challenge

Emotions and learning: what role do emotions play in how and why students learn, leveraging llms to assess soft skills in lifelong learning, how hard can it be testing ai detection tools, a diy guide to starting your own journal.

Writing helps you share your work with the wider community. Your scholarship is important and you are making a valuable contribution to the field. While it might be intimidating to face a blank screen, remember, your first draft is not your final draft! The difficult part is getting something on the page to begin with. 

As the adage goes, a good dissertation is a done dissertation, and the goal is for you to find balance in your writing and establish the steps you can take to make the process smoother. Here are some practical strategies for tackling the PhD dissertation.

Write daily

This is a time to have honest conversations with yourself about your writing and work habits. Do you tackle the most challenging work in the morning? Or do you usually start with emails? Knowing your work routine will help you set parameters for the writing process, which includes various elements, from brainstorming ideas to setting outlines and editing. Once you are aware of your energy and focus levels, you’ll be ready to dedicate those times to writing.

While it might be tempting to block a substantial chunk of time to write and assume anything shorter is not useful, that is not the case. Writing daily, whether it’s a paragraph or several pages, keeps you in conversation with your writing practice. If you schedule two hours to write, remember to take a break during that time and reset. You can try:

• The Pomodoro Technique: a time management technique that breaks down your work into intervals
• Taking breaks: go outside for a walk or have a snack so you can come back to your writing rejuvenated
• Focus apps: it is easy to get distracted by devices and lose direction. Here are some app suggestions: Focus Bear (no free version); Forest (free version available); Cold Turkey website blocker (free version available) and Serene (no free version). 

This is a valuable opportunity to hone your time management and task prioritisation skills. Find out what works for you and put systems in place to support your practice. 

• Resources on academic writing for higher education professionals
• Stretch your work further by ‘triple writing’
• What is your academic writing temperament?

Create a community

While writing can be an isolating endeavour, there are ways to start forming a community (in-person or virtual) to help you set goals and stay accountable. There might be someone in your cohort who is also at the writing stage with whom you can set up a weekly check-in. Alternatively, explore your university’s resources and centres because there may be units and departments on campus that offer helpful opportunities, such as a writing week or retreat. Taking advantage of these opportunities helps combat isolation, foster accountability and grow networks. They can even lead to collaborations further down the line.

• Check in with your advisers and mentors. Reach out to your networks to find out about other people’s writing processes and additional resources.
• Don’t be afraid to share your work. Writing requires constant revisions and edits and finding people who you trust with feedback will help you grow as a writer. Plus, you can also read their work and help them with their editing process.
• Your community does not have to be just about writing!  If you enjoy going on hikes or trying new coffee shops, make that part of your weekly habit.  Sharing your work in different environments will help clarify your thoughts and ideas.

Address the why

The PhD dissertation writing process is often lengthy and it is sometimes easy to forget why you started. In these moments, it can be helpful to think back to what got you excited about your research and scholarship in the first place. Remember it is not just the work but also the people who propelled you forward. One idea is to start writing your “acknowledgements” section. Here are questions to get you started:

• Do you want to dedicate your work to someone? 
• What ideas sparked your interest in this journey? 
• Who cheered you on? 

This practice can help build momentum, as well as serve as a good reminder to carve out time to spend with your community. 

You got this!

Writing is a process. Give yourself grace, as you might not feel motivated all the time. Be consistent in your approach and reward yourself along the way. There is no single strategy when it comes to writing or maintaining motivation, so experiment and find out what works for you. 

Suggested readings

• Thriving as a Graduate Writer by Rachel Cayley (2023)
• Destination Dissertation by Sonja K. Foss and William Waters (2015)
• The PhD Writing Handbook by Desmond Thomas (2016).

Mabel Ho is director of professional development and student engagement at Dalhousie University.

If you would like advice and insight from academics and university staff delivered direct to your inbox each week,  sign up for the Campus newsletter .

Rather than restrict the use of AI, embrace the challenge

Let’s think about assessments and ai in a different way, how students’ genai skills affect assignment instructions, how not to land a job in academia, contextual learning: linking learning to the real world, three steps to unearth the hidden curriculum of networking.

Register for free

and unlock a host of features on the THE site

The request to the URL needs to be verified.

The request to the URL is paused, and must be verified for you to access it. This question is for testing whether you are a human visitor, and to prevent automated spam submission.

What code is in the image submit

Incident ID: 3566471949154268937

For comments and questions: [email protected]

Served by the Norwegian Meteorological Institute and NRK

Elektrostal

Current conditions, weather forecast for the next 10 days, thursday 16 may, friday 17 may, saturday 18 may, sunday 19 may, monday 20 may, tuesday 21 may, wednesday 22 may, thursday 23 may, friday 24 may, saturday 25 may.