April 24, 2006
- Be patient with the process of forming a writing group.
The sixth step is to be patient with the process. Like any other group or organization, writing groups take a while to form and to gel. Give the group time to come together, but don’t be afraid to find (or create) another if your needs change. Also, don’t be afraid to speak up if the [...]
April 21, 2006
- How will people join and leave the writing group?
The fifth step is to decide how members will leave the group and when (or if) new members will be invited in. As we already discussed, you want to keep the group small. There is such a thing as too small (less than 4 people for example.) How will the group continue if someone finishes [...]
April 19, 2006
- Set up lines of communication for the writing group.
The fourth step is to decide how you will communicate with each other between meetings- perhaps setting up an email list or phone tree might work. It might also be useful to have one person “host” or “organize” each meeting. This “host” would be responsible for finding meeting space, informing the group, and keeping the [...]
April 17, 2006
- Setting up a meeting place for your writing group.
The third step is to define the meeting places and times for the group, and, with this, assess everyone’s level of commitment to the group. Do you want to meet weekly? What are the expectations to participate in the group? Where will you be meeting? Is this space conducive to the writing group format?
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April 14, 2006
- Define the purpose of the writing group.
The second step is to define the goals and reasons for the group. If you all are in the same field, the writing group may be a place to extend your arguments or hone your thinking. If you all are in different fields (and writing groups work well with either kind of configuration), your writing [...]
April 12, 2006
- Tips for setting up a writing group.
Dissertation focused writing groups can be a strong source of support, critique, and validation in your dissertation writing process. Writing groups are a way to increase accountability, increase social support, and increase your level of self confidence and motivation to achieve. There are both benefits to seek and pitfalls to avoid when utilizing writing groups. We’ll [...]