This program offers companionship and accountability to University of Iowa artists, scholars, and researchers working on any kind of academic writing project (ex. academic articles/essays, fellowship or grant applications, book projects, edited volumes, or nonfiction) who want dedicated time, a cozy space, and a community for the practice of writing.
In Summer 2024, these small, write-on-site groups will continue to meet in at the Obermann Center for Advanced Studies at 111 Church St. Groups will meet once a week for one and a half hours, beginning the week of June 3, 2024. Weekly writing sessions will include brief check-ins, goal setting, and sustained writing time—along with warm appreciation and support for the demanding work of scholarly writing. All groups during the summer are open to anyone in the University of Iowa academic community. The writing space is deliberately small and cozy, so we have spaces for only 10 writers per group.
Applications for summer groups are due May 21, 2024.
Join a summer writing group Join the Writing Collective email list
Summer 2024 Group Meeting Times
Mondays, 9:30–11:00 a.m.
Mondays, 2:00–3:30 p.m.
Wednesdays, 9:30–11:00 a.m.
Wednesdays, 2:00–3:30 p.m.
Summer 2024 Writing Group Leaders
Kathleen Shaughnessy
Kathleen Shaughnessy is a sixth-year PhD Candidate in English, planning to finish their dissertation and defend by the end of this year. Their dissertation focuses on depictions of science and gender in late nineteenth-century imperial Gothic fiction.
They have worked with the Writing Center in multiple capacities since 2020; in addition to enrollment and appointment tutoring and asynchronous document review, they have worked as a writing tutor for the past year in the Hanson Center for Communication at the College of Engineering. They have assisted with multiple thesis/dissertation bootcamps for Engineering during the academic year, as well as multiple Writing Center summer writing groups, such as WriteON and the dissertation bootcamp.
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Ellie White
Bio forthcoming.
Reflections from members of Fall 2023 writing groups
“Finding time in the week to write, especially when busy with teaching and other responsibilities, is incredibly hard, and the writing group helped immensely getting me into a regular writing rhythm, both during and outside our weekly meetings, which markedly increased my productivity throughout the semester. I wish I’d had this even earlier in my dissertation process and can’t recommend it enough for those getting started on major writing projects.”
"This semester I began preparing myself for comps and was quite worried about holding myself accountable to my reading and writing schedule. Attending the writing group provided some much needed structure into my weekly schedule. Knowing that I had a quiet and cozy spot to co-work with peers each week really helped me stay motivated. I enjoyed getting to know some new folks from different departments and it was incredibly validating to be able to share some writing challenges with others in similar positions."
