The Writing Center is offering several options for weekly graduate writing groups this semester. Led by experienced instructors, these groups provide an opportunity for sustained writing practice within a community of other student writers. Writing groups take place in one of the following modes:
- in-person
- hybrid (both online and in-person attendance supported)
- online / fully virtual
This fall, writing groups begin meeting in Week 4 of classes (September 22–26, 2025) and continue meeting through Week 14 (December 1–5, 2025). Writing groups do not meet on any day that is identified as a “no classes” day on the official university schedule (e.g., Thanksgiving recess).
To express interest in joining a writing group, please fill out this form:
To receive priority consideration for a Fall 2025 writing group, please complete this interest form by Sunday, September 14 at 11:59 p.m. CT. Forms received after this date will be considered for additional openings.
We will notify you about your writing group assignment by Thursday, September 17. Your facilitator will follow up with a welcome message that includes information about your group’s plan for meeting. In the meantime, if you have any questions about our writing groups, please email Jenny Conrad, Writing Groups Coordinator.
About the Graduate Writing Groups
At the Writing Center, we believe that community and accountability, along with setting achievable goals, play a significant role in completing major writing projects. Past participants in our weekly graduate writing groups have finished proposals, chapters, articles, and have even defended their dissertations! Since the Writing Center wants to help you achieve these milestones, we offer graduate students space and time each week to maximize their productivity. Each three-hour meeting begins with goal setting and ends with brief discussions about writing strategies and accomplishments. The bulk of each meeting, however, is devoted to structured writing time so that you can make substantial progress on your writing projects.
Monday Morning Graduate Writing Group
Meeting time: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. CT
Format: registered (same attendees each week, attendance required)
Mode: online/fully virtual
Facilitator: Helenia Quince
This writing group is an intentional space for graduate-level students to work toward their writing goals in community. In this group, we will collaboratively explore the structure of your writing process by offering a 15-minute check-in to set your intentions for the session and a brief 5-minute reflection to provide strategies to maintain focus during this process. This writing group is a collaborative space, welcoming writers and learners of all styles. I (Helenia) will give you one-to-one time to answer questions or offer the space to reflect on your written process. Writing can be accessible to everyone, regardless of your starting point, whether you need the space to organize and figure out your structure or are in the editing phase of the process.
Tuesday Morning Graduate Writing Group @ the MSC
Meeting time: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. CT
Format: registered (same attendees each week), plus drop-ins welcome if registered beforehand
Mode: in person
Location: Multicultural Student Center, Red Gym (Room 243)
Facilitator: Jay Lowe
This graduate writing group is designed to support students across a wide range of disciplines and in any stage of their degree program. Each week, participants will work alongside one another as they complete their respective writing projects, supporting and motivating each other to work toward achieving their writing goals. The facilitator, Jay, will be available during the meetings for individual support and to answer questions.Wednesday Morning Graduate Writing Group
Meeting time: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. CT
Format: registered (same attendees each week, attendance required)
Mode: in person
Location: Helen C. White Hall, 6th floor
Facilitator: Erin Miller
This graduate student writing group meets on Wednesday mornings and is well-suited for students who are looking for structure, support, and the space to evaluate their writing habits. As a writing instructor and tutor, I (Erin) prioritize metacognition and reflection as two skills that aid writers at any stage of their writing project. I also strongly believe that the interplay between writing and talking helps writers understand and grow more confident in their abilities—and increases friendly accountability. Therefore, each writing group session will begin with fifteen minutes of guided goal setting and goal sharing. Then, we will transition into about two and a half hours of writing time, in which participants will have the option to write independently or consult with me as needed. Each session will conclude with roughly fifteen minutes of sharing what we accomplished in our time together, with emphasis on describing the specific skills worked on and how it felt to do this work. My hope for this group is that we will all get to know ourselves better as writers and celebrate the monumental progress we make in our projects this semester!
Wednesday Evening Graduate Writing Group
Meeting time: 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. CT
Format: registered (same attendees each week, attendance required)
Mode: online / fully virtual
Facilitator: Ileaha Anderson
This writing group meets over Zoom on Tuesday evenings from 6-9 p.m. While writing can sometimes be an isolating experience, this group can offer solidarity and community as well as accountability. We will touch base at the beginning of each session, allocating about 15 minutes for setting goals and fostering connections between writers. For the majority of the session, participants will write and work on their own individual drafts, with Ileaha available for one-on-one conferences via breakout rooms. Participants can work on whatever makes sense for them. At the end of each session, we'll debrief together, celebrating and reflecting on the day's work.Friday Drop-in Graduate Writing Group
Meeting time: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. CT
Format: drop-in (attend when you’re available)
Mode: in person
Location: Helen C. White Hall, sixth floor
Facilitator: Rabia Perez Gonzalez
This writing group is designed to support graduate students not only in their writing but also to cultivate a community of care for all our students. Each week will begin with a brief 5–10-minute check-in where students can share their writing goals—if they choose to do so—but can also use this time to recognize and safely discuss any challenges or successes they have encountered within or beyond our academic work. This group aims to provide an affirming space for writers across all disciplines, while also cultivating a safe and supportive environment for students of all backgrounds, including any underrepresented backgrounds, who may face unique challenges in graduate school. During our time together, students are encouraged to spend their sessions working on whatever works best for them, with no specific or external pressures. As your facilitator, I (Rabia) will be present to answer any questions or discuss any possible concerns—both academic and beyond. At its core, I hope that this writing group can foster a community of revolutionary care and joy, one that not only celebrates, honors, and supports writing—but the folks writing with us as well.
Affiliated Writing Groups
Disability Cultural Center Writing Group
Meeting time: 1 to 4 p.m. CT on Wednesdays beginning September 24
Format: registered (same attendees each week)
Mode: hybrid, with an option to attend in person
Location: the Disability Cultural Center (702 W. Johnson) and on Zoom
Facilitators: Miso Kwak and Helen Rottier
The DCC Writing Group is an opportunity for graduate students to gather, write, and make progress on program requirements, journal articles, and other projects with a supportive writing community. Group meetings will include check in and goal-setting, writing time, and check out. Weekly attendance is not mandatory, but we encourage group members to commit to consistent attendance as able to cultivate community and accountability.
What people are saying about writing groups
“I took part in graduate writing groups four semesters in a row and going once a week to these groups is what kept me writing and eventually what allowed me to graduate. I loved being part of a community of writers who inspired me and kept me accountable.”
—Sandrine P., Second Language Acquisition
“Throughout my time as a grad student, writing group has been a vital space to get work done without destroying myself in the process. Beyond offering a dedicated space and time, it gave me a compassionate, endlessly inspiring group of facilitators and peers with whom I have commiserated and celebrated just about every part of the writing process, from outlining seminar papers to submitting dissertation chapters.”
—Luke U., Spanish & Portuguese
“The Writing Center writing groups provided me structure, accountability, community, all of which helped me write my prelim, dissertation proposal, a (funded) grant application, and two journal articles. In my last semester, the Tuesday morning writing group was instrumental in finishing my dissertation. I am so grateful for the support of my fellow graduate students and to the writing center staff!”
—Emma, School of Social Work
“I decided to apply for the graduate writing group this semester because I know that I write best when working while surrounded by other quiet, hard-working people. I was looking for a space and time I could dedicate to writing that could provide those requirements, and the grad writing group definitely fit the bill. I would recommend the grad writing group to anyone who is struggling to carve out a time and space for writing on any project.”
—Sarah G., Chemistry
“I used the writing group as a way to be accountable and to have a positive and supportive writing space. The writing groups helped me prepare for and tackle prelims because I had a dedicated space and time for them. Talking at the beginning with other students really helped to see that I wasn’t alone in the process, and I really enjoyed the little ‘tidbits’ of information and writing strategies we did at the beginning of sessions.”
—Kate M., Curriculum & Instruction
“I use the writing groups to incorporate accountability into my weekly writing. By checking in with colleagues at the start and end of each group meeting, I have a mechanism for recording my progress, identifying challenges, and troubleshooting difficulties.”
—Fred B., Biostatistics
“I joined the writing groups to get a fixed block of writing time every week as a dissertator. These groups help me reach my goals by “forcing” me to think about writing goals and sit down and write for 2.5 hours per week. I would recommend these groups to others because it is so hard to protect one’s writing time and writing groups have been an effective solution for me.”
—Junhao L., Risk and Insurance