While the Writing Center is not offering any facilitated writing groups this summer, we will have a dedicated Drop-in Co-Writing Space available on Mondays (June 2 – August 4) from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. in HCW 6191.
Dates: Mondays, June 2 – August 4, 2025
Time available: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. CT
Format: drop-in (attend when it works for you)
Mode: in person
Location: Helen C. White Hall, Room 6191
Each Monday, stop by between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. to work on your project. Writing Center staff will be available to help you locate our writing space and weekly materials (handouts, goal sheets, etc.). Come and go as your schedule permits, and attend as often as you like. If you have questions about this opportunity, please let us know. We look forward to seeing you in or around the Writing Center this summer!
During the academic year, the Writing Center offers several options for weekly graduate and undergraduate writing groups, including registered writing groups that require regular attendance, and drop-in writing groups (attend when you’re available). Led by experienced instructors, these groups provide an opportunity for sustained writing practice within a community of other student writers. These writing groups take place in one of the following modes:
- in person
- online/fully virtual
Writing groups begin meeting in Week 4 of the semester and continue meeting through the last week of classes.
More information about Fall 2025 writing groups, including detailed descriptions and an interest form, will be coming in August. Please check back.
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