The Writing Center is offering several options for weekly graduate writing groups this spring. 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
Spring 2025 writing groups begin meeting in Week 3 of classes (February 3-7) and continue meeting through Week 15 (April 28-May 2, 2025). Writing groups do not meet on any day that is identified as a “no classes” day on the official university schedule (e.g., Spring Recess, which is Week 10 of the semester, or March 24-28, 2025).
To express interest in joining a writing group, please fill out this form:
To receive priority consideration for a Spring 2025 writing group, please complete this interest form by Sunday, January 26 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, January 30. 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: Erika Gonzalez
This graduate writing group meets online every Monday via Zoom. The group seeks to cultivate a supportive writing community for graduate students who are looking for a space to spend dedicated time working on academic writing. The group welcomes graduate level writers across academic disciplines and at any stage of their graduate program. The facilitator (Erika) will open each session with a brief goal-setting activity and group check-in, and will end the session with time to share progress and offer support and affirmations to group members. The vast majority of the session will be dedicated to independent writing time. Erika will also offer individual meetings throughout the three-hour session for those seeking 1:1 support on their writing projects. Erika maintains a supportive, flexible style in her writing groups, seeking to meet the unique needs of the writing community while encouraging group members to share writing strategies with each other over the course of the semester. Her goal is to instill or build a sense of confidence in each of the group’s members so they feel successful at the end of each writing session.
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: Samitha Senanayake
This graduate writing group is intended to support students in any stage of their degree program, whether you are just starting your journey or nearing the end. The goal is to bring together students of color in community as we tackle the many writing demands of graduate school. Every week, we will work alongside one another on our various writing projects, supporting and motivating each other to achieve our writing goals. The facilitator, Samitha, 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: Ileaha Anderson
This writing group meets in person on the 6th floor of Helen C. White hall each Wednesday at 9 a.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. At the end of each session, we'll debrief together, celebrating and reflecting on the day's work.
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: Kati Conley
This graduate writing group meets online every week via Zoom. Our goal is to provide you with a supportive yet productive space to get work done! Graduate students are welcome to work on academic writing projects of any type and at any stage. The bulk of each meeting will be your dedicated time to work, but brief opening and closing sessions will serve as a space to celebrate successes and talk through challenges. All participants will be given access to a shared Google Doc, on which they note their weekly goals and progress. In addition, during the group’s meeting time, the facilitator (Kati) will be available for brief one-to-one conferences with participants to help them set goals, think through their strategies, and get an outsider's perspective on their writing.Thursday Afternoon Graduate Writing Group @ the GSCC
Meeting time: 2 to 4 p.m. CT
Format: registered (same attendees each week), plus drop-ins welcome if registered beforehand
Mode: in person
Location: GSCC conference room (716 Langdon Street, Room 137) and online
Facilitator: Carly Pschorr
Co-sponsored by the Gender & Sexuality Campus Center (GSCC), this writing group offers a supportive community of writers for graduate students who identify as LGBTQ+. This writing group meets in a hybrid format, with online participants joining the meeting via Zoom and in-person participants gathering at the GSCC (Conference Room). Each session will be divided into three sections: an opening check-in, writing time, and closing reflection.
- In the first section (10-20 min.), we have a brief check-in and set writing goals for the session.
- In the second section (90-105 min.), you will work on your academic or personal writing projects while the facilitator, Carly, will be available to chat about your work one-on-one.
- In the third section (5-15 min.), we'll check in to see how the session went and think ahead about the next week.
Friday Co-Writing Space
Meeting time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. CT
Format: drop-in (attend when you’re available)
Mode: in person
Location: Helen C. White Hall, sixth floor
Want to make progress while writing in community? The Writing Center is offering a dedicated Drop-in Co-Writing Space every Friday, beginning in Week 3 of the semester (February 3-7, 2025). Drop in any time between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. to work on your project. Please feel free to come and go as your schedule permits, and attend as often as you like!
This group does not have a facilitator, but Writing Center staff will be available to help you find our writing space and any weekly materials (handouts, goal sheets, etc.) available.
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