What is WriteClub?
How many time have we had conversations with people about writing - how hard it is, plans for the summer, difficulties making time, difficulties starting, difficulties maintaining momentum, difficulties finishing. This is where 'structured social writing' (otherwise known as our ‘WriteClub’) come in.

WriteClub follows a model suggested by Murray and Newton (2009). Although the idea of meeting up with people to sit in silence and write sounds an odd one, before you discard it as an idea, it is worth reflecting that that social writing groups are becoming very popular. Participants get peer support from the shared endeavour but also the pressure imposed by making us accountable to our stated intentions.

So how does WriteClub work?
Firstly, it enables us to set aside protected times in our diaries for writing. 

In the same way we wouldn’t miss a lecture we are scheduled to give, or send apologies to a Board of Studies meeting we need to attend, once added to your diary WriteClub sessions become unmissable. It is only through writing regularly that good habits are formed and progress is made.

Each WriteClub session is 3 hours long, although you can keep writing after the session has finished if you want to. At the start we spend 10 minutes planning and sharing our goals for the session. Then the conversation stops and each of us spends the next hour and a half on our own writing project. We next take a 15-minute break when we can leave the room, chat or go and get a cup of tea. Finally, we write for a further hour, ending with five minutes hearing how everyone got on with their goals.

Does WriteClub achieve results?

This approach works best when people focus exclusively on writing; agree not to use the internet, their phones, or eat, or otherwise distract others or themselves; define specific goals and sub-goals (e.g. sections of papers and chapters/number of words); define and discuss content and structure for writing sub-goals; take stock of their achievements; and stick to the writing slots. The format, although simple, can have a huge impact for members of the group, both in terms of their productivity but also their sense of themselves as writers:

"Although write club has not made writing easier, it has been effective in helping me to be at peace with how difficult it is. By creating a structured time in which writing is the only acceptable activity, it helps me to conquer the fear of failure by forcing me to start. This has also had a beneficial by-product of upping my productivity, making me feel hopeful that if I just get stuck-in - even if just for a couple of hours - I can achieve a lot just by committing to the task".

"In the three months since being a member of ‘write club’ my productivity in terms of words produced per session has more than doubled. Partly I don't want to let the others down by not writing, and so that keeps me focussed, but more than that, the support that comes from being part of a community of writers has shifted my attitude to writing from that of a chore that needs to be done, to a skill that I am in the process of honing".

"The group offers a nice camaraderie bookending the writing itself. It quickly started to act as a ‘community of practice’, with participants discussing strategies and learning from each other".

How do I attend WriteClub?
There is no need to sign up, just add as many of these dates to your diary as you can and turn up. But remember, once you add a WriteClub date to your diary, it becomes unmissable! We look forward to seeing you soon!

Planned WriteClub event dates and room numbers, further details TBC:

• 2pm-4pm, Wednesday 17 October 2018 - Room 2.09, Armstrong Building
• 2pm-4pm, Wednesday 21 November 2018 - Room 2.09, Armstrong Building
• 2pm-4pm, Wednesday 12 December 2018 - Room 2.09, Armstrong Building 
• 2pm-4pm, Wednesday 16 January 2019 - Room 3.41, Armstrong Building- EVENT CANCELLED
• 2pm-4pm, Wednesday 20 February 2019 - Room 2.09, Armstrong Building 
• 2pm-4pm, Wednesday 20 March 2019 - Room 2.09, Armstrong Building 
• 2pm-4pm, Wednesday 15 May 2019 - Room 2.09, Armstrong Building 
• 2pm-4pm, Wednesday 19 June 2019 - Room 2.09, Armstrong Building