Writers' Groups
If you are interested in forming or joining a writers' group, email us today!
What is a writers' group?
The Writing Centre supports writers’ groups of up to 8 people, for undergraduates, postgraduates, and staff. Our dedicated Writers’ Space offers a quiet, distraction-free space to work.
A writers’ group consists of a circle of people who meet regularly at agreed times. They not only write independently, but often critique each other’s work, motivate each other to stay committed, and support each other through common struggles.
Our writers’ groups meet for a couple of hours at the same time each week/biweekly and often take a break in the middle for coffee and chats!
Why do Writers' Groups Work?
An essential element in the success of a writers’ group is ‘commitment’. It can be testified that when members come together to share and commit to a space and a time for writing, they get work done.
The mutual need for quiet encouragement and camaraderie is always respected between members of the group.
Who is a Writers' Group for?
Writers’ groups are for anyone:
- Maybe you are an undergraduate in your final year and want to get together with your peers to complete your FYPs and learn to critique and solve common problems that arise together.
- Or you are a postgraduate student working on your thesis, and the writer’s group helps to foster motivation and commitment.
- You might be a staff member writing a journal article or policy, working alongside members of your faculty, staying focused together.
I graduated from my PhD in January 2018, after having completed my research and write-up in under 3 years. I found the PhD writers' group invaluable as it not only provided me with space to write without distractions and the companionship of other PhD students. It also helped me build good writing habits and learn more about the writing process in an academic context.
What Writers' Groups Do not Do:
Writers’ groups are not a place to simply seek help with your dissertation/assignment/etc. For that, we have peer-writing tutors.
There can be nothing more de-motivating than a group member that is continually distracting others away from their writing.
In a healthy group, each member gives as much as they get, but the most important thing is that they feel that no one is intruding on their time and their space for writing.
