Writing Studio with Chris Jones — 2023 Fall

The Writing Studio is a one-month workshop designed to help you complete a significant piece of writing. It builds on previous work done in the Writing Studio to introduce healthy and sustainable writing habits. What is new in this version is an explicit focus on selecting a significant writing project and focusing our efforts on completing it. What counts as a significant writing project is up to each person (a major grant application, a dissertation prospectus, an article or a chapter are possible examples).

Most of our time at meetings will be spent writing, with short intervals to develop strategies for meeting deadlines and overcoming obstacles. We’ll talk about setting ourselves up for success, avoiding negative self-talk, and practicing habits that make it easier to keep writing on a regular basis. Unlike many other writing workshops, we will not be focusing on style or writing for popular audiences, nor will we exchange or discuss each other’s texts. Instead, our focus will be on setting aside dedicated time for writing and learning strategies that increase productivity and lower the stress and anxiety of writing. Participants will have the option of participating in accountability check-in meetings with peers outside of our scheduled meetings.

The Writing Studio Sprint will be hybrid, with the option to attend in person or via Zoom.

Eligibility: Faculty and graduate students hoping to improve their writing.

Attendance: In-person attendance will be limited to the first 35 people to enroll.

Dates: Aug. 25 to Sept. 22, with in-person or hybrid sessions from 9 a.m.-noon (AZ time) on the following dates:

Friday, Aug. 25

Friday, Sept. 1

Friday, Sept. 8

Friday, Sept. 15

Friday, Sept. 22

Coffee, tea and light refreshments will be provided.

Where: Ross-Blakely Hall 197, Institute for Humanities Research; Zoom.

The expectation for attendance: Because exercises will build over time, participants are expected to attend regularly, particularly if they register to attend in person.

Facilitator: Christopher Jones (SHPRS; History) will facilitate the workshops drawing on insights from three years of leading writing workshops.