LISS DTP Year 3 writing retreat

This is an extended retreat, in which the first two days kick off a month-long, self-directed writing development programme. On days 1 and 2, researchers set specific goals for their writing (both productivity and skills). These goals are reviewed on Day 3, one month later, and Day 3 is also a chance to reinforce techniques, bolster confidence, and bring the researchers back together in a mutually supportive space. 1-1s available as needed.

Themes: getting it down, getting it down well, writing discipline, reigniting the joy

Schedule

• Day 1: Thursday 11 November 10:00-15:30
• Day 2: Friday 12 November 10:00-15:30
• Day 3: Thursday 9 December 10:00-15:30

Facilitators

Anne Wilson has a background in journalism (features) and corporate communication (scripts, speeches, screen media copy), combining her writing with facilitating writing workshops in HE. A Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, she was Royal Literary Fund Fellow at Brunel University for three years, and now runs workshops on academic writing and professional communication for postgraduates and staff at Brunel and other universities. She also coaches students for the 3MT competition (won by Brunel in 2017). She has collaborated with the Brunel Occupational Therapy department to investigate what kind of feedback helps students to improve their academic writing. Current clients include Queen Mary, University of London, University of the Arts and Grand Union DTP.

Katie Grant co-created the Advancing Academic Writing skills website for the University of Glasgow, where she was the Royal Literary Fund Writing Fellow for three years, helping undergraduates, Masters and PhD students with their writing. A columnist, occasional broadcaster, author of ten novels (Sedition, her latest, is published by Virago), chair of the panel of judges for the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction, an occasional book reviewer for, amongst other publications, the New York Times and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, she runs writing workshops on improving the quality, reach and impact of academic writing for all levels of HE. Long experience of the practical, emotional and organisational challenges of writing for deadlines and for different audiences informs all her workshops. She understands from first-hand the value of getting writing done and getting it done well.