Graduate Writing Groups

This Fall, the Graduate Writing Lab is offering two Graduate Writing Groups as part of a pilot program! 

The goals are to:

  1. help you get writing done
  2. help you improve your writing and confidence as a scholar in a supportive community
  3. help you develop peer review skills, which are critical to a successful career as a graduate student and researcher
     

Program Expectations

 

  1. Attend a mandatory training session on how to give and receive effective peer feedback.
  2. Participate in 6 peer feedback meetings in a small group. Every participant will have their work reviewed by peers at least twice. 

  3. Complete periodic surveys to inform future iterations of the groups.

     

Writing Groups

Graduate Students Applying for Funding

Ideal for graduate students preparing for a fellowship, scholarship, or other funding applications.

Dates and Times:

  • Mandatory orientation and training: September 13, 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM Arizona Time
  • Peer Review Sessions: Every other Tuesday from 10 AM to 11:30 AM Arizona Time (Sept. 17, Oct. 1, 15, 29, Nov. 12, and 19)

Graduate Students in Behavioral and Psychological Sciences

Ideal for graduate students in any behavioral, psychological, or cognitive science field.

Dates and Times:

  • Mandatory orientation and training: September 13, 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM Arizona Time
  • Peer Review Sessions: Every other Friday from 10:30 AM to 12 PM Arizona Time (Sept. 20, Oct. 4, 19, Nov. 1, 15, and Dec. 6)

Interested in the groups? Complete our short application to get started.

Submit your Application

Program Contacts

Have questions? Want to be added to a waitlist for future groups? Email our team members to let us know. We are excited to support you in achieving your writing goals this semester!

Shelley Hawthorne Smith, PhD
shellh@arizona.edu
Sara Townsend
saraltownsend@arizona.edu

Previous Graduate Writing Groups

Note: Graduate Writing Groups prior to Fall 2024 were month-long writing communities that provided support and accountability as students pursued their writing goals. Participants committed to the following activities:

  • Attending a two-hour planning session to refine the month’s writing goals  
  • Meeting with a peer writing consultant once during the month to discuss writing and/or the writing process
  • Participating in at least one Writing Efficiency Session each week
  • Attending a weekly one-hour group meeting to discuss the previous week’s achievements and the subsequent week’s goals
     

Summer 2024

  • Dissertation Writing Group

Spring 2024

  • Writing Group for LGBTQ+ Grad students (January/February 2024)
  • Women in the Health Sciences (January/February 2024)
  • Dissertating Writers in Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (February/March 2024)

Fall 2023

  • Writing Group for LGBTQ+ Grad students (September/October 2023)
  • Dissertating Writers in Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (September/October 2023)
  • Writing Group for Graduate Parents (September/October 2023)
  • First Generation Graduate Student Writers (September/October 2023)
  • First-Year Graduate Student Writers (October/November 2023)
  • Doctoral Writing Group for International Scholars (October/November 2023)
  • Writing Group for Students Transitioning from Professional Work to Grad School (October/November 2023)

Summer 2023

  • Writing Group for Indigenous Students (June/July 2023)
  • Writing Group for Women in Science (June/July 2023)
  • Dissertating Writers in Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (July/August 2023)

Spring 2023

  • Master's Students with International Interests Who are Writing About Fine Arts (Spring 2023)
  • Master's Students of Color in the Arts (Spring 2023)
  • Doctoral Writing Group for Non-Native English Speakers (Spring 2023)
  • Dissertation Writing Accountability Group (February/March 2023)
  • Writing Group for Underrepresented Students in STEM (February/March 2023)
  • Writing Group for Underrepresented/Master's Students in STEM (February/March 2023)
  • Master's Students Doing Humanistic Research (February/March 2023)
  • Doctoral Writing Group for Queer or Non-Binary Writers (March/April 2023)
  • Summer 2022
  • Writing Group for Students of Color in Health Sciences (June/July 2022)
  • Writing Group for Dissertating Students (June/July 2022)

Spring 2022

  • Writing Group for Dissertating Women of Color (February/March 2022)
  • Writing Group for First-Year Graduate Student Writers (February/March 2022)
  • Writing Group for Engineers (February/March 2022)
  • Writing Group for CALS students (March/April 2022)
  • Writing Group for Parents (March/April 2022)
  • Writing Group for Women in STEM (March/April 2022)