Retreats are offered throughout the year and provide faculty an opportunity to set aside time for their writing, and write in the company of others in a comfortable, relaxed space.
Academic year retreats are typically offered in August, December, and February, and focus on dedicated writing time, strategies for sustaining writing momentum, and goal setting discussions.
The summer retreat and workshop is a four-day immersive writing retreat and includes writing time, workshops, and feedback on works in progress.
Learn more about faculty experiences in the summer retreat in the Duke News article At summer retreat, faculty brush up on their writing.
Upcoming Retreats 2022
Spring Break Writing Retreat
Thursday, March 10 & Friday, March 11 | 9:30-3:30
Rubenstein Arts Center (The Ruby) - Update: Retreat is Full
The Duke Faculty Write Program invites you to a two-day writing retreat to keep (or get) your writing moving during break. The retreat offers time to write independently in a relaxed space, discuss insights on writing and your own process with fellow writers, and learn tips to help you boost productivity and enjoyment in your writing. Open to faculty in any discipline. Facilitators: Jennifer Ahern-Dodson and Sarah Wilbur.
·Bring a writing project that you want to work on.
·You’ll make progress on it while participating in a writing community.
·Along the way, you’ll learn and experiment with new techniques.
·Lunch is included.
·Space is limited to 20 participants.
Community-Engaged Scholar Retreat
Friday, March 18 | 9-12
Mutual Life Building
This retreat provides community-engaged scholars a communal and supportive space to make progress on their writing. Includes independent writing time and consultations. Space is limited to 15 participants. Sponsors: Duke Office of Civic Engagement (DOCE), Faculty Write, and Office of Durham and Community Affairs. Registration opens February 21.
Community-Engaged Scholar Retreat 2
Friday, April 29 | 9-12
Mutual Life Building
This retreat provides community-engaged scholars a communal and supportive space to make progress on their writing. Includes independent writing time, consultations, and workshops on integrating life and work commitments. Space is limited to 15 participants. Sponsors: Duke Office of Civic Engagement (DOCE), Faculty Write, and Office of Durham and Community Affairs.
10th Annual Scholarly Writing Retreat & Workshop
Monday, May 23- Thursday, May 26
Duke Integrative Medicine Center (in person). Update - Retreat is full.
Want to jump start your summer writing? Interested in learning how to be a more productive and engaged writer this summer? Would you benefit from writing and learning alongside others who also are committed to making progress on a scholarly writing project? Each day of this four-day scholarly writing retreat includes both hands-on workshops and time to write independently in a comfortable, relaxed space. Learn practical skills about productive writing habits, make progress on a writing project, and participate in a writing community. Includes both indoor and outdoor writing spaces. Facilitators: Jennifer Ahern-Dodson & Monique Dufour.
Space is limited to 20 participants. Those who register commit to attending the full retreat, and to participating in the writing community. Cost: $300. A limited number of fee waivers is available if cost poses a financial hardship. Please request fee waiver when you register.
Fall 2021
North Carolina Engaged Scholar Writing Retreat
October 22, 2021 | 9:30-12:30 | Online
Gather with other community engaged scholars across North Carolina to set aside time for writing, in community. This mini-retreat will include directed writing time and optional breakout consultation sessions with veteran engaged scholars in our state, including Bob Bringle, Rebecca Dumlao, Peter Felten, and Emily Janke. Registered participants will have an opportunity to sign up for consultation sessions a few days before the retreat. Space is limited. Registration closes October 15. Facilitated by Jennifer Ahern-Dodson, NC Engaged Scholar 2018-19. Co-sponsored by North Carolina Campus Compact, Duke Service-Learning, and the Duke Office of Civic Engagement. Learn more about the engaged scholar retreat here.
Tenure Track Women Writers
December 13-14, 2021 | 9:30-4:30 | In-person
This retreat provides women faculty working toward tenure a communal and supportive space to make progress on their writing. Includes independent writing time, consultations, and workshops on writing and improving work/life balance.
FULL
Regularly Offered Retreats
Summer Scholarly Writing Retreat & Workshop
Want to jump start your summer writing? Interested in learning how to be a more productive and engaged writer this summer? Would you benefit from writing and learning alongside others who also are committed to making progress on a scholarly writing project? Each day of this four-day scholarly writing retreat includes both hands-on workshops and time to write independently in a comfortable, relaxed space. Learn practical skills about productive writing habits, make progress on a writing project, and participate in a writing community. This retreat is designed to help you to reconnect with yourself, your work, and one another. If you want to spend some time with your writing, the retreat can help you to figure out the best way forward for you.
Summer Scholarly Writing Retreat: ALUMNI EDITION
Advanced writing retreat designed for writers who've participated in at least one summer retreat.
Writing, Mindfulness, and Movement
In this retreat, writers dedicate time to writing, quietly but also in community. Participants will have an opportunity to engage in activities designed to awaken awareness of physical habits and renew commitment to their writing as a fundamentally embodied practice.
Engaged Scholar Retreat
Are you teaching an engaged pedagogy such as service-learning, community-based research, or participatory action research and working to advance your scholarship? Does your research include community partners? Do you want to explore ways to connect with North Carolina faculty and administrators across the state who are working on community-engaged scholarship? This day-long retreat includes dedicated time for writing, workshops on writing and publication, and a discussion of frameworks to align community engagement, teaching, and research. Co-sponsored by North Carolina Campus Compact.
End-of-Summer Writing Retreat
Want one last writing burst before fall semester begins? Would you like to reconnect with other writers? Each day of this writing retreat includes time to write independently and optional workshops on productive writing habits.