Writing is a significant part of our professional lives as faculty. We’re working on articles, grant proposals, books, teaching statements, blogs, or op-eds.
Too often, however, we don’t have opportunities to talk about the process, our struggles, or to get feedback from readers outside (or even within) our own departments. It also can be difficult to set aside dedicated writing time given our other important commitments as teachers, mentors, and administrators.
The Faculty Write Program sponsors writing groups to help writers advance their work, connect with colleagues, and exchange ideas across disciplines. Writing group types include:
Feedback/writing exchange groups – each participant brings a short piece of writing to share for discussion. Groups typically include 3-5 writers and meet either monthly or weekly.
Side-by-side/Write-on-site – participants meet at an agreed upon time and place to work on independent writing projects alongside other faculty. Arrive with any materials you will need to work on your own writing, and write in good company. Stay as long as your schedule allows.
Accountability or “check-in” groups – participants set goals and share their progress with other group members. Reporting to a supportive group of peers increases accountability and camaraderie.
Affinity writing groups. Writing groups form around specific topics (e.g., engaged scholarship, transformative learning), type of writing (e.g., creative writing, grant proposals, or public scholarship), or faculty cohort (new faculty, associate professors, women writers, Latinx writers).
Writing groups form in September, January, and May.
Interested in starting a writing group in your department, program, or faculty cohort?
Contact jahern@duke.edu to discuss how to create and sustain a writing group and small group coaching opportunities.
Writing Group Grants 2024-25
Theme: Community and Connection
The Faculty Write Program is sponsoring writing groups to help writers stay connected to their writing during the academic year, extend summer writing retreat momentum, and gather regularly in a supportive community. The grant encourages faculty to form collaborative networks beyond their home departments to help advance their writing goals and build new or sustain current writing communities. Each group will receive up to $1000 towards their proposed goals and also have access to small group coaching and writing retreats during the year.
Multidisciplinary Writing Groups - Sarah Barton (Occupational Therapy and Divinity), Tolly Boatwright (Classics), Karin Shapiro (African and African American Studies), Charlotte Sussman (English), Ann Marie Walton (Nursing). Meet weekly with colleagues across disciplines who are working to meet their writing goals.
Tenured/Tenure Track Women Writers - Dominika Baran (English) and Veronica Ciocanel (Mathematics). Meet in a supportive environment with writers working toward tenure and promotion. Includes discussions on writing practices, strategic planning, and building and sustaining momentum.
Faculty & Staff Weekly Writers - Melissa Simmermeyer (Romance Studies/Spanish) and Sandy Valnes-Quammen (Romance Studies/French). Writers meet weekly on Wednesdays to write side-by-side in a supportive virtual environment. Includes timed writing, goal setting, and celebrating accomplishments.
Co-Sponsored Groups
Latinx Writers
- Thursdays 10-12, East campus. Conveners - Cristina Salvador, Assistant Research Professor of Psychology & Neuroscience and Cecilia Márquez, Hunt Family Assistant Professor of History.
The Latinx Writing Group aims to build community and support the writing productivity of Latinx junior faculty to help promote, retain and recruit diverse faculty. Meeting weekly to write as a group, faculty will work on their respective projects alongside one another, or they can join virtually if they’re not on campus. In addition, there will be two intensive, weekend-long writing retreats, where members will participate in workshops on writing productivity, spend time accomplishing their writing goals, and build community. Please write cristina.salvador@duke.edu if interested in joining this group.
Department Embedded Writing Groups
Biology Writes | Biology Faculty, Graduate Students & Post Docs | Hybrid
Biology Writes is an offshoot of the Duke Faculty Write Program and is designed to support writers in the biology department. Convener Julie Reynolds hosts side-by-side writing groups each semester. Find out more information about these groups here.
Contact Jennifer Ahern-Dodson (jahern@duke.edu) to discuss organizing a writing group, workshop, or retreat for your department, school, or program.