Shut Up & Write!

UC Researcher Development invites you to join our community 'Shut Up & Write!'

On Thursday 5 December we'll meet at GROUNDED CAFE near Student Central in Building 1

On Thursday 12 December we'll meet at MIZZUNA CAFE, sitting at the round tables near the Theatre

On Thursday 19 December we'll meet at GROUNDED CAFE near Student Central in Building 1

Be sure to register! After you are checked in we'll give you a drink token that you can exchange for the beverage of your choice.

UC ReD would like your feedback about Shut Up and Write for our 2020 planning. Your input is valuable whether you are a regular, if you occasionally attend, or if you have never attended. The survey will take about 5 minutes. Results will support the design of the 2020 UC ReD program. The survey will be open until Friday 13 December 2019. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SUW2019

Book for Tuesday sessions at Nomad in the Refectory

What is Shut Up & Write!?

Basically Shut Up & Write! is a writing group that not only helps you get words written but is fun, social and supportive. Academia can be a lonely business if you let it.

Writing groups have magical powers for graduate students and researchers: they can boost the quality of your writing, keep you going when you're distracted or despondent, accelerate your productivity, increase your confidence – as well as kickstart many of the essential skills required in a research career. Plus, they offer a lot of other benefits to help you survive and thrive (Aitchison and Guerin, 2014).

What's involved?

Using the 'Pomodoro Technique', we'll spend 25 minutes writing in silence followed by a five-minute break where you can chat with others, share ideas or go for a walk. We'll repeat this cycle four times and you will be amazed at just how much you can achieve in two hours.

To help you focus your writing and maximise productivity, it helps to have specific goals (i.e. section of a paper or chapter and number of words). Please download and complete this Excel planner before each session.

We also encourage you to put your phone on silent and stay off the internet during writing time.

Want to know more?

Read this blog post by Dr Tseen Khoo from The Research Whisperer on the benefits of Shut Up & Write!

Research also indicates that participating in group writing generates many positive outcomes, see Shut up and write! Some surprising uses of cafes and crowds in doctoral writing

Schedule

9.30am Arrive, set up, settle in, get your drink token and order a beverage of your choice

9.45am First pomodoro

10.10am Five-minute break

10.15am Second pomodoro

10.40am Five-minute break

10.45am Third pomodoro

11.10am Five-minute break

11.15am Fourth pomodoro

11.40am Session ends

What to bring

• Whatever you write with: laptop, pen and paper, iPad, etc. (Please try and bring your devices fully charged as there are not a huge number of power points available.)
• Pre-filled planning schedule (Excel file)

Reference

Aitchison, C., & Guerin, C. 2014. Writing groups for doctoral education and beyond: innovations in practice and theory. London: Routledge.