Faculty & Staff Public Health Writing Resources.

Faculty & Staff Writing Community

The Faculty & Staff Writing Community meets the first Friday of every month (same time and Zoom room).

All you need is your computer or a notebook and pen!

The objectives of the meetings:

• Foster a supportive writing community;
• Reduce social isolation and build confidence;
• Set personal writing goals for the month;
• Provide monthly deadlines and a system for checking-in;
• Give you a boost when you are feeling unproductive;
• Carve time out of your busy week for your writing.

Each 75-minute session follows this loose structure:

• 15 minutes for checking in, setting goals for session, touting accomplishments, troubleshooting problems
• 45 minutes for writing
• 15 minutes to debrief about what you accomplished and set goals for the month.

Can’t make it for the full 75 minutes? Not a problem? Join for as long as you can.

We All Need Encouragement and Support

Have you been trying to write the same journal article for the last year or longer but somehow never find the time to get it done? Do you find yourself putting off writing projects day after day because your teaching and other more immediately pressing duties keep getting in the way? Have you ever found yourself thinking: “I am so behind on emails, class prep, grading, etc. that any time I devote to writing is selfish?” Do you find yourself feeling secretly resentful of colleagues who seem to have a new article published every couple of weeks?

If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, you are not alone. Writing and publication are a critical component of academic professional development, promotion, and funding for research projects. Yet, writing is almost never covered in our intricate time matrices and can therefore feel self-indulgent at the same time that we feel constantly guilty for not doing more of it.

Reasons to Join a Writing Group

Research shows that academics who participate in writing support and accountability groups are more productive. Joining a writing group can help you develop a regular writing routine that keeps you engaged and focused on your writing even during the busiest times in the semester. It also helps you set feasible goals and stick to them. Most importantly, it’s a fun way to connect with colleagues.