Writing Groups

Graduate Writing Groups

Graduate Writing Groups are for graduate writers who have begun the thesis/dissertation process (at any stage) and are writing independently. Our writing groups will provide you with a supportive environment that will help you make progress and stay positive. Research demonstrates that graduate students who take part in writing groups are more productive writers, have higher self-efficacy, and build confidence as writers (Cui, Zhang, and Driscoll, 2022; Ekstein et. al. 2017; Mannon, 2016). Our assessment demonstrates that by joining our groups, graduate writers significantly improve in setting goals, focusing on their writing, and making progress on their drafts.

When are groups running next, and how do I sign up?

Our Graduate writing groups run in fall, spring, and summer each year. Visit this page or check your IUP email at the beginning of the term for information on how to join a group. Sign up here! Please sign up by September 1 to be placed into a group.

This semester, we are offering three types of groups: Graduate Writing Groups, Graduate Writing Productivity Groups, and the Neurodiverse Writers’ Group. All groups meet on Zoom. The Graduate Writing Groups are reserved for dissertation/thesis writers, but the Writing Productivity Groups and the Neurodiverse Writers’ Group are open to all. See our full schedule below.

Why should I sign up? How does this help me?

Graduate Writing Groups are for graduate writers who have begun the thesis/dissertation process (at any stage) and are writing independently. Our writing groups will provide you with a supportive environment that will help you make progress and stay positive. Our assessment demonstrates that by joining our groups, graduate writers significantly improve in setting goals, focusing on their writing, and making progress on their drafts.

What are my options for GWGs?

The Center for Scholarly Communication offers three types of groups. Select the group that is best for you.

• Graduate Writing Groups are 1.5-hour, bi-weekly virtual meetings that include information on dissertation writing facilitated by a scholarly consultant with the CSC, which include the following:
  • Goal setting and regular check-ins with group members to help you stay on track
  • Feedback from peers and CSC on your writing
  • Short interactive presentations on key aspects of thesis/dissertation writing, including goal setting, time management, self-editing strategies, revision, handling feedback, and work/life balance
  • Small group supportive environment

• Writing Productivity Groups are two-hour, weekly meetings that do not offer any mini-lessons, but prioritize writing time. These groups are also facilitated by a scholarly consultant with the CSC and are open to all graduate students and faculty working on any writing project. We welcome you to join multiple Writing Productivity Groups.

• ​​The Neurodiverse Writers’ Group is a one-and-a-half-hour, twice-weekly meeting that aims to provide a space for neurodiverse writers to connect and work alongside others who understand their experiences. Together, we focus on building consistent and manageable writing habits that support individual goals. These groups are also facilitated by a scholarly consultant with the CSC and are open to all graduate students and faculty working on any writing project.

Who should sign up?

Because our Graduate Writing Groups are in high demand, they will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Because we have a limited number of spaces available, we will prioritize those who did not get to participate in previous writing groups and those who have a good attendance record in previous GWGs. We also give priority to students who have completed their coursework. These groups are specifically for students who are independently writing (e.g., we ask that faculty do not require their students to join the groups as part of a course, as we cannot meet that level of demand).

These groups are best for graduate students who want to commit to regular meetings and who have the accountability of a small group environment. We ask that you commit to attending at least five sessions of the six offered for bi-weekly groups or nine of eleven for the weekly groups. If you can’t make this commitment, please consider signing up for individual tutorials.

When are they offered?

All GWGs are offered virtually. These are the Graduate Writing Groups offered this semester:

• Group 1: 7:30–9:00 p.m. ET on Tuesdays, meeting every other week; Meeting dates: September 9, September 23, October 7, October 21, November 4, and November 18.
• Group 2: 8:00–9:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, meeting every other week; Meeting dates: September 10, September 24, October 8, October 22, November 5, and November 19.

These are the Writing Productivity Groups that will be offered:

• Writing Productivity Group 1: 7:00–9:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, meeting every week 9/9–11/18, except 10/14.
• Writing Productivity Group 2: 7:00–9:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, meeting every week 9/10–11/19, except 10/15.
• Writing Productivity Group 3: 8:00–10:00 a.m. ET on Saturday, meeting every week 9/13–11/21, except 10/17.
• Writing Productivity Group 4: 9:00–11:00 a.m. ET on Saturday, meeting every week 9/14–11/22, except 10/18.

Here are the Neurodiverse Writers’ Groups that will be offered:

• Neurodiverse Writers’ Group: 8:30–10:00 a.m. ET on Thursday, and 9:00–10:30 a.m. ET on Saturday, meeting every week 9/11–11/22, except for 10/1 and 10/16.

For all groups, please only commit if you plan on attending most or all of the sessions.

Great! How do I sign up?

Please sign up for our groups by filling out this short form.

If you have questions, feel free to email the Graduate Writing Group coordinator, Madelyn Carroll, at pgmcc@iup.edu.

Writing Productivity Sessions

This summer, we are also offering two-hour Writing Productivity Sessions open to students and faculty. These will offer a space for accountability and the opportunity to chat with a scholarly consultant. These sessions will be open to anyone who would like to join; no sign-up necessary. They will be through the CSC’s Zoom.

These will be offered on:

• Friday, May 16, 4:00–6:00 p.m. ET
• Monday, May 26, 12:00–2:00 p.m. (Memorial Day)
• Sunday, June 8, 2:00–4:00 p.m.
• Saturday, June 21, 10:00 a.m.–Noon
• Thursday, July 3, 6:00–8:00 p.m.
• Sunday, July 13, 10:00 a.m.–Noon
• Saturday, August 2, 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.

No sign-up in advance is required for these groups.

Faculty Writing Groups

Forthcoming Fall 2025