Join us for a three-day faculty writing retreat to kick off your summer projects! Facilitated by Dr. Jessica McCaughey from the University Writing Program, these three days are designed to offer you focused time to plan and begin working on the writing you want to accomplish this summer.

Scholars and researchers from across the university are invited to attend and bring writing projects of any genre and at any stage. For instance, some participants might attend with the aim of crafting a strong research proposal narrative or a compelling statement of intent. Others might use the time to grapple with data. Still others might be preparing an academic paper for a specific publication.

While our days will primarily be structured around individual writing activities, Jessica will guide participants in morning goal setting, frequent check-ins, and some brief reflection at the end of each day. Participants will also have multiple opportunities, if they choose, to talk about their projects, gain feedback, and problem solve with a smaller group of peers and/or the facilitator. Additionally, if you’re in the market for a group of colleagues to write with or share your work with longer term, there will be a chance to test out and develop writing groups. Finally, from one another, we’ll learn writing and publishing strategies, and have the chance to talk about productive routines for summer and for the busier months during the semester.

No matter what stage you anticipate you’ll be in for your project(s), we welcome you! We’ll motivate one another (and, probably, commiserate—writing is hard!). Participants will leave not only having made significant progress on current writing projects, but also with a realistic, specific plan to meet the rest of their summer writing goals.

Retreat Details:

Tuesday, May 30 – Thursday, June 1, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Location: Post Hall, Mount Vernon Campus

We’ll meet in Post Hall on GW’s Mount Vernon campus all three days, although participants will have the opportunity to spread out and write in other spaces on campus as well. The Office of the Vice Provost for Research is providing pastries and coffee in the mornings, as well as lunch for attendees all three days.

There is a (paid) parking garage on the campus (first three hours are free), as well as a shuttle that runs to and from Foggy Bottom every half hour in the summer months.

Please RSVP here by May 18. We hope to see you there!

Questions? Feel free to reach out to the facilitator, Jessica McCaughey, at jessmcc@gwu.edu or to askovpr@gwu.edu.