My colleagues Maria Turri and Bridget Escolme are running writing retreats for their Creative Arts and Mental Health Masters students currently working on their dissertations without other teaching. The basic idea is that everyone gets together and works in a supportive atmosphere with some supportive group and buddy chatting at defined times. The students really appreciate it and it obviously fits with these Covid19 times where students don’t have a physical shared space to socialise in. The following text is the outline used for an upcoming session, it neatly provides more detail.

Text shared with students

For those of you who have not attended before, be reassured that this is an opportunity to get on with some writing, with no scrutiny about what you have written or about your progress. The benefit comes from having a structured time where everyone writes (and struggles!) together.

An indicative timetable is here below. Take care and see you then, Maria 

10.00 – 10.10  (afternoon: 2.00-2.10)

Maria sets up the retreat, explains the principles for anyone new: switch off your devices, do not consult papers or other sources, try and be in a space where you can work uninterrupted (unless you have essential duties to perform or attend to).

10.10- 10.30  (afternoon: 2.10-2.30)

– 20 minutes free writing on any dissertation-related topic. 

10.30 – 10.40 (afternoon: 2.30-2.40)

– check in with partner (break out groups in pairs) – let them know what you wrote about in the free writing time and what your goal is for the next writing time, e.g. ‘to write something about…’

10.40 – 11.40 (afternoon: 2.40-3.40)

– 1 hour writing time, writing something under the topic you discussed with your partner. 

11.40 – 11.50 (afternoon: 3.40-3.50)

– check in with partner. Tell them how you did with your goal and what your next one is going to be. 

11.50 – 12.10 (afternoon: 3.50-4.10)

– break. Please take this whole 20 minutes as a break and if it’s possible to do so, go outside or into another part of your living space. At least be sure to turn away from the screen. Please don’t switch on your phone or check any emails or social media. 

12.10 – 12.50 (afternoon: 4.10-4.50)

– 40 minute writing time, writing something under the topic you discussed with your partner. 

12.50 – 1.00 (afternoon: 4.50-5.00)

– check in with partner, or with whole group if we’re only a small group. Tell them how you did with your goal. 

1.00 (afternoon: 5.00)

– quick return to whole group to say goodbye.