Writing Intensive - February 2025
A Writing Intensive is an accountability programme.
It consists of a full day dedicated, exclusively, to writing.
This is done alongside others, but each participant works exclusively on their own writing. Writing Intensives are not writing workshops, they are more of a productivity tool.
27 februari 2025
09:30 - 17:30
faculty of Architecture and Arts, Gebouw E, Agoralaan, 3590 Diepenbeek
During a Writing Intensive, participants get a series of 90 minute writing blocks separated by 15 minute breaks (plus lunch break).
Because of their structure, and the social agreement they hold, these sessions can help to:
- make enough time to write, which otherwise can be hard to schedule/prioritise.
- voice out issues and get support.
- develop group bonds.
- develop good habits and practices.
- learn from others’ processes.
- learn about others’ research.
The schedule for the day looks as follows:
- 09:30 - 20m - Individual goal sharing for the day
- 09:50 - 1h 30m - 1st Writing Block
- 11:20 - 15m - 1st Break
- 11:35 - 1h 30m - 2nd Writing Block
- 13:05 - 45m - Lunch Break / 2nd Break
- 13:50 - 1h 30m - 3rd Writing Block
- 15:20 - 15m - 3rd Break
- 15:35 - 1h 30m - 4th Writing Block
- 17:05 - 25m - Wrap-up
Good to know:
- Participants commit to using the day for writing. During the writing blocks they should not be engaged in other tasks (teaching, emailing, meetings, etc).
- Participants come knowing what they will be working on (have a clear goal or project in mind).
- The writing is individual, but happens alongside others. This forces each participant to block out the time for the benefit of the group, and follow through.
- There are opportunities to discuss goals, problems, and victories at the beginning and end of the day, and at the beginning of the breaks.
Practical information
- Friday February 27nd 2025
- Location: faculty of Architecture and Arts, Gebouw E, Agoralaan, 3590 Diepenbeek (room: E-B20)
- 09h30 - 17h30
- Spots are limited to 10 people - first come, first served
- Lunch will be provided
For PhD students and postdocs, we would like to draw your attention to the cancellation and no-show policy of UHasselt: https://www.uhasselt.be/en/doctoral-schools/doctoral-schools/cancellation-no-show-policy
I think we can all get writing fatigue, and since we are all so busy there can be a tendency to sacrifice time originally intended for writing to other, seemingly more urgent tasks (like teaching or meetings). Taking a day to really concentrate and devote yourself to writing acts as a kind of reset, it can help you get stuck into writing tasks that you had maybe been avoiding or putting off. It also reminds you that writing time needs to be as scheduled and managed as much as any other academic activity, and that once you get in the rhythm of it, it can be fun again!