Writing Workshop

For writers working to the same completion schedule a regular hour-long Writing Workshop that moves through the five phases below allows them to report on their progress and to reflect on topics that can be crafted to correspond to the likely issues for each stage in the project. Peer support and feedback and one-on-one conferences with the advisor can follow the workshop hour.

1. Freewriting to: a. get present (clearing away distracting concerns from our busy lives); and b. begin to consider the topic of the session.

2. Check-in: One thing that is on top for you as you come into the workshop. It may be a concern or question about the topic of the session, or it may be something else going on for you.

3. Dialogue process, i.e., listening with structured turn taking, that builds on the check-in. Through inquiry more than advocacy, including inquiry of one's own thinking, themes usually emerge. The facilitator's role is to participate and, if needed, remind participants to build on what has been said by previous speakers (as against rehearsing a position established well before the session).

Seven minutes before the session ends:
4. Writing to gather thoughts: Each participant spends a few minutes writing down what has emerged that is most meaningful for them.

5. Closing sharing: Each participant shares something they plan to address or get done or think more about based on the session. Having this aired in the group-having it witnessed-makes it more likely to happen.