Finding Your Writing Community In-Person and Online

Session Type: Professional Development Session

Abstract

Though writing is a critical component of research, formal training in and community building around this skill is often lacking. The purpose of this professional development session is two-fold: 1) To showcase the efforts of scholars at different levels and institutions who have participated in and created in-person and online writing communities, and 2) To arm attendees with the knowledge and tools necessary to initiate their own writing communities.

Session participants include: Barbara Sarnecka (professor and author of The Writing Workshop), Jasmine DeJesus (assistant professor), Morgan Jerald (assistant professor), Margaret Echelbarger (postdoctoral researcher), Meltem Yucel (doctoral candidate), and Margarett McBride (doctoral student). The types of writing communities discussed will include those centering the needs of doctoral students and early-career faculty, those centering the needs of underrepresented and marginalized communities, as well as those facilitating connections across disciplines. Specific questions to be discussed include: 1) How can I find regular time to write? 2) How can I know what type of writing community is best for me? 3) How can I connect with others at my institution to form my own community? 4) What does a good writing community look like? 5) How can I leverage social media to find others with similar writing goals and community needs? Attendees will leave this session with an understanding of the range of writing communities available, learn how to identify which type of community meets their present needs, and know the next steps they need to take to start their own community.

Sub Unit

• Professional Development Sessions

Session Organizer

• Margaret Echelbarger, Stony Brook University

Participants

• Barbara W Sarnecka, University of California - Irvine

• Jasmine M. DeJesus, University of North Carolina at Greensboro

• Morgan Jerald, Macalester College

• Meltem Yucel, Duke University

• Margarett McBride, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill