Please note that registering for one SPACE to WRITE session will give you access to all four sessions running throughout November for Academic Writing Month. However, there is no obligation to attend all four sessions.

This year, SRHE will mark Academic Writing Month (AcWriMo) with an online writing programme SPACE to WRITE open to academics and practitioners in any discipline or field and at any career stage, including doctoral study. The programme is underpinned by principles of protected space, purpose, reflection and connection.

Academic writing is central to professional academic identity and career progression, however, finding time to write productively presents one of the greatest challenges at all career stages. SPACE to WRITE offers a facilitated framework of protected space for writing over a four week period, with option to participate in introductory and reflective sessions at the start and close of the programme. Participants will be invited to set and review AcWriMo writing goals and to reflect on their writing practices, but as importantly, the programme offers an opportunity for continuity of focus and connection with others.

In our first session, we will briefly introduce ourselves and consider our writing goals for AcWriMo before moving on to an intensive writing session with cameras/mics off. Sessions 2 and 3 will consist of a brief visual check in before an intensive writing session as before. In the fourth session, following a period of intensive writing, we'll take time to reflect on our progress throughout AcWriMo, our experiences of SPACE to WRITE and plans for our future writing practice.

The sessions will be supported by a Padlet to which all participants will be invited to post comments, progress and resources throughout the month.

Schedule

Facilitator bionote:

Dr Kate Carruthers Thomas is a Senior Research Fellow at Birmingham City University and an experienced writing group leader of cross-institutional and external initiatives designed to support academic writing practice. These include the BCU online weekly writing group WRITESPACE (2020-2024) and THIRDSPACE for SRHE Professional Development Programme (2021). She has also co-hosted three (in person) residential retreats at Chapelgarth Estate with Dr Marcella Sutcliffe. Kate has conducted qualitative research into participant experiences of writing programmes and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on female academics’ writing productivity). Her publications include journal papers, book chapters, podcast scripts and research poetry.  www.thinkthreeways.com