Dissertation Writing Group

The mission of the  Dissertation Writing Group (DWG) is to provide doctoral students with an expanded network of support to encourage completion of the dissertation writing process. The DWG is open to doctoral students from all programs, and is a joint effort sponsored by the Graduate School, the UM Writing Center, and UM Libraries. 

The Dissertation Writing Group meets every week via Zoom. The  schedule for meetings this semester is below followed by a general description of what is planned for each day's session:

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday Writing Sessions

Monday meetings are intended for those graduate students who are newer to the dissertation writing process, though all are welcome! The group will spend the first hour discussing readings (about the writing process, writing schedules, dissertation FAQ's, etc.), then spend the next two hours writing together in solidarity on Zoom.

In the Tuesday meetings, the group will spend the first five minutes checking in, establishing S.M.A.R.T goals for the writing sessions, then writing together in solidarity for a couple hours before coming back together and sharing what was accomplished.

Wednesday meetings are guided writing sessions, where the group will start with a freewriting prompt related to the dissertation writing process and a quick discussion, after which the group will work together in solidarity for the remainder of the session, with a mid-point check-in and a final check out for the week. 

The Zoom information for all three DWG meeting times is: 

Https://miami.zoom.us/j/92407610170?pwd=4Kve9aKbjPaAASeDqrJldYkbNQ0KV7.1 

Meeting ID: 924 0761 0170

Passcode: write

Friday 1:1 (One-to-One) Writing Conferences 

Friday 1:1 writing conferences can be set up via e-mail. Interested students should send an e-mail to Dr. Sarah Fischer, smf348@miami.edu. Dr. Fischer will respond within 24 hours.

The purpose of the writing sessions will be to provide a shared writing space. The time will mostly be spent silently writing together, but there may also be brief discussions of daily/weekly goals and time for some general Q&A. 

The sessions will be run by Dr. Sarah Fischer, Assistant Professor of Writing Studies. Her research explores writing pedagogy, digital writing, and embodiment. She has facilitated dissertation writing groups at her previous institution, guiding 100+ graduate students through the dissertation writing process, and has spent six years working in a writing center providing 1:1 writing consultations. 

"The main reason for me to join a writing group was because it forced me to concentrate on making some progress with my writing project, made me stay off my cellphone, and pushed me to try to remain as focused as possible on the task and goals I promised myself I’d accomplish during the session. I enjoy the writing groups because I have a lot of unstructured time since I’m at the latter end of my Ph.D. program."

- Oshea Johnson, Ph.D. student in Sociology

Read our full interview with Oshea on how writing groups have helped him stay focused and be productive.