Academic Organizers
Are you running (or thinking of starting) a Shut Up & Write! group at a college or university? You’re in great company – hundreds of universities worldwide leverage SUAW to support their academic writers. Organizing in an academic setting has its own unique rewards and challenges. Here are some tips and considerations tailored for academic organizers:
Know Your Audience: Academic SUAW sessions often draw graduate students, postdocs, and faculty working on theses, dissertations, journal articles, grant proposals, etc. These writers may be under pressure and dealing with deadlines. Emphasize that SUAW is a low-stress, supportive environment to make progress on those exact projects. You might frame it on campus as a “productivity hour” or “writing accountability meetup” to attract those who need a nudge to write amidst many obligations.
Leverage Campus Resources: See if your university has a writing center, graduate student association, or research office interested in partnering. They might help promote your sessions or even provide space. For example, a graduate college might include your SUAW meetup in their newsletter of student resources. Some campuses have dedicated “Dissertation Bootcamp” programs or writing groups – connect with those organizers to collaborate or cross-promote.
Reserve a Space: Unlike a public meetup in a café, on campus you might need to reserve a classroom, library room, or lounge for your sessions. Plan ahead each term to secure a regular space and time. A benefit: reserved space often means a quieter, more controlled environment (no searching for tables or dealing with café customers). Just ensure the room is accessible to all who want to attend (consider building access after hours, etc.).
Timing Around Schedules: Academic life has a rhythm. Attendance might dip during midterms or finals, and campus might be empty during holidays. Accept the ebb and flow, and maybe adjust scheduling during breaks (or pause if needed). Also, be mindful of time-of-day preferences: for instance, some grad students love early morning quiet time, whereas faculty might prefer late afternoon once classes are done. You could poll your group or experiment with different meeting times to see what works best on your campus.
Department Buy-In: If you’re starting a SUAW group within a specific department (say, the History Department), get a faculty champion if possible. A professor who supports the idea can mention it to students or even offer extra credit for attending (some do!). Faculty attendance can also legitimize the group – when students see their advisor or professors drop by to write, it reinforces that writing is a communal, ongoing process for everyone.
Mix of Disciplines: You might attract writers from various fields. This is actually a strength! A biology PhD, an English lit student, and a philosophy professor can all sit together and write – the diversity can make it feel less competitive or stressful since everyone’s work is different. Emphasize the interdisciplinary welcome in your description: “All students and staff working on any writing project are welcome.”
Addressing Workload & Burnout: Academia can be tough on mental health. Position your SUAW meetup as not just another task, but as a relief: a time to focus without distractions and a supportive community that understands the struggle of writing. Many participants find these sessions boost their productivity and reduce isolation. It can help to occasionally remind the group that progress is progress – even one paragraph written is a win (important for those who feel behind on huge projects).
Connect with Academic Initiatives: Some universities have formal “writing accountability” programs, writing retreats, or library writing nights. Connect with those – you’re all on the same team. You can even adopt SUAW as part of such programs (e.g., a weekly library write-in might just become an official SUAW chapter). Use the SUAW branding and global community as a selling point: “Join a worldwide community of writers – come to our Shut Up & Write! session.”
Flexibility with Attendance: Students might attend sporadically (like when a deadline looms). Don’t be discouraged if you see some faces only near thesis deadlines. They will still benefit, and often they’ll remember the support and come back later. Keep the door open: “Come whenever you can, no commitment required.” Over time, you may cultivate a core group of regulars plus a rotating cast of drop-ins, which is normal in academia.
Show Results (if needed): If you’re trying to secure ongoing support from the university (like funding for coffee/snacks or simply permission to use a space), it can help to note the impact. Keep a simple tally of attendance, collect a few testimonials from happy participants, or note any successes (e.g., “Three of our members finished their dissertations this semester!”). This can demonstrate the value of the group to administrators.
Academic organizing can be incredibly fulfilling because you’re directly helping colleagues conquer some of their toughest writing challenges. By fostering a culture of routine writing on campus, you’re not only helping individuals finish their work—you’re also pushing back against the isolation and procrastination that plague academic writing. Keep at it, and remember that the SUAW Community Team is here for you if you need advice or a pep talk specific to the university context (we have lots of academic organizers in our network!).
(P.S. If you need any official letters or flyers to convince your school’s administration about the legitimacy of SUAW, let us know. We can provide materials to help you out.)