Host a Session

Organizer Resources · Running Your Group

Your job during a session is to keep things simple, consistent, and distraction-free so everyone — including you — gets their writing done. Every session follows the SUAW Method: brief introductions, an hour of quiet writing, and a short closing check-in. This page covers the practical run-of-show and gives you a day-of checklist for your format.

The SUAW Method

Shut Up & Write!'s method is built on one simple truth: writing thrives in community. Writers gather at a regular time and place, set goals, write in focused silence, and share their progress. A few principles make it work:

• Set achievable goals. At the start, everyone names a small, concrete goal for the hour — "draft 500 words" or "outline the next section." It gives the hour direction without pressure.
• Write without distractions. Once writing starts, it's quiet time — no phone alerts, no side chatter. You lead by example: you also shut up and write.
• Don't edit while you write. Share this tip at kickoff: "Don't worry about typos or perfect sentences during the hour. Just get it down — you can revise later." It's amazing how freeing this is.
• No critiquing, ever. Sessions are for writing, not workshopping. Nobody has to share their work, and nobody's work gets judged.
• Reflect and celebrate. End with a short check-in where everyone shares how it went. Acknowledging progress — any progress — is what turns one session into a habit.

Follow these and you create a reliable ritual writers can depend on week after week. The rest of this page is the practical run-of-show.

Before Your Session

• A week before: Do a quick promo push — a social post, a personal invite, a flyer at your venue. See Promote & Grow Your Group for easy options.
• A day before: Consider posting an Announcement to your group — a short "Looking forward to writing with you tomorrow!" reminds everyone and reaches members through their notification preferences.

In-person:

• Reserve space if needed. If your venue takes reservations and your group is growing, book ahead so you're guaranteed seating.
• Print your table tent. Use Download Table Tent in your group's Manage menu — it's personalized with a QR code that links to your group page, so newcomers can find you and join on the spot.

Online:

• Test your tech. Confirm your meeting link works and matches your event listing (update it via the Manage menu if not). Check that any password is included in the listing.
• Review security settings. Waiting room on, participant screen sharing off. See When Things Go Wrong for the full setup.

Running the Session

• Welcome & introductions (5–10 min): Introduce yourself, briefly explain the format for newcomers ("quick intros, an hour of quiet writing, then a short check-in"), and invite everyone to share a sentence about what they're working on. Go first to set the example, and keep it moving — it's a share, not a discussion.
• Shut Up & Write! (60 min): Announce the start ("Let's shut up and write — see you in an hour!"), set your timer, and write alongside everyone. You're modeling the behavior. If chatter starts, a friendly "we'll catch up after the timer" keeps the room on track.
• Closing check-in (5–10 min): When the timer goes off, invite everyone to share how it went. All progress counts — "I only wrote a paragraph, but I finally started my chapter" deserves as much celebration as three pages.
• Optional social time: Invite folks to linger and chat. This informal wind-down is where community really forms — but no pressure on anyone who needs to dash.

In-person notes: Arrive 10–15 minutes early to claim a table and set out your table tent. Greet arrivals warmly. If someone arrives mid-writing-hour, a nod and a whispered "glad you made it — jump in!" is all it takes; don't stop the room. Leave the venue as you found it, and thank the staff — we want venues happy to have us back.

Online notes: Log on 5–10 minutes early and greet people as they join. Before the writing hour, remind everyone to mute ("if you need anything, use the chat"). Keep an eye on the participant list while you write — mute stray microphones kindly, and admit latecomers from the waiting room without stopping the session. At check-in, welcome the group back softly (an enthusiastic "WELCOME BACK" can make deep-focus writers jump), and let people share by voice or chat — both count.

Day-Of Checklist

Run through this before and during each session. Print it or keep it open on your phone.

In-Person Checklist

• Table tent printed (Manage menu > Download Table Tent).
• Venue reservation confirmed (if needed).
• Arrive 10–15 minutes early and claim a table; place your table tent somewhere visible.
• Welcome writers as they arrive and get to know them: where did they commute in from, how is their day going?
• Kick off with brief intros — share what you'll be working on first, and call on people by name.
• Set your timer and Shut Up & Write!
• After the timer, lead a round of check-ins: how did the session go?
• Linger to connect, thank writers as they leave, and invite them back. Tidy the space before you go.

Online Checklist

• Meeting link in your listing verified (Manage menu > Edit Entire Group if it needs updating).
• Log into your virtual room 5–10 minutes before start time.
• Security settings on: waiting room enabled, participant screen sharing off, participant renaming off.
• Admit writers from the waiting room and welcome them.
• Kick off with brief intros (voice or chat) — share what you'll be working on first, and call on people by name.
• Remind everyone to mute, set your timer, and Shut Up & Write!
• After the timer, make sure people can unmute, welcome everyone back softly, and lead check-ins (voice or chat both count).
• Thank the group, invite them back, and drop the link to your next session in the chat.

After the Session

• Follow up. Post in your group's discussions or send a quick note via Messages: "Thanks to everyone who wrote with us today — hope to see you next week, same time, same place." This small touch turns first-timers into regulars.
• Note any hiccups. A broken link, a noisy corner, a time-limit surprise — small fixes now make next session smoother. When Things Go Wrong has answers for the common ones.
• Give yourself credit. You just gave a room full of writers an hour of real progress. On to the next one!