Writing retreats and communities

Discover ways to join the growing community of writing practice at Oxford Brookes 

Write Space writing retreats

Write Space writing retreats create a supportive, structured environment within which writers can meet a writing goal.

Whether face-to-face or online the format is the same: writers of any style and level create a sense of community containing plenty of quiet space to make progress with their writing. The group reflects together on the writing process at intervals, and there will be a Centre for Academic Development tutor available for participants to to talk through their work if they wish.

Past participants have described Write Space writing retreats as 'stimulating', 'calm', 'good-spirited', 'constructive' and a 'productive place to work'. Some have been inspired by the experience to start their own writing groups. Perhaps you will too.

If you are interested in joining our spring/summer write space programme in 2025 email writinghub@brookes.ac.uk and we will get in touch once the dates have been confirmed.

Alternately, if you are interested in facilitating a writing retreat yourself, we would be happy to talk this through with you and share any relevant resources.

Who is it for? 

  • All Oxford Brookes students and staff.

Write Space 2025

Write Space writing retreats will run from May to July 2025 and dates will be published here early in 2025.

Migration and Refugees Network (MRN)

The Migration and Refugees Network (MRN) is hosting a weekly hybrid (both online and in-person) writing group.

This will be a friendly and informal session focused on individual writing. We plan to write together and have occasional short discussions on our progress to help motivate the group and build a supportive writing community. PhD students and early career scholars are particularly encouraged. We aim to cultivate a community of people writing on the area of migration/refugees but people with cognate interests are welcome.

For further details of the group’s activities please contact Dr Alex Powell at a.powell@brookes.ac.uk.

Who is it for? 

  • Staff, PhD students and early career scholars

Dates

Wednesdays, 2:00 - 5:00pm, both in person on the Gypsy Lane campus in Clerici CLC G.32 and online

Humanities and Social Sciences online research student writing retreats

These writing retreats aim to provide an intensive, but collective and supportive environment in which you can get on with some writing, whether as part of a short-term writing deadline or as part of your thesis. By the end of the session you will have dedicated time to writing in an intensive way and have met other students. And you can work on anything, so long as it’s work: transcription, analysis, reading, organising your notes as well as your chosen means of writing, whether it is on a laptop or on paper. The only rule is to be silent when everyone else is!

Students from other disciplines are welcome. Please contact Dr Susannah Wright at  susannahwright@brookes.ac.uk for the Google link or with any queries.

Who is it for? 

  • Postgraduates and staff in HSS

Dates for October-December 2024

  • Friday 11 October
  • Friday 8 November
  • Friday 13 December.

Writing workshops for DNurs Students

Three writing workshops have been planned for students on the DNurs programme this academic year:

  • Endgame thesis workshop for doctoral writers 6-12 months from submission, 19th October 2024, 09.00 - 4.00pm

  • Writing your methods chapter, 22 March 2025, 09.00 - 4.00pm

  • Writing your findings and discussion chapters, 21 June 2025, 09.00 - 4.00pm.

All workshops will take place on campus. 

Please contact Dr Marion Waite at mwaite@brookes.ac.uk for more information. 

Who is it for?

DNurs students in years 3,4 and 5

Dates

  • Saturday 19 October 2024
  • Saturday 22 March 2025
  • Saturday 21 June 2025

External writing communities you may wish to explore

Shut Up and Write!

Meet up online with people from all over the world and then get some writing done.