Write and Shine Sessions

What are these sessions?

Write and Shine sessions are sometimes going under the name of writing boot-camp, or shut-up and write (yes that’s the official title) sessions. These sessions are very loosely based on Prof Rowena Murray’s work (link opens in new window). To summarize, the idea is to disconnect from everything else, get together in a shared space, undertake some goal setting and then write. At least this is our adaptation. We are simply creating a space to sit down and write. Although, as this semester is going the session may or may not have been renamed into ‘Getting s*** done session’.

What will I do?

Join the session at any point during the given timeslot, this week a participant only managed 20 minutes, but 20 minutes of focussed writing is better than nothing. If you join right at the start of the session we usually chat for 5-10 minutes and everyone shares their writing goal in more or less detail with one another. The sessions are run in MS Teams, so dropping in at any point–or popping in and out–works really well without disturbing the others. If you join the session at a later point, you do your goalsetting (if you wish) with the person who runs the session in the chat that is associated to the session. We usually switch our microphones off, as some people like to listen to music etc while writing, and people either leave their cameras on or switch them off.

Why participate?

1. Being together in this space creates a bit of peer pressure
2. Signing up and joining others also creates accountability
3. It is a purposeful space for writing (or marking, or developing teaching material)
4. It helps to stay focussed
5. When you are stuck you can post in the chat (for instance today people shared references for journal articles and discussed approaches to methodology)
6. You can also go into a breakout room if you need a proper chat about your writing
7. Or you just focus on your writing knowing you are not alone

Now what?

The sessions are regular every Friday from 10-12 in the morning. Although we often have colleagues who volunteer to begin them earlier or run them an hour longer when needed. Have a look at the General channel in our SoTL MS Teams group for the update each week.
The channel is set up in such a way that everyone can start a meeting. So if the Friday mornings do not work for you, but you don’t want to write alone. Why not advertise a timeslot that suits you in the General channel and ask if someone joins you?

These sessions are simply a way to create space for writing (or getting stuff done).