Community Mentoring Toolkit: Running A Writing Circle

Whether you are drafting a proposal, finalizing a manuscript, submitting a conference abstract, or doing anything in between, academic writing is a difficult task. As a result, it is not uncommon to stare at a blank document for hours, making little progress toward finishing your work. In addition to its difficulty, academic writing is often a solo act, which can make it harder to improve your writing skills by limiting the amount of feedback you receive and the self-reflection you engage in.

This does not have to be the case, however, as writing circles are becoming more common in academia. Writing circles are a flexible and no-to-low-cost way to bring together a group of peers to engage in structured and regular writing time. Through this process, you can create an active community of like-minded individuals to increase your productivity and skills as an author.

 

What is a Writing Circle?

A writing circle is somewhat of a catch-all term, typically referring to a group of peers coming together at a set time and place for dedicated writing time (McClearen, 2025). This can include writing retreats where participants meet at a unique location for long stretches of time, to writing groups hosted on-site at regular intervals (such as weekly or biweekly). Unlike more traditional, instructor-led workshops or training, the writing circle is meant to be a collaborative effort. Everyone in the group is both a participant and a contributor, bringing their own experiences, perspectives, and writing goals to the table. While some writing circles may incorporate peer review, mentorship, or skill-building activities, the primary purpose is to create a supportive environment where individuals can dedicate time to their writing and make consistent progress toward their goals.

The flexibility of writing circles is one of their greatest strengths. There is no single format that works for every group, and the structure can be adapted to meet the needs of the participants. A group of graduate students may focus on dissertation writing and manuscript preparation, while a group of researchers from different disciplines may use the time to work on grant proposals, conference abstracts, or public-facing communication. What matters most is that participants establish a shared purpose and a structure that encourages regular engagement.

 

The Benefits of a Writing Circle

Research suggests that protected writing time and group support can help participants increase their productivity and confidence as writers (Chai et al., 2019; Kwan et al., 2021). This likely arises from the ability of writing circles to combat many common roadblocks and challenges to academic writing. One such challenge is the busy schedule of most academics. When what you are writing has no solid deadline, it can be easy to prioritize other responsibilities that build up over the semester, such as grading, lesson planning, and experiments that need to be finished. This results in a decrease in writing consistency, which obviously hampers writing output. The writing group can help alleviate this issue by providing a consistent writing schedule where participants are encouraged to leave all other distractions and simply work on their manuscript.

Another serious challenge that many can face is procrastination. From graduate students to senior faculty, many can experience procrastination for a number of reasons (Ackerman & Gross, 2007). One report looking at students writing a thesis suggests that a writing circle can help reduce procrastination (Patria & Laili, 2021). There are many possible explanations for this, with one being the social aspect of the group. During regular meetings, participants typically discuss their progress towards their goals with others, providing a level of accountability to motivate themselves. Additionally, writer’s block can be alleviated by encouraging each other to write consistently over a set amount of time.

Lastly, the social aspect of the group can help one develop their writing skills. Writing is a skill that improves with practice, and the consistent writing time will be a perfect time for practice. However, the writing group can also lead to advancements by allowing participants to discuss personal routines, tips, and other pieces of advice that one can implement themselves. Additionally, a writing group could have a more formal critique process, where participants can solicit specific feedback on what they are currently working on. These aspects of the writing groups can help lead to more skilled and confident writers.

 

How to Structure a Writing Circle

Writing circles are often a collaborative activity, taking on a shape that best matches the needs of those planning and/or participating in it. As a result, these groups can take on many different forms. Despite the variability between groups, there are certain conventions that should be followed to maximize benefits. This includes establishing a consistent meeting time, preferably weekly. During these meetings, participants should talk about their goals, including what they have accomplished since their last meeting and what they hope to accomplish during this meeting. Afterwards, the group should engage in uninterrupted writing time.

If you are unsure of the structure you want to adopt, you could try following this example. Once a week, you can meet for 2-3 hours at a convenient location or in a virtual meeting space. Participants can come for as long or as little as their schedule allows. For the first 15 minutes, you should check in with everyone’s goals. After that is finished, set a timer for 35 minutes. During this time, everyone should be writing, doing their best to avoid unnecessary distractions like emails. After the 35 minutes are up, you can take a 5–10 minute break. During this time, you can check in with the goals of any new arrivals. This will also allow people to socialize, discussing any issues they may be facing. Having set breaks can make writing less daunting, as well. You can then repeat this pattern of 35 minutes on, 5-10 minutes off, until you reach the end of the time.

You can edit this general outline to match the goals of your group. For example, if people are more interested in feedback, peer review can be implemented where individuals share their work and solicit feedback. Short presentations can also be given on relevant topics as well. For example, one might talk about bullet journaling or other productivity tips to the group for 5-10 minutes.

 

How to Start a Writing Circle

Hopefully the purpose and benefits of a writing group have been made clear. If it has, you may be interested in joining one to help increase your productivity and skills. If one already exists near you, then you should be able to easily join. To find out if there are local writing groups, you can look for writing services associated with your university or even a local library. Sites such as https://www.shutupwrite.com/ list in-person groups and online meetings as well. If none of these options are feasible, you could also start your own writing group.

To start a group, you first need to identify a cohort of individuals that would be willing to participate. This could include individuals in closely related specialties or be more general, spanning multiple disciplines. Once a group has been identified, you should discuss what everyone hopes to gain from the group and what structure will help achieve those goals. From there, you can find a meeting schedule that works for everyone and begin writing.

As a collaborative process, the needs and goals of group members may change. As a result, the meeting structure or times may need to change. To ensure that the writing circle meets the needs of its members, participants should be encouraged to provide feedback. This could be an informal process, taking place during a meeting or over email. Otherwise, surveys could be sent to members to solicit feedback. It is natural that the needs of the group will change, so it is best to adapt as much as possible to ensure the continued effectiveness of the writing circle.

If you are starting a writing circle, it may be worthwhile to see if you can receive any institutional backing. For example, at Michigan Technological University, the graduate school hosts writing groups called Writing In Discipline (Write-D) for multiple graduate programs. The Write-D program comes with some funds to pay for a facilitator and refreshments. The facilitator is a graduate student who is responsible for finding a meeting time, preparing a space for the meeting, running the meetings, and bringing some snacks and beverages. By providing these funds for a facilitator, Write-D ensures that meetings are regularly planned and hosted throughout the semester. Additionally, the snacks and drinks provide an extra incentive to attend the writing circle. Given the low cost of these programs, as well as the clear benefits they provide to faculty and students, you may be able to secure funding to help make your writing circle even better.

 

Get Writing!

Academic writing is a daunting task that we often face alone. However, it does not have to be. By engaging in writing circles, you can connect with your peers in a way that can help increase your productivity, writing skills, and confidence. Whether you are a graduate student writing a dissertation or senior faculty finishing a new manuscript, a writing circle may be a great choice for you. So, consider reaching out to your peers to join one or start your own.

 

References

Chai, P. R., Carreiro, S., Carey, J. L., Boyle, K. L., Chapman, B. P., & Boyer, E. W. (2019). Faculty member writing groups support productivity. The Clinical Teacher, 16(6), 565–569. https://doi.org/10.1111/tct.12923

Kwan, P. P., Sharp, S., Mason, S., & Saetermoe, C. L. (2021). Faculty writing groups: The impact of protected writing time and group support. International Journal of Educational Research Open, 2, 100100. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedro.2021.100100

McClearen, J. (2025, January 21). Why You Should Join (or Start) a Writing Group This Semester. https://www.publishnotperish.net/p/why-you-should-join-or-start-a-writing

Ackerman, D. S., & Gross, B. L. (2007). I Can Start That JME Manuscript Next Week, Can’t I? The Task Characteristics Behind Why Faculty Procrastinate. Journal of Marketing Education, 29(2), 97–110. https://doi.org/10.1177/0273475307302012

Patria, B., & Laili, L. (2021). Writing group program reduces academic procrastination: A quasi-experimental study. BMC Psychology, 9, 157. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-021-00665-9

 

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About the Author

Reed Arneson

Reed is a Ph.D, candidate at the College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science at Michigan Technological University, and a 2026 Plantae Fellow. His research focuses on functional genetics in Populus plants to develop a greater understanding of tree stress response. You can find him X: @Reed_Arneson.