Academia, especially at PhD and Post-Doctoral level, is often associated with individual work and isolation. Reflecting on her experience of designing, facilitating, and working in writing accountability groups, Ann Gillian Chu discusses how to forge effective writing groups and the value they offer in relation to building academic community

Chu, Ann Gillian

English

LSE Research Online

Research	Rituals	–	Finding	the	value	of	writingaccountability	groupsAcademia,	especially	at	PhD	and	Post-Doctoral	level,	is	often	associated	with	individual	work	and	isolation.Reflecting	on	her	experience	of	designing,	facilitating,	and	working	in	writing	accountability	groups,	Ann	GillianChu	discusses	how	to	forge	effective	writing	groups	and	the	value	they	offer	in	relation	to	building	academiccommunity.When	I	was	preparing	for	my	International	Baccalaureate	(IB)	exams	as	a	teenager,	a	normal	day	would	be	to	go	tothe	local	library	to	study	with	classmates.	We	stayed	until	the	library	closed,	ate	all	our	meals	together,	and,	despitethe	hard	work,	had	an	enjoyable	time.	Subsequently,	it	has	been	rare	for	me	to	study	with	others	in	quite	the	sameway.	I	prepared	for	professional	accounting	exams	as	a	lone	wolf	and	while	I	may	have	learned	as	much,	I	did	notfind	it	to	be	a	healthy	or	holistic	form	of	growth.Undertaking	a	doctoral	degree,	I	rediscovered	how	I	enjoyed	this	process	of	writing	and	learning	together,	byparticipating	in	writing	retreats	and	writing	accountability	groups.	I	found	these	groups	provided	a	structured	timethat	allowed	me	to	plan	my	writing	and	prepare	myself	to	be	productive.	Working	with	others	in	the	same	space,toward	a	similar	goal,	built	a	sort	of	camaraderie	and	led	to	friendships	as	well.Thinking	of	my	own	research	field	(Theological	Ethics),	there	is	also	a	curious	liturgical	element	to	these	kinds	ofwriting	groups.	I	investigate	how	Hong	Kong	Christians	make	sense	of	their	faith	and	civic	identity.	In	this	contextparticipants	who	are	able	to	interact	with	others	and	live	their	faith	in	community,	bring	a	ritualistic	element	to	theirfaith	that	is	distinct	from	those	who	are	isolated,	or	‘closet’	Christians.	James	K.	A.	Smith	also	emphasises	howlearning	is	connected	to	what	humans	do	together	through	practiced	formation,	not	just	ideas	and	information.	Bycultivating	a	constant	practice	of	writing	together,	academics	in	a	sense	can	train	through	conditioning	their	bodiesto	become	researchers	who	build	knowledge	while	grounded	in	a	community.	From	a	different	perspective,	RowenaMurray	and	Mary	Newton	similarly	argue	for	writing	retreats	as	a	way	to	create	dedicated	writing	time	and	buildcollegiality.	This	points	to	how	we	should	be	mindful	about	writing	together,	creating	practices	that	suit	our	collectivedesired	goals,	rather	than	one	size	fits	all	solutions.Crafting	an	effective	writing	groupFormatIn	general,	there	are	two	approaches	to	writing	groups:	asynchronous	and	synchronous.	Both	can	occur	eitheronline	or	in	person.	The	choice	between	the	two	depends	on	what	is	most	helpful	for	the	group.	In	an	asynchronouswriting	accountability	group,	participants	agree	to	meet	at	set	times	to	discuss	their	writing	progress	since	the	lastmeeting.	They	discuss	what	went	well	and	what	needs	to	be	improved	to	meet	their	writing	goals.	In	synchronouswriting	accountability	groups,	people	meet	at	the	appointed	time	and	everyone	writes	in	a	supportive	and	ideallynon-surveillance	environment.CommunityThe	next	thing	to	consider	is	who	should	take	part.	Effective	groups	are	supportive	and	available	for	each	other.Group	members	must	be	willing	to	plan	around	each	other’s	needs	and	be	understanding	and	flexible.	With	manygroups	already	available,	it	may	make	sense	to	join	an	existing	group	rather	than	create	a	new	one.	After	tryingdifferent	formats	to	gain	a	sense	of	what	works,	crafting	a	customised	group	may	be	the	next	step.	I	have	createdTrello	boards	as	resources	to	establish	writing	accountability	groups	and	organise	writing	retreats.TimingsImpact of Social Sciences Blog: Research Rituals – Finding the value of writing accountability groups Page 1 of 3		Date originally posted: 2022-06-17Permalink: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsocialsciences/2022/06/17/research-rituals-finding-the-value-of-writing-accountability-groups/Blog homepage: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsocialsciences/Another	important	thing	is	to	be	prepared	for	the	writing	time.	By	reading,	taking	notes,	or	outlining	before	the	groupmeets,	this	protected	writing	time	will	be	more	fruitful.	Tasks	that	are	more	distracting	can	be	left	for	a	different,	non-writing	time.	This	focused	time	is	what	Cathy	Mazak	calls	the	‘Soar	State’,	a	time	in	the	day	when	one	is	mostcreative,	energetic,	and	able	to	produce	high-quality	work.	This	is	not	the	time	to	be	answering	emails.	How	doprolific	writers	figure	out	their	routine?	Mason	Currey	collated	how	renowned	authors,	artists,	and	other	celebratedfigures	spend	their	time.	Even	great	minds	do	not	work	24/7.	What	is	important	is	finding	a	rhythm,	a	balance	ofwork	and	leisure,	that	works.Starting	and	FinishingStarting	a	writing	session	with	writing	prompts	can	also	be	helpful,	such	as	Murray’s	‘Page-98	Paper,’	RobertBrown’s	‘8	Questions,’	or	Nicole	Janz’s	‘Happy	Goal	Setting.’	Goals	need	to	be	written	down	and	specific	enough	toprovide	a	sense	of	accountability	and	achievement.	Likewise,	it	will	help	prepare	for	next	writing	session	to	finisheach	meeting	with	a	‘shutdown	ritual’,	such	as	writing	down	achievements,	feelings,	and	the	task	to	start	with	for	thenext	writing	session.	This	ritual	is	a	good	signal	to	leave	the	work	behind	for	the	day	and	transition	to	other	facets	oflife.Image	Credit:	Harvesting	letters,	detail	from	the	Heures	de	Marguerite	d’Orléans,	Bibliothèque	nationale	de	France	(Public	Domain).It	is	not	only	being	there	with	other	people,	but	to	borrow	a	theological	concept,	the	liturgy,	or	the	structure	andrepetition	of	activities,	that	matters	in	the	success	of	a	group.	Writing	groups	generally	list	their	schedule	inadvance,	and	seasoned	participants	know	exactly	what	will	happen	and	what	they	are	expected	to	bring	to	thetable.	I	find	that	travelling	to	a	familiar	location	and	working	together	is	precisely	what	contributes	to	the	success	ofwriting	groups.	It	creates	a	routine	that	is	not	commonly	found	in	academia,	with	its	various	ad-hoc	duties	such	asmeetings,	conferences,	and	peer	reviews.Impact of Social Sciences Blog: Research Rituals – Finding the value of writing accountability groups Page 2 of 3		Date originally posted: 2022-06-17Permalink: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsocialsciences/2022/06/17/research-rituals-finding-the-value-of-writing-accountability-groups/Blog homepage: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsocialsciences/These	routines	reflect	the	origins	of	western	scholarship	in	monastic	communities	and	their	systematic	work	writingand	transcribing	texts.	An	echo	of	these	practices	exists	today	in	the	idea	of	‘scriptorium’	as	a	regular	writingaccountability	group	has	come	about	in	Cambridge,	Oxford,	Edinburgh,	and	St	Andrews.	Scriptorium	starts	withdedicating	the	time	to	the	pursuit	of	knowledge	in	the	transcendent	through	prayer	and	goal	setting,	writingtogether,	lunch	and	socialising,	more	writing,	and	ends	with	prayer	and	reflection.	This	kind	of	routine,	makingspace	for	meditation	and	reflection,	gives	life	to	those	who	participate.	For	my	own	research	into	Christiancommunities,	being	able	to	write	collectively	is	especially	helpful	in	providing	me	with	a	context	to	contemplate	whatit	means	‘to	do	life	together’	for	those	I	research.When	Writing	Groups	Stop	WorkingThough	I	sing	their	praises,	writing	groups	do	not	(and	should	not)	work	all	the	time.	Fruitful	writing	groups	endsimply	because	one	or	several	of	the	members	finished	up	a	stage	in	their	lives,	such	as	completing	a	thesis,changing	careers,	or	moving	to	a	different	time	zone.	Moreover,	writing	groups	do	not	work	for	everyone.	I	knowmany	who	balk	at	the	concept,	especially	the	Pomodoro	(timer)	technique.	One	friend	reflected	to	me	that	he	likesto	think	for	hours	and	write	nothing	but	then,	when	he	does	write,	it	flows	maniacally.	Writing	with	others	works	forme	because	I	write	in	small	chunks	and	have	a	hard	time	concentrating	for	long	periods.	Our	differences	are	whatMurray	calls	‘snack’	and	‘binge’	writing.	We	all	have	our	own	writing	rituals.Writing	accountability	groups	are	not	the	magical	cure	for	all	academic	woes.	But,	it	is	helpful	to	find	those	whohave	similar	working	styles	to	work	together	as	academics	in	community.	In	The	Passionate	Intellect,	NormanKlassen	and	Jens	Zimmermann	lament	the	current	state	of	modern	university,	being	seen	as	an	apprenticeship	ortrade	school.	Instead,	they	argue	that	the	university	should	be	a	place	for	‘producing	exemplary	human	beings,good	citizens	of	character,	wisdom,	and	discernment	[…]	for	a	better	society.’	Writing	groups	can	be	a	place	tobring	the	communal,	humanistic	aspect	back	to	what	can	be	seen	as	solitary,	technical	work.	We	should	thinkcarefully	about	how	we	bring	them	into	being.	The	content	generated	on	this	blog	is	for	information	purposes	only.	This	Article	gives	the	views	and	opinions	of	theauthors	and	does	not	reflect	the	views	and	opinions	of	the	Impact	of	Social	Science	blog	(the	blog),	nor	of	theLondon	School	of	Economics	and	Political	Science.	Please	review	our	comments	policy	if	you	have	any	concernson	posting	a	comment	below.Image	Credit:	Detail	from	the	Heures	de	Marguerite	d’Orléans,	Bibliothèque	nationale	de	France	(Public	Domain).	Impact of Social Sciences Blog: Research Rituals – Finding the value of writing accountability groups Page 3 of 3		Date originally posted: 2022-06-17Permalink: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsocialsciences/2022/06/17/research-rituals-finding-the-value-of-writing-accountability-groups/Blog homepage: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsocialsciences/

Research rituals – finding the value of writing accountability groups

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Research rituals – finding the value of writing accountability groups

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