Writing Retreats

OFD Writing Retreats

Do you feel as if you don’t have enough time to write a conference paper or publication, work on a grant, or prepare the proposal you’ve been meaning to submit?  The OFD offers semester-long virtual writing retreats. During this time we will meet virtually, spend just a few minutes discussing our writing for the session and then spend an hour of quiet time focused on writing.  No interruptions, no distractions: just writing. Benefits include a commitment to writing and holding yourself accountable to that commitment in a supportive environment. Participants are welcome to bring work of any kind, at any stage.

Spring 2024 Virtual Writing Retreat

Please join us for a continuation of the OFD’s virtual writing retreat, this term in the mornings over seven sessions.

One of the biggest impediments to moving forward with the work of writing is simply making the active choice to set aside time to actually write.  Join us, then, for the spring's early morning writing retreat.  We will meet virtually for an hour of sustained focus on our writing projects.  Beginning with a round-robin statement of each attendee’s intention for the writing period, we will together undertake 60 minutes of quiet, focused time used to write.  That’s it.  By committing to these scheduled times, participants will put themselves in a position to make progress on any project they wish.  No sharing of drafts or peer discussion is necessary—all that’s needed is an active interest in getting some words down on the work you would like to done.

We will meet on Zoom from 7 to 8 am the following Wednesdays:

• 7 February
• 21 February
• 6 March
• 20 March
• 3 April
• 17 April
• 1 May

Interested participants should contact Ellen Mandly, OFD Administrative Assistant, at emandly@umassd.edu to reserve a space in the retreat.  Questions may be direct to Tom Hertweck, thertweck@umassd.edu.