Writing, in all its different forms, constitutes a central activity in the professional lives of faculty. As Wendy Laura Belcher, author of the popular book Writing Your Journal Article in Twelve Weeks: A Guide to Academic Publishing Success, observes, writing groups are useful “not only to scholars interested in producing more and better publications but also to busy faculty members who would, simply, like to be happier.”

To help faculty boost their own writing productivity, reflect on the connection between their writing lives and their writing pedagogy, and share the joys and tribulations of writing, the Writing Director supports Scholarly Writers’ Accountability Groups (SWAGs) during the summer months. SWAGs provide faculty colleagues with practical, tactical support to make scholarship a priority in the context of their professional and personal obligations. Members of these interdisciplinary groups may read and comment on each other’s work and/or they may help one another set concrete objectives for scholarly production, devise clear strategies and timelines for meeting these goals, and remain accountable to accomplishing the tasks and benchmarks that have been identified. Each group decides on its own focus and procedural rules.

Faculty who are interested in joining a writing group should contact Brigetta Abel ([email protected]), Director of Writing.