Writing Accountability Groups

Many university centers for teaching and learning (CTLs) facilitate writing accountability groups. Participants report enjoying greater productivity and support, than when writing alone. Research shows that individuals attending at least 70% of writing group sessions report the greatest gains in productivity (Skarupski, 2018).

Writing Accountability Groups are kept small, between 4-8 members. They meet weekly for 2 hours at a time. Members begin their meetings with approximately 10-15 minutes to share their progress over the past week and their goals for that day’s silent writing time. Then, after a silent writing period of about 90-100 minutes, the group members close with another 10-15 minutes to share the progress they made, and their writing goals for the next week.

Testimonials

“Having that designated, quiet, interruption-free time was very helpful, and I made more progress on my manuscript this summer because of that blocked time.”

Dr. Angela Pool-Funai
Dean of the Graduate School, Assistant Provost for Academic Program

“I really appreciate the time I was able to spend writing this summer. It was likely more time spent and a lot more accomplished than I would have done on my own without the encouragement. So thank you for creating the space and positive environment.

Karmen Porter
Communication Sciences and Disorders Department Chair

“I found it to be very valuable to participate in the Writing Accountability Group, both because it encouraged me to set aside time for writing and because joining a group where my desired behavior was the norm made it easier to make writing a habit. Having a dedicated time and space to write outside of my office also helped me to avoid distractions and interruptions, and I enjoyed hearing about other participant’s projects and work strategies! I highly recommend it.”

Claire Nickerson
Learning Initiatives and Open Educational Resources Librarian