Author: emlynn

Welcome to fall CSU Writes family!

We hope you had a rejuvenating summer and are embracing the work and wonders of fall. As the summer heat begins to fade, CSU Writes is here to help you tackle this new semester with (virtual and in person!) workshops and writing sessions. Here is what CSU Writes has in store to maintain your writing energy Fall 2022.

CSU Writes announces FACULTY Writes events for Fall 2022

FACULTY Writes workshops focus on topics that address the writing challenges researchers and scholars commonly face: how to fit writing into an already packed schedule; how to collaborate better with co-authors; and how to write more consistently, quickly, and effectively.

The fall semester opens with information and workshop sessions on how to schedule and build momentum on projects. The virtually held events are much designed to be information sessions with few tasks for participant (they will be recorded). The in-person workshops include practice sessions to work through concepts and methods

Upcoming September FACULTY Writes workshops focus on building momentum on writing projects

INTRO SESSION: 4-Hour ARTICLE DRAFT
SEPT 15, 12-12:50pm
Virtual Information Session: Zoom
This session introduces an experimental workshop designed for writers to produce a draft article in 4 hours. We will explore the preparation for the two 2-hr writing sessions in October (10/20 and 10/27). Attendees will do best if they have all data, literature, and clarity of findings/analysis/interpretations. We will be bold and explore what is possible with preparation and deep work, together.

Research Journals & Logs: Build Writing Momentum
SEPT 13, 1-1:50pm
In-Person Workshop: LSC 306
This workshop covers multiple types and strategies for tracking the steps and progress of writing projects. There’s not only one best way to track writing, but there may be a best way for you at this point in your research or scholarly career. We will identify tracking categories that will help you build momentum on your project no matter if you prefer hard-copy journals, spreadsheets, Googledocs, or other.

Agile Methods for Collaborative Writing
SEPT 28, 1-1:50pm
Virtual Information Session: Zoom
This information session draws on Agile project management strategies that were created for software development that can also support collaborative writers through the iterations of co-authoring manuscripts and proposals. We will learn from the research and work of Rebecca Pope-Ruark and other scholars of collaborative writing. Writers may wish to attend with their co-authors so that they can engage with the methods post-session. The session will be recorded for future reference

Please visit the FACULTY Writes page on the CSU Writes website for more detailed information.

REGISTER HERE.

Welcome to fall CSU Writes family!

We hope you had a rejuvenating summer and are embracing the work and wonders of fall. As the summer heat begins to fade, CSU Writes is here to help you tackle this new semester with (virtual and in person!) workshops and writing sessions. Here is what CSU Writes has in store to maintain your writing energy Fall 2022.

CSU Writes announces GRAD Writes events for Fall 2022

GRAD Writes workshops focus on topics that address the writing challenges early-career researchers and scholars tend to face most often: where and when to do your best writing; how to write better with colleagues or faculty advisors; and how to write more consistently, quickly, and effectively.

The fall semester opens with information and workshop sessions on how to schedule and start building out projects (including formatting). The virtually held events are much designed to be information sessions with few tasks for participant (they will be recorded). The in-person workshops include practice sessions to work through concepts and methods.

Upcoming September GRAD Writes workshops focus on topics of formatting, writing to publish, and building writing momentum

ETD Information Session: Experts from the Graduate School & Library
SEPT 12, 11-11:50am MST
Virtual Information Session: Teams
This session covers where to go for information about ETD submission processes and paperwork as well as the basics of copyright and ProQuest as they pertain to graduate student theses and dissertations.

INTRO SESSION: 4-Hour ARTICLE DRAFT
SEPT 15, 12-12:50am MST
Virtual Information Session: Zoom
This session introduces an experimental workshop designed for writers to produce a draft article in 4 hours. We will explore the preparation for the two 2-hr writing sessions in October (10/20 and 10/27). Attendees will do best if they have all data, literature, and clarity of findings/analysis/interpretations. We will be bold and explore what is possible with preparation and deep work, together.

Write to Publish (W2P): Information Session
SEPT 12, 3-3:50pm MST
Virtual Information Session: Zoom
The Write to Publish (W2P) non-credit course guides writers through the steps of producing an article for publication in 12 weeks. This introductory session for the Write to Publish (W2P) non-credit course includes information about writing for publication, the arrangement of the 12-week course, and scheduling to prioritize article writing. The workshop is open to graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and CSU researchers.

Research Journals & Logs Workshop
SEPT 13, 12-12:50pm MST
In-Person Workshop: LSC 306
This workshop covers multiple types and strategies for tracking the steps and progress of writing projects. There’s not only one best way to track writing, but there may be a best way for you at this point in your research or scholarly career. We will identify tracking categories that will help you build momentum on your project no matter if you prefer hard-copy journals, spreadsheets, Googledocs, or other.

Top 10 Things You Can Do with Citation Management Software (#7 will shock you!)
SEPT 22, 12-1pm MST
Virtual Information Session: Zoom
Learn from CSU librarians about how citation management software can save you time. We’ll use examples from Mendeley and Zotero to demonstrate how you can create your own research library, easily cite while you write, and more (with experts from MSU Libraries, Renae Watson and Rachelle Ramer)

Agile Methods for Collaborative Writing
SEPT 28, 12-12:50pm MST
Virtual Information Session: Zoom
This information session draws on Agile project management strategies that were created for software development that can also support collaborative writers through the iterations of co-authoring manuscripts and proposals. We will learn from the research and work of Rebecca Pope-Ruark and other scholars of collaborative writing. Writers may wish to attend with their co-authors so that they can engage with the methods post-session. The session will be recorded for future reference.

Please visit the GRAD Writes page on the CSU Writes website for more detailed information.

REGISTER HERE.

Write to Publish (W2P) is a 12-week series of workshops designed to guide postdocs and graduate students through the process of crafting and polishing a manuscript for publication. This series is best for participants who have already conducted research and have a conference presentation or course paper they wish to revise for publication.

SCHEDULE

JAN 27 Intro & Scheduling
FEB 3 Writing for Publication
FEB 10 Abstracts
FEB 17 Literature Review
FEB 24 Reverse Outlining
MAR 10 Getting/Using Feedback
MAR 24 Revising: Organization and Flow
MAR 31 Presenting & Integrating Evidence
APR 7 Openings and Conclusions
APR 14 Revising: Clarity & Concision
APR 21 Submitting: Cover Letters
APR 28 Responding to Readers

Please visit the Write to Publish page on the CSU Writes website for more detailed information.

REGISTER HERE.

It is likely that you have come across the all-too hip (and hyped) term agile these days. “Agile” suggests the ability to be quick and nimble, like a cheetah or gazelle with a touch of gracefulness. Agile suggests to a fast-paced generation of professionals that they are moving forward skillfully. Don’t we all wish our writing projects could be accomplished quickly and with a touch of grace?

Thus, we start our conversations about our semester writing with the value of agile systems for your planning and scheduling—with a dose of realism. Agile methods may not make your research or scholarly writing topics less complex, but they do have the capacity to help you stay in touch your project, to keep its tasks in sight, and to build momentum—and your project—over time.

As academics who work on extended writing projects, we benefit from systems that keep us on task with greater ease. MIT’s Jeff Sutherland devised Agile methods for software development as a corrective to the more static waterfall or Gantt chart systems. The latter require significant project planning to ensure all tasks, steps, and deadlines are identified upfront, and that all contributors to the project know what to do when. Within a couple missed writing sessions, these systems can become “best laid plans” that no longer serve our current and changed timelines.

Agile systems are more flexible. The tasks and timelines are generated daily, weekly, and monthly (or semesterly, if you wish). CSU Writes brings agile scheduling techniques to our workshops and retreats (and has since 2015) because extended, and sometimes messy, writing projects (and lives) benefit from regular check-ins and connections.

Check-in routinely with your writing project (or your multiple projects) to assess their status. Daily check-in: What project tasks are doable today? What immediate tasks (reading, email, etc.), if completed, will help support writing for the next couple weeks? Weekly check-in: What chunk of tasks are doable? Monthly check-in: Is your project still on schedule?

Agile systems build-in the capacity to make necessary changes to a project when the unexpected or serendipitous arises because you are regularly checking in with the status of project. As the name implies, “agile” systems allow for you to move your project forward with flexibility and grace. This semester, CSU Writes will describe agile methods in our semester planning workshops for individual writers and in one of our collaborative writing workshops for pairs or teams. We’ll practice checking in regularly in the retreats. May your writing projects this semester become more nimble and serve your whole self and life with grace.