Overview

We know that writing can be challenging for scientists, especially when you’re writing something non-scientific. But we also know there are certain things that every scientist needs to write at some point – like a personal bio, a cover letter or résumé, a conference proposal, or a teaching statement.  

Writing in community, rather than in isolation, can help make this process a little less painful – and maybe even a bit fun. That’s why we hope you’ll bring your friends to our first-ever writing retreat, offered in honor of Graduate Student Appreciation Week.

We’ll provide you with a work station, outlets, lunch, coffee, snacks, stickers, and a consultation room where you can come to get help from OCPD staff if you hit a roadblock. All you need to bring is your laptop, charger, and a writing project you’d like to work on.

While we’ll provide a few pointers and resources to kick off the day, this event is not a workshop. Instead, we want to provide a supportive environment for you to make progress on a writing goal that’s important to you. Come for a single 45-minute writing “sprint,” or stay for the full retreat. We hope to see you there!

Schedule

• 9:45 - 10 a.m.: Arrive and get set-up*
• 10 - 10:30 a.m.: Orientation: Resources and sample documents (15 min); how to use ChatGPT for editing and grammar (15 min)
• 10:30 - 11:15 a.m.: Writing sprint #1
• Stretch break (15 min)
• 11:30 - 12:15: Writing sprint #2
• Lunch provided (30 min)
• 12:45 - 1:30 p.m.: Writing sprint #3
• Stretch break (15 min) with coffee and pastries available 1:30 - 3 p.m.
• 1:45 - 2:30 p.m.: Writing sprint #4
• 2:30 - 3 p.m.: Finish up and pat yourself on the back!**

* If you’d like, stop by the breakfast on the quad first and bring it along!

**If you’d like, head over Grad Slam afterward for great talks and a fun reception.

FAQs

Is this a workshop? Nope! This retreat is a space for heads-down time to write. That said, you can pop into the consultation room anytime if you have questions!  

How long do I need to stay? You can register for as many or few of the 45-minute writing sprints as you like. Space is limited, so we ask that you register only for the sessions you plan to attend.  

What if I don’t know how to write a resume/cover letter/teaching statement? This is a great place to start figuring it out! We’ll orient you to where to find the OCPD’s sample documents at the beginning of the day, and you can pop into our consultation room any time for more info. Or if you’d prefer to learn in a workshop setting, subscribe to our listserv to be alerted when we’re offering lunch and learns on these topics.

Will it be quiet? Yes! We’ll be keeping our writing room quiet during each of the 45-minute "sprints,” with breaks in between for stretching and snacks.

Can I get feedback? Participants can come to the consultation room anytime during the retreat for drop-in questions about career and professional development-related documents, such as resumes, cover letters, teaching statements, and LinkedIn profiles. The consultation room will be a small-group or semi-private environment. If you’d prefer a private 1:1 appointment, you can make one with us anytime.

What can I work on? You’re welcome to use this retreat to work on any project that would benefit from some dedicated heads-down time. We especially encourage you to bring any projects that are hard to find time for in your regular day-to-day work.  

Can postdocs attend? Because this is a Graduate Student Appreciation Week event, graduate students have the first opportunity to attend. If any spots remain the week prior to the event, we will open them to postdocs. (Also, let us know if you’d like to see a postdoc-focused retreat during NPAW! Email Program Director Ray Care - [email protected])