鈥淚f I waited for perfection 鈥� I would never write a word.鈥澨�
鈥擬argaret Atwood
Despite our听best intentions to听knuckle听down and听write productively on a regular basis, competing demands and distractions鈥攂oth personal and professional鈥攃an make it difficult to stick to听a writing routine. Likewise, the pressure to produce the clear,听coherent, and听elegant prose that is the hallmark of an accomplished scholar听can all听too often听stymie听the writing process.
To help you address these challenges, we have conceived of this "Writing Commons" as a space in which communities听of writers can听support each other. At this time,听the Writing Commons will offer a space in which听to write in the company of听others and a platform to exchange tips and strategies for writing productively. The Writing Commons is an evolving initiative, so we welcome your ideas for future endeavors.
In the past, we have organized these kinds of activities:
- Daylong "Just Write" Sessions (Downtown and Macdonald Campuses)
- 100 Minutes of Writing (Downtown and Macdonald Campuses)
- Half-day "Rise and Write in the Morning"
Our structured writing sessions follow a modified Pomodoro model that includes a mix of 10 minute breaks and 40-60 minute writing blocks.
Winter 2025
| Monday Meet and Write | Mondays, | |
| Downtown campus (Redpath Cybertheque) | 1:30 pm - 4:00 pm | No need to indicate which Monday date(s) you can attend; by registering once, you will have access to join any of the meetings. |
| 听 | January 13, 20, 27 | 听 |
| 听 | February 3, 10, 17, 24 | 听 |
| 听 | March 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 | 听 |
| 听 | April 7, 14 | 听 |
| Rise and Write in the Morning | Tuesdays, | |
|
ONLINE |
9:30 am - 12:00 pm | No need to indicate which Tuesday date(s) you can attend; by registering once, you will have access to join any of the meetings. |
| 听 | January 14, 21, 28 | 听 |
| 听 | February 4, 11, 18, 25 | 听 |
| 听 | March 4, 11, 18, 25 | 听 |
| 听 | April 1, 8, 15 | 听 |
| 60 Minutes | Thursdays, | |
| ONLINE | 9:30 am to 10:50 am | No need to indicate which Thursday am date(s) you can attend; by registering once, you will have access to join any of the meetings. |
| 听 | January 16, 23 30 | 听 |
| 听 | February 6, 13, 20, 27 | 听 |
| 听 | March 6, 13, 20, 27 | 听 |
| 听 | April 3, 10, 17 | 听 |
| 120 Minutes of Writing | Thursdays, | |
| ONLINE | 1:30 pm - 4:00 pm | No need to indicate which Thursday pm date(s) you can attend; by registering once, you will have access to join any of the meetings. |
| 听 | January 16, 23, 30 | 听 |
| 听 | February 6, 13. 20. 27 | 听 |
| 听 | March 6, 13, 20, 27 | 听 |
| 听 | April 3, 10 ,17 | 听 |
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