Writing Groups

two women talking

Writing is a significant part of our professional lives as faculty. We’re working on articles, grant proposals, books, teaching statements, blogs, or op-eds.

Too often, however, we don’t have opportunities to talk about the process, our struggles, or to get feedback from readers outside (or even within) our own departments. It also can be difficult to set aside dedicated writing time given our other important commitments as teachers, mentors, and administrators.

The Faculty Write Program sponsors writing groups to help writers advance their work, connect with colleagues, and exchange ideas across disciplines. Writing group types include:

participants in writing group

Feedback/writing exchange groups – each participant brings a short piece of writing to share for discussion. Groups typically include 3-5 writers and meet either monthly or weekly. 

Side-by-side/Write-on-site – participants meet at an agreed upon time and place to work on independent writing projects alongside other faculty. Arrive with any materials you will need to work on your own writing, and write in good company. Stay as long as your schedule allows. 

Accountability or “check-in” groups – participants set goals and share their progress with other group members. Reporting to a supportive group of peers increases accountability and camaraderie. 

Affinity writing groups. Writing groups form around specific topics (e.g., engaged scholarship, transformative learning), type of writing (e.g., creative writing, grant proposals, or public scholarship), or faculty cohort (new faculty, associate professors, women writers, Latinx writers).

Writing groups form in September, January, and May.

Interested in starting a writing group in your department, program, or faculty cohort?

Contact jahern@duke.edu to discuss how to create and sustain a writing group and small group coaching opportunities. 


Spring 2024

Melissa Simmermeyer profile picture

Faculty Write Peer Network Consultant and Writing Group Lead Convener.  

Melissa Simmermeyer has been an active participant in the Faculty Write Program since attending her first summer intensive writing retreat in 2012.  Since then, she has led many multidisciplinary faculty writing groups, including the long standing Friday write-on-site group, a weekly faculty-staff writing group, and a much needed Spring 2020 writing group that shifted online to support faculty in a particularly tumultuous time.

Melissa teaches courses in the Spanish Language Program that help students cultivate community and connection through language. Her current research focuses on the relationship between second-language writing and technology interfaces.  She has participated in a range of faculty learning communities, including the Transformative Learning Intellectual Community, Teaching for Equity, Trillium Sustainability Fellows, and the Bacca Fellowship on Innovative Teaching.  

Contact Melissa if you'd like to learn more about writing groups:  simmerme@duke.edu


Writing Group Grants  2023-24

Theme:  Community and Connection

The Faculty Write Program is sponsoring writing groups to help writers stay connected to their writing during the academic year and gather in a supportive community. The grant encourages faculty to form collaborative networks beyond their home departments to help advance their writing goals. Each group will receive a $1000 grant towards their proposed goals, small group coaching, and opportunities to participate in writing retreats during the year.

Multidisciplinary Writing Groups -  Tolly Boatwright, Karin Shapiro, Charlotte Sussman, Erika Weiberg. Meet weekly with colleagues across disciplines who are working to meet their writing goals.

Tenured/Tenure Track Women Writers - Dominika Baran. Meet in a supportive environment with writers working toward tenure and promotion. Includes discussions on writing practices, strategic planning, and building and sustaining momentum. 

Faculty & Staff Weekly Writers - Melissa Simmermeyer and Sandy Valnes-Quammen.  Join fellow writers for dedicated writing time in the middle of everything else. We'll begin with a brief hello and goal setting, then write silently in community for 45-50 minutes. Join weekly or as often as your schedule allows. If you are new to side-by-side writing groups, this group is a great place to begin. 


Co-Sponsored Groups

Latinx Writers 

  • Wednesdays 11-1, Conveners -  Cristina Salvador, Assistant Research Professor of Psychology & Neuroscience and Cecilia Márquez, Hunt Family Assistant Professor of History.

The Latinx Writing Group aims to build community and support the writing productivity of Latinx junior faculty to help promote, retain and recruit diverse faculty. Meeting weekly to write as a group, faculty will work on their respective projects alongside one another, or they can join virtually if they’re not on campus. In addition, there will be two intensive, weekend-long writing retreats, where members will participate in workshops on writing productivity, spend time accomplishing their writing goals, and build community. Please write cristina.salvador@duke.edu  if interested in joining this group. 


Department Embedded Writing Groups 

Biology Writes | Biology Faculty, Graduate Students & Post Docs | Hybrid  

Biology Writes is an offshoot of the Duke Faculty Write Program and is designed to support writers in the biology department. Convener Julie Reynolds hosts side-by-side writing groups each semester. Find out more information about these groups here.


9 members of May 1 writing group on Zoom

Contact Jennifer Ahern-Dodson (jahern@duke.edu) to discuss organizing a writing group, workshop, or retreat for your department, school, or program.