Published on
Writing connects how we learn, teach and lead at Mizzou. During the inaugural Week of Writing (Oct. 20–24), the Writing Center, Campus Writing Program, Graduate School, Office of the Provost, Research, Impact and Innovation and Mizzou Libraries collaborated on events that brought together students, faculty, and staff to build momentum, share ideas and support each other as writers. View the full schedule.
- Participants included 299 writers:
- 20 faculty members,
- 30 graduate students,
- 1 postdoctoral scholar, and
- 155 undergraduate students
National Day on Writing
We kicked off Mizzou’s Week of Writing by celebrating the National Day on Writing with the Campus Writing Program, the Writing Center, and the Composition Program. Writers could grab some snacks and tell us why they love to write or participate in writing a collaborative story.
Writing to your Why
Writing is an integral part of grant applications, research statements, and various other application documents. This “why” was at the heart of this workshop for postdoctoral scholars and researchers. Representatives from Research, Innovation, and Impact, the Graduate School and the Writing Center guided the discussion specifically on grants and research statements to look at “whys;” writers were then invited to reflect and discuss their own.
Graduate Career Writing Workshop
Graduate students were invited to attend this event to hear about how to use their resumes to craft a great cover letter. This event was hosted by Laura Roesch, Graduate Career Coach with Graduate Student Career Services.
Dine & Draft
This event was exclusively for English 1000 students to spend a 4-hour block to work on their papers with Writing Center tutors and research librarians on-site to help if/when writers need it. Sandwiches and snacks were served to help fuel their writing.
Faculty Writing Retreat
The Campus Writing Program Staff and Office of the Provost invited faculty to come to Conley House for a NCFDD faculty writing retreat. At this retreat, representatives from the Division of Research, Innovation and Impact were also available to consult with or provide feedback on writing or grant applications as needed.
Graduate Student Writing Retreat
Graduate students at any stage, working on any project, were invited to the Conley House for a quiet day of writing. The retreat was hosted by the Campus Writing Program, the Writing Center and the Graduate School.
Cultivating Your Writing Practice
A faculty panel discussion, co-hosted by the Office of the Provost and Mizzou Libraries, featured Mizzou faculty and researchers as they shared tips and advice for developing a sustainable and productive writing practice. Panelists featured Dr. Caroline Kopot, Dr. Enid Schatz, Dr. Fares Alahdab, and Rachel Alexander. Associate Provost Shruti Rana, who hosted the panel, encouraged writers to use writing to build a community since it can be an isolating process. Caroline Kopot said the weekly writing group she has maintained though Connection has helped with both her productivity and accountability.
Coffee Chat & Celebration
The Week of Writing ended with an informal coffee chat to meet others interested in deepening their writing practice or connecting with potential writing or accountability buddies. The session was led by PhD student and graduate research assistant, Jae Lockhart. He shared practical tips to spark an open conversation about building/joining a “writing team” and how collaboration can strengthen your growth and skills as a writer. “Writing doesn’t have to be a solo sport,” he said to fellow writers.
