Graduate Writing Support

Writing Assistance

Traditional Writing Assistance Appointments

Work with a Writing Fellow – a BU graduate student trained in best practices for writing – at any stage in the writing process and on any assignment, from literature reviews to dissertation chapters. 45-minute appointments are available over Zoom or in-person at 100 Bay State Road.

Schedule an Appointment Now

*if you are having issues accessing the scheduling platform, email phdwrite@bu.edu.

Writing Strategy Appointments

Develop a sustainable approach to writing and discuss effective writing strategies specifically tailored to your writing goals. In a 45-minute appointment either over Zoom or in-person at 100 Bay State Road, we can reassess what works best for you.

Request an Appointment Now

Writing Drop-In Appointments

Stuck on a paragraph, uncertain about a particular claim or need to integrate advisor’s comments? Bring specific writing questions to our drop-in hour: 4-5PM every weekday at 100 Bay State Road Room 101. These 20-minute sessions are first-come, first-serve, no appointment needed.

Accountability Clubs

Accountability 2.0: Welcome to the Club: For Fall 2026, we’re updating our Accountability Partners programs to better address student needs while still fostering community across the university for our graduate writers. Now, students will select to attend a pre-arranged “club.”

Accountability Clubs offer a chance for interdisciplinary groups of graduate writers to meet weekly to reflect on their progress. During each meeting, graduate writers set and share goals. They can also choose to maintain a shared daily writing log and/or workshop projects together. To maximize shared experiences, students opt to attend one of the following clubs based on where they are in their academic journey:

Look out for opportunities to register at the beginning of each semester!

Writing Groups

Dissertation Writing Group

The Dissertation Writing Group offers time, space and a community of peers specifically for dissertators to make significant progress on their writing. Convening every Monday from 10AM to 1PM in the ERC (Room 545) or on Zoom, the DWG provides focused writing time as well as goal setting strategies and other resources that dissertators can build into their writing routine.

Look out for opportunities to register at the beginning of each semester!

Writing Retreats

Our Writing Retreats offer graduate writers concentrated & communal writing time to make significant progress on their dissertation/thesis/prospectus. Any graduate writer can attend. Each retreat entails several days of dedicated writing time, with coffee & lunch provided.

Writing Retreats typically take place in January, May and August – look out for opportunities to register!

Dissertation Writing Institute

This four-day institute works to demystify the dissertation genre and equip dissertation writers with essential strategies to approach this milestone in their academic career. Each day, dissertators attend carefully curated skill building and professional development workshops on topics including planning, revising and responding to feedback. The DWI also entails time to implement insights from the workshop and connect with peers. Coffee & lunch are provided.

Participants must be actively writing either their prospectus or their dissertation, and early-stage dissertators (first or second chapter) are especially encouraged to attend. Writing Institutes typically take place in July – look out for opportunities to register!