Graduate Writing Support
Looking to sharpen your writing skills and spark your motivation?
The Educational Resource Center offers writing support to address these challenges & more, open and free to all graduate students. Through a portfolio of programs, the ERC supports graduate students in navigating the particular demands of graduate writing – from conference papers to articles to theses to dissertations – and strives to facilitate a sense of community among graduate writers.
Check out our programs below, including: Writing Assistance, Accountability Partners, Writing Groups, Writing Retreats & Dissertation Writing Institute.
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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 Partners
The Accountability Partners program matches graduate writers into small interdisciplinary groups for weekly check-ins. During each meeting, participants report on their progress, reflect on challenges and set clear, concrete goals. Groups are also encouraged to maintain a shared daily writing log.
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!
Graduate Writing Group
The Graduate Writing Group provides time and space for graduate students at all stages to get their work done in a supportive environment. The GWG offers more flexibility than the DWG, while maintaining the sense of accountability and community. It meets every Thursday from 10AM to 1PM in the ERC (Room 545) or on Zoom.
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 apply!
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 apply!
If you need help determining which program(s) would best meet your needs, see more information here.
Contact Us
You can email us at phdwrite@bu.edu or subscribe below!