Writers Rooms and Retreats

We typically hold at least two 1-3 day writing retreats each year, corresponding with official university break periods. By offering an environment and support for focused writing time, writing retreats provide participants with additional structure and motivation to overcome typical roadblocks in the writing process. 

Spring Break Writing Retreats typically run for one to three days, with required four-hour individual writing sessions each day, followed by optional writing sessions during the remainder of the day.  

Participation is limited to 20 students and includes group meetings, individual writing support, and 3-7 hours of focused writing each day. . Students must apply in advance and attend all required sessions. 

Three Day Retreat Structure
Three-day programs, when offered, include the following:

• Daily check-ins: Students will be seated in one of four meeting rooms with 4-6 people per room. The participants in each room will hold a brief (5-10 minute) check-in meeting at the start of each day to share goals, progress, and challenges in their writing process. 
   

• Daily co-writing sessions: All participants are expected to participate in individual writing sessions from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM each  day. Participants have the option to stay until 4:30 PM. Afternoon sessions will not be staffed but participants should observe program rules and norms regarding acceptable activities and discussion during the session. 

• Orientation and writing consultations: We will have a mandatory orientation session on the first day of the retreat. Additionally, students will be able to attend an individual advising session with a Weingarten Center Learning Resources advisor to discuss organization, writing goals, and strategies for completing the dissertation. Students can bring drafts of their work, discuss topic and structure, future publications and work, etc. Weingarten staff will remain available on an on-call basis throughout the program for additional appointments, to help students overcome any habits or problems standing in the way of success.

This program relies on mutual accountability and support among participants. For this reason, all participants are asked to make a serious commitment to the program and expected to participate in all required sessions and elements. Any extenuating circumstances must be documented in writing before the start of Camp. If your circumstances would cause too much disruption or modification of the program structure, we will remove you from the program.

We encourage participants to form small self-motivated writing groups, participate in our other writing support programs, and meet with advisors at the Weingarten Learning Resource Center to sustain any momentum and writing habits they build during Boot Camp.

Participation in multi-day writing retreats require a $10 program fee.

The cost of participating is subsidized by funds from the Grad Center and GAPSA. The fee helps us with the cost of providing all participants with basic writing supplies, snacks, staff support, and a wrap-up lunch on the last day of the program. Those with significant financial need can request a fee waiver by emailing Grad Center Director Meredith Wooten (mwooten@upenn).

An additional fee of $25 will be charged to participants who fail to comply with program requirements or drop out of the program without advance notice. This fee is charged via the participant's Penn student account. 

*The 2023 Spring Break Writing Retreat is free of charge!

• Participants agree to participate in all required sessions and elements of the program outlined above.

• Each participant will have a designated work station and must follow program requirements and shared rules, which will be discussed at the orientation session. 

• Participants must bring their own laptops and all materials (e.g., books, data) that are necessary. Books and supplies may be left at your workspace in the Grad Center for the duration of the retreat. 

• All participants are asked to make a serious commitment to the program. To encourage this sustained commitment, we charge $25 fee to participants who do not abide by the rules or complete the program.

• All extenuating circumstances must be documented in writing before the start of the retreat. If  your circumstances would cause too much absence or disruption, we will forfeit your seat to another student and refund your supply fee. Please contact gradcenter@upenn.edu if you have any questions regarding this issue before registering. We will discuss pre-noted and emergency absences in detail during the orientation. As a general rule, we suggest that all students make-up their lost time during the afternoon optional time period.

Our writing retreats are designed for currently enrolled Penn graduate students who are actively working on drafts of a research-based writing project, such as a thesis, dissertation, or journal article. 

Because the Writing Retreats are limited to 15 students, priority is given to students who have not participated in a previous retreat or boot camp.  

We encourage participants to form small self-motivated writing groups, participate in our other writing support programs, and meet with advisors at the Weingarten Learning Resource Center to sustain any momentum and writing habits they build during the retreat. 

All participants must apply in advance. A complete application includes:   

1. Online application* (link will only work during open application cycles)
   *2023 Spring Break Writers Retreat Registration

2. Submit payment in person at the Graduate Student Center. The $10 payment may be paid by CASH or CHECK only at the information desk in the Grad Center Common Room (first floor). *The 2023 Spring Break Writing Retreat is free of charge!

3. Students selected to participate will be notified starting March 1. You will receive additional information and are expected to discuss your goals for the program with your faculty advisor(s).

Students who are selected are expected to attend and participate in all required components of the writing retreat. 

We typically hold 1-2 multi-day writing retreats each year, corresponding with official university break periods. By offering an environment and support for focused writing time, writing retreats provide participants with additional structure and motivation to overcome typical roadblocks in the writing process. 

Program Overview

Fall Break Writing Retreats typically run for 1 or 2 days, with required group meetings and individual writing sessions each day from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM, as well as optional writing sessions from 2:00 to 4:30 PM.

Participation is limited to 20 students and includes group meetings, individual writing support, and 3-7 hours of focused writing each day. 

Students must apply in advance and attend all required sessions. 

Additional details coming soon! 

Participation in the Fall Break Writing Retreat requires a $10 program fee.

This cost covers basic writing supplies, snacks, staff support, and a wrap-up lunch on the last day of the program. Those with significant financial need can request a fee waiver by emailing Grad Center Director Meredith Wooten (mwooten@upenn).

An additional fee of $25 will be charged to participants who fail to comply with program requirements or drop out of the program without advance notice. This fee is charged via the participant's Penn student account. 

Fall Break Writing Retreats typically run for 1 to 2 days, with required group meetings and individual writing sessions each day from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM, as well as optional writing sessions from 2:00 to 4:30 PM. 

Participation is limited to  20 students. Students must apply in advance and attend all required sessions. 

The Fall 2022 1-day program includes the following:

• Group check-ins: All participants will convene for brief check-in meetings at the start and end of the mandatory writing session to share goals, progress, and challenges in their writing process. 

• Co-writing sessions: All participants are expected to participate in mandatory writing sessions from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Participants have the option to stay until 4:30 PM. Afternoon participants should observe program rules and norms regarding acceptable activities and discussion during the session. 

This program relies on mutual accountability and support among participants. For this reason, all participants are asked to make a serious commitment to the program and expected to participate in all required sessions and elements. Any extenuating circumstances must be documented in writing before the start of Camp. If your circumstances would cause too much disruption or modification of the program structure, we will remove you from the program.

We encourage participants to form small self-motivated writing groups, participate in our other writing support programs, and meet with advisors at the Weingarten Learning Resource Center to sustain any momentum and writing habits they build during Boot Camp.

• Participants agree to participate in all required sessions and elements of the program outlined above.

• Each participant will have a designated work station and must follow program requirements and shared rules, which will be discussed at the orientation session. 

• Participants must bring their own laptops and all materials (e.g., books, data) that are necessary. Books and supplies may be left at your workspace in the Grad Center for the duration of the retreat. 

• All participants are asked to make a serious commitment to the program. To encourage this sustained commitment, we charge $25 fee to participants who do not abide by the rules or complete the program.

• All extenuating circumstances must be documented in writing before the start of the retreat. If  your circumstances would cause too much absence or disruption, we will forfeit your seat to another student and refund your supply fee. Please contact gradcenter@upenn.edu if you have any questions regarding this issue before registering. We will discuss pre-noted and emergency absences in detail during the orientation. As a general rule, we suggest that all students make-up their lost time during the afternoon optional time period.

Our writing retreats are designed for currently enrolled Penn graduate students who are actively working on drafts of a research-based writing project, such as a thesis, dissertation, or journal article. 

Because the Writing Retreats are limited to 20 students, priority is given to students who have not participated in a previous retreat or boot camp.  

We encourage participants to form small self-motivated writing groups, participate in our other writing support programs, and meet with advisors at the Weingarten Center to sustain any momentum and writing habits they build during the retreat. 

All participants must apply in advance. A complete application includes:   

1. Online application (link will only work during open application cycles).
    

2. Submit payment in person at the Graduate Student Center. The $10 payment may be paid by CASH or CHECK only at the information desk in the Grad Center Common Room (first floor). 
    

3. Students selected to participate will be notified on a rolling basis, starting September 19. You will receive additional information and are expected to discuss your goals for the program with your faculty advisor(s).

Students who are selected are expected to attend and participate in all required components of the writing retreat.