Collectivizing individual work

Academic writing is typically a solitary affair : a struggle between you, your document, and whatever resistance you have managed to accumulate over the weeks or years before. During the  retreat  we were able to, as Mai (PhD candidate, UvA Department of Anthropology), neatly put it: “collectivize individual work.”

Over the course of two days, participants brought their own projects – papers in progress, grant proposals, long-overdue drafts – and worked on them in a structured but spacious setting. Esther Miedema (SSGH Director, UvA) facilitated the retreat, weaving together intention-setting exercises with free writing time. The format proved particularly powerful for those carrying heavier writing burdens into the room. As Lisa Haushofer (Assistant Professor, UvA Department of History) reflected: “The workshop got me un-stuck from a long spell of writer’s block and resistance against a challenging project.”

Break and lunch times saw lively cross-disciplinary discussions, Annelies van der Meij (PhD candidate, UvA Department of History) observing “it is inspiring to discuss shared thematic interests with colleagues from different disciplines.” Good food and company produced fresh ideas and resolve to put thoughts on paper.

The magic of writing in company

There is something quietly powerful about being in a room full of people who are all, at that very moment, trying to think clearly and write honestly. The focus of others becomes contagious. Annebel (PhD candidate, UvA Department of Anthropology) captured it well: “[What I appreciated most was] that you can get to work feeling completely relaxed and find motivation in the presence and focus of others.” That combination – relaxation and motivation, usually at odds – turned out to be exactly what a writing retreat can offer when done well.

We are already looking forward to organizing the next one!