1. Writing Development Centre
University Library
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@ncl_wdc
Writing Development Centre
Robinson Library
Write here, write now!
For enquiries about workshops, please email wdc@ncl.ac.uk

2. Writing Development Centre
University Library
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@ncl_wdc
Writer’s Groups: Rowena Murray’s
approach
Writers groups are a way of breaking down writing into
manageable sessions, setting clear goals, keeping momentum and
motivating each other.
 Setting Goals
 Free writing
 Review
 Write!
 Debrief
Rowena Murray (2011). How to Write a Thesis (3rd edn),
MaidenHead: Open University Press.

3. Writing Development Centre
University Library
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@ncl_wdc
What would help you focus?
House Rules
To help us maximise our concentration and productivity, we
all agree:
 Not to talk unless necessary
 Not to access social media or other distractions
 To switch phones off
 To stay and write unless you really need to leave
 To follow the format of the session
 To support each other
 ….?

4. Writing Development Centre
University Library
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@ncl_wdc
Setting goals
Five minutes:
Take turns with the person next to
you to tell them what you intend to
write in this session.
This helps you clarify your own aims, and motivates you as
you have expressed this goal to another person

5. Writing Development Centre
University Library
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@ncl_wdc
Warming up:
Freewriting
Eight minutes
Write about what you are going to write.
 Give yourself a writing prompt
 Write in full sentences
 Don’t stop!
 Don’t edit!
 Don’t worry about what you’re writing!
 No one is ever going to see this but you!
‘Warming up’ helps you overcome writers block and perfectionism,
gets you in the mood to write, gives you very rough material to
work with later and helps you think flexibly about your topic and
capture that thinking

6. Writing Development Centre
University Library
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@ncl_wdc
Suggestions for writing prompts
 What I want to write about next is…
 The point I am trying to argue is…
 The main influences on my thinking are…
 The way my dissertation is structured is…
 The main debates on this issue are…
 What we already know about this topic is…
 This chapter addresses…

7. Writing Development Centre
University Library
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@ncl_wdc
Review
Two minutes
Review what you’ve just written.
 Identify any useful bits you might keep
 Any interesting bits you might develop
 Any bits which aren’t relevant here but are worth
exploring elsewhere
 Collate useful bits into a brief plan of what you are
about to write

8. Writing Development Centre
University Library
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@ncl_wdc
Write!
Forty minutes
Write!

9. Writing Development Centre
University Library
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@ncl_wdc
Debrief
Five minutes:
Take turns with the person next to you to tell them
 How your writing went
 What needs to be done next with the text
 What you need to write or research next
This helps you maintain the momentum, if you make a note
at the end of a session of what stage your writing is now,
what you need to do with what you’ve written, and what your
next steps are.

10. Writing Development Centre
University Library
facebook.com/NUlibraries
@ncl_wdc
Other writing approaches
 The Pomodoro technique
 Distraction free writing modes
 Social media blockers

11. Writing Development Centre
University Library
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@ncl_wdc
Slides are online:
You can find these slides online at
Slideshare:
http://www.slideshare.net/WDCNewcastle

12. Writing Development Centre
University Library
facebook.com/NUlibraries
@ncl_wdc
The Writing Development Centre
 Understanding assignment types, questions, instructions and marking
criteria
 Critical thinking, critiquing and reviewing literature
 Note-taking from lectures and reading
 Planning and structuring writing (incl. paragraphing)
 Academic writing style (incl. fundamentals of grammar)
 Understanding and using feedback to improve your work
 Referencing, citing and avoiding plagiarism
 Managing time, work and writing (incl. writers block and
procrastination)
 Exams and Revision
 Managing research projects, dissertations and theses
 Presentations and posters
 Learning effectively in lectures, seminars, classes, labs etc

13. Writing Development Centre
University Library
facebook.com/NUlibraries
@ncl_wdc
The Writing Development Centre
Level 2, Robinson Library
Our team offers:
- One-to-one tutorials on study
skills and all stages and types of
academic writing
- A programme of workshops on aspects
of study and academic writing
- Online resources
You can book appointments and workshops with us
online: http://www.ncl.ac.uk/students/wdc/