It is a common saying that writing is 90 % procrastination and 30 % panic (and perhaps 20 % being bad at maths). The purpose of the SEC PhD Writing Bootcamp is to move beyond this view by learning methods for productive writing.

Background

Most PhD students say that their greatest challenges with writing are getting started and staying productive. Still, most writing instruction focuses on the technical aspects of writing – structuring a text, handling references, and developing academic style. In contrast to this, our Bootcamp focuses on methods for efficient and productive writing.

Format

The Bootcamp consists of a mix of instruction, discussion, and actual writing. Afterwards, you will probably find that you not only developed your writing skills – you also got a lot of writing done! Participants should bring a text to work with. It could be a part of a research paper in the making, a thesis, a project application, or simply a plan for the next steps of your research. The idea is to have something to work with during the writing sessions, so it can be a text at any level of preparation. You will learn about:

• How to avoid procrastination when writing

• How to maintain your focus

• How to write efficiently

• How to give and take feedback

• Freewriting

• Writing snacks

• Useful exercises for body and mind

Credits

If your academic supervisor agrees to it, you can obtain 3 hp by:

• Reading the distributed articles

• Participating in the full bootcamp

• Setting a plan for your writing during the month following the bootcamp

• Writing a reflection on how the bootcamp affected your writing process

Practical information

We can accommodate 32 participants. Registration is done on a first come, first served basis. The Bootcamp starts on Tuesday 2 April at 13:00 and ends on Thursday 4 April at 13:00.

Travel and accommodation costs are to be covered by the participants.

Discounted hotel rooms will be pre-reserved at a hotel within comfortable walking distance from the venue at LTH in Lund. The price is 1370 SEK and the rooms are held until 4 weeks before arrival (meaning that they are released on March 4), and you can book your room on the PhD Student Writing Bootcamp hotel link.

The Bootcamp is free of charge, but a fee of SEK 1,150 will be charged if a registered participant fails to show up without prior cancellation. If you need to cancel, please do so on 25 March at the latest to the Bootcamp instructor.

If you have any questions, please contact the Bootcamp instructor at oivind.andersson@energy.lth.se.

Registration

For registration please click here.

Deadline for registration is 8 March 2024 at 12:00.

Voices from past participants

“On the first day, I was able to write a very rough draft of my introduction section. All I did was to follow the tips described earlier in the day, shut off the inner critic and just write.”

 

“I was astonished to see that I wrote more than 2,500 words during something like three hours of writing snacks. I’ve never produced so many words in such a short time in my life!”

 

“My main take away is separating the creative and critical sides of writing. The bootcamp showed what I can accomplish when giving space to the creative side. I also had better ideas when letting the creative side operate.”