Shut-Up And Write

What is ‘Shut Up & Write’?

‘Shut Up & Write’ (SU&W) is a kind of writing group meeting. People find it useful for a range of purposes, including:

• Making  progress on your research writing which is more focussed, efficient or effective 
• Protecting or ‘quarantining’ time for your research writing, away from distractions
• Building a sense of community around your writing
• Overcoming procrastination and increasing motivation

• How can I take part if I am far away from other research writers?
• Do I have to commit to taking part regularly?
• What happens during a SU&W meeting?
• Where did this idea come from?
• Who goes to ‘Shut Up & Write’ meetings at CSU?
• Can I give it a try?
• What would I have to do to join an online SU&W meeting?
• When are the Shut Up & Write meetings?
• I’ve got more questions...

How can I take part if I am far away from other research writers?

As well as face-to-face meetings on campuses, we have online meetings, which you can join from anywhere in the world. The instructions for setting up your computer are below.

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Do I have to commit to taking part regularly?

No. Some people are ‘regulars’, but many people come to meetings only when they are in an intensive writing stage, or when there is a deadline coming up.  Everyone is welcome to come to one or more meetings whenever it suits them.

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What happens during a SU&W meeting?

Meetings start with a brief chat, for each person to say hello and to record their writing goals for the session. We then set a timer for 25 minutes of uninterrupted writing (or reading, data analysis, or other work). After 25 minutes we have a 5 minute break to chat and check our progress. We repeat this pattern 3 or 4 times = 1.5 or 2 hours.

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Where did this idea come from?

The idea of ‘Shut Up & Write’ comes from San Francisco. Originally aimed at non-academic writers such as creative writers and journalists, writers would (and still do) meet in a cafe for a solid hour of writing, followed by a break and coffee and then another block of writing. The popularity of this technique among academics has been spreading in Australia and the rest of the world in the last few years, particularly for doctoral candidates and other research writers.
This timing system is based on the Pomodoro technique, which has been used for close to 30 years, to boost focus and productivity.

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Who goes to SU&W meetings at CSU?

• Doctoral candidates and other research students
• Staff who are undertaking research degrees at other universities
• Staff who are working on publications and other writing projects
• Other people working on writing projects - e.g. honours students and creative writers – or anyone else who would like to join us
• People who are on campus, off campus, interstate or in Japan (or India or Germany)

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Can I give it a try?

Yes! The schedule of Shut Up & Write meetings is below. Choose the session(s) you are interested in and just show up – or contact one of the organisers for more information. We’ll be glad to see you.

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What would I have to do to join an online SU&W meeting?

We use Adobe Connect for the online SU&W meetings. Before the first time you use Adobe Connect, you need to set up your computer. It is quick and easy. You can download the instructions here.

When the time for the online SU&W meeting arrives, click on this link to join the session: http://connect.csu.edu.au/shutupandwrite

Select ‘Enter as a Guest’ and type in your name. (Please ignore the text about the recording of sessions. We don’t record the Shut Up & Write meetings.) Click on the microphone button to set up your audio and you should be good to go.

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When are the Shut Up & Write meetings?

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I’ve got more questions...

Contact Cassily Charles, the Academic Writing Coordinator for Research Candidates – ccharles@csu.edu.au