Writing retreat for doctoral students, 14-16 April 2020 in Otaniemi - CANCELLED

Materials Platform invites Aalto doctoral students to participate in a writing retreat. This structured writing retreat works for any kind of writing project and any kind of writer. We will use specific start and stop times for writing, as well as set times for writing warmups and discussion, and breaks for food, relaxation, and exercise.

This event has been cancelled due to the corona virus epidemic. We will reschedule!

About the writing retreat

This structured writing retreat works for any kind of writing project and any kind of writer. We will use specific start and stop times for writing, as well as set times for writing warmups and discussion, and breaks for food, relaxation, and exercise. 

By the end of the retreat, you’ll have made significant progress on your writing project, as well as learned new strategies and methods for tackling your writing tasks.

Retreat agenda

We will use precise timings during the retreat. When people arrive late or leave early it can be disruptive, so please plan your travel around these timings. Altogether we have 2.5 days of writing:

  • Tuesday 14th of April 2020, 13:30 – 17:00
  • Wednesday 15th of April 2020, 09:30 – 17:30
  • Thursday 16th of April 2020, 09:00 – 17:00

We booked the venue in Otaniemi for the whole retreat, in Otakaari 1.

What to bring

  • laptop + charger
  • notes and personal materials to help your writing
  • water bottle

During the sessions, we will provide tea, coffee, and water. Lunch can be bought at your own cost at a nearby campus restaurant, or you can bring your own.

Preparation before the retreat

  • Decide on a writing project
  • Do reading and other preparation
  • Get notes, plans, outlines, etc. together
  • Outline the structure of your paper/chapter
  • Download what you need, as wifi is not guaranteed 
Jess Kelley Photo by Manka Photography

Certified coach Jess Kelley

Jess Kelley is a highly accomplished, Helsinki-based editor and language advisor with 15 years of experience working across a broad range of industries. She holds accreditation from the Institute of Professional Editors (Australia) and a coaching certification from Genius Coaching (USA).

She is an active member of various associations for language professionals around the world. Drawing on her wealth of experience with university students, professional authors, celebrity clients, the corporate world and beyond, Jess is a versatile language advisor who takes pride in being able to provide support and education to suit the diverse needs of her clients.

As the facilitator of Helsinki Writing Retreat, she has undertaken training with Professor Rowena Murray, who has pioneered and developed the retreat model in the UK for the past 15 years.

Learn more about the retreats at www.writingretreat.fi

Practicalities

  • Doctoral students who applied to our previous writing retreat but didn't get in will receive an invitation email on 09 March 2020 to register. 
  • If there will be some places left, the application for all doctoral students will open on 18 March 2020.
  • The number of seats is limited to 15; filling the application form does not guarantee your acceptance. Applicants will be selected such that there will be the broadest possible mix of disciplines. We aim to inform successful applicants within one week after the application deadline.
  • All applications will be reviewed to ensure the event is multidisciplinary (see What are Aalto Platforms?).
  • You will be notified if you have been selected to attend -- you must confirm your attendance at that time by registering.
  • If you have not been selected (because the retreat is full), you will be notified by email.
  • The event will be held in English, however, you can write in any language you like.
  • The event and our activities will be photographed. While participating, you agree to be video-recorded and photographed as a part of an event carried out within the Aalto University Materials Platform (or tell us to exclude you from the photos!). Promotional materials that might be developed throughout the course could be visible for a broader audience. All rights will remain at Aalto University and the photographer.

Fill in the application form < Opening 18 March

What is the selection process?

All Aalto Platforms are tasked with bringing people together across disciplines. Therefore, participants will be selected so that the broadest possible group representing all Schools at Aalto will be invited to register and attend. 

Your final selection is based on:

  1. Your availability: you will attend all three days of the retreat.
  2. Diversity of disciplines: all Schools have 1-3 seats in the retreat.

We will not select participants based on what you are writing about -- that is up to you!

Have a question about the writing retreat? Get in touch!

Heidi Henrickson, Materials Platform Manager

People working on laptops
  • Published:
  • Updated: