By Dr Emily Yarrow, Senior Lecturer in Management and Organisations, NUBS

Writing is an integral part of academic life, but unfortunately something that is often the first thing to be squeezed out of one’s time when various other tasks take over, particularly during the teaching semester. Finding the time and [intellectual] space to write can oft be challenging. Time for writing is something that we need to protect, and proactively plan into our schedules.

As a new member of staff, having joined NUBS in September 2021, I was delighted to see a writing group and was excited to join. Meeting on Fridays, the group has not only provided me with a set time and space to write, but has also been a good opportunity to meet colleagues, make friends, benefit from ‘positive peer pressure’ which I find helpful in encouraging me to write, as well as bringing a much-needed social aspect to writing, particularly in the scheduled breaks.

We follow the pomodoro method, whereby we write in 25 minute chunks, followed by a five minute break, in cycles of about four sessions and then we have a longer break. I have been using the pomodoro method for the last ten years, not only for my academic writing but also for other work and personal tasks, and find it to be very effective. Whilst I often find myself proselytising to my own students about the power of breaking down tasks such as a dissertation or essay into smaller, more manageable chunks, the pomodoro method encourages me to do this in my own work, to practice what I preach, and it really is an approach which has revolutionised how I approach a range of tasks, including writing. I never cease to be amazed at how much one can do in what is a relatively short timeframe when distractions are minimised.

For writing in particular, I find the method helpful to get me started on a piece, or to keep me motivated for tasks that I enjoy less such as editing or working on revisions. Knowing you only have to work on something that may feel overwhelming for 25 minutes before a brief break, can be both motivating and feel more manageable. Despite the alarm for the pomodoro timer regularly giving me a fright and making me jump in my chair, there is always a sense of accomplishment at the end of each pomodoro, however small and sharing that in the group is also helpful.

For me, the benefits of the writing group are very clear in terms of writing output, but also in terms of discussing ideas, sharing how to tackle something that I may be unsure about. Helping, co-motivating and supporting each other is something that I value hugely, and which is particularly important in a profession where we spend much time writing alone, not least due to the pandemic. The writing group has been, and is, a welcome tonic; a chance to really focus on my research and writing, keep everything ticking over and make continued progress.

Lastly, I wanted to talk about collegial encouragement and celebrating success.In the writing group, we talk about what we’re working on and share our successes, there is such a genuinely supportive vibe, something which is not only motivating, but important. It brings me joy to share in others success and be a part of that journey with them, and that is the wonder of the writing group in a nutshell.