2023 Faculty/Staff Writing Camp

This year’s faculty/staff writing camp will take place from May 22 through 26. Sign up to enjoy a calm and productive week of writing. We’ll provide food and refreshments each day and maybe a few surprises. Sign up here!

What is the purpose of the camp?

The purpose of the writing camp is to give colleagues at Hope College a chance to focus on their writing—an element of everyone’s work that is sometimes neglected due to the immediacy of other responsibilities.

How does the camp achieve the purpose?

The strategy of the writing camp is very simple. The goal of each day is to provide participants with ample time to write without interruption. Therefore, we provide breakfast, lunch, and snacks to help writers focus on writing.

In addition, participants have the option to participate in simple, focused activities aimed at developing their knowledge, skills, habits, and attitudes about writing. These activities include subjects like overcoming procrastination, cultivating a habit of writing, communicating with editors, processing feedback and even grappling with negative emotions tied to writing.

What does the camp look like?

In general, writing camp participants will meet each day of the week from approximately 9:00 am to 5:00 pm with an hour break for lunch. At the beginning of the day, we’ll try to have a substantive breakfast available so that no one is trying to write first thing in the morning on an empty stomach.

At 9:00 we’ll gather for 15 to 20 minutes in the Granberg Room of the Van Wylen library to connect and warm up for a day of writing. After that, participants may choose to write in the Granberg Room or disperse to their favorite writing spots.

Throughout the day, we will provide small-group sessions on a variety of writing subjects. Participants will also be able to sign up for individual consultations about their writing projects or questions.

Around noon each day we’ll break for lunch. Participants may have lunch wherever they want, but this is a wonderful time to connect with other participants. We normally gather in the Cup & Chaucer area of the Van Wylen Library.

Participants are strongly encouraged to commit to focusing on writing for the week. In other words, do your best to schedule those oil changes and dentist appointments during other weeks. At the same time, I know there are always unscheduled events (e.g. your child vomits in church) and vital meetings (e.g. an instructor resigns unexpectedly creating a gaping hole in the fall schedule). Rest assured that you can do what needs to be done and then return to your writing. The camp is meant to be a collaborative and supportive community.

Is this just for faculty?

No. We’re all writers. Participants include faculty working on book projects or journal articles, staff working on administrative projects like handbooks or project guidelines, and graduate students working on conference presentations, dissertations, or creative works.

All are welcome.

How do I participate?

To participate in this summer’s writing camp sign up here. I am normally able to accommodate 10 to 12 writers; however, I will do my best to support all writers that want to attend.

If you are unable to attend these dates and hope for a second camp later in the summer please send an email or chat message to writing@hope.edu. If there is enough interest in a second camp, I’ll do my best to accommodate. 

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