What’s it all about?
The core of the programme is a partner matching service to give you someone to write alongside, separately but together. It’s amazing how much difference this can make to how your writing feels, how it turns out, and how likely it is to get scheduled in your working week.
How do I get started?
The programme’s future is currently uncertain. We hope to be able to offer writing events again sometime in 2022, and possibly a partnerships service in 2023. If you have questions or requests, please get in touch via the contact form. Meanwhile, to learn more about the programme or browse writing advice, you can explore the rest of the site.
Recent and upcoming events
(check back for dates)
Writing lunches
Use the middle of the day effectively, with a warm-up writing activity and a timed writing session before lunch and a second timed session after, both preceded by planning and review. 11:30 to 15:00.
Writing sprint
Bring a writing project to completion (you define finished, but it has to involve sending it to someone else) with a week’s high-intensity writing supported by three group meetings and planned contact with an event partner. The meetings provide in-depth guidance and a tailored shared spreadsheet template to help you finish your chosen project and send it to your nominated recipient by the end of the working day on Friday.
LaTeX for humanities
Switch Word for LaTeX with this humanities-tailored intro to a document preparation system that most scientists couldn’t live without. Includes a morning’s tuition, an afternoon using it for a current project, and a troubleshooting session a week later.
Writing drinks
A chance to try writing in a relaxed low-stakes setting at the end of the working week. Just bring along a drink (alcoholic or otherwise) and something you want to write (a new project to make a rough start on can work particularly well). Includes two timed sessions; feel free to join for one (from 5 or from 6) or both. No need to book; the Zoom link will be circulated to programme participants. 17:00 to 19:00.
Writing wake-up
An ultra-brief writing burst to start your morning with focus and purpose before you get on with the rest of your day, and give you ideas for recalibrating your first-thing routines. No need to book; the Zoom link will be circulated to programme participants. 08:30 to 09:30.
I don’t know how I would be able to do my research and writing from another country and without access to libraries and study spaces, including cafes, over the past 9 months without the Baille Gifford Writing Program. There have been some huge writing challenges for me from the start of Covid to the present and the best way through them was to keep up my writing partnerships.
I’ve recommended this programme to so many people – I told my counsellor about it and he looked it up and was incredibly impressed by the depth of planning and sheer helpfulness of the resources. I honestly don’t think I would have got through this Mst without it. In the term before I joined, I was basically unable to write and had to apply for a 3 week deadline extension over christmas to complete my work – and it was still under the word count when I submitted it. In the ensuing two terms, I’ve submitted 3 full length pieces of work by the deadline. I can still barely believe it! I’m going to carry things I’ve learnt from this programme into so many areas of my life. I cannot overstate how helpful and meaningful I have found it.
The most helpful thing has been working with a very pure focus during the sessions – starting work right at the beginning of our allocated writing time, and not feeling a desire to check email, social media or the news. It has been a revelation knowing that I can work like this on demand!
Structuring one’s writing can counterintuitively set it free!
2020-21 participants
Thanks to Katherine Fender (DPhil in English Literature, St John’s, 2012 to 2016) for the image.
Oxford Writing Programme 