One of the major components of this spring’s Howe Writing with Community Support program is The Progress Log, an asynchronous opportunity for writers to share their progress and build a supportive writing community. Attendees reflect on their weekly progress and share it on a collaborative spreadsheet, where other writers can provide encouraging comments and remarks. We thought it would be interesting and insightful to share how participants are choosing to spend their writing time.

The following comments come from various graduate students participating in the Howe Writing with Community Support program.

“This week I really focused on gathering some more literature on my seminar paper. I worked on Tuesday and Thursday this week for about an hour each day gathering some sources that helped me understand my topic a bit more and to compile for my works cited list! I'm feeling pretty excited because I'm right in the middle of the learning aspect of writing-- getting my wits about me and all that jazz! My plans for next week are to clarify the parameters of my research and really find a clear focus for this paper. I do think I need to move my hours to earlier in the day because I am getting too tired at night with all my course reading I'm doing and I really want to focus better!” - Claire, 1st year MA in Rhetoric and Composition

“This week I was successful in getting started on my data analysis. I actually begin coding and  reflecting on the data collected. I find that this is the next big thing which I feel quite nervous about.” - Ahjah, 4th year PhD Student Affairs in Higher Education

“This week we finished a draft of an article we've been working on and now just have to read through it and get it done. Practiced and presented a conference presentation. I also started revising my IRB for my dissertation.” - Destiny, 3rd year PhD in Rhetoric and Composition

“This week, I made a long-term writing goal of generating 15 brand new poems for inclusion in my thesis by the beginning of the Fall Semester. As well as revising at least 10 poems.” - Matt, 1st year MFA Poetry

“This past week I made it a goal to prioritize my creative work as much as my academic writing. I was able to carve about 30 minutes out of every day to work on a creative nonfiction essay that I plan to read at a conference later this semester!” - Kendra, 1st year MFA Creative Nonfiction

These progress log entries showcase just how different the writing process can look, from start to finish and from writer to writer. Some writers choose to spend their time planning out more complex projects, while others spend it revising drafts they have already completed. Others invest that time into producing drafts or working on data analysis to flesh ideas out further or to uncover different perspectives. We also see writers setting goals for the next week’s work. Reflection allows writers to look at what worked well throughout the week, as well as what still needs to be done moving forward.

The structure and community made available through the Howe Writing with Community Support program–both asynchronous and synchronous–give writers the opportunity to make progress on their writing goals. Writers who would like to participate, either in-person at the Graduate Writing Hours or asynchronously through The Progress Log, can sign up on the Howe Writing Center’s website.