About WriteOut!
In early 2012, Francesca Gaiba and Michelle Boyd, dreamed of and co-founded WriteOut!. At the time, they were Associate Directors at UIC's Institute for Research on Race & Public Policy.
They both understood the challenges that students face while working on their dissertations. And they're committed to supporting the next generation of race/ethnicity scholars by helping them improve their writing practice. WriteOut! was Francesca's brainchild, and when she was at IRRPP she was responsible for its smooth administration, including publicity, admission, fundraising, financial management, evaluation, and outreach.
Michelle was – and still is – in love with writing and wants every other academic to fall in love with it too. Michelle, who now runs her own academic writing retreat (InkWell Retreats), co-developed the program with Francesca, suggested the daily coaching component, met and coached with retreat participants from 2012 to 2014, developed the writing resource guide, and designed the original website. Michelle, as of 2024, still continues to coach people and hold writing retreats and workshops across the United States.
WriteOut! Information Heading link
IRRPP has continued the tradition of WriteOut! and offers week-long writing retreats for UIC faculty, doctoral students, postdocs, and staff from all disciplines who study race and/or ethnicity and broadly-defined policy. The retreats often feature accountability meetings, support from a writing accountability coach, and workshops to further your writing practice. The purpose of the retreat is to reach your writing goals!
Each year we offer multiple WriteOut! retreats in the spring and summer: two for faculty and postdocs and two for doctoral students.
Faculty WriteOut!
May 12-16, 2025
July 14-18, 2025
Grad Student WriteOut!
May 19-22 2025
July 21-25, 2025
What to Expect from WriteOut! Heading link
In 2022, we decide to make WriteOut! a hybrid program. We wanted to create a space to simulate an in-person retreat as much as possible. The writing retreats provide you writing practice accountability. Although we will not be providing feedback on your prose, we will provide you a platform to develop your writing practice.
For the retreats, participants should bring their laptops, lunches on days we aren’t providing one, and any materials needed in order to write. During the hybrid retreats, we provide:
- spaces to write in community.
- various workshops to help the writing and publication processes.
- a continental breakfast each day and lunch a few times during the week.
- some special events and treats during the week.
