Internationally, academics and students have been drawn to this uncomplicated concept. It has provided a space not only to write, but to share ideas about research, break down hierarchy and establish informal, supportive spaces. As well as learning from each other about writing, by coming together, academic writing communities have enjoyed the accountability that comes with working alongside others. What unites all writers who have used this method, is that the carving out of time and engaging in focused intentionality has laid the foundation of a healthy writing practice.
Research on academic writing groups suggest the benefits extend beyond just the writing itself. Writing together is about so much more than productivity. Studies have associated shared writing with reduced isolation and greater wellbeing, and Shut Up and Write!-style programs to improve self-efficacy among students and early career researchers. It was recently reported by researchers that during the Covid-19 pandemic, Shut Up & Write! groups responded and quickly moved online. For many, they offered ways to stay connected and tackle the loneliness and isolation of lockdowns. They allowed communities to form across geographical boundaries. New connections were made around the world. And the barriers of attending writing groups were dissolved overnight for persons experiencing a disability or mobility limitation.
Other studies found that these groups have inspired innovative approaches to coming together. Some groups have met and written in unexpected locations such as on a train; other groups have provided specific support for women early career researchers; while others have generated writing retreats based on the simple idea of coming together, eliminating distractions and simply writing.
Despite its impact and reach, when asked about how Shut Up & Write! writing groups have developed and unfolded, founder, Rennie Saunders said:
"The method remains remarkably close to that first gathering. Writers briefly introduce themselves and say what they intend to work on, then write quietly together for a defined period of time before reconnecting at the end. There are no critiques, workshops or expectations that anyone share what they have written. The accountability comes simply from showing up, naming an intention and working alongside others who are doing the same. That small amount of structure turns writing from an entirely private ambition into a practice supported by community."
There are countless stories to be told about Shut Up & Write!, and while much research has been conducted internationally within academia, there is comparatively little known about the non-academic communities from which this idea originated. It’s for this reason that a small group of researchers have come together and collaborated with Writing Partners, the not-for-profit foundation that supports Shut Up & Write! Researchers from RMIT University and Excelsia University College in Australia, and Cambridge University and Keele University in the United Kingdom have brought their skills together to form a survey which aims to further our understanding of the ways that communities come together internationally, and the stories that they have to tell.
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