#WaterlooWrites

Looking for a writing community? Grab a coffee and get writing! Join our network of graduate student writers at the in-person Writing Café! Meet other writers, stay on track, and make progress in your work. Writing doesn’t have to be solitary!

Building sustainable writing habits starts with structure and community. Writers tackling a big writing project often struggle with isolation or a lack of structure that leaves them procrastinating. If that sounds familiar, then writing groups can help. This social space with an established structure for getting writing done can help you feel connected to your peers while practicing effective and sustainable writing habits. It’s open to graduate students, postdocs and faculty.

We use the Pomodoro Method to organize writing sessions into smaller, more manageable chunks of focused writing with frequent breaks. As a participant, you’ll get several 30-minute blocks of writing time as well as short breaks to help you re-focus, stretch, and chat with the other participants. 

These cafés are also open to any open to any graduate student, postdoctoral scholar, or faculty member at the University of Waterloo.

When: Wednesdays from 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. from January 7th to April 29th (no session on February 18th) 

Where: The GSA Grad Lounge (SLC 3216)

The Black, Indigenous and Racialized Students' Writing Café is a social writing group. Unlike traditional peer feedback-based writing groups, we don’t read each other’s finished writing: instead, we write together to create a community of writers who can cheer each other on during what is often an isolating, difficult journey! 

Just like our Wednesday in-person grad writing cafés, the Black, Indigenous and Racialized Students' Writing Café uses the Pomodoro Method to organize writing sessions into smaller, more manageable chunks of focused writing with frequent breaks. As a participant, then, you’ll still get several 30-minute blocks of writing short breaks to help you re-focus, stretch, get coffee/ tea/water, and chat with the other participants, but this group is designed specifically for Black, Indigenous and racialized students (at any level, grad or undergrad) and postdoctoral scholars. 

This group is informed by anti-racist pedagogies and hosted by WCC staff who understand the intimate relationship between writing and identity first-hand. Join to connect to a supportive community of peers, share your challenges and successes, or just to get some focused writing done! 

When: Tuesdays from 3:00 p.m to 5:00 p.m. from September 9 to December 16

Where: SCH 228F

Hosted by Kenrick Vassall

The CBB NSERC CREATE Training in Global Biomedical Technology Research and Innovation program provides training in biomedical design, biomedical commercialization, and professional soft skills to a multidisciplinary group of students. Our CBB-CREATE writing group supports our training program by introducing our trainees to weekly writing tips and techniques that will help them organize and structure their writing and be more effective in communicating their research

When: On hiatus

Where: Virtual Writing Café using MS Teams

CBB Create is only open to CREATE trainees, so contact Kenrick before filling out the form above to get added to the #WaterlooWrites Team.

Hosted by Vennela Bolla and Jimmy Papazotos

A supportive and focused writing space hosted by Chemical Engineering graduate students. This group is designed to build accountability and motivation among peers while creating a friendly and inclusive environment to make steady progress on academic writing.

When: Bi-weekly, Tuesdays from 3:30-5:30PM

Where: Join us in person (E6-2024) or virtually in the CEGSA Channel in the #WaterlooWrites Team

Contact Vennela and Jimmy to learn more!

Hosted by: Kalani De Silva and Omar Chowdhury 

OWWA/WEAO Student Chapter

Introducing the Ontario Water Works Association/Water Environment Association of Ontario (OWWA/WEAO) Student Chapter’s Writing Cafe – a dedicated space for students in water-related fields to unleash their writing potential. Whether you're a grad student or undergrad, join us to cultivate efficient writing skills in a comfortable and supportive environment. Let's create a space where your ideas flow effortlessly, turning your passion for water studies into impactful words. Embrace the art of writing with OWWA/WEAO Writing Cafe!

When: Every other Thursday from 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Where: GSA Lounge (SLC 3216) and online through MS Teams

Hosted by Cindy Sun and Sadaf Ghaeni Hesaroueiyeh

Calling all Faculty and Graduate Students at the School of Optometry and Vision Science: Come join your fellow colleagues for our weekly Writing Cafés in the WLRC this fall and winter term! Bring along whatever you’re working on — papers, proposals, or even that never-ending to-do list — and settle in with complimentary snacks, warm drinks, and good company. Together, we’ll stay focused and productive using the Pomodoro technique (45-minute writing sessions followed by 15-minute breaks). It’s the perfect mix of motivation, community, and a little self-care — a true Win-Win-Win!

This year, our Writing Café takes on a sweeter twist. We’re planning a few seasonal themed sessions — from Halloween cafés with festive treats to cozy holiday writing days filled with limited-edition goodies and a touch of cheer. These are still in the works, but we promise there will be plenty of reasons to look forward to writing together each week!

When: Throughout the semester, onMondays and Wednesdays from 9:00 to 11:30. Contact Cindy and Sadaf to stay up to date on meeting details.

Where: Witer Learning and Resource Centre (WLRC)

Looking for a host! If you're interested, contact Nadine Fladd

This is a group for people who write on the weekends because the weeks are busy with other
obligations. Part-time students and students who work other jobs may not be able to attend
writing sessions during business hours, so we started this one. Join us for two hours on
Saturday afternoons to make some progress on writing. All grad students, post-doctoral
fellows, and faculty are welcome!

When: On hiatus

Where: Virtual Writing Café using MS Teams

Hosted by: Jennifer Ellingham, Katy Fulfer, and Lauren King

The WOW #WaterlooWrites group is an interdisciplinary group of graduate students, faculty and staff from the University of Waterloo that is intended to hold the members accountable to their goals, motivate them to work and support member well-being through social interactions. 

When:  

Mondays 9:00-12:00

Mondays 2:00-5:00 

Tuesdays 2:00-5:00

Thursdays 9:00-12:00

Thursdays 2:00-5:00

Where: Virtual Writing Café using MS Teams 

This group is looking for a host. If you are interested in taking this one, please contact Nadine Fladd.

We are an interdisciplinary group that gathers once a week for dedicated thesis writing. In the beautiful and peaceful reading room, we share snacks, fun stories and go through Pomodoros. All grad students, post-doctoral fellows, and faculty are welcome!

When: On hiatus

Where: 

Hosted by: Kimberly Lopez

W3+ (Waterloo Womxn + Nonbinary Wednesdays) is a community of womxn and nonbinary grad students, post-docs, staff, and faculty. The purpose of W3+ is to foster a social and support network among womxn and nonbinary members of the UW community. The group offers a safes space to discuss issues, provides a place to present university research, and raises awareness about gender and sexuality at the university both as a workplace and as a place for intellectual engagement.

 Our events aim to:

• create a safe community for people to network, connect, and socialize
• validate the feelings and experiences of historically marginalized populations
• affirm the work of our community
• provide resources, access, and opportunities to learn, participate, and be included

The W3+ online writing group aims to offer a low-key, online space to gather and body-double for a few hours each week. The 50/10 pomodoro cycles will facilitate longer stretches of focused activity with fewer but longer breaks.

When: On hiatus for Spring & Fall 2025 - Check back in Winter 2026 for updates!

Where: MS Teams