#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 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 May 13 to August 26 (no session on June 10, 17, and July 1) 

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 May 12 to August 25 (no session May 26 and June 16)

Where: South Campus Hall (SCH) 228F

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 (updates coming for spring term)

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: Jack Ha

Water & Wastewater Student Chapter Writing Cafe

Introducing the Water & WasteWater 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: Wednesdays from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (beginning June 3rd)

Where: DWE 2433

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 spring term. Bring along whatever you are working on, whether that is papers, proposals, reports, or even a long to do list, and settle in with refreshing snacks, juices, warm and cold drinks, and good company. Together, we will stay focused and productive using the Pomodoro technique, with 45 minute writing sessions followed by 15 minute breaks. It is a great way to build community, stay motivated, and make steady progress on your work.

This term, we are also hoping to bring a lighter summer feel to the café with refreshing treats and a few more enjoyable seasonal snacks to make the writing space feel even more welcoming. We would love for everyone to join us.

When: Fridays from 12:00pm to 2:00pm

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:  All members are invited to host impromptu sessions using the group's timer and chat links.

Where: Virtual: contact jennifer.ellingham@uwaterloo.ca or kfulfer@uwaterloo.ca for access to the group links.

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. Returning in Fall 2026

Where: MS Teams