A Tool-Kit for Online Writing Groups
This page contains what you need to do in order to successfully set up and run an online writing group.
Step 1: Discuss logistics
Before you start your writing group, there are several logistical decisions that need to be made.
1. Mode:
1. Mode:
- How will you circulate texts?
(e.g. Email? Dropbox? Google Drive? Facebook group? Private forum in iLearn*...etc)?
- Will you be meeting in real time (e.g. Skype Group Call - see Making a Skype Group Call instructions)
or will you communicate asynchronously (e.g. via email) and track changes (see Track Changes tutorial)?
- How will you give feedback? Spoken and Written? Just Written? Just Spoken?
Note that you can provide spoken feedback even if you choose not to meet in real time. You could, for example, record a short audio file with feedback (see Recording Spoken Feedback tutorial).
* Please contact Juliet Lum to organize a private Forum in iLearn.
(e.g. Email? Dropbox? Google Drive? Facebook group? Private forum in iLearn*...etc)?
- Will you be meeting in real time (e.g. Skype Group Call - see Making a Skype Group Call instructions)
or will you communicate asynchronously (e.g. via email) and track changes (see Track Changes tutorial)?
- How will you give feedback? Spoken and Written? Just Written? Just Spoken?
Note that you can provide spoken feedback even if you choose not to meet in real time. You could, for example, record a short audio file with feedback (see Recording Spoken Feedback tutorial).
* Please contact Juliet Lum to organize a private Forum in iLearn.
2. Writing
- Will there be a limit on the length of writing that can be circulated for review
(e.g. maximum 1000 words?)
- How often and when will the writing be circulated?
(e.g. once every week or every fortnight? On Tuesdays...)?
- When should feedback be expected?
(e.g. one day before the meeting? within 3 days after sending the writing?..etc).
- What do you do if you cannot submit text when scheduled?
(e.g. offer the spot to anyone else? postpone or cancel the meeting?).
3. Roles
Is one of the group going to act as a facilitator for each session? If so, how will it work? Will the person who submits the writing act as a facilitator or a different person?
(e.g. maximum 1000 words?)
- How often and when will the writing be circulated?
(e.g. once every week or every fortnight? On Tuesdays...)?
- When should feedback be expected?
(e.g. one day before the meeting? within 3 days after sending the writing?..etc).
- What do you do if you cannot submit text when scheduled?
(e.g. offer the spot to anyone else? postpone or cancel the meeting?).
3. Roles
Is one of the group going to act as a facilitator for each session? If so, how will it work? Will the person who submits the writing act as a facilitator or a different person?
Step 2: Make a roster
Roster:
It is a good idea to decide whose text to review for the first 4-6 meetings, so that everyone gets a go.
It is a good idea to decide whose text to review for the first 4-6 meetings, so that everyone gets a go.
