The university's writing retreat
The aim is to give researchers the opportunity to get a lot of writing done. The writing retreat will consist of two or three full days (your choice) with full room and board. The researchers who participate, wherever you are in your research career, will have the opportunity to take part in an in-depth experience, close to nature, where you can write without distractions ("Shut Up & Write"). You will have access to professional development in English and academic writing through workshops and through individual bookable coaching sessions.
The retreat will also be an excellent opportunity for university researchers from different subject areas to meet. You can use the time and support to write whatever you want, such as articles for scientific journals, conference papers, or applications for research funding.
The facilitators of the writing retreat are Eva Medin, Language Specialist, Communications Office and Research Advisors from the Grants and Innovation Office. Please contact Eva Medin at eva.medin@hb.se if you have any questions.
More information about the writing retreat
- The writing retreat consists of two or three full days. You can choose whether you want to participate for two days (and in that case which two days) or all three days.
- The cost for attending the writing retreat for two days was (spring 2025) 2,805 SEK per person.
- The cost for attending the writing retreat for three days was (spring 2025) 5,045 SEK per person.
- Participants receive full room and board (excluding alcohol) and access to workshops, presentations, and individual coaching (not obligatory), as well as access to the hotel’s offerings.
- The working language during the writing retreat is mainly English. You may write texts in English or Swedish.
- All participants will have a single room with a desk and Wi-Fi.
- We will be staying at a conference hotel, Två Skyttlar, about a 35-minute drive from Borås. Address: Öresjövägen 46, 51192 Örby
- Participants are to arrange their own transport, but support in arranging carpooling will be offered. The conference hotel can be reached by bus. The Två Skyttlar bus stop is directly adjacent to the hotel.
- Participants' departments/research projects are to pay the participation fee. If you are interested in participating, you must receive approval from your immediate supervisor/project leader before registering.
- External participants that have some connection to the university may also register; please indicate how invoicing is to be done in your registration in that case, as well are your connection to the university.
- If you RSVP yes, we do expect you to attend. The participants' departments/projects/employers will be invoiced for all registered participants.
- Cancellations must be made no later than one month prior to the retreat.
- The last day to register is 11 April (but registration will close when all the spots are filled).
Preliminary programme
Monday, 12 May 2025
08:30–09:30 Welcome breakfast/fika
09:30–10:00 Presentation 1
Welcome and practicalities
Facilitator: Eva Medin
10:00–11:00 Workshop 1/Shut Up & Write
First Page Concept Presentation: Grant Applications
Facilitators: Stefan Permanto & Mats Dolatkhah
11:00-12:00 Shut Up & Write/Bookable writing coaching
12:00–13:00 Lunch
13:00–15:00 Shut Up & Write/Bookable writing coaching
Pomodoro method facilitated
Facilitator: Eva Medin
15:00–15:45 Fika and check-in
15:45–16:30 Group walk/Shut Up & Write
Meet in front of the main building at 15:45 for the walk
Facilitator: Eva Medin
16:30–18:00 Shut Up & Write/Hot tub and lakeside sauna (cost 150 SEK)
18:30 Dinner
Tuesday, 13 May 2025
07:30–08:30 Breakfast
08:30–10:00 Shut Up & Write/Bookable writing coaching
10:00–10:45 Fika and check-out for those leaving today
10:45–12:30 Workshop 2/Shut Up & Write
First Page Concept Discussion: Grant Applications
Facilitators: Stefan Permanto & Mats Dolatkhah
12:30–13:30 Lunch
13:30–15:00 Workshop 3/Shut Up & Write
Facilitated Peer Review Session: Special Focus on Clarity
Facilitator: Eva Medin
15:00–15:45 Fika and check-in for those arriving today/Fika and closing remarks for those leaving today
16:30 Bus 372 leaves Två Skyttlar, with connections to Borås and Gothenburg
15:45–17:00 Shut Up & Write
17:00–18:00 Shut Up & Write/Hot tub and lakeside sauna (cost 150 SEK)
18:30 Dinner
Wednesday, 14 May 2025
07:30–08:30 Breakfast
08:30–10:00 Shut Up & Write
10:00–10:45 Fika and check-out for remaining participants
10:45–12:30 Shut Up & Write/Bookable writing coaching
12:30–13:30 Lunch
13:30–15:00 Shut Up & Write
15:00–15:30 Fika
15:30 Departure
Curious about what researchers who participated in the university's previous writing retreats thought of the experience?
- See the Evaluation of the October 2023 writing retreat (PDF)
- See the Evaluation of the April 2023 writing retreat (PDF)
- See the Evaluation of the October 2022 writing retreat (PDF)
- Read the staff news article from 28 February 2023: "Successful writing retreat for university researchers – new opportunity in April"