True to the motto "It's easier to write together", a total of 20 students from various disciplines gathered in the Writing Marathon Matrix chat room in the week from September 6 to September 10, 2021, to work intensively on their individual writing projects for one week. They were accompanied and supported by the writing tutors of the Writing Center.

A special feature of the past writing marathon was that some of the students - for the first time since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic - came together in presence to participate in the writing marathon. For this purpose, the SLUB TextLab provided a group study room, which allowed collaborative writing while maintaining the required minimum distance. This allowed participants to choose their preferred writing location. Participation from their own desks was also possible, as the writing tutors of the writing center supervised the writing marathon exclusively online.

Regardless of whether the writing marathon takes place in person or online, one goal is paramount in its implementation: it should offer students a motivating framework that supports them in making progress with their own writing project. An essential part of the concept is a fixed daily structure. Therefore, each writing marathon day follows the same pattern: Every morning at 9 a.m., the participants are welcomed and there is an opportunity for exchange via video conference. After participants have set their individual goals for the day, individual writing time begins. A short round of sharing via videoconference can help rekindle writing motivation after the lunch break. At the end of the writing marathon day, the writing day is reflected on together in a final round via video conference. In this way, everyone can learn with and from each other. Often, like-minded people are found in the course of the writing marathon, for example for a longer-term collaboration in a writing group.

Throughout the Writing Marathon, the Writing Center's writing tutors are available to advise and support participants. Students can seek writing advice at any time, for example, if they are simply not making progress with their current writing task, have general questions about the writing process, or would like feedback on a section of text. In addition, the writing tutors of the Writing Center prepare a short daily input about scientific writing. The input is intended to provide participants with further ideas on how to develop their writing skills.

Maybe the writing marathon would be a helpful support for you as well to move forward with your university writing assignments? Why not give it a try?

If you would like to participate in a writing marathon in the future, sign up for the interested list on OPAL. We will then inform you by e-mail when the next writing marathon will take place.

Author: Bettina Groschopp
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