Workshops, Events, & Writing Groups

Spring 2026

April 21: All the Things: A Cross-Disciplinary Book and Writing Club (Inaugural Event)

All the Things is a new cross-disciplinary reading and writing collaborative group, created with the mission to encourage UGA students to explore the intersections between STEM and the humanities. Our mission is to promote cross-disciplinary interests, with a specific focus on exploring and encouraging writing in cross-disciplinary contexts. Given the exponential rise of AI use in recent years, students need, now more than ever, to be skilled in thinking and communicating across subjects and disciplines.

All the Things will host its first event on Tuesday, April 21st, from 4:00 to 5:00 pm hosted by the Willis Center for Writing in MLC Room 370. The meeting will focus on the newly released book The Pain Brokers: How Con Men, Call Centers, and Rogue Doctors Fuel America's Lawsuit Factory and will feature a discussion with the author, UGA Law professor Elizabeth Chamblee Burch.

Elizabeth Chamblee Burch is the Fuller E. Callaway Chair of Law at the University of Georgia. Her teaching and research interests include mass torts, class actions, torts, and civil procedure. She recently authored The Pain Brokers: How Con Men, Call Centers, and Rogue Doctors Fuel America’s Lawsuit Factory (Simon & Schuster, 2026), for which The New Yorker dubbed her “the Jane Goodall of complex litigation.”

Pain Brokers tells the true story of a recent scandal involving an elaborate, exploitative con by an array of shady characters. Burch gives a detailed, well-researched account of a major mass tort lawsuit and the numerous loopholes that allowed for its corruption. This work of creative nonfiction, is a tale, not just of perpetrators and investigators, but of villains and heroes.

Attendance is not restricted to those who have finished the book, but we will be discussing the first few chapters. The prologue is freely accessible on slate.com and the second chapter is published on Lit Hub. Additionally, a limited number of free copies of the complete ebook are available through the UGA library, and the book is available for purchase on a variety of platforms, including BookShop.org.

The event is open to all in the UGA community, including students, faculty, and staff. Space is limited, so early registration is encouraged. The event flyer is attached; please feel free to share widely. We hope to see you there!

Never Miss a Monday: Graduate Student Writing Accountability Group Mondays 2-4pm

Mondays, Spring Term: Never Miss A Monday (Online WritinG Group)

Finding motivation can be hard, but community makes it easier. Come join our Never Miss a Monday virtual writing accountability group for graduate students! We meet Mondays 2-4 pm in

Spots are limited, so register today in Penji

Red floral border poster for a Graduate Thesis Writing Group. Details: Wednesdays, 4pm-6pm, Park Hall 66. Includes a QR code for registration.

Wednesdays, Spring Term: Graduate Thesis Writing Group

Are you a graduate student looking for support and community while you write your thesis? Join us Wednesdays from 4pm-6pm in Park Hall 66 for a thesis writing group!

Recognizing that writing can be difficult and isolating, this group is designed to create shared accountability among graduate writers across disciplines by providing a space and time to write. During our sessions we will set writing goals, discuss our writing process and, most importantly, dedicate time to thesis writing. Our goal in writing together is to establish support, shared accountability, and community, throughout the writing process. Whether you are researching the topic you want to write about or putting the finishing touches on your thesis, this group is a space for you!

We meet weekly April 22, 20206 in Park Hall 66.

flyer

Fridays, Spring Term: Graduate Student Group Coaching for Writing productivity led by The Fontaine Center

30 min of goal-setting + 1.5 hrs of focused writing, with a Writing Center tutor and free snacks.

#BeWellUGA
Park Hall 66
Every Friday | 11 AM–1 PM

Workshop flyer for international students and ESL learners on February 23, 2026. Topics include academic etiquette and language conventions. Online event.

FebRuarY 23: Academic Etiquette, Language conventions, and College expectations for International students (Online Workshop)

Are you an International Student or ESL Learner feeling alienated by the etiquette and customs of an American college?

This workshop is for you if you have felt:
tongue-tied during class discussions,
scared to accidentally use politically incorrect language,
concerned to make a mistake when drafting an email,
embarrassed to initiate conversation with peers,
self-conscious about your English or accent, or
overwhelmed by college.

We will cover appropriate email ethics, importance of using inclusive and culturally sensitive language, personal and professional boundaries, ways to boost confidence for class participation and presentations, and a How-To guide for going through college as an international student or ESL learner.

“In this workshop, no question is too embarrassing to ask. We have all been there, done that.” —Asna (Workshop Coach)

February 25: LiTerature Review Workshop

What are the standard elements of a lit review, and how should we effectively engage with our selected handful of texts? In this workshop, we aim to demystify the task of lit review writing.

We will go over the steps for you to build your own text base when writing a literature review, and fortify your skillset for research-oriented reading, writing, and critical analysis.

The workshop will take place on February 25 from 5 to 6pm in MLC 370. All graduate students are welcome to attend, and we appreciate your participation in this lively conversation.

Pen and paper will be provided at the workshop, but please bring your laptop if you want to share and discuss your own sample project during the focused free-writing session toward the end of our meeting!

March 18: Beyond the Blank Page: Navigating Writing Blocks and Writing AnxIety (Online Workshop)

Come join the Jill and Marvin Willis Center for Writing’s online workshop over how to understand and overcome writer’s block and writing anxiety. The workshop will help graduate student writers reflect on their current writing habits and how to reframe their perceptions about academic writing in a productive way that benefits their well-being.

Scan QR code or register today in Penji.

Alt text: "Workshop flyer titled 'Write with Jimmy Baldwin.' Features a black and white photo of a man typing at a typewriter. Text highlights: March 25, 5-6:30 PM, MLC 370. Activities include reading prose, analyzing strategies, experimenting with writing, and developing style. Encourages prior author knowledge."

March 25: Write with Jimmy Baldwin

Looking for ways to improve your writing? Learn from the greatest!

In “Write with Jimmy Baldwin” workshop we will discuss James Baldwin’s strategies for effective and concise writing. From a selection of his op-eds, we will learn how to present a strong argument, back it up with solid evidence, and make it sound like poetry. Fun activities and collaborative spirit of the workshop will help you gain confidence in your own writing and learn to be persuasive even within a limited character/word count.

Prior knowledge of the author’s work is encouraged but not required. Please see the workshop details below.

Date: Wednesday, March 25

Time: 5 pm to 6:30 pm

Location: MLC 370

Registration: “Write with Jimmy Baldwin” event on UGA WCW Penji app

Both undergraduate and graduate students are welcome!

Flyer for a writing workshop titled "Tackling Transitions in Academic Writing" on April 8, 2026, with a QR code. Includes tips and registration details.

april 8: Transitions in Academic Writing

Looking to enhance the flow of your writing? Join us for a workshop on transitions from 5pm-6pm on April 8, 2026 in MLC 370.

Be it an email to your future employer or an essay for your professor, strong writing is key in helping you become a clear and professional communicator. This workshop is designed to develop that professionalism by honing in on one of the most important and overlooked writing skills: transitions. In this workshop, we will review the purpose of transitions, explore different transitional words and phrases, think carefully about how transitions relate to your writing’s rhetorical situation, and, most importantly, practice writing transitions together!