The Problem with Writing in Academia
You know what you need to write. You’re just not writing it.
Maybe you sit down and freeze. Maybe you spend three hours reorganising your notes and produce nothing. Maybe you write a paragraph, hate it, and delete it. Maybe life keeps getting in the way and the chapter has been “almost done” for six months.
This is not a discipline problem. It’s a structure problem. And it’s one you can solve.
The Agenda
Here’s what happens across the four hours.
A short, sharp input on what actually moves academic writing forward — and what keeps most PhD writers stuck. Sets the tone for the day.
Each participant names what they’re working on and what “done” looks like for them today. Takes five minutes. Creates instant accountability.
Uninterrupted, focused writing. No agenda, no input, no interruptions. Just you and the work. The retreat runs three of these blocks across the morning — the structure around them is what makes them possible.
We strive to get as many of these into the retreat as possible, interrupted only by short energizing breaks.
Reflecting on your writing journey, both on the macro and the micro level, with a short 1-1 coaching session in between.
Each participant shares one sentence on what they wrote and one concrete commitment for the next seven days. Ends the retreat on forward motion, not just good intentions.
The Venue
We meet in the halls of Palais Eschenbach in 1010 Vienna, Austria.
Upcoming Academic Writing Retreats in Vienna
Check out our other events.
Frequently Asked Questions
The retreat takes four hours and runs in the morning: a short kick-off, three focused writing blocks, a short 1-1 coaching session, and a commitment round at the end. The exact start time is listed with every date in the calendar.
We meet in the halls of Palais Eschenbach in 1010 Vienna, Austria (Eschenbachgasse 11). The location is also shown with every date in the calendar.
It is for PhD researchers who know what they need to write but struggle to get it done, whether you freeze at the blank page, lose hours reorganising notes, or have a chapter that has been “almost done” for months. You write in a room with other PhD researchers and a coach, so the structure does the work.
Bring a laptop or a notebook and the piece of writing you want to move forward, for example a thesis chapter, a paper, or a proposal. At the start, you name what you are working on and what “done” looks like for the day, so a rough idea is enough.
No. The retreat is built around writing time, not text feedback. You write in focused blocks and have a short 1-1 coaching session on your writing journey. If you want structured feedback on a manuscript, take a look at the Academic Development Circle.
Co-Writing is a recurring format built around quiet shared work, online or in person, in sessions of one to three hours. The Writing Retreat is a four-hour morning in Vienna with a short input, three focused writing blocks, a 1-1 coaching session, and a commitment round.
Choose a date in the calendar on this page and follow the registration steps. Each date shows the time and location. You can find our other formats on the events page.