Writing retreat at Lake Tahoe
Doctoral students find inspiration, progress at this unique setting
It’s rare to find a doctoral student who hasn’t struggled with their dissertation writing, right? We know this firsthand from our own experiences, which is why we thought about ways to help students move forward in their degrees. A few months ago, we saw the perfect opportunity to leverage the beauty of the Lake Tahoe campus as a setting to boost writing productivity for students. So, we—coming from the and the Writing and Speaking Center —partnered with the Graduate School and Graduate Student Association to host a three-day Dissertation Writing Retreat at the University’s Lake Tahoe campus.
The retreat happened mid-August, and welcomed 21 doctoral students from a wide range of disciplines, including Physiology and Cell Biology, Finance, Education, Mathematics and Statistics, Anthropology and Public Health. Our goal was to create a focused, supportive environment where participants could make significant progress on their dissertation chapters, articles, and other writing projects—tackling the common challenges of finding time to write and overcoming writer’s block.
We began the weekend with a workshop on outlining dissertation chapters, followed by sessions where participants set personal writing goals and immersed themselves in multiple dedicated writing times.
One participant shared, "I was able to complete my dissertation proposal rough draft and finish the presentation for my dissertation proposal!" The structured writing periods proved valuable for participants: "Having blocked-off writing times really helped me to be motivated to write specifically during those times.”
We also offered a variety of short workshops, including sessions on data visualization and academic writing strategies. These workshops, intermixed with writing time, allowed participants to regroup, step back from their work, and return with refreshed perspectives. A participant noted, “The writing time went well, but I also appreciated the (workshop) sessions. They gave me a much-needed mental break while keeping me engaged with the (writing) tasks.”
The sense of community that developed over the weekend was another highlight. Participants valued the shared writing experiences with peers from other departments, as one student mentioned: “I enjoyed the conversations that we had and the shared experiences that we could talk about.” Another appreciated the “Dedicated writing time with peers. An atmosphere that helped focus.” The smaller group size also facilitated personalized faculty support, which was highly valued: "The relatively light schedule and the accessibility of the instructors made help more accessible."
What truly made this retreat special was its location. The unique, natural atmosphere of the Lake Tahoe campus, free from the distractions of everyday main campus life, allowed participants to immerse in their work: "I was focused on writing this retreat. No code, no data, and no math models, just pure writing. This is new for me, and the retreat allowed (or forced in a good way) me to do that. And being at the Tahoe campus brought a different energy that was lacking in my office.” Another participant complimented: “I liked that we got to be on a beautiful campus and were able to stay overnight.”
By the end of the retreat, participants left with significant progress on their dissertations and a renewed focus on their writing. Many completed drafts of key dissertation sections, reorganized literature reviews, or outlined future chapters. One student shared, "I rewrote a draft of my first page of a grant, finished my poster, re-worked multiple figures, and outlined my first paper/dissertation.”
This was also an enjoyable experience for us as instructors and we encourage more groups to take advantage of Lake Tahoe’s unique setting, where a change of scenery can significantly boost productivity. We want to repeat this experience for other students, so stay tuned for announcements about the 2025 summer Dissertation Writing Retreat, which will be shared during the spring semester. In the meantime, if you’re struggling with writing, don’t hesitate to reach out to the Writing Center, and for data-related support, contact the Libraries’ Research Data Services team.
