As an academic working on a grant proposal, you know that writing can be a daunting task. There are endless drafts to be written, data to be analysed, and deadlines to be met, and moving the work forward can be found even more challenging when contributors don't live in the same area!
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Collaborative writing offers a host of benefits, from improving the quality of research to making the writing process more efficient. When academics come together, they can bring different perspectives, expertise, and insights to the table. This can result in more comprehensive and well-rounded research, as well as stronger grant proposals and papers.
The Write Space provides a comfortable and productive environment for writing, with quiet spaces for individual work and communal areas for collaborative writing and brainstorming. We have welcomed several academic groups from Universities across the globe, where they have spent time developing proposals for very competitive  research grants including, Horizon 2020, EHRC, AHRC.  We have loved seeing their ideas come to light as they focus themselves on their project for a few days.  

If you're working on a grant, consider coming to The Write Space to kick off your collaborative writing. You'll find welcoming and supportive hosts, as well as the resources and environment you need to be successful.

​Collaborative writing at The Write Space is the key to successful grant writing, so why not give it a try?

I will be entirely honest, when I finished my PhD and if you asked me if you should do a PhD, my immediate answer would be, no.  I felt tired, unhealthy, and mentally/ physically exhausted. Even though, I had a dream job in academia for a long time, I couldn’t say that I believed doing the PhD was "worth it".  In fact, this mentality stuck with me for a few years. Opening The Write Space has given me the opportunity to reflect on the positives of my PhD journey. Through these reflections, I have realised that while it stands out as one of the most difficult times in my life, I don’t regret doing it. 
 
Through The Write Space I have had the privilege of meeting many early career researchers.  Some I have met online through Twitter and others I have met through the writing retreats that we have hosted. Through conversations, I can tell that while still passionate about their topics, many PhD students are also feeling jaded and uncertain about academia. 
 
After hours and months of writing, the feedback from the supervisor comes back, and while helpful, it somehow feels as if you have failed. Again. 

Battles of imposter syndrome.
 
 Feeling frustrated when you enter the first month of your “write up year” and the institution gives your desk away to a first-year student.  Apparently, you should have finished your PhD earlier than you thought.  

Finding out some departments pay PhD students for their teaching contributions, while yours tells you it’s an expectation and part of your scholarship.  You should feel lucky that you have this teaching experience on your CV, as it will open doors in the future. 


These are examples of real conversations that I have had with PGR students across various universities.  And they are real experiences and real feelings. I remember feeling some of them myself and I even still battle with imposter syndrome!  I am not here to say that these experiences shouldn't be talked about.  In fact, I think many of them should be talked about and addressed because there are real issues across higher education and embedded in academic culture.  There is a lot of work to do around this space and not to be forgotten. However, I am asking us to step out of that negative space for a moment. 

When I was sharing my thoughts about what I was going to be writing today with Anna Clemens (we are currently doing a shut up and write sessions- amazing!!), she reminded me of the importance of remembering that things can be two things at once.  It doesn't have to be black or white, or this or that. This little nugget is so true- say it with me, "things can be two things at once."

My PhD was difficult. The recovery from the PhD was difficult. But let me tell you that while it was also difficult it brought a lot of good to my life.  Here is my list: 
 
The PhD experience… 

• led me to Scotland
• led me to some of my closest friends 
• opened doors for me to learn British Sign Language.  
• introduced me to brilliant women in leadership roles 
• supported travel opportunities to attend conferences and build networks
• made me realise that I wasn't alone in some of the feelings that I was having about my work
• stimulated my mind as I had time to read a lot of cool research and talk to a lot of inspiring researchers
• reinspired me to take up yoga and feel its benefits
• opened a door to an academic job
• supported the development of key professional/transferable skills- critial thinking, data analysis, project management, report writing etc.  
• taught me resilience
• led me to open The Write Space and support all of you.

Have you made the list of what the PhD is doing for you?   What are the positives?  Join me in stepping out of the negative space and highlighting the good things about your PhD experience. Things can be two things at once.  

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Are you looking to join a community of interpreters who engage in reflective practice?       
 
Join us for 3 exciting weekends in 2022 where we will get ample time to socialise, exercise, and engage in a dialogue about our work and our learning.  We are excited to bring together and develop a group of like-minded colleagues that want to be a positive force in the interpreting profession.  #BeTheChange  
 
Weekend 1- Breaking down walls      
June 3rd & 4th 2022
Imposter syndrome and horizontal violence are real phenomena that many of us experience.  This weekend we will spend time working through negative thoughts, feelings and experiences and develop a toolbox of coping mechanisms that will help us combat imposter syndrome and recognise, avoid and stand-up against horizontal violence.
 
Weekend 2- Scrap feedback, have dialogue
June 24th & 25th 2022
Getting feedback often feels like we are being judged and as such is avoided. This weekend we will spend time learning about what feedback is and how we can reframe giving and receiving feedback into a constructive dialogue for personal and professional growth.
 
Weekend 3- Goal Setting and personal/professional development   
​August 5th & 6th 2022
When was the last time you thought about what you want to do and where you want to go personally and professionally?  This weekend we will take ample time to reflect on our careers and identify where we want to be and what it’s going to take to get there.   
 
 
Get 30 CPD hours in just three weekends!
 
The details:
 
Location:
91 High St
Leslie, KY63DQ
*Our closest train station is Markinch (Its less than a 10-minute taxi)
 
Check-in: 10:00 Fridays
Check-out 17:30 Saturdays
 
A key goal of this retreat series is to create deep relationships with our colleagues.  As such, it is important that you are committed to attend all three weekend sessions and stay overnight at The Write Space. 
 
All meals are included.  We will send a survey out to all participants to identify food preferences and allergies.  3 Breakfasts, 6 lunches, 3 dinners, a lot of snacks, and plenty of coffee, tea, and biscuits.
 
This weekend includes 30 hours of CPD! A certificate of attendance will be provided to you at the end of the series. A separate document of key learning outcomes is available upon request and will also be distributed with your certificate at the end of the series to support you filing this CPD with your registration body.
 
There are only 6 places available! Don’t miss out!
 
Dates:
June 3rd & 4th
June 24th & 25th
August 5th & 6th  
 
Prices per person inclusive of all 3 weekends:
 
A non-refundable deposit of £200 is due when signing up.  Payments can be made in instalments.  Contact to discuss.   
 
Room 1 - twin room for sharing with 2 single beds. £425pp
Room 2 - twin room for sharing with 2 double beds.  £525pp
Room 3 - single occupancy room with double bed.  £600pp
Room 4 - single occupancy room with super king bed. £675pp
 
*If you are interested in sharing a room with someone you know, you must sign up together.


Contact us to sign up!
[email protected] 

2021 was an exciting year for The Write Space.  Firstly, a little dream became a big reality when we purchased Bank House as our home!  With only moving here in May, we had our first trial retreat in August and our second one in October. We learned so much during these retreats and hosting them very much confirmed that we really do want to share our space with others.  We were able to support six students (one on two occasions)  with their writing goals and leave with results.  Check out their experiences here!

The other day, Adam said to me, “you really are happy when we are productive".  And this is so true. Sure, I love a relaxing lie in, and a Netflix binge, but what really makes me happy is when we are doing things.  His observation came after a day of wallpapering a guest room, something we have been talking about doing for a while. Something that neither of us had done before- not to mention on walls that were built in 1851!  So, while it was a lot of hard work, the fact that we were giving it a go, doing what we set out to do, and doing it together brought me a lot of joy. 

Reflecting on our wallpapering. experience, made me think about some of the reasons that hosting writing retreats is so enjoyable. At the Write Space we are tackling hard projects together.  We are setting goals; we are making plans and we are sticking to them.  We are working through problems and becoming unstuck. Most importantly, we are feeling encouraged and supported through it all.   In just a short amount of time you can feel the high levels of productivity and let me tell you it’s so motivating! 

Our goal for the New Year is to host 4-5 weekend writing retreats and 4–5 day retreats.   We are thankful for your support in spreading the word about The Write Space and are genuinely excited about helping you tackle the hard projects in 2022.  ​

Stacey & Adam

First, we want to say thank you for the support. So many people have reached out to tell us that they love the vision of The Write Space and are excited to join us on this journey. We appreciate all of the messages that we have received and are thrilled that you share our excitement.

 We look forward to welcoming you to The Write Space.

Many people have asked, "are you open?" - and we are... ish.  

Bank House was built in 1851; it has been a bank, a home, and a holiday rental. It has been through a lot, and while its bones are good, the decor is well... shall we say, quirky?

The wall colours don't exactly match, and there are about 4 or 5 different colours of carpet. One bedroom has grey walls with a peach ceiling, the dining room has about four too many shades of yellow, and the living room currently has 24 random golf pictures hanging on the wall! Which if you are a fan of golf is great, but I have only ever played the random game of mini-golf!

With this in mind, we are not fully open but are available on an ad-hoc basis for people who don't mind a little bit of quirk, a bit of mismatch, and a lot of yellow! When we are not hosting, we will be busy stripping anaglypta, painting, decorating, and reviving the space to its full potential. 

Current offerings: 

Facilitated Retreats
To help us set up the best offering for our guests, we are currently looking to schedule two discounted Scholars in Scotland Retreats for PGR students. We will be asking for a minimal fee to cover food and the yoga teacher. In exchange, we will solicit feedback on the retreat and ask guests to share their experiences with others. These will be on a first-come, first-served basis, so if you are interested, be sure to contact us directly so we can discuss dates. We can run the retreat across for the entire duration or just a day or two.   

Our other two packages Startups in Scotland and the Off-sites in Scotland are still in their development phase. We will run some special offers when they are ready. Watch this space!

Non-Facilitated Retreats
We are also open for groups and individuals who want to come and embrace the space as it is. If you need a change of scenery, or go for some lovely walks and write, just let us know, and we can arrange it for you! You can come for the day or come and stay. 

Professional Services
We are also open for requests for various professional services that we offer; from proofreading to copy editing to coaching/mentoring, and consulting.

If you are exploring options for any of these services, do not hesitate to reach out to discuss your needs.   

"An organisation is nothing more than a network of conversations. You can't talk to a fixed asset. You need conversations with other executives, structured around the hard and soft sides of the business"
      - Duffy Smith, Senior VP for Rich Products

With staff increasingly working from home, strategic off-sites are more important than ever before. They're an incredible opportunity to bring your geographically-dispersed team together for a couple days of rich face-to face collaboration and conversation. These conversations can be the most important dialogues for the prosperity and sustainability of your business. 

Unlike a team-building retreat focused solely on golf days, rafting trips, or a high ropes course (as fun as they are), our approach is all about strategic meetings that meaningfully balance structured conversations with focused activities and reflection.  As Bob Frisch and Logan Chandler said in their article "Off-Sites That Work", if you spend a few days rafting each year you'll probably become really good at rafting down rivers, but if you spend a few days a year having well-designed strategic dialogues, within a few years you'll get good at "revealing, discussing and resolving strategic issues, not just when you are at an off-site, but every time you meet as a team". 

Our off-sites work because we collaborate with you to clearly identify a set of strategic priorities and outcomes that the team wants to achieve.  We facilitate the experience to ensure off-site objectives are met and that all team members are able to participate equally throughout the process. We guide you in creating a follow-through plan to ensure your team keeps going after they return from the off-site. The most successful events are those that are developed from within, so we make sure you have all the resources you need before the off-site so we can help you to design a programme that works. 

It's important to highlight that we do not create one-size fits all programmes. In order to ensure its success, there will be important planning milestones that you, the business leader, will complete before your off-site. You know your business best, and because of this you are better able to identify what issues are most important for you and your team. 

60-90 days in advance of your off-site, the planning begins with the development of strawman objectives. These are to be built, torn down, and rebuilt before finalising and communicating them to your team 1 month before the off-site. During this planning period, you'll be asked to consider key participants, internal and external guests, and to gather data that will drive activities and decisions made during the off-site. 

By asking you key questions beforehand, we'll better understand your business and off-site goals, objectives, and priorities. We'll use this information to create an agenda, which will be shared with you in advance to ensure your collaboration with us meets your expectations. It's important to remember that off-sites are a time for intensive strategic thinking and big picture planning, focusing on matters that can easily be overlooked in the day-to-day. We'll make activity suggestions that foster deep thinking, creativity and reflection, while ensuring alignment with pre-established aims.  

We look forward to supporting you in having deeper conversations. These will undoubtedly strengthen your team's strategic thinking and problem-solving approaches, allowing you to identify clear outcomes and structured plans. Following research-led best practices, we look forward to working with you to become a stronger, more aligned team!