On September 12, 2025, The Writing Center and the Graduate school are joined forces for a second year to bring graduate writers the Write On! Graduate Writing Retreat. During this retreat, one of the most popular topics is “How do I stay accountable to my writing?” While we know this is an important topic for graduate writers, we also know that all writers can struggle with lack of motivation, procrastination, and/or feeling stuck. So, let’s talk about the ways that The Writing Center at Ball State can help you stay accountable with your writing.
Use Sustainable Writing Habits
We know from writing research that many writers procrastinate when they fear the amount of time a task will take them. Some strategies for tackling this issue are 1) schedule your writing time and 2) write in chunks of time set by you. First, for example, placing your writing time on your schedule allows you to see where it fits into your other activities and plan for deadlines. Remember, too, that writing is a process and writers should value all the steps in this process, even if it’s not typing. Putting writing deadlines on a calendar allows you to use the strategy of “Backward Calendaring,” meaning you schedule your writing/planning/research by working backwards from the deadline. If your writing project is due at the end of the month, count backwards a week for revision, a week back from that for typing it up, a week back from that for research and outline and so on as you need. Once these dates are on your calendar, protect that time as you would an appointment with a professor. Your writing time is valuable and so it all the elements of the writing process.
Likewise, remember that you don’t have to complete a writing task all at once. In fact, timing your writing can be a way to make a little progress each day and a lot of progress over time. We suggest the Pomodoro Method, which is based on the idea that writers are productive for 25 minutes before we need a break. This method suggests working in cycles—25 minutes of work followed by a 5-minute break. Writers can do one cycle at a time or several cycles depending on their schedule. Sustainable writing strategies like Backwards Calendaring, timing your writing, and scheduling your writing are a great way to tackle your writing tasks.
Make Accountability Appointments (face-to-face or online)
Sometimes putting writing time on our calendar isn’t enough. We need another person to hold us accountable, and that’s where the Writing Center at Ball State can help. We offer 45-minute writing appointments where you come into the center or work online with a tutor. The tutor is there to support your writing, but they are also there if you need help or have a question. Sometimes the idea of having an appointment with a tutor, even if all you do is writing, can help writers stay accountable. Remember writers can make recurring accountability appointments to help them stay motivated in their writing. Also, writers can make one appointment a day and up to three appointments a week as needed. This is a great option if you are working on a longer project.
Attend Write On! Dedicated Online Writing Time for Graduate Students
Specifically for graduate students, we offer several online Write On! Session to help writers put some scheduled writing time on their calendar. Just like going to a coffee shop or library setting can feel productive (this kind of writing is called proximal writing), our structured online writing time provides a similar writing community atmosphere that provides writers accountability to see their writing task to completion. These Zoom events take place 2-4 p.m. on Oct. 31 and Nov. 21. Graduate students may register for one or all events. The online writing time or “bootcamps” involve structured writing time for attendees, as well as practical tips for goal setting and time management. They’re a great fit for students working on major projects and/or who are having trouble making time in their schedules for writing. Register today on The Graduate School’s Eventbrite page linked here.
Remember the Writing Center is also available to help support your writing this fall. All appointments are available either in person at one of our two locations or online via the WCOnline website. Our main location is in the Robert Bell building, second floor, room 295, and we offer all our daytime appointments (Mon.-Thurs. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. & Fri. 11 a.m.-2 p.m.) at this location. Our evening appointments (Sun. – Thurs. 6-10 p.m.) are offered at our satellite location in Bracken Library—First Floor West. Visit our website (bsu.edu/writingcenter) to make your appointment today. We can’t wait to see you in the Writing Center!