Smoothening your writing process (for PhD students)

Academic writing is cognitively demanding: you are not only putting words on paper, but also developing ideas, building an argument, making choices about structure, and refining language - all while keeping your research goals in mind. Many PhD candidates try to do all of these things at the same time. They outline while drafting, rewrite sentences while still figuring out their main point, and edit details before the overall structure is clear. This “all-at-once” approach often makes writing feel heavy, slow and frustrating, and it can easily lead to losing overview or confidence.

That is why this course focuses on one key principle: segmentation. Instead of tackling everything simultaneously, you learn to separate your writing activities and work step by step: first outlining, then drafting, then revising, and only then editing. By breaking the process into manageable phases, each step becomes clearer and more doable. You will gain practical strategies to move through those phases more efficiently, understand where you are in your process, and make choices that help you keep momentum. The result is a smoother writing process, more progress on your own text, and more confidence in your ability to write academically.

This course is suitable for PhD candidates from all disciplines who:

• have a paper, proposal, or chapter to work on during the course,
• and are more than 9 months into their PhD trajectory

After this course, you will be able to use segmentation to organise your writing process more effectively, so you can focus on one writing activity at a time. You will learn how to build a clear outline and writing plan for your own text, draft more efficiently using speed writing strategies, and revise in a goal-directed, step-by-step way - working on structure and argument first, and details later. You will also be better equipped to ask for useful feedback from peers and supervisors, and to use that feedback more strategically.

The fee is € 1,065. PhD candidates of Utrecht University can often participate at a reduced rate; graduate schools frequently reimburse these costs. Please contact your graduate school for details.

You work on your own proposal, article or thesis chapter throughout the course. You receive information, instructions and opportunities for practice and (peer) feedback. We focus on process strategies such as:

• effective outlining
• speed writing a first draft
• goal-directed revision

The course consists of four meetings of 2.5 hours each. In addition, there is 30 minutes reserved for your individual questions, so you can discuss your own writing challenges and next steps. Between sessions you will spend around 24 hours on self-study, applying the strategies to your own text and working on assignments that help you make steady progress throughout the course.

Language:
Classes are in English. This is not an English language course.

We will use the following literature:
Jong, J. de (2017). Effective Strategies for Academic Writing. Bussum: Coutinho

This series is fully booked. Interested in joining? Sign up for Series 2

In addition to PhD candidates at Utrecht University, Series 2 is also open to PhD candidates from other faculties and organisations

Our Utrecht University trainers combine strong academic expertise with a clear understanding of professional practice. They are actively involved in relevant, up-to-date research in their field and translate that knowledge into teaching that is practical, interactive and directly applicable to your work.

Their approach is tailored to how professionals learn: focused on real-life cases, peer exchange and hands-on learning. Collaboration is central throughout the course, and the learning environment is designed to encourage dialogue, shared learning and co-creation.

Do you have an (educational) question, or are you curious about in-company and customisation options? We would be happy to explore the possibilities with you.

Please contact us via:
onderwijsadviesentraining@uu.nl
030 253 2261

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Great to hear that you’re interested in the course Smoothening your writing process. You can register using the yellow registration button on the right-hand side of this page.

The registration deadline for this course is 7 April 2026.