Want to get away from it all? Postgrad Writing Retreat applications now open.

The Graduate Research School is calling for applications for the Postgraduate Writing Retreat to be held in 2008. The writing retreat will take place on 4-8 February, at UWA’s Albany Centre, and includes both time for individual writing as well as opportunities to develop writing skills and receive feedback. 16 places are available for students, with costs for the retreat, accommodation, and transport to be covered by the Graduate Research School. Students wishing to participate must apply by Monday 10 December. Further details, including application forms, are available at

http://www.postgraduate.uwa.edu.au/events/writing_retreat

That's the official blurb: unofficially, I just like to point out that the writing retreat means

• getting out of Perth to somewhere cooler in the middle of summer
• having a whole building - including a ghost - to set up for your writing space
• time to write without everyday interference
• access to people whose job it is to help you write better 
• did I mention the getting out of Perth?

The applications aren't that scary. We basically want to know that you would make the most of the time and opportunity to make progress on your thesis. Don't promise anything unrealistic, like writing the whole thing in a week, but work out a clearly defined goal that fits the scope of the retreat. You're also asked to get a statement of support form your supervisor - this is so that they can support your goal-setting and shows that they won't report us for kidnapping you or anything! If you have any queries, comment here or contact me.