Lisa Winters, Ph.D., an associate professor in Coastal Carolina University’s Department of Sociology, is one of 15 scholars selected to participate in the highly competitive Strictly Come Writing March 2024 retreat, a residential writing retreat for mid-career scholars through the Sociological Review Foundation.

Winters will travel to Hawarden, North Wales, and stay at Gladstone’s Library from March 18-20. The residential library contains more than 200,000 volumes of theology and history, as well as material on philosophy, classics, art, and literature. While there, Winters will work to complete an in-progress manuscript that highlights the benefits and challenges of using autoethnographic assignments in sociology courses that cover sensitive content. The manuscript will also outline best practices for implementing these storytelling assignments in ways that are ethical, tactful, and supportive of students.

“I think it is wonderful that the Sociological Review Foundation is sponsoring a writing retreat designed specifically for mid-career scholars,” said Winters. “I feel honored to have been selected to participate in this unique opportunity. Gladstone’s Library is stunning; I am so grateful to be able to visit and write in such a tranquil, inspiring environment.”

According to the Sociological Review Foundation, Strictly Come Writing is a three-day retreat based in feminist approaches, emphasizing collegiality, recognition of shared expertise, and experience and care of body and mind. Retreat days will have scheduled times for writing and walking as well as opportunities for whole and small group discussions. The facilitator will be available for conversation and support between sessions and will facilitate goal-setting and review discussions.

This retreat aims to provide the opportunity for mid-career scholars to kickstart their writing and regain momentum in a supportive environment free of distractions and surveillance. Participants may have work in progress – a conference paper that needs more work, or a half-written paper, for example – or an idea that needs focused time in order to become a paper or book proposal. The objective is to make significant progress on the chosen writing task. The March 2024 session will be the organization’s second writing retreat for mid-career scholars.

Written by Garnet Williams, Spadoni College of Education and Social Sciences