By registering for a Creating in Community writing group with Goldenrod Editorial, you demonstrate that you agree to the following terms and conditions. Please contact me (katherine@goldenrodeditorial.com) if you have any questions!

Purpose: These writing groups are designed to support your writing production in a variety of ways. First, they allow you to carve out dedicated weekly time for your writing, helping you to meet your goals. Second, they create a system of accountability, helping you to show up for your writing and commit to getting it done. Third, they connect you to a community of other scholarly writers, helping to build the important networks of relationships that allow you to thrive as a writer. Fourth, through the sharing of tips and strategies, as well as discussions about our own writing, these groups help you to strengthen your approach to writing and create sustainable practices that will carry on well beyond your time with the group. These groups are designed for scholars, including independent scholars, although you can be working on any kind of writing, including creative pieces.

Schedule: Groups meet weekly, beginning in mid-January and continue for eight sessions. The first group runs from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Eastern on Fridays (1/17/25-3/7/25). The second runs from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Eastern on Fridays (1/17/25-3/7/25). Please try to attend every session. If you cannot make a session, please let me know in advance so that we don’t wait for you to start. Each session lasts for two hours.

Group Guidelines: Groups will be composed of up to eight individuals along with myself as facilitator. The time will partly consist of two 40-minute writing sessions. During this time, participants will agree to work on their own writing and will not engage in discussion with other participants (to minimize distractions). The facilitator will be available via direct chat messages during writing time, if you have questions or need support or encouragement or want someone to review brief pieces of writing. To help you maximize your productivity, I will encourage you to leave your video on and minimize distractions (cell phones, etc.) during this time though these practices won’t be required.

Each session will also include some group discussion, which will involve exploring best practices in writing, participating in writing activities, sharing writing tips, setting goals for your writing, and discussing how your writing went. Participants agree to participate in these discussions, both by sharing insights based on their own knowledge and experiences and by listening closely to other participants. Some of these discussions will involve the whole group, while others will occur among smaller groups in breakout rooms.

These groups are meant to be supportive spaces. Writing is difficult and talking about writing challenges can make people feel vulnerable. I ask that group participants agree to be supportive of and encouraging with each other. This does not mean that we should avoid sharing advice (this will be an important part of the process), but rather that we should strive to create a space where everyone feels welcome and supported. That’s how we’ll be able to complete our best work! Similarly, since discussion time is limited, I ask that participants agree to share this time, being careful to make space for others.

Group membership: By registering for one of these groups you acknowledge that you are a scholar (you have a PhD or another terminal degree) who is either working in higher education or independently. Alternatively, you might be close to receiving a PhD and working in a faculty position. If you are not sure whether you qualify for membership, please contact me to discuss (katherine [@] goldenrodeditorial.com).

Writing exchanges: Note that you will have the option to participate in a one-time writing exchange with another group member. Participation in these exchanges is optional and will be arranged by the facilitator. If you commit to participating in one of these exchanges, you commit to reading and commenting on another participant’s work. The facilitator will match you with another group participant. Then it is up to the two of you to agree on guidelines for the exchanges (when you will share the writing, if there is a length limit, the kind of feedback that would be helpful, how you will exchange this feedback). You are, of course, welcome and encouraged to continue these exchanges into the future. You will also have the option to share your contact information with other group members to help facilitate future contact.

Payment: Receipt of payment guarantees your spot in the program. I accept payment via check, credit card, Zelle, and direct ACH transfer. I accept payment directly from individuals as well as institutions. If you will be paying through an institution, please let me know as soon as possible so that I can arrange payment with them.

I will begin accepting payment once the minimum number of slots for a group has filled. Before that time, your registration holds your spot in your selected writing group.

Payment plans are available; please reach out to me if you would like to discuss this option. I also have a few discounted spaces available for individuals for whom the cost of the group would prohibit participation. Let me know if you would like to be considered for one of them by mentioning it in the additional questions section when you register. If I have more requests than discounted slots, spots will be granted by lottery.

Cancelation policy: Cancelation by November 30, 2024 will result in a full refund of the fees (minus a $50 administrative fee). Cancelation between December 1 and December 31, 2024 results in a refund of 50 percent of fees. Cancelation after December 31, 2024 results in no refund of fees.

Note that absences from writing group meetings do not result in a portion of the fee being refunded; however, if people who have to miss would like to share a brief piece of writing (up to 500 words) in lieu of attending, I’m happy to provide feedback on it.

Details on Specific Levels:

Goldenrod – This level includes full participation in the writing group. I’ll be available (through the chat) during the group time if you have questions or need encouragement and support. I am also happy to look at and provide feedback on short portions of writing during this time. You are also welcome to participate in a writing exchange with another interested participant (see above for details).

Lilac – This level includes full participation in the writing group, as well as extra guidance through an hour-long coaching session as well as EITHER weekly email check-ins or an additional coaching session. The initial coaching session will be responsive to your needs. It could include talking through barriers you face to getting writing done and discussing strategies for navigating them, creating a writing plan for the six weeks of the program, and/or talking through the argument and structure of the piece of writing you will be working on during the program. I will reach out to schedule your coaching session two to three weeks before the group begins; I recommend that you schedule this session to occur before the writing groups begin (though this is not required). During our coaching session, we will also schedule whether you would prefer weekly email check-ins or an additional coaching session. Note that weekly check-in emails have to occur within eight weeks after they begin (that is, if you miss a week we won’t extend the check-ins though you are welcome to do more than one check-in during a single week to make up a missed week).

Rhododendron – This level includes the benefits of Lilac and Goldenrod as well as a full developmental edit of an up to 10,000 word piece of writing. Additional words will incur an additional fee. This developmental edit will focus on big-picture issues, including argument, structure, voice, narrative flow, and engagement with sources. I will also take into consideration issues that you identify yourself. The edit will include me reading the manuscript and making comments in the margins (on a Word document), as well as writing an editorial letter which lays out strengths of the piece as well as suggestions for revision. Note that developmental editing does not include line or copy editing. Upon your registration in a writing group, I will reach out to schedule the developmental edit, which can occur before, during, or after the writing group. Your edit must be scheduled to occur within six months of the start of the group (so by July 17, 2025). If you do not schedule it before then, you forfeit the fees for it. Note that my editing schedule fills up quickly so please schedule when you would like this edit to occur as much in advance as possible. Failure to do so means that I cannot guarantee that I will be able to complete your edit when you wish. Since my schedule is busy, failing to turn in the material for this edit on the date we agree upon means that I cannot guarantee that I will be able to return it to you by the agreed upon date and it will incur a $150 late fee. If you do need to change this deadline, please do so at least two weeks in advance; doing so will avoid the late fee although it still may require an adjustment of when I can return the edited work to you.

Questions? Contact me here or email me at katherine [at] goldenrodeditorial.com.

Updated: November 10, 2024.