PhD Lounge - Sticky Notes to Storylines: Building Your Research Narrative

Welcome to the PhD Lounge – Your Monthly Space for Writing, Community, and Conversation

No pressure. No prep. Just space, support, and coffee.

October's PhD Lounge "Sticky Notes to Storylines: Building Your Research Narrative" will be an opportunity for you to experiment with a range of creative strategies to help you rediscover your research story. Bring your curiosity, and don’t be afraid to get messy with glue sticks, stickers, colorful pens, and sticky notes! We will use all of these as well as some prompts for different AI tools. Whether you’re at the beginning of your doctoral journey or preparing to defend, you’ll leave with a refreshed perspective on what drives your work — and why it matters.
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Once a month, the Writing Center transforms into the PhD Lounge, a relaxed, come-as-you-are space just for doctoral students (whether you are working on a doctoral thesis in a PhD program or a professional program). Whether you're in the early stages of coursework, data collection, or deep into writing and revising, you’re invited to drop by, grab a cup of coffee or tea with a yummy treat, and connect with Writing Center staff, Writing Center fellows, and other doctoral students.

Each session begins with a bite-sized 10-minute talk on a relevant topic, from structuring your writing time to navigating dissertation feedback or framing your literature review. After that, the space opens up for Q&A, informal conversation, and mutual support.

The PhD Lounge is more than a writing check-in. It’s a space for community and encouragement. Our goal is to help you navigate the complexities of doctoral writing, not just the words on the page, but the often-unspoken decisions behind them. We’ll explore how to make strategic, confident choices as writers and researchers and share tools that help you sustain momentum over the long haul.

You’ll also have time to browse our curated collection of writing and research resources, a small but mighty library designed with doctoral writers in mind.

Join us every third Thursday of the month in the light-filled Writing Center overlooking the School of Nursing lawn.
☕ Light refreshments | 🕓 Come anytime during the 1-hour window | 📚 Books & resources available
 

Topics

• Sept. 18: Telling the Story of Your Research: Narrative Strategies for Scholarly Writing
• Oct. 16: Sticky Notes to Storylines: Building Your Research Narrative
• Nov. 20: The Dissertation Roadmap: Navigating the Writing Process

If you require an accommodation for this event, please contact Isabell C. May, PhD, at imay@umaryland.edu or 410-706-4450 with your request, so that we can assist you further.  Please submit your requests at least seven (7) business days prior to the event, to give us ample time to review your accommodation requests, and we will make a good-faith effort to provide those accommodations.