Writing retreat to kick off November Academic Writing Month with DIGIT
Have you heard about Academic Writing Month (AcWriMo) — an annual writing event in which participants challenge themselves to meet self-set writing goals during November? You can read more about it here.
In the beginning of November, DIGIT invites you to join a writing retreat at Røros hotel to kick start this year’s November AcWriMo.
The aim of this retreat is to bring participants together in a quiet environment to concentrate on scientific writing. Each participant will receive personalized feedback on their text from the course leaders, and the program also includes dedicated time for peer-to-peer discussions in groups. Additionally, we have hired writing coach Catelijne Coopmans who in a one hour online preparatory meeting will introduce November Academic Writing Months and in two asynchrone online sessions during the retreat will facilitate an embodied writing practice.
Writing Retreat
When: 4-6 November, 2026
Where: Røros Hotell
Application deadline: 19 September 2026
Application: https://nettskjema.no/a/637843
Please note that your place is not reserved until you hear back from us. We have limited capacity – 12 spots only.
Prerequisites: A text (e.g., paper draft, kappa, or similar) must be submitted in advance of the workshop. Please highlight a section of approximately 2,500 words that you would like the course leaders and other participants to focus on during the discussion.
Upload the text you will be working on here by 1 November: https://nettskjema.no/a/637845
The text should be a draft rather than a final version.
The writing retreat is open to DIGIT members only. All reasonable costs (economy travel up to 2800 NOK) and full board at the hotel will be covered.
Content
The workshop is structured to provide you with dedicated and uninterrupted time for individual writing. In addition to focused sessions for drafting your text, the workshop will include peer-to-peer feedback sessions, walk-and-talk discussions, and personalized feedback from the course leaders: Heidrun Åm, Gunhild Tøndel and Aksel Tjora. Participants will be organized into writing groups where you will present your paper to your colleagues and the course leaders. You will also serve as a discussant for the work of your fellow group members.
To maintain focus, we ask all participants to fully commit to the entire program and refrain from external obligations during these days.
Preliminary programme
~ October 23 (time and date to be set, 1 hour): Introduction to AcWriMo (online session)
Wednesday, Nov 4, 2026
12.30-13.30 Lunch
13.30-14.30 Writing session while waiting for arrivals with the Oslo train
14.30-15.00 Snacks and welcome (all participants) – what is your aim for this retreat
15.00-16.00 Group session: Paper presentation, discussion, and feedback
16.00-16.30 Coffee break
16.30-17.30 Group session: Paper presentation, discussion, and feedback
17.30-19.00 Writing session
19.00- Dinner
Thursday, Nov 5, 2026
7.30-9.00 Breakfast
9.00-10.15 Writing session
10.15-10.30 Snacks
10.30-12.00 Writing session
12.00-13.00 Lunch
13.00-14.00 Writing session
14.00-15.30 Spa or walk & talk
15.30 Snacks
16.00-18.00 Writing-session focusing on sections of your text you tend to postpone (with flexible online-facilitated writing exercise)
19- Dinner
Friday, Nov 6, 2026
7.30-9.00 Breakfast
9.00-10.15 Writing session (with flexible online-facilitated writing exercise)
10.15-10.30 Snacks
10.30-12.00 Writing session
12.00-13.00 Lunch
13.00-13.30 Feedback, evaluation, and the way forward
Course leader
Heidrun Åm is a professor of sociology at the Department of Sociology and Political Science at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), specializing in technology and social change. Her research lies at the intersection of critical policy studies and science and technology studies (STS), with a particular focus on the governance of emerging technologies. She has studied topics including health data governance, digitalisation strategies, and the influence of international tech companies. Her work combines empirical research with conceptual contributions to advance social theory.
Course leader
Gunhild Tøndel is an Associate Professor of General Sociology at the Department of Sociology and Political Science, NTNU. Her research is at the thematic intersection of welfare, technology, and knowledge production, focusing particularly on issues related to digitalization, governance and organization, aging, and life within health and care services. She has taught a variety of sociological topics at all academic levels, including qualitative methods, project design, sociological theory, health sociology, and microsociology.
Photo: NTNU
Course leader
Aksel Tjora is educated within computer science, management and sociology, and has been Professor of Sociology since 1998. His research is concentrated on social interaction and societal development, as well as development of Stepwise-Deductive Induction as strategy within qualitative research. Tjora is CEO of the independent enterprise the Sociology Clinic, which develops "sociological services" in collaboration with businesses outside academia. He is also an active voice in public debate.
Photo: NTNU
Please feel free to contact the DIGIT coordinator should you have any questions.