You have an article, a chapter, or a book you keep meaning to write. The Writing Circle turns “someday” into a finished, published piece — through short craft sessions, protected writing time, and a group that keeps you accountable to your own milestones over six months.
Bi-weekly
Virtual
The Academic Writing Circle is a facilitated, cohort-based community for education professionals who want to publish their work in academic literature. It combines three things most writers never get in one place: short information sessions on the craft and business of publishing, dedicated coworking time to actually write, and mentorship from a faculty developer with decades of experience.
The organizing principle is accountability. You set a concrete publishing goal at the start, break it into milestones, and the Circle helps you hit them — meeting by meeting, with a small group and a mentor who are expecting your progress.
By the end of this program, you should be able to:
Virtual and cohort-based
Over six months
Small group of up to 8 writers
Sessions run biweekly, with additional check-ins as needed.
A focused mini-workshop on one craft or publishing topic
Facilitated, protected time to make real progress.
Brief accountability updates from each member.
Phyllis’s guidance plus peer feedback, including 1:1 sessions.
You keep writing and report back at the next check-in.
You keep writing and report back at the next check-in.
Over six months, you’ll take one writing project from where it is now to submission-ready and, in most cases, submitted. For shorter work like an article, chapter, or professional piece, that means a finished, polished draft sent to your target outlet. For a larger project like a book, it means a completed, defined milestone, such as a full proposal with sample chapters, or an agreed number of chapters.
You’ll walk away with:
Measurable progress toward, or completion of, a concrete publishing goal.
A clear understanding of the publishing pathway for your project, from traditional to self-publishing.
A working sense of how to market and promote what you publish.
A writing routine you can sustain on your own after the program.
A mentor and a peer network who know your work and can keep supporting it.
Dr. Phyllis Blumberg is an author and faculty developer with more than fifty years of experience helping educators do their best work. She earned her PhD in educational psychology from the University of Pittsburgh and spent two decades at the University of the Sciences, where she trained the majority of the faculty to teach effectively and conduct scholarship of teaching and learning. As part of this work, she has helped many faculty publish.
Phyllis describes her strength simply: she’s a connector who’s exceptional at helping people translate complex ideas into something clear and manageable — exactly what a writer needs when a big project feels overwhelming.
Phyllis is the author of four major books and over 60 peer-reviewed publications.
Throughout the six months, the Circle brings in guest speakers who’ve done the things you’re trying to do. These are working experts, not lecturers — people who can tell you what actually happens when you self-publish a book, pitch an agent, or try to get your work read.
Guest sessions are recorded and shared, so you keep the material even if you miss one live.
No — but come with a project or a direction you want to pursue. The early sessions help you sharpen it.
The goal is a submission-ready piece and, for most members, a submitted one. Some projects finish and go out during the program; larger ones reach a defined milestone. Acceptance is up to the outlet, but you’ll leave with finished work and a clear path.
Invited experts who go deep on specialized topics — self-publishing, marketing and promotion, working with editors and agents, and other publishing paths — so you get perspectives beyond your facilitator and cohort.
Plan for the biweekly session plus your own writing time between meetings, across six months.
$1,000 for the six-month program. A developmental editor is available at additional cost if and when your project needs one — optional and arranged as needed.
Information sessions and guest speaker sessions are recorded and shared. Coworking and 1:1 mentorship are live only.
Yes — an Open Badge on completion. It’s a verifiable digital credential you can share on LinkedIn and elsewhere, backed by a record of what you did in the program.
Up to 15, to keep feedback and accountability personal.
Bi-weekly
Virtual
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Virtual
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open now
Whether you’re exploring new opportunities, expanding your skills, or looking for a supportive community, You Are HigherED! is here to help you move forward with confidence. Stay informed about upcoming programs and resources, or reach out to learn how we can support your professional journey.
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