HGGS Writing Retreat
The HGGS Writing Retreat in the Winter Semester 2025 will focus on academic writing and create a space for sharing ideas and partial results in small peer groups. The sessions will include activities, recommendations, and discussions, as well as time for the participants to work on their individual projects and receive feedback. The thematic focus of each session will vary, and the dynamics between sessions are expected to be flexible.
The course will address, among others, the following subjects:
- Characteristics of academic writing
- Organisation and time management
- Structure of doctoral dissertations
- Clear and concise writing
- Drafting paragraphs
- Advice from doctoral supervisors
- Concentration and motivation when writing
- Writing, writing and... more writing
- Publication process of doctoral dissertations
- Other topics of interest (punctuation, citation styles, etc)
ABOUT THE LECTURER
The workshop will be led by Dr. Cristian Camilo Cuervo, who completed his PhD in English literature at Heidelberg University. He is an experienced writing coach and teacher as he has previously led workshops, seminars and other projects in Heidelberg and Bogota. He has over 1,000 certified hours of university teaching experience, as well as several years of professional experience in community and adult education. Dr. Cuervo also has been on several editorial teams for articles and books in Germany and abroad. The book that is based on his doctoral thesis was published in September 2025, thus allowing him to give valuable practical advice for all steps leading to the successful completion and publication of a doctoral thesis. He has also recently edited, designed and published a collection of creative writing for the HGGS.
LOCATION
The retreat will be held from Thursday, 16th October to Sunday, 19th October 2025 in the beautiful town of Michelstadt, Odenwald, with 13 participants and one workshop leader. Accommodation is provided in three historical houses from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, and next to intensive writing phases, there will be cultural activities as well as group hikes through the rolling hills around Michelstadt and dinners at traditional Odenwald inns.
