By Bella Ratmelia, Senior Librarian, Research & Data Services & Dong Danping, Senior Librarian, Research & Data Services
The SMU Researcher Club (SMURC) recently wrapped up its 9-week "Shut Up and Write" initiative, created to support researchers and postgraduate students. Held every Saturday morning, these sessions provided a cozy yet productive space for everyone to dive into their academic work without the usual distractions, with light snacks and helpful librarians around to support participants each week.
Program Structure
The sessions, held in Kwa Geok Choo Library's Learning Lab 3 and 4, offered a dedicated space where participants could team up on research projects aiming for publication, or simply focus on their individual research and writing. At the start of each session, everyone jotted down their goals on Padlet, then updated their progress when wrapping up. With about 10-15 postgraduate students and researchers showing up consistently each week, the sessions consistently drew a dedicated group who found real value in the structured writing time and supportive atmosphere.
What Kept People Coming Back: Voices from the Sessions
In an informal discussion with some of our regular attendees, we uncovered insightful reasons why they kept showing up week after week. Most admitted they probably wouldn't be in the library on a Saturday morning if not for these sessions. Some mentioned that they liked how it kicked off their weekends with a sense of purpose and productivity.
There's something about knowing "I have to be there at 10am" that really helps with accountability. Plus, the collective buzz of focused energy created the perfect atmosphere and vibe for getting deep work done. As one participant put it, "It's a thinking session for me."
Most participants mentioned that they switched up their tasks depending on what was most pressing at the time. This flexibility seemed to work well for everyone.
While the feedback was overall positive, we did get some constructive thoughts too. Some felt the three-hour sessions flew by too quickly, saying "I can't do much" in that timeframe. Some wished the program would run longer than just 9 weeks. And when it came to the pomodoro technique, the longer 50-minute sessions were more popular than the shorter 25-minute ones.
These impressions from our regulars gave us a glimpse into the session culture. To get a broader perspective — including input from those who attended less frequently — we also conducted a post-event survey.
Survey Feedback from Participants
We invited all registrants to complete a short feedback survey and received 21 responses. Here's what we learned:
What are the top motivations for registering?
- Curious about the concept and wanted to try it (58%)
- Needed dedicated time for writing without distractions (47%)
- Seeking accountability to meet writing goals (42%)
What type of work did respondents engage in?
- Literature Review — Reading papers and conducting literature reviews (mentioned by ~50%)
- Analysis — Working on data analysis and synthesizing findings, (mentioned by >50%)
- Research Writing and Planning — Drafting papers, proposals, or reports, and organizing research tasks
- Professional Writing — Preparing cover letters and internship applications
What did participants value most?
- Dedicated, distraction-free time for writing (67%)
- Change of scenery from usual workspace (67%)
- Accountability of committing to a scheduled session (53%)
- Refreshments/snacks provided (47%)
- Structured time management with Pomodoro technique (40%)
What are the top challenges or barriers to attending?
- Scheduling conflicts with other academic commitments (47%)
- Personal/family responsibilities (47%)
- Lost motivation (40%)
Would they join again?
Encouragingly, 77% said "definitely yes" if the sessions were offered again, while the rest responded "probably yes" or "probably not."
We're grateful for the thoughtful suggestions, which we'll take into account where possible — including requests for healthier snacks and perhaps even additional monitors!
Closing Celebration
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We wrapped up the initiative with a friendly networking lunch where we handed out vouchers to our dedicated participants who showed up for six or more sessions. It was a great opportunity for everyone to connect outside of the focused work environment and chat about their research progress over some good food.
Looking Forward
The verdict is in: everyone wants more! Most participants said they'd be back in a heartbeat if we run "Shut Up and Write" sessions again in the future. It just goes to show how valuable it is to create these community-based spaces for academic work, and how much we all benefit from a little peer accountability to keep our research moving forward.
We are currently planning a second run next semester. Do you have any feedback or suggestions to making these sessions more attractive to you? Please feel free to send them to us at researcherclub@smu.edu.sg!