Course director: Olha Bryukhovetska (National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy / FernUniversität in Hagen)
“Writing is easy,” quipped Gene Fowler, “all you do is stare at a blank page until drops of blood form on your forehead”—but what if the struggle could be lessened, the process illuminated, and the ordeal transformed from torment into discovery? This course radically reimagines academic writing not as a performance judged by standards but as a living process—a dynamic, creative journey that values uncertainty, invention, and the persistent search for your own voice. Unlike conventional courses, which often emphasize rigid guidelines and polished products, we embrace the fertile, messy middle: where ideas emerge, shift, and grow; where revision is not drudgery but the ground from which clarity and strength arise. Drawing inspiration from the groundbreaking work of Peter Elbow, Donald Murray, Joseph Harris, and others in the writing process movement, this approach treats writing as dialogue—with oneself and the world—where academic prose is not a cage but a stage for self-expression and intellectual risk. If you seek to make writing less isolating, more purposeful, and distinctly your own—and want to develop practices that sustain voice across genres—this course is for you. You will gain a practical toolkit to generate and explore ideas, coax a first draft into being—wide open to discovery—and nurture it beyond its initial form through inventive revision. The course facilitates your growth through interactive weekly lectures, written reflections, collaborative writing groups, and exploratory reading of Joseph Harris’s Rewriting: Things to Do with Texts, culminating in a celebration session where participants share their insights and aha-moments. Designed for advanced students (Master’s- and PhD-level) as a mentorship-driven experience with no grades, it can be a turning point for anyone who wants to make writing more authentic and engaging—and ultimately a lasting part of their life.