Writing Grants
Mandel Center for the Humanities: Writing Grants
The Mandel Center for the Humanities sponsors two writing programs for members of the Brandeis Community.
Writing Retreats in the Humanities : These retreats build community amongst faculty and students while providing focused time for work and feedback.
Summer Writing Accountability Program : Co-sponsored with GSAS, this program offers doctoral students an intense 10-week program to carve out time for their writing.
"We wrote all day- meeting at meals to discuss our writing - it was amazing!!!!" —Ziva Hassenfeld, Education Studies
Faculty Writing Retreats
Given that, for many of us, true progress in writing requires uninterrupted time, a space distant from the daily grind, and supportive communities, the Mandel Center for the Humanities is pleased to be able to fund communal writing retreats for Brandeis faculty working on projects in the humanities, arts, and humanistic social sciences. The retreat should be attended by 3-8 participants, and priority will be given to retreats that include multiple Brandeis community members and participants from multiple disciplines. Funding will depend on the number of people attending the retreat, at up to $350/person, with a maximum amount of $2,800. All full-time Brandeis faculty (tenure-line and OTS) are eligible. To apply, please send a brief (250-word) description of the retreat theme and purpose, a list of participants and their career/publishing trajectories (whether they are working on materials needed for tenure/promotion, etc), and an anticipated budget (which can include accommodation, reasonable travel expenses, food and supplies). Priority will be given to faculty members who have not received retreat funding in the past. Funds must be spent by June 30, 2025. After the retreat, the Mandel Center will conduct a short interview with the participants and request a group photo to be used on our website. The application deadline is February 1, 2024.
Graduate Student Writing Retreats
The Mandel Center for the Humanities is pleased to offer funding for graduate student writing retreats designed to give Brandeis graduate students in the humanities, arts and humanistic social sciences time and space to focus on dissertation or other writing projects as well as foster horizontal community. The retreat should be 3-5 days long and should include time (at least 4 hours) for daily focused writing as well as other optional activities such as draft workshopping, peer review, and/or discussion of writing practice, time management and developing a writing calendar. The retreat can take place at an external site or on campus in the form of a catered study hall that either meets for 3-5 days in a row or is spread out across a series. It should be attended by 5-10 participants. To apply, please submit a list of participants, a budget for the retreat (retreats will be funded at up to $350/person, with a maximum of $3,500, which can include accommodation, reasonable travel expenses, food and supplies), and a tentative schedule for the retreat. Up to $500 can be included in the budget to pay a faculty mentor to attend. Funds must be spent by June 30, 2025. After the retreat, the Mandel Center will conduct a short interview with the participants and request a group photo to be used on our website. The application deadline is February 1, 2024.
Past Writing Retreats
Anthropology MA students Nayonika Chatterjee, Nhi Le, Julie Scesney, Mariah Morse, at a writing retreat for second year students in April 2023
In 2023-24 the Mandel Center supported five writing retreats organized by:
- Professor Elizabeth Ferry (Anthropology)
- Professor Harleen Singh (South Asian Literature)
- Nayonika Chatterjee (Anthropology)
- Sanchita Dasgupta (Sociology)
- Anna Valcour (Musicology)
Anthropology Writing Retreat
"The purpose of this writing retreat was to give the cohort of 2nd year anthropology MA students the opportunity to work on their final theses drafts. The retreat took place in Marion, MA for the duration of three days (April 21-24, 2023) where the students were given time and space for writing, editing, and peer review. The schedule for the retreat included 3 hours for daily focused writing, 3 hours of draft workshopping and peer review, and recreational group activities spread out throughout the day. Every participant was able to workshop their draft and/or clarify previous comments at least once. We would like to thank Mandel Center for Humanities for giving us this incredible opportunity to work on our final theses and collaborate with peers." - Nayonika Chatterjee
Participants: Nayonika Chatterjee, Nhi Le, Julie Scesney, Mariah Morse
Summer Writing Accountability Program
The Mandel Center for the Humanities and GSAS are excited to be able to fund a 10-week writing accountability group for Brandeis doctoral students in the humanities, humanistic social sciences and arts who are currently writing their dissertations, to take place in summer 2023. Each participant will receive a $2,000 lump sum stipend (no reimbursement submissions necessary) to help carve out time and space for their writing. To receive the payment, students must commit to biweekly accountability meetings on Zoom for peer support and mentorship and to discuss writing strategies, time management and other issues. This is an individual application and is due by April 18, 2023.