How to write more: The impact of a writing accountability group

As William Zinsser once wrote in the classic On Writing Well, “If your job is to write every day, you learn do it like any other job”.1 Academic scholarship, including writing for publication, a fundamental expectation of nursing faculty, but not always easy make time writing. Scholarly time-consuming and often requires intense concentration focus amid complex faculty role that includes competing demands shifting priorities over academic year.2-4 The multiple components expectations can serve as impediments concentrated time.2 Documented barriers scholarship productivity include difficulty beginning project, contending with perfectionism, engaging procrastination, navigating heavy workloads, balancing work-life demands, some, lack preparation training writing.5 However, strategies overcome scholarly are established. These workshops, retreats, coaching, structured daily writing, contracts, accountability groups. A group (WAG) provides peer-driven weekly structure goal setting process monitoring promote while fostering individual accountability.4, 6 variety WAG structures have been described, some groups communally, others sharing their work critique, solely focused on goals reporting productivity.4, 7 impact WAGs has evaluated literature.3, 7, 8 Common benefits noted embedding consistent, protected times into habits, shift shorter sessions, at an increased frequency. Increased productivity, specifically number publications grant submissions, was common outcome across settings consistent measure success.3, social support gained friendly peer pressure felt through were deemed positive unintended benefits.7, In contrast disciplines, literature specific limited, just one study published since 2010 only productivity. Houfek et al. reported composed seven resulted manuscript submission acceptance, funded presentations regional national conferences, showing promise who participate WAGs.3 purpose this paper describe outcomes college between fall 2018 2021. Rush University College Nursing (RUCON) Chicago, Illinois. programs offered range from master's doctoral level (DNP Ph.D.). employs 175 full part-time faculty. RUCON initiated 2013 by small members interested increasing alignment established practices,4 met day time. At each 15-week term, overall projects they aimed complete end term (i.e., application or manuscript). During first meeting set measurable week, hours week completing methods section submitting conference abstract). subsequent meeting, accomplishments based previous hours, outcomes. This allowed share incremental progress solicit feedback ways accomplishment. Further, achievement goals. Each hosted event celebrate other's successes. Overall toward documented tracking sheet available Google Docs, using described Breitenstein.4 completed highlighted red celebrated group. Then specific, next member. If member able attend encouraged enter new independently. led volunteer facilitator sent out calendar invitations communication related WAG, up sheets meetings, sheet. Members included diverse DNP- PhD-prepared various ranks had minimal expert experience originally hybrid gathering college, distance joined via Zoom. When COVID-19 pandemic limited in-person gatherings spring 2020, meetings transitioned all virtual. project reviewed organization's Institutional Review Board acknowledged quality improvement project. Quantitative product data managed analyzed Microsoft Excel SPSS. Weekly achievements Fall 2021 aggregated total. Individuals' output/product coded separately then Standard descriptive statistics calculated, means sums reported, applicable. 10 terms paper, 19 unique participated WAG. average participating per 9.1 (range: 7–12). average, 7.4 1–11) week. time, 162 held. weeks participation 4.8 1–10) 63 2–155). participants sessions. actual sessions also weekly. See Figure 1 term. 3.3 h 0–16). spent 3.6 0–26.5). highest Spring 2019 5.0. lowest 2020 2.6. Actual exceeded except 2020. Goals actual: Hours 2.4 0–9) 2.5 0–10). session 1.5 0.25–9). Summer 3.4. 1.9. 2 Sessions Participants tracked products. type varied Ten types products identified. total 380 set, 176 achieved rate 46.3%. most frequently identified (n = 205), 41% rate. least review 3), 33.3% abstract submissions 92.3%. “portion product” 27.2%. For considered part did submission. Examples 50% starting outline Op Ed. Table product. consistently completed. accomplished nearly Results evaluation show being facilitated accomplishment While Frequently, prioritized planned, making task push aside.2, 4 started demonstrates when intentionally achieved. results highlight importance deliberate about planning writing.2 studies healthcare professions nursing.3, addition, its demonstrating success It surprising dipped slightly during due timing pandemic, unpredictable nature disease, effects required pivot clinical instruction students. took place amidst and, returned pre-pandemic levels. finding mirrors Bourgault found members.7 Together these findings encouraging suggest provide needed facilitate even stress uncertainty. peer-reviewed journal. expected, publishing article journal aligns rank promotion criteria tracks, terminal degrees.7 Thought pieces, abstracts presentations, book chapters, proposals important dissemination whether engaged discovery, practice, and/or teaching.9 suggested mechanism progressing along should be explored more perspective.7, reviewing goals, three rates completion chapters 77.4%, 90.9%, Book grants driven deadlines. Products fixed deadlines likely because there element must considered. Setting personal intentional, realistic pragmatic submission, deadline.2 goal, lower 41.9%. Since journal-imposed timelines manuscripts (special issues exception), aside working may get re-designated pressing responsibilities, deadlines.4, Faculty experienced similar challenges pushed chapter upcoming deadline. Additionally, steps takes significant amount complete. makes difficult submit single, no deadlines, create personalized, product-specific timeline understanding stretch terms. developing timeline, yet smaller achievable within larger regularly encouragement accountability.2, 4, second seem realistic, track “portion” rates. specificity rather than effort. Many written certain percentage draft - could mean word count reached, sections Improving initial measurable, would help address issue smarter (specific, achievable, time-based).4, example, methods, results, discussion easier manuscript. Perhaps exceeding opportunities collaborations collegiality. Reviewing among build off successes continue own Through teams formed worked together before. Manuscripts (such one), grants, collaborations. Specifically, topics mutual interest fostered. note DNP-PhD professional organizations funders future nursing.11 original intent bring collaborators increase partnerships. Overall, fulfilled needs desiring providing peer-support achieve atmosphere, supportive participant. provided peers varying levels production which idea problem solving well recognition progress, final leadership supervisors. created environment, fueled inspiration requirements. extracted document designed tracking, collection tool retrospective analysis. Because this, missing incomplete. done participant-level goal-level, duplicated where same two separate (e.g., co-authored submission). does analyses rates, raw numbers inflated. Although limitations noted, intend change documentation current system best practices setting4 college-level mechanisms publications, quantitative Consistent bolster successful solid foundation development.2-8, offer matter development benefit accountability-driven become scholars. Bottom line: With colleagues, enjoyable. authors declare conflicts interest. Heide Cygan, DNP, RN, PHNA-BC Associate Professor Department Community, Systems Mental Health University, Nursing, IL. Her expertise practice recognized nationally. focuses mostly student health wellness policy development, implementation evaluation. Julianne Doucette, MSN, APRN, CPNP-PC Assistant Program Director Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Doctor Practice She leader nationally primary care pediatrics. access care, food allergy, technological media, simulation, graduate education. Mallory Bejster, CNL extensive public inextricable connection education, sustainment academic-practice partnerships, her work. Cathy Catrambone, PhD, FAAN Chair influential global having served President Sigma Theta Tau International (Sigma) Global Advisory Panel Future Midwifery. strong academia DNP Mary Heitschmidt, CCRN-K, FAHA Clinical Research, System Health; Center Research Scholarship; utilizes research, evidence-based advance science collaborative improving health. Josephine Howard-Ruben, RN teaches both prelicensure formats. C. Zonsius, Professor, Adult Gerontological Dean Evaluation predominantly quality/safety Age Friendly Systems. Hugh Vondracek, MSc, ΦBK instructor analyst Office Scholarship He substantive analytical statistical modeling, small-sample, non-hypothesis testing