Wolfson Academic Fund: Research Fellow Testimonial
Earlier this year, Wolfson Research Fellow Dr Rachel Delman attended a 3-day academic writing retreat, made in part possible by the Wolfson Academic Fund. Here she tells us about her experience.
Owing to the generous support of the Wolfson Academic Fund, I was able to attend a 3-day writing retreat in January of this year. Having convened writing groups and attended retreats in the past, I know that the formula of goal setting followed by dedicated bursts of writing time in a social setting works really well for me. However, a busy schedule means that I very rarely have dedicated time for research and writing, so I was excited to carve out some focused time for myself and get stuck in!
The retreat took place across three days in the beautiful surroundings of the Abbey, a Grade-1 listed medieval manor house in Sutton Courtenay, close to the River Thames. The Abbey is now a spiritual retreat and community space offering a welcoming and tranquil atmosphere for its guests. Despite its proximity to Oxford, it feels a world away from the hustle and bustle of the city, and from the busyness of university life; at one point, I even glanced up from my laptop to see a muntjac blinking back at me through the window!
Our writing group included ten people from a range of universities and disciplines, as well as creative and independent writers. Each day consisted of goal setting in the morning before we sat down to write. My own focus for the retreat was my monograph on medieval women’s residences. Writing in the setting of the medieval great hall with its crackling, open fire and majestic beams was especially inspiring given my area of research expertise.
Between the writing sessions we enjoyed delicious homemade meals and snacks prepared by the Abbey’s in house team. Lunchtime walks and evening yoga sessions gave us the opportunity to stretch out after long days concentrating at our desks.
At the end of the writing retreat, I felt a real sense of accomplishment, having revisited and edited a chapter I had been struggling to find the headspace for. The retreat also broadened my network, establishing cross-university connections that are already proving fruitful for my research and professional practice. The experience has also inspired me to start a Fellow’s writing group at Wolfson, planned for Trinity term.
I’m hugely grateful for the support of the Academic Fund for enabling me to take part in the retreat, and for getting my year off to such a productive and energising start!
For more information on academic financial support, click here.
