Past events

For Media, Arts and Humanities faculty and PGRs.

Academic life demands constant juggling between research, teaching, care responsibilities, and writing deadlines. "Writing Under Pressure" is a practical, full-day workshop run by Dr Jason Downs of  On The Reg Team designed specifically for academics and PhD students who need to produce high-quality writing whilst managing competing demands and fragmented schedules.

This intensive workshop moves beyond generic productivity advice to address the unique pressures facing today's academic writers. You'll learn evidence-based techniques for maintaining focus and flow when writing time is scarce, discover strategies for generating ideas even when experiencing writer's block, and master methods for rapidly improving first drafts to professional standards.

Through hands-on exercises and practical applications, you'll develop a personalised toolkit for efficient writing under constraints. We'll explore how to harness brief writing windows effectively, transform rough ideas into polished prose, and maintain momentum across interrupted writing sessions. The workshop also covers the ethical integration of AI tools as writing assistants, showing you how to leverage technology whilst preserving your authentic academic voice.

Participants will leave with immediately applicable strategies for completing writing projects whilst juggling multiple responsibilities, proven techniques for getting words on the page quickly and effectively, and practical approaches for revising and polishing work efficiently. You'll also gain insights into maintaining mental well-being during high-pressure writing periods.

Whether you're an academic balancing research and teaching commitments, a PhD student managing studies alongside work, or anyone seeking to improve writing productivity under pressure, this workshop provides the practical skills needed to thrive in demanding academic environments.

Outcomes: By attending this workshop, participants will develop efficient writing strategies tailored to busy academic schedules and learn to maintain writing momentum despite interruptions and competing demands. They will master practical techniques for rapidly generating ideas and overcoming writer's block, even under tight deadlines. Participants will gain skills in transforming rough first drafts into polished, readable academic prose through systematic revision approaches. They will learn to integrate AI tools ethically as writing assistants whilst preserving their authentic academic voice and maintaining scholarly integrity. Most importantly, participants will establish sustainable writing practices that protect their mental well-being during high-pressure periods, enabling them to produce consistently high-quality work without sacrificing their health or other responsibilities.

Sign up for your free place via TicketTailor using your Sussex email address.

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Posted on behalf of: Faculty of Media, Arts and Humanities
Last updated: Wednesday, 29 April 2026