Keystroke FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

• Who is the Keystroke Writing Residency designed for?

  The Keystroke Writing Residency is specifically designed for STEM faculty, higher education researchers, campus administrators, national and regional STEM reform network leaders, STEM community of practice leaders and members, graduate students, and postdocs who are looking for dedicated time to think, write, create, or just read. Keystroke Residents come from a wide range of institution types, including HBCUs, community colleges, liberal arts colleges, research universities, and other MSIs.

• Is there a cost to participate?

  Not at all. We are thrilled to offer the Keystroke Writing Residency at no cost to you. Simply register and get ready to work!

• What makes Keystroke different from simply blocking writing time on my calendar?

  The answer is essentially this: You could block the time. But would you truly protect it? Keystroke combines ritual, mindfulness, visible community, protected time, and repetition to help you actually follow through. Over an academic year, we're not just reserving your Tuesday mornings; we're helping you build a sustainable scholarly practice that lasts well beyond the Residency.

• How are the sessions structured?

  Each session begins with 10-15 minutes of guided mindfulness practice led by Stephanie Briggs, Contemplative Practice Facilitator, of Be.Still.Move. Then the rest of the session is yours to focus on what matters most; reading, thinking, analyzing, outlining, revising, or writing.

• Why does Keystroke begin with mindfulness?

  Because productive work starts before your fingers hit your keyboard. Our guided mindfulness practice creates a transition from the demands and distractions of the morning to focused intellectual work. It provides an opportunity to quiet the noise, become present, and approach your work with greater awareness, clarity, and intention.

• How often does Keystroke meet?

  The Keystroke Residency begins on Tuesday, September 22nd, with virtual sessions held every Tuesday thereafter from 8:00 - 9:30 AM ET on Zoom, concluding in April 2027 at the close of the spring semester.

• Why are participants asked to keep their cameras on?

  Keystroke is individual work practiced in community. Seeing colleagues reading, thinking, creating, and writing generates a quiet collective energy that is surprisingly powerful. On mornings when motivation dips, you can draw from the focus and presence of the community around you. Cameras-on helps transform a group of people working remotely into a shared workspace for everyone.

• Will someone review or critique my writing?

  Keystroke is not a traditional writing workshop, and you're not required to share your work. The Residency provides the protected time, structure, mindfulness practice, and community that support scholarly productivity. Your work stays yours, and you decide how you use each session.

• What if I can't attend every Tuesday?

  Consistency is part of the magic, and we encourage Keystroke Residents to treat the weekly sessions as a protected commitment. We also recognize that academic and personal responsibilities sometimes intervene. Missing an occasional session doesn't mean you cannot participate; what matters is building a regular practice and returning to it.

• Do I have to stay for the entire 90 minutes?

  Yes. The full session, mindfulness plus focused work time, creates the rhythm and momentum that make keystroke effective.

• What happens during the writing portion of the session?

  You work on what matters most to you. There are no lectures, required writing prompts, or prescribed assignments. After the mindfulness practice, the time is truly yours. Read. Think. Analyze. Outline. Revise. Write. Create. Our role is to create the conditions that help you do the work you care about.

• What if I don't know what I want to work on yet?

  That's okay. Keystroke can be a space to figure it out. You can use the session to explore an idea, revisit an unfinished project, identify a question you want to pursue, or map out your next steps. You don't need to arrive with everything sorted out; just bring a willingness to make space for your scholarship.

• What if I've been stuck on a project for months—or years?

  Bring it. Keystroke is designed to help create movement around the work that academic life too often pushes aside. You do not have to finish it in one sitting, or even know exactly how to restart it. Sometimes progress begins by opening the document, returning to the literature, rereading your notes, or simply giving yourself time to think.

• What is expected of Keystroke Residents?

  Residents are expected to: 1) attend the weekly writing sessions with their cameras turned on at all times, 2) actively participate in the guided mindfulness practice, 3) complete evaluation surveys at the beginning, midpoint, and end of the Residency, and 4) keep the Keystroke leaders apprised of your successes post-Residency. Some participants may also be invited to share a testimonial about their experience regarding the value of the Residency.

• How will I know if Keystroke is working for me?

  Progress looks different for every Keystroke Resident. It might mean finishing a manuscript, submitting a proposal, developing a new research question, establishing a consistent writing practice, catching up on literature, or simply feeling less overwhelmed. Throughout the Residency, our surveys invite you to reflect on your practice, track your progress, and celebrate your wins.