Engagement is an important issue for students, since many feel isolated or cut-off from others. For doctoral students in particular, research has suggested that writing can produce or evoke these feelings. One reason for this is because writing occupies a vital and complex role in a doctoral student’s career. It is one of the main ways in which doctoral students are assessed, contribute to knowledge creation, and engage in the conversations of their disciplines. In this paper we argue that doctoral writing is inextricably linked to doctoral engagement and, as such, ought to be recognised as such. We also suggest that creativity not only plays a crucial role in the process of writing and research, but also has potential for fostering doctoral engagement. Using autoethnography and arts-based methods (collage and narratives), we (a doctoral student and doctoral supervisor) share examples of experiences with creativity, writing and engagement. We also share examples of pedagogical interventions we have used in our workshops and classes with doctoral writers. While engaging in creative practice is not without its challenges, we conclude by suggesting that it is valuable and has potential for fostering doctoral engagement.

1. creative writing
2. doctoral supervision
3. doctoral writing
4. graduate studies
5. graduate writing
6. writing and rhetoric
7. writing pedagogy

Badenhorst, C., & Amell, B. (2019). Inextricable: Doctoral writing, engagement, and creativity.

Originally published in Student Engagement in Higher Education Journal, 2(3), 118–137.

https://sehej.raise-network.com/raise/article/view/897