One of the DISCO Network’s most successful initiatives has been its collaborative writing retreats, also known as “Book Jams,” which bring together interdisciplinary, multigenerational groups of scholars to collectively write a book manuscript.

DISCO Network Book Jams provide the unique opportunity for authors to have dedicated space for collective idea development, writing, and scholarship. We prioritize projects that foster intergenerational academic scholarship and collaboration across disciplines, universities, institutions, and networks. The experience creates a unique authorial voice by bringing together multiple scholars and perspectives, generating new ideas from shared conversation across diverse areas of expertise.

The writing process is expedited by the insular nature of the retreat and dedicated facilitation and editing support, resulting in a completed manuscript within several days. The accelerated timeline and flexible nature of the collaborative writing process allows authors to produce a book that serves as a time capsule, offering timely commentary on the latest developments, topics, and trends relevant during the retreat.

Using our Book Jam held in May 2026 as a case study, the report offers insight into how a collaborative writing retreat operates in practice. We share this model with the hope that it may continue to inform and inspire similar collaborative approaches in the humanities.