A Protocol for Co-Authored Academic Writing: The 'Draft-in-a-Day'

The iterative process of writing a co-authored manuscript may take several months to complete. Draft-in-a-day is an alternative group-based approach to writing that draws on concepts from social cognitive and group dynamics theories to efficiently write the first draft of a manuscript, while providing rich opportunities for trainees to develop their writing skills. The purpose of this paper is to explore the usefulness and acceptability of draft-in-a-day by examining individual's experiences using the draft-in-a-day protocol. Twelve participants (four professors, eight trainees) who had used the draft-in-a-day protocol completed an online questionnaire about their experiences. Participant responses were analyzed using Braun and Clark's (2006) thematic analysis. There were four broad themes: group/social aspects, writing process, effectiveness/efficiency, and other. Overall, participants found a benefit to using the draft-in-a-day protocol for team-based writing. Participants were receptive to the draft-in-a-day method of writing, reported being very likely to use it in the future (M = 4.9, SD = 0.28; scale 1-5), and provided suggestions for improvement. This early-stage research provides a framework for efficient group-based writing in sport and exercise psychology.