•Stress can impact dissertation writers in negative ways.•Productivity and emotional well-being may be hampered by stress.•Stress reduction should be a part of dissertation support In this Short Communication, we report on some stresses experienced by L2 writers in the dissertation process and argue that when these emotions go unacknowledged and unaddressed, they can result in deleterious outcomes for these writers. Drawing on our work with writers in dissertation support groups, we note the sources of stress for the L2 students; while the genesis of some of the L2 students’ stress may be attributed solely to challenges in text production, other factors, such as interpersonal difficulties and intrapersonal conflicts, also contribute to stress and can negatively affect dissertators’ writing progress. We conclude by suggesting ways that writing professionals can assist writers in coping productively with the stresses experienced during the dissertation process.