As a teaching professor and a creative writer myself, I cannot stress enough the value of workshops for writers. Workshops are a space where writers come together to share their work and receive feedback from their peers. I have been involved in workshop before and after publication, and they have always been invaluable. In fact, the collaborative and constructive environment of a writers workshop can benefit writers of all levels, from beginners to seasoned professionals.
But first, ask yourself WHY you want feedback. I worked with a new writers group several years ago where we took turns sharing our work. Each writer had 20 minutes where they read for 10 minutes and we provided group feedback for 10 minutes. Except this one guy…
This one guy read for 19 of the 20 minutes. Why? Because he didn’t want criticism. He wanted a blessing, and there’s nothing wrong with that. We all want and need to know our work is good, and if that’s the only thing you need right now, stay with a small trusted group of friends. Honestly. It’s a safe place for your creative muse to learn and grow without a triggering event, like blunt/direct criticism.
BUT, once you reach the point where you realize that the writing community has something to offer in the way of feedback—and it won’t be all sunshine and rainbows—run don’t walk to your nearest writing workshop, because they’ll help you take your writing to the next level.
Next level, how?
Well, a primary benefits of a workshop is that the other participants provide direct feedback on their work, which is essential for writers. Feedback allows you to see your work from a different perspective and identify areas that need improvement. In a workshop setting, writers will receive feedback from a variety of people with different backgrounds, experiences, and writing styles. This can help writers to identify the strengths and weaknesses of their work and make more informed decisions about how to revise it.
For now, consider yourself as the victim—ahem, I mean the writer in the hotseat. You submitted your work and the group has given you written or verbal feedback. How do you evaluate which feedback to follow?
Not all feedback is created equal. In a workshop, it is important to provide feedback that is both constructive and specific. Vague comments like "I liked it" or "It didn't work for me" are not particularly helpful, as they do not provide the writer with specific information about what is working and what isn't.
Instead, feedback should be specific and focused on the elements of the work that the writer is trying to develop. For example, if the writer is trying to create a strong sense of place, feedback could focus on whether or not the setting is fully realized and whether or not it contributes to the overall tone and mood of the piece.
Another important aspect of feedback is to provide both positive and negative comments. It can be tempting to focus solely on the areas that need improvement, but it is equally important to acknowledge the areas where the writer is succeeding. In the same way that praise-only responses weren’t going to help “that one guy” improve his work, all negative only responses will likely hinder the writer’s progress. Positive feedback can help to build a writer's confidence and encourage them to continue developing their skills.
BUT, I bet you didn’t know that you learn just as much or MORE when you are the ones giving feedback. I’ll talk about that more next week, but simply stated, workshops provide writers with an opportunity to develop their critical thinking skills. By reading and commenting on the work of others, writers develop a better sense of what makes a good piece of writing and how to identify the elements that contribute to its success.
Workshops are an invaluable resource for writers of all levels. They provide writers with an opportunity to receive specific, constructive feedback on their work, as well as to learn from their peers and develop their own critical thinking skills. When providing feedback in a workshop setting, it is important to be specific, both positive and negative, and focused on the elements of the work that the writer is trying to develop. With these guidelines in mind, workshops can be an incredibly beneficial and rewarding experience for writers looking to improve their craft.
Cindy Skaggs is a writer, public speaker, and military veteran who holds an MFA from Pacific Lutheran University and an MA in Creative Writing from Regis University. She is an advocate for military and veteran issues, mom to two humans, and a reluctant wrangler of too many critters. She is a native of Colorado where she teaches graduate and undergraduate creative writing.
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