ARTICLE
The
Wonders of Workshopping
We
all know how terrifying it can be to share writing work
– your baby – with someone else, let alone a
whole group of people. Yet, workshopping your ideas is a
fantastic way to improve writing skills and even thicken
your skin.
Workshopping
works best in an informal group situation where several
writers meet regularly to give and receive constructive
criticism on each other’s writing.
Often
writers can become too close to their own work and overlook
simple errors; an advantage of workshopping is that other
people can offer a fresh perspective. Others may pick up
errors in spelling, structure, punctuation, characterization
and grammar that you simply could no longer see.
Other
advantages of workshopping:
- Helps motivate you to finish the novel or piece of writing
you're working on.
- You're able to gauge whether your story arouses the
interest of readers.
- By reading your work out loud, you can discover the
passages that are cumbersome and difficult to read.
- Forming valuable contacts in the writing industry.
- Fellow writers can offer suggestions on how your work
could be improved.
- Gaining friends with common interests.
- Learning from other writers’ experiences.
Some
countries have formal writers organizations that run writers’
groups. But your group doesn't have to be a formal affair.
If there are no existing groups in your area, just gather
your creative pals and start your own.
Here
are some hints for setting up a workshopping group:
- To
start off, you only really need four people and a place
to meet. A quite corner in a coffee shop is an ideal spot.
- Aim
to meet on a weekly or fortnightly basis so that the current
projects of each member remain fresh in the minds of all
participants.
- Any
genre is welcome and members need to set aside their own
beliefs, prejudices and appreciate works for their quality
of writing alone.
- Writers
with little or no experience shouldn't be afraid of joining
a workshopping group. Often beginners and professionals
can learn from each other.
- Each
member should bring 1000 - 1500 words of his/her writing.
If the work is double spaced in a clear font, there is
room for other group members to make suggestions and corrections
on the page.
- It's
helpful if you bring enough copies for everyone in the
group so they can mark your work while you read and return
it to you at the end of the session.
- Once
the writer has read his/her piece, everyone in the group
has the opportunity to comment on the work and make constructive
suggestions.
- When
discussing the work of others it helps to follow a negative
comment with a positive one. Or say what you liked about
the work, followed by a suggestion on how it might be
improved.
- As
hard as it is to hear criticism of your writing, you need
to be thick skinned. Remember, criticism is not personal
criticism; it should be viewed as helpful, constructive
and an opportunity to improve your writing.
- Take
on board what they're saying, but at the end of the day
it's your work and you can choose to take their advice
or leave it.
- Remember,
you're all there with a common goal: to improve your work
and help others improve theirs.
- Listen
to people's suggestions without interrupting or justifying
yourself. No "but, I ..."s.
Nobody likes rejection, but if you are considering getting
published then rejection is a very real possibility. Workshopping
is a great way to polish your writing before sending it off
for publication and also helps lighten the blow if you are
rejected by a publisher, as sharing your work teaches you
not to take criticism personally.
Once you get over the initial terror of sharing your precious
writing babies, workshops really are beneficial for all
writers.
This work is licensed under a Creative
Commons Licence.
If used elsewhere, this article must be published with
the following copyright notice (link to the Smink Works
Books site must be included):
© Copyright Terri Heard and
Smink Works Books
2006
> Read Katherine Wilson's
article about Surviving Rejection
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