Workshop Advice

"One of the most important skills to have as a writer is that of being a skilled reader." -- Andrea Beca

Some quick tips about getting the most out of a workshop:

1. Start with the positives: before discussing what doesn't work or what needs to be changed or cut, start with what IS working in the piece. Although difficult at times for the overly-critical, try to say at least one significant thing that is working.

2. Always back up what you say with a specific example. "I like your story" doesn't help much, but "I like your story BECAUSE I could relate to the protagonist" is better.

3. Avoid using words like: "stupid", "bad", or "pointless" (and for positive comments: "good", "I like it", or "you're a great writer" without providing examples of what is working in the piece).

4. Try not to let your personal opinions and feelings get in the way. You may not like the genre or style the writer uses, but you may also not be the target audience. Try to keep an open mind.

5. Balance your personal opinions with objective comments.

6. Remember: you're not the writer. When giving feedback, while you might suggest what you would do in the situation, the author is perfectly capable of (and allowed to) smiling politely and ignoring your advice.

7. As a writer: you wrote your work. What you do after working with a piece is up to you.