How to workshop successfully

* And the word "Apple!"

Photo by "My Life Through A Lens" on Unsplash

While we’ve been talking a bit about the nature of “workshopping” for the purposes of doing just that, this is a post that looks at the positives (and pitfalls to avoid) of finding and creating a group of writers to work together.

It may be something you are interested in doing with real live writers, face-to-face, or here in the workshop space that I am introducing in the coming week.

What is a workshop?

Simply, it is a group of writers getting together, sharing work, and offering feedback to each other. It can be a group of three, or many more.

Positives

All of the writers involved learn—both the writer whose work is being discussed, as well as those offering feedback; often you can clearly see qualities that create for more effective story-telling, set- and character-building in another writer’s work, and it’s easy to not see such in your own, especially if it’s “still warm” from the act of creating.

When working on my own, without a group for feedback, I’ll complete a draft and then let it sit—the longer the better—until my vision is cleared and I’m prepared (both mentally and emotionally) to see something of the gaps in it. Having another writer, to note the gap, to reflect to me the experience of the reader, is invaluable. The feedback is useful, and the time is saved.

A sizable positive is the support of each other—writing can be lonely. In fact, it probably should be lonely—maybe because it is, we connect with characters and creating. A well-functioning group should fuel and inspire you to work harder, to go deeper, to write.

A workshop is not a “support group,” so be wary if the getting together and the process begins to be something other than useful for the purposes of writing. That’s another group. Which leads me to:

The not so positive

All sorts can go awry. Writers share horror stories. But let’s make quick work of this:

—people telling the writer how they would write the story (don’t—it’s not yours)

—comments rudely worded (Golden Rule applies: use the language you’d like to see in your feedback)

—a sense of competition/professional jealousy (writing paths are different for everyone; respect and honour each other. If this is a problem, find a new group!)

—some members of the group might put in substantial time and others do not. Being part of a group does take time away from your own work to read and offer feedback, and take time to meet up and discuss; be prepared for this, and know its value. If it has no value for you, then write on your own. Of course, “not putting in time” might be one-time, while a peer goes through a rough patch, but if it’s more…

These are some of the issues I’ve encountered over the years as participant and instructor.

A note on work ethic

This is key. I’ve now been with a “new” group for almost half a year. We spend little time socializing. We do start with a quick “how are you?” and yes, we do discuss—briefly—the tough stuff of certain aspects of writing. We do care about each other. But we quickly get down to the business of looking at our manuscripts. I never walk away feeling time was wasted. Any time I’ve put into reading and writing and mulling over comments for others returns to me ten-fold—not just in my own work, but in the sharing of all our work.

We meet every four weeks, and two weeks after we meet, we send new work to each other, which leaves us—all of us have very busy lives—with two full weeks to read and write up comments. You do need at least a week for this, which is what I’ve had with previous groups. But for us, this group, two weeks is perfect.

Not once has one of us been late! We take the “midnight” on such-and-such day seriously. Even if someone is over-the-top busy, they still turn in some work. And on the day we meet up to talk, comments are complete, and we are ready to go.

This is key—mutual respect. And although all of us are very busy, we stick to the deadlines. Writers have to be able to stay with self-imposed deadlines.

MO

My own MO within the group is to read the others’ works quickly and early in the time we have to read; I try to absorb the experience as “any reader.” I mull it over for a number of days before reading again—slower this time. Only then do I start to scribble comments. I might read a third time, write more, and put together a longer set of comments of a summative nature. If it’s not a short piece but longer, then I might only have time to read once, but expect to be reading again when the work is in later drafts.

Here on Unschool prompts and pieces, I still read once quickly, and leave time to ponder. I think about what is the grain of the piece—that is, what the writer is hoping to accomplish. I don’t want to come back with comments that are “across the grain”—at odds with the piece itself and the writer’s intention. It is not my work!

A big task of taking part in such a group is recognizing what others need: a first and raw draft requires a more open mind and a lighter hand when it comes to comments—you need to see where it’s going, and no one, sometimes least of all the writer, knows where exactly that is. You cannot start cutting and editing a first draft; any words and ideas that are clamoring to be part, should be included… until the writer thoroughly understands why they are there. Sometimes, that knowledge does not come until beyond second draft stage.

When a member of your group is working on what they hope is a final draft, about to go out into the world, then that’s the time to get “tougher.” That’s when you can start to look at it as an editor or agent might. But not before.

What do you look for in a group

You might want a looser group—one that meets when you have material, for instance, and not with “4 weeks” or “two months” in mind. (Maybe one that is okay with being late now and again!) Let others know expectations or hopes up front when the group is forming. For decades I’ve had a writing partner with whom I’ve shared work whenever we have work in hand. Sometimes, if we’re both writing novels, it’s been nine months or once a year. It’s been a much more casual type of “group,” and met both our needs through that time.

There are so many options: you might have a large-ish group, say eight members, who meet monthly, but only half of them produce work for each meeting. This would be a good format for beginning and life-busy writers who want to develop their “feedback muscle,” but are not able to produce a piece for every month. You might start a group with one format in mind, and keep open to discuss change after the first year.

While it’s tempting to have similar interests, ages, etc., it’s optimal to have different knowledge-sets, different ages, different outlooks. (Yes—even in our polarized times.)

Just in my small group of three, we have three different decades for birth-dates! This is a positive, especially if you have a mixed-age cast of characters.

And a mix of sets of knowledge… After out meeting today, one of the writers in the group has saved me some embarrassment: he pointed out that in my story, a campervan with an a/c issue could in fact get to where they’re going—it’s not an emergency. The characters do not need an emergency mechanic (even if it is in the hot prairie summer.) But if they had a dying fuel pump (and he noted other possibilities), it would indeed be an emergency. I am no mechanical wizard; I was so glad to have this pointed out!

A couple months ago, at another meeting, the third person in the group—a very experienced gardener—let me know that the timing of the garlic scapes in my story is not realistic. That was another ‘thank you!’ moment. In a novel I read recently, the author thanked her beta-readers for “saving her from embarrassment”—this is what she meant.

So consider ages, knowledge, sex/gender, life experience: each person is going to bring something to your story—and what do you have to offer?

And, in your group, you want people who are compassionate and well-intentioned. People who care about your work and their own. People who embrace the tough stuff of writing, and the joy it brings. Open-mindedness is key.

How to find such people

It’s possible you’re thinking “WHERE do I find such?”

Before you share with any and all that you are looking for a group, be observant. Note people who seem to have the work ethic you’d like, who are community-minded—at least in the way you need. THIS is where you are looking for similarity! It’s hard to be part of a group that is not reciprocal. If you want an easier looseness, or if you want a very serious, dead-line type collection of people… in my experience, you’re better off as a well-functioning group of three than a dozen… but we are all so different.

Here in the Unschool, take note of those who post to the prompts and within the workshop, their work and their comments. Connect with those people in the comments area, and in the new workshop space. I’ll start a thread in that area in which you can post what kind of who-s (!) you are looking for. (E.g. “looking for picturebook writers to share mss!”) First though, post work, and connect that way. You may find what you’re looking for right here in workshop.

If you write elsewhere online, take note. Reach out to people. Start by being open to what they’re about, their thoughts on writing, their goals. Maybe start by exchanging one piece, and see how/if there’s a “fit.” (If you’re thinking this sounds too much like on-line dating… you’re right.) I’ve made a small number of good friends on Medium, including one with whom I’ve exchanged work.

For face-to-face groups, try your local library. Often there are community writing groups. You may not connect with the group as a whole, but go long enough to get to know people, and you might end up with a smaller group to suit your shared interests, genres, levels, and sense of dedication. If your library doesn’t have such a group, start one! Community centres, churches, your kids’ school, your co-op… where are groups in your life? There may be writers. If your province or state has a group, connect there, and again, be watchful and reach out. Many writers want a group. Sometimes we just don’t have the time to get it together. In my experience, every group I’ve been a part of has had one person who actively gets it all moving, sets up meetings, encourages… but once this is done, and the desire is there, it builds its own momentum. Are you that person? I have been more than once; the effort will pay off.

A word about the role of the “writer”

That is, the one whose work is “on the table” being discussed.

Traditionally in workshops, the thought was that the writer be silent. The thought behind this was that your work has to stand all on its own in the bookstore: you are not hanging out over the buyer/reader’s shoulder, explaining anything to them… so you should not be explaining it to anyone now.

However, I’ve sat in the midst of a workshop, and have seen what happens when a discussion gets sidelined on some point, and the writer appears about to burst… when a simple clarification, or even a statement of “that’s not where it’s going!” would quell the flurry… and we can get back to being useful.

If your work is being discussed in a not-useful way, then step up and say something. And do ask for clarification as you need it. And do ask questions that pop into your mind.

Resist the urge to explain, or the urge to re-write verbally right then and there. (You can do that later at home.)

Trust

Workshopping requires a high level of trust in all participants.

For first drafts in particular. Even the most experienced writers produce some shockingly _____ fill in the blank____ material for the first stab at what may well become a polished and layered work later. The trust comes in knowing that this is how it is for everyone—everyone. And simply going on, knowing, trusting that the work is in progress, is growing, will get there. Wherever “there” is going to be!

It’s important not to discuss the work with people outside the group; this is basic respect, but bears consideration.

How does all this apply to what we’re doing here?

I’ve opened up a new “section” to the Unschool, called “The Unschool WORKSHOP Space.” (You can see it at the top of the home page.) Paid subscribers can subscribe/access this section. While it is not a face-to-face and meeting in a coffee shop group, I’m hoping that it will meet some of the need for feedback on your work, and for the experience of offering thoughts on the work of others. I’m even hoping you might connect with individuals who might become part of your own group at some point—with technology, geographical distance is a non-issue.

Notes to include with your work (include only what you want to)

Genre:

Word count:

What draft is this? First and rough? Fourth and moving toward “polished”?

Where are you at on your writing path? Beginner? Experienced/published? Muddling?

What sort of feedback are you looking for? (Review the stop-light red, gold, green idea I posted in the April 1 newsletter, for example.)

What questions do you have? Or do you want to include them at the end of your piece?

*and a note on the word ‘apple’

For those times when you post or share a piece of work, and you feel an urge to apologize, to explain that your day was too short, or that some element is not what you were hoping for or… or… and… and… We all do this at some point.

A student once told me about another teacher she’d had who suggested that when such a time occurs, just say “Apple!” by way of apology and more. And leave it at that—it’ll be enough.

So if posting a work you feel requires this—and I rather hope you don’t but I do understand!—simply say or write:

Apple!

We’ll understand.

Questions? Added thoughts from your own experience of workshopping?