Here, we are putting together a list of workshopping questions. I will review and compile.
I’ll offer a few to get us started:
Think in terms of short fiction, even long. Memoir. Nonfiction. Poetry. Picturebooks. If a question seems only to pertain to a particular form, note that.
Looking forward to seeing what you come up with, AND putting this together…
I'm slaving over a tribute memoir right now and the form is so complex. It is hard to know when I'm going over the line. I'm enjoying being ignorant of what's correct in co-creating a picture book. Alison your words of wisdom let me know that self-publishing was the only way to make it happen.
I don't know whether it's something that you do, but I wonder about participants recording their expectations before workshopping, so that they have a reminder of where they were hoping to get to. (This may shift as they get feedback. Or if they're like me, they may have just plunged into writing without thinking about it much!) Along the lines of: 'What are your hopes for your readers?' or in case that's too vague:
'What do you think your readers will hope for from this work?'
'What do you hope your readers will notice while reading this work?'
'How do you envisage them reacting as they read this work / chapter / passage?'
'What do you hope they will take away from this read?'
- is there a good tension/pace in the story? Does it rise and fall appropriately, drop off, do anything unexpected? Where does it catch you in the throat?
- the show versus tell - is that effective?
- is there effective editing for descriptions? I’m remembering a friend’s line about an evil character with a ‘mop’ of hair. I thought it didn’t fit. ‘Mop’ was too soft. It should’ve been dark, jagged bangs sliced across his forehead - or something like that 😂
I think of things like: What did you feel when reading it? Where was it unclear or confusing? Did you want to read more? What did you think was the subject?
In one of the writing groups I participated in we could ask for specific feedback on each small thing we posted - we did it right at the top. Or we could just leave it open.
- Where do you feel this story in your body? (Does it make you laugh, squirm, hold your breath? What physical reaction does the story provoke and is that the one you want?)
- What are the most important moments and are you giving them their due? (Does a climactic moment have the most stirring image or the best description or the most engaging pacing--or are these moments of "strong writing" occurring in less crucial plot moments?)
Russell! So good to see you here. These are thought-provoking--thank you. The physicality can be a forgotten element.
And at times, climactic moments have been so thought-through by the writer, that when it comes time to actually set them on paper, they'll get short shrift. So a good point to consider, too.
Title (can be just a “working title”) - how is it functioning? Does it pique curiosity?
How significant is the setting - do we know where we are? do we need to? could it be set somewhere else?
I'm slaving over a tribute memoir right now and the form is so complex. It is hard to know when I'm going over the line. I'm enjoying being ignorant of what's correct in co-creating a picture book. Alison your words of wisdom let me know that self-publishing was the only way to make it happen.
Do you have a sense of what will be the length of the memoir piece at this point?
Are you doing both images and text for the PB?
I don't know whether it's something that you do, but I wonder about participants recording their expectations before workshopping, so that they have a reminder of where they were hoping to get to. (This may shift as they get feedback. Or if they're like me, they may have just plunged into writing without thinking about it much!) Along the lines of: 'What are your hopes for your readers?' or in case that's too vague:
'What do you think your readers will hope for from this work?'
'What do you hope your readers will notice while reading this work?'
'How do you envisage them reacting as they read this work / chapter / passage?'
'What do you hope they will take away from this read?'
Very good--this gives the writer something to reflect on before posting. It's about expectations, yes.
We could discuss afterwards... including a question about having one's expectations blown apart in the best ways or what surprises or confirms :)
A process to really think about--what you want from your work--how you want it to speak with/to readers.
We might come up with different sets of questions, and then each writer can take on a set that speaks to them, or compile...
These are solid, Steve! Thank you for posting!
The mirrored set, to turn these around so they are from writer to reader, (and can see how they jive--or what is the gap between) would be:
What is it you find yourself hoping for in this read... from the outset (or title!)... partway through...towards the end... ?
What did you most notice/what stood out for you?
Can you trace your reactions (mental/gut or visceral/emotional) as you go through the read?
What are you taking away; what pieces of the work are still with you a day later? a week later?
Could there be questions like:
- is there a good tension/pace in the story? Does it rise and fall appropriately, drop off, do anything unexpected? Where does it catch you in the throat?
- the show versus tell - is that effective?
- is there effective editing for descriptions? I’m remembering a friend’s line about an evil character with a ‘mop’ of hair. I thought it didn’t fit. ‘Mop’ was too soft. It should’ve been dark, jagged bangs sliced across his forehead - or something like that 😂
I think of things like: What did you feel when reading it? Where was it unclear or confusing? Did you want to read more? What did you think was the subject?
In one of the writing groups I participated in we could ask for specific feedback on each small thing we posted - we did it right at the top. Or we could just leave it open.
That's a great way to do it!
And good questions. Especially asking about "unclear" or "confusing"!
- Where do you feel this story in your body? (Does it make you laugh, squirm, hold your breath? What physical reaction does the story provoke and is that the one you want?)
- What are the most important moments and are you giving them their due? (Does a climactic moment have the most stirring image or the best description or the most engaging pacing--or are these moments of "strong writing" occurring in less crucial plot moments?)
Russell! So good to see you here. These are thought-provoking--thank you. The physicality can be a forgotten element.
And at times, climactic moments have been so thought-through by the writer, that when it comes time to actually set them on paper, they'll get short shrift. So a good point to consider, too.