How to Survive a Writing Workshop

Joining a writing workshop is exciting at first. Sitting around a table surrounded by people who share your passion for the written word might be something you've longed for your whole life. But when it's your turn to share an excerpt of that great American novel, it can be devastating when your colleagues don't "get" your genius. Here's how to survive a writing workshop with your dignity in tact.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Be respectful to all members of your workshop. Begin critical statements with "I think" or "I feel," and try to throw in something positive, no matter how much you disliked their writing.
2. Submit work that's ready to be critiqued. If your story or poem has already been published, workshopping it won't do anyone any good because it's not fresh in your mind and you don't need to change it. On the other hand, if you just wrote it an hour ago, it's too new to benefit from criticism. Stick to works in progress that you've already revised a few times but intend to further polish.
3. Consider the source when receiving criticism. Your colleague who only writes action-packed short stories might not be the best judge of your contemplative poetry. Weigh most heavily criticism from writers whose work you admire, especially if they write in a similar style.
4. Have questions for your workshop. Ask them specifically whether a certain character's personality comes across well or if the setting was vivid enough for them to envision the scene.
5. Forget the fantasy where everyone in the workshop gushes effusive praise, asks you for your autograph and tells you you should be running the class, not participating in it. This attitude won't get you far, and you'll be all the more devastated when your writing garners a ho-hum response.
6. Keep track of your colleagues' criticism. When you revise your work, take it into account if you agree with it. If you don't agree, feel free to disregard it. Writing is subjective and there is no one right way to tell a story or craft a poem.

Tips & Warnings

• One writing workshop technique is to remain silent during the entire discussion of your work. Try this if you find yourself arguing with your colleagues' criticisms.
• Don't dominate the discussion, whether you're critiquing someone else's work or discussing your own. Give everyone a chance to talk. Interruptions are rude.

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